By Carla Ferro • Photos Provided by Manayunk Development Corporation
It has been an exciting and busy festival season in Manayunk! Our events continue to grow, drawing thousands of people to Main Street for a mix of food trucks, music, art, vendors, activities, local shops and restaurants, and much more! Each event is unique and offers something for everyone. At the heart of it all are the businesses and community members who bring these multi-layered events to life. Whether you come for the food, the music, or just to soak in the atmosphere, the goal has always been to create a fun, welcoming experience that helps you feel connected to this charming small-town tucked within the city of Philadelphia. We’re already looking forward to what next year will bring, and we can’t wait to celebrate with you again!
Manayunk StrEAT Food Truck Festival
Festival Season kicked off in the Spring with the StrEAT Food Festival, one of the biggest events in Manayunk and one of the largest food truck festivals in the country. Over the past decade, the event has steadily grown to over 40,000 attendees and features more than 70 food vendors along Main Street.
From Manayunk’s local restaurants to award-winning food trucks across the tristate area, there were incredible eats around every corner. At StrEAT, event attendees enjoyed pizza, tacos, lobster rolls, burgers, ravioli, dumplings, pickles, pound cake, corn on a stick, bacon on a stick, grilled cheese, wok bowls, and so much more.
But there was more to fill your day than just the food! In between bites, visitors explored Main Street’s shops, boutiques, and galleries, and the artisan vendors in the Richards Apex lot. For those looking to tap their toes, local bands performed on two stages throughout the day. With so much to taste, see, and experience, the StrEAT Food Festival is more than just a food lover’s dream, it’s a beloved event that continues to bring the whole community together.
Manayunk Arts Festival
In June, the 36th Annual Manayunk Arts Festival brought thousands to Main Street to celebrate art, culture, and local talent in one unforgettable weekend! The tri-state area’s largest outdoor juried arts festival hosted over 300+ different locally and nationally known artists and crafters. The two-day event showcased a beautiful array of art from a variety of mediums: fiber, glass, ceramics, jewelry, mixed media, painting and drawing, photography, wood, and sculpture.
Every artist brought something unique, turning a walk through the festival into a vibrant journey of color, creativity, and inspiration at every turn.
Outside of art and crafts, visitors enjoyed food and drinks from Manayunk’s renowned restaurants and cooled off by shopping at the neighborhood’s unique boutiques and stores.
A special feature of the show was The Emerging Artist Tent, which featured local and up-and-coming talent inside. This initiative allows young and beginner artists to show and sell their work at the festival for up to three years; giving them a chance to build up to a full booth. Many emerging artists have become annual participants in the show, with some even graduating to brick-and-mortar stores along Main Street!
This free, family-friendly event has become a cherished staple in Manayunk’s tradition and History. See you next June!
Stroll After Hours
The brand-new summer series, Stroll After Hours brought lots of energy and excitement to Thursdays nights in July. Designed as a reimagined version of the previous “Stroll the Street”, this four-week summer event included everything from food trucks to movies, and everything in between. Stroll After Hours ran until 10 p.m., which allowed visitors to shop and dine under the stars (hence the name)! The community response was fantastic, with an average of 8,000-9,000 people attending each week.
Two stages delivered vibrant live music and set the vibe for the evening. A variety of vendors lined Main Street, selling their goods and adding to the shopping experience. Family-friendly activities and performances added to the fun with face painting, kids’ arts and crafts, a caricaturist, swing dancing demonstrations, and circus performers. Weekly movies starting at dusk included cult classics, such as Pride & Prejudice and Billy Madison.
Whether you were looking for dinner or late-night snacks, Stroll After Hours had you covered. Each week featured eight delicious food trucks, in addition to specials from everyone’s favorite Manayunk restaurants and eateries. From sweet to savory, there was something to satisfy everyone’s craving.
Stroll After Hours was a Manayunk summer experience for the whole family. With local entertainment, shopping, delicious food, and an awesome atmosphere—what more could you want on a Thursday night in July? This new event is sure to grow in the coming years, so plan ahead for next July!
Be sure to mark your calendar with the list of upcoming Manayunk Signature Events on the next page. See you there!