This Saturday, the South Street Headhouse Spring Festival
The South Street Headhouse District will hold its new signature street event, the South Street Headhouse Spring Festival.
On Saturday, May 4th from 12:00pm – 8pm, the South Street Headhouse District will hold its new signature street event, the South Street Headhouse Spring Festival.
The Spring Festival will be a free, all-ages celebration of the beginning of the festival season with the best tastes, sounds, and sights that the District has to offer.
The Spring Festival will take place on South Street between 2nd and 8th and on the 2nd Street Plaza between South and Lombard. South Street will be closed for the day so over 30 of the District's restaurants and bars can come out to serve up great food, drinks, and the tastes of cuisine from around the world. Enjoy and sample the fare from some of the area's best establishments, as well as enjoy the first annual German Maifest celebration at Brauhaus Schmitz on 700 block of South Street, the launch of Hot Diggity's new food cart, and the grand re-opening of Lorenzo and Sons Pizza.
The Street Festival will be filled with music and entertainment sure to appeal to all tastes. The Festival Stage at 5th and South will feature a full day of music featuring popular local acts. Kicking off the bill at noon will be the Philadelphia Blues Messengers and their sounds of soulful jazz, followed by blues singers Georgie Bonds at 1:00 and the driving blues of Mikey Junior and the Stone Cold Blues at 2:00. At 3:00, recent Tri State Indie's music award winner Sweet Leda will perform on the main stage followed by original songwriting duo John & Brittany at 4:00. Three top bands - Stolen Rhodes, The Strange Heat, and The Great SOCIO - will round out the bill on the main stage from 5:00-8:00.
Five satellite music stages will feature performances all day, including the jazz and blues tunes of Chelsea Reed and the Fair Weather Five, Blue Jay Slim, the Steve Cal Band, and Twister Baby: A Blues Metamophosis. Reverend Chris and the High Rollers bring a side of soul to the street, along with singer-songwriters Sammy Flow, John Beacher, Norman Taylor, and Laura Cheadle. Improv singer Nick Andrew Staver will also be performing as well as Philadelphia natives Don Lafferty and Nick Piccari. Additional musical performances and entertainment will take place at the participating restaurants and bars
Between the food and music, the rest of the fest will be alive with entertainment and activities. The Heroes Zone on the 600 block of South Street will be dedicated to those who serve, with special recognition and honor paid to the brave men and women of the Philadelphia Fire and Police Departments. The Police Department and Fire Department will also be on hand to showcase bicycle safety, fire prevention, and apparatus demonstrations. The Family Zone on the 200 block of South Street will be filled with activities for kids of all ages. Let your young artists express themselves with hands-on art and craft projects. The School of Rock House Band and the Tune Up Philly youth orchestra will be on hand to entertain the crowd. Additional family activities are planned for the day at Starr Garden Park, located at 6th and Lombard. In addition, there will be over 40 artists, crafters, and retailers of all kinds to serve your shopping needs.
For those who are driving, discounted parking rates are being offered for the day at the IMPARK lot located at 634 South Columbus Boulevard, just a block walk away from the festival at the end of the South Street Pedestrian Foot Bridge.