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8 reasons Sunday's Old City Fest is a can't-miss event

It takes over Third Street from Market to Race on Sunday with free entertainment galore.

The Give and Take Jugglers will perform at 5 p.m. Sunday in the Family Fun Zone at the Old City Fest.
The Give and Take Jugglers will perform at 5 p.m. Sunday in the Family Fun Zone at the Old City Fest.Read moreKYLE OBER

Whether you want to watch dragon boats race down the Schuylkill, catch a drag show during the nation's largest National Coming Out Day event, or shop your way through Midtown Village, festivals of all kinds are going down this week.

One that's not to be missed is the annual Old City Fest, taking over Third Street from Market to Race on Sunday with free entertainment galore.

This year's event brings the biggest live music lineup that the festival's ever delivered, along with fashion shows, miniature golf, pottery-wheel throwdowns, and acrobatic street performances.

Adding to the assortment of fun, more than two dozen neighborhood food and drink vendors will line the streets, so come ready to eat and chill out al fresco with a local latte, brew, or kombucha in hand.

Want more reasons to attend Old City Fest? Read on for all the festival details that'll make you want to mark your calendar now.

  1. Enjoy dancing? The best party band in years (according to NPR) is headlining the concert lineup. Brooklyn's eight-piece Red Baraat goes on at 4:30 p.m., bringing a whole lot of funk to the stage. The band's high-energy, jazz-meets-rock-meets-hip-hop repertoire is bound to inspire you to break out some moves and join the crowd grooving in the streets.

  2. Chill Moody will be there to bust some beats, too. If you haven't heard of him, the West Philly native won Philadelphia Magazine's "Best of Philly – Best Rapper" title and has performed at places such as the Roots Picnic, the Wawa Welcome America festival, and numerous sold-out shows. The accomplished lyricist takes to the stage at 2:30 p.m.

  3. 2nd Story Brewing Co. is ready to help you gear up to boogie. The neighborhood brewery will serve up its signature Declaration IPA and Old City Kölsch, and other area restaurants, such as Buddakan, will offer select beers on draft. If you're looking for nonalcoholic options, Inspired Brews will pour kombucha in flavors ranging from pumpkin spice to harvest grape.

  4. Get ready for an abundance of seasonal treats, including Franklin Fountain pumpkin ice cream. Available in both vegan and non-vegan versions, the fall flavor will be offered alongside sea salt caramel and vanilla ice cream as well as treats from Shane Confectionery. Other destinations serving up eats include festival newcomers Capofitto, Tuna Bar, Fezziwig's, and Common Wealth Old City.

  5. The hyperlocal festival features more than 100 (!) vendors — all hailing from Old City. Beyond the two-dozen-plus food and drink vendors, the seven-hour shindig (11 a.m.-6 p.m.) features an array of art, craft and clothing businesses, creating the ultimate shopping mecca for scoring local finds.

  6. Two different runway shows will showcase the area's top designers. Scheduled for 1:45 p.m. and 3:45 p.m., the fashion shows will feature boutiques such as Erdon, The Geisha House, Meadowsweet Mercantile and Rennes. Like the looks you see? A marketplace located next to the stage will enable you to conveniently shop for outfits sported on the runway.

  7. Mini golf and trivia opportunities await, too. Find a putt-putt course courtesy of Franklin Square to test your hand at scoring a hole in one. Then, partake in the Museum of the American Revolution's Revolutionary War trivia game, where special prizes are at stake.

  8. Want more kid-friendly activities? There's a whole Family Fun Zone for that. Find performances from the Give & Take Jugglers, the Philadelphia Dance Academy, the Music Monkey Jungle, and more on a special stage just for kids. Other festivities include colonial-style hat- and wig-making inside the Carpenters Hall tent and 18th-century dress-up opportunities with a vintage wardrobe from Elfreth's Alley.

Sunday, Oct. 8, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; free admission, pay as you go for food and drink; Third Street from Market to Race Streets; http://www.oldcitydistrict.org/oldcityfest.