PHILADELPHIA, PA — Lederhosen, costumed pets, towering steins and more than 100 vendors will spill onto Ridge Avenue as Roxtoberfest turns the heart of Roxborough into a six-hour celebration of fall, neighborhood life and Oktoberfest traditions.
The 14th annual festival returns Oct. 3 from noon to 6 p.m., stretching along Ridge Avenue between Lyceum and Leverington Avenues. Admission is free, with live music, food trucks, local restaurants and breweries, contests, children’s activities, artisans and community organizations filling the festival footprint.
“Roxtoberfest has grown tremendously since those early neighborhood festivals, but at its heart, it’s still about bringing people together,” Roxborough Development Corporation Executive Director Jax Cusack said. “It’s a celebration of our businesses, artists, community organizations, families, and neighbors — and one of our favorite ways to welcome fall in Roxborough.”
This year brings a new attraction to the Ridge as award-winning pumpkin carver John Zeggert creates a pumpkin carving live from noon to 4 p.m. Another addition, the Great Fairy Games, will bring Bloom the Flower Fairy and Fauve the Animal Fairy together for an interactive, all-ages game show.
Music will run across three festival stages. Performers include Emmanuel Ohemeng III, Perpetual Motion, The Band Joe, Action Karate and Pretzel Theater Co., with additional acts to be announced. The Galena Brass Band will supply traditional Oktoberfest sounds from 1 to 3 p.m.
The Roxborough Scarecrow Walk will extend the fall festivities beyond the main festival area from Leverington Avenue to Hermitage Street. Created in partnership with Friends of Gorgas Park, the walk will showcase scarecrows made by local businesses, organizations and residents, with festivalgoers invited to discover, photograph and vote for their favorites.
Four-legged visitors get their own moment in the spotlight during the PAWrade & Costume Contest at 3 p.m. in Pocket Park. Pets will compete for Best Costume, Best Strut/Wag, Most Creative and Best in Show honors.
Festivalgoers can also test their endurance in a beer stein-holding competition, while children get their own version with a root beer stein contest. Both competitions will take place at the Main Stage at Ridge and Lyceum, with registration available at the stage.
Event Details
- What: 14th Annual Roxtoberfest
- When: Saturday, October 3, 2026, from noon–6 p.m.
- Where: Ridge Avenue between Lyceum Avenue and Leverington Avenue, Roxborough, Philadelphia, PA; Scarecrow Walk continues to Hermitage Street
- Cost/Tickets: Free admission; food and drinks are pay-as-you-go
- More Info: https://roxborough.brightrtravel.com/events
Families can head to the Roxtoberfest Kids Zone in Roxborough Pocket Park from noon to 5 p.m. for balloon animals, carnival games, three-hole mini golf, and entertainment with Bloom the Flower Fairy and Fauve the Animal Fairy.
Food will range from festival favorites to neighborhood staples. Participating food trucks include A Taste of Philly, Deke’s BBQ, Federal Donuts, Frios Gourmet Pops, Humpty’s Dumplings and Taqueria Los Gallos. At the same time, Roxborough businesses including Roma Cafe, Lenny’s Hoagies, Santucci’s, Fly South Coffee, Jenny’s Smoothies, Roma Pizza and Taylor’s Cafe will join the celebration.
New Ridge Brewing Company will pour its Festbier along with other selections, including its seasonal pumpkin beer, Horror Business. Additional drinks will be available from festival and neighborhood locations.
Shoppers can browse the Art on the Ridge Marketplace and scores of participating artists, makers and vendors. A new Community Wellness Village presented by Independence Blue Cross will offer health and wellness resources, raffles, stretching, strength activities, massages and other opportunities to recharge during the festival.
Roxtoberfest will also make room for a quieter look at neighborhood history. Leverington Cemetery will be open for historical tours presented by the Central Roxborough Civic Association, sharing stories of early settlers, Revolutionary War patriots, Civil War veterans, and others connected to Roxborough’s past.
Two public parking lots will be available at 465 Leverington Avenue and 514 Dupont Street. Visitors can also reach the neighborhood by bicycle, bus, or SEPTA’s Manayunk/Norristown Regional Rail Line.
For six hours, the Ridge will become a little bit beer garden, a little bit fall fair, and a lot of Roxborough — with neighbors gathering over music, food, scarecrows, costumes, and the traditions that have turned Roxtoberfest into an annual community celebration.
Support the local news that supports Chester County. MyChesCo delivers reliable, fact-based reporting and essential community resources—free for everyone. If you value that, click here to become a patron today.