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It’s a perfect time to enjoy late summer in the city. Toast the long days with a drink at Parks on Tap, enjoy the artistic and cultural events at Cherry Street Pier, and support local small businesses on the Philadelphia Bookstore Crawl. Whether you’re looking for a unique place to cool off, exciting festivals, or outdoor markets, there is a lot to do in Philadelphia in August. Here’s a look at our top choices.
Hang out at Parks on Tap
Covering over 25 locations a year, the roving seasonal beer garden Parks on Tap brings its food and drinks to parks around the city. Each pop-up event encourages visitors to enjoy the open spaces in a relaxed, family- and pet-friendly environment. The venues change weekly, and the menu includes beers from Mainstay and other local breweries, several cocktails, and food such as a cheeseburger, pulled pork sandwich, watermelon and caprese salad, and more.
Parks on Tap runs every Wednesday to Sunday through October 12, 2025 (weather permitting).
August dates:
- July 30 to August 3 – Gorgas Park (Roxborough)
- August 6 to 10 – Pretzel Park (Manayuk)
- August 13 to 17 – Stephen Girard Park (South Philly)
- August 20 to 24 – Dickenson Square Park (South Philly)
- August 27 to September 1 – Penn Treaty Park (Fishtown)
Visit the 2nd Street Festival
One of the city’s largest street festivals returns on August 3. Vendors, artists, and musicians fill 2nd Street in Northern Liberties between Girard Ave and Spring Garden Street. The annual street festival lasts from noon to 10pm and includes a wine garden, two performance stages, and dozens of local art, clothing, jewelry and food vendors.
Sample your way through the Southeast Asian Market
FDR Park buzzes with activity each weekend when the Southeast Asian Market sets up shop. An impressive 70+ vendors serve food from Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, and other countries in an embarrassment of culinary riches.
Come early to avoid some of the lines, and bring a picnic blanket or folding chair to make yourself comfortable while you enjoy market staples like egg rolls and Thai noodles dishes alongside beef skewers and Cambodian stuffed chicken wings. There is even a lemongrass chicken cheesesteak at the Sahbyy Food’s stand, which is one of our favorites in the city.
The market is on weekends through October 25, 2025.
Spend an evening at The Oval
The fun-filled space known as The Oval is back for another year! Beginning in the space outside the Philadelphia Museum of Art and running along Benjamin Franklin Parkway, it offers free entertainment like live music and the ever-popular Friday movie nights. Plus, there are food trucks, a beer garden, and an all-ages mini golf course.
The event is on Wednesdays through Sundays through September 14, 2025..
Experience the events at Cherry Street Pier
Summer is the best time to check out the events at one of our favorite spots—Cherry Street Pier. The annual PECO Multicultural Series brings entertainment, food, and crafts from different cultures. Plus, there are markets, art classes, and more to enjoy.
August highlights at Cherry Street Pier include:
- Multiple dates: Resident artist Amy Kelly offers painting, drawing, crochet classes, and more for children and adults.
- August 1: The Artist and Artisans Market brings unique finds and handmade items.
- August 3: African musicians and dance troupes perform, and there will be food, crafts, and apparel vendors.
- August 16: Celebrate India’s Independence Day with outstanding food, Bollywood performances, and fun.
- August 17: From jerk chicken to reggae, enjoy the tastes and sounds of the Caribbean.
Enjoy the music at Philadelphia Folk Festival
The 62nd Philadelphia Folk Festival returns to Old Pool Farm in Harleysville. Throughout the 3-day event, artists will fill multiple stages, and there is hardly a moment without music. There is also plenty of dancing, food vendors, workshops, activities for kids, and a massive campground with a hippie vibe all its own. Plus, if you stay at the campground, you can attend a special Thursday night concert.
This year’s festival features John Gorka, SONiA disappear fear, and Grammy winner Allison Brown, among others. Additionally, 40+ folk artists and bands will appear through the weekend. Bring a picnic blanket to stake out your space, and get ready for some fun.
The festival runs August 15-17, 2025.
Check out Body Worlds: Vital
You’ve probably never seen the human body quite like this. Body Worlds: Vital at the Franklin Institute includes numerous specimens — human and animal — that let visitors see anatomy, learn about diseases and health, and learn how the choices we make impact our bodies. The plastinated bodies are posed in motion in a way that makes it hard to look away from the unique exhibits. It is open through September 1, 2025.
See the mind-bending universe of Otherworld
Escape the heat at Otherworld. This massive immersive art installation in northeast Philadelphia is like no other place in the city. With over 50 rooms filled with interactive elements and creatures from a different universe, there is something unexpected everywhere you look.
As you make your way through the maze of rooms, look for secret passageways and clues to unlock more information. Staff members stationed throughout may be helpful. Otherworld is open every day except Tuesday.
Go on the Philadelphia Bookstore Crawl
Do mysteries float your boat, or are you a sucker for a good romance novel? Does cracking the spine of a new read or smelling the delightfully sweet scent of an old one get your heart pumping? If this sounds like you, don’t miss the third annual Philadelphia Bookstore Crawl.
Over 40 shops across the city and suburbs will offer promotions, special signings, and more throughout the day on Saturday, August 23, 2025. Head to Multiverse in Chestnut Hill for discounts and visit Baker Street Bread and other local cafes for a special “Booklovers Breakfast,” or get a free book or tote bag at Cupid’s Bookshop while you browse their romance novels in Manayunk.
In South Philly, check out Binding Agents in the Italian Market for prizes and giveaways, or meet four local authors at A Novel Idea on Passyunk. Check out this interactive map for specifics about what each participating store is offering.
Head to Beer Fest at Fonthill Castle
The iconic Fonthill Castle provides a festival background like no other. The poured concrete structure was once the home of Henry Mercer, an archaeologist and architect who built the 44-room mansion over 110 years ago. On August 23, the property hosts their annual fundraiser, Fonthill Castle Beer Fest.
Attendees will enjoy beer from over a dozen local and regional breweries—Triumph, Wissahickon Brewing, Cartesian Brewing, and other favorites—along with light bites and live music. Get a VIP ticket for early admission and exclusive food and drink offerings. When you’re done, take the opportunity to explore Fonthill, one of the top places to visit in Bucks County.