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CONTACT: |
Caroline Bean |
GPTMC |
(215) 599-7433 |
caroline@gptmc.com |
Philadelphia is
where to be in 2003
Annual Events Make Philly Fun Year
Round
PHILADELPHIA, February 24, 2003 – It seems like every day’s a holiday in Philadelphia. If you’re an art lover, garden enthusiast, film connoisseur or sports fan, you’ll find plenty to celebrate in a year packed end to end with festivals, sporting events, art shows, parades and cultural events. Philadelphia is the place to be in 2003, and the following activities are just a few reasons to plan a visit.
Every year, the Philadelphia Film Festival showcases the best in independent and foreign cinema. April 3-17, (215) 733-0608, www.phillyfests.com
The Equality Forum celebrates the cultural and political legacy of gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgendered people with workshops, performances and parties. April 28-May 4, (215) 732-3378, www.equalityforum.com
Jugglers, folk singers, puppeteers and dancers gather yearly to delight the young audiences at the International Children’s Festival at the Annenberg Center. April 30-May 4, (215) 898-3900, www.pennpresents.org
Memorial Day’s biggest party, Jam on the River, brings the best of rock and blues music to Penn’s Landing. May 24-26, (215) 922-2FUN, www.jamontheriver.com
Now in its 28th year, the Odunde African American Street Festival celebrates the Yoruba New Year, beginning with a musical procession to the Schuylkill River and ending with a lively street fair. June 9, (215) 732-8508, www.odunde.org
Celebrating the nation’s birthday, Sunoco Welcome America is weeklong party with free events for all ages. This year’s celebration coincides with the opening of the National Constitution Center. June 29-July 4, (800) 770-5883, www.americasbirthday.com
The local answer to Woodstock, the Philadelphia Folk Festival attracts musicians, storytellers and craftspeople for a weekend of song and merriment. August 22-24, (800) 556-FOLK, www.folkfest.org
Avant-garde performance meets street theater for two weeks of artistic pleasure during the Fringe Festival. August 29-September 13, (215) 413-9006, www.pafringe.com
Art Exhibits, Shows and Tours
An annual tradition for 102 years, the Student Exhibition at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts displays the works of third and fourth year students in an array of different media. May 9-June 1, (215) 972-7600, www.pafa.org
Local artists of all mediums open their workshops to the public during the Philadelphia Open Studio Tours. October 11-12 and 18-19, (215) 683-2084, www.philaopenstudios.com
Dozens of art dealers gather for USArtists, an art expo and sale benefiting the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. October 17-19, (800) 455-8312, www.usartists.org
Handmade textiles, jewelry and house-wares of the highest quality are on view and for sale at the Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show. November 13-16, (215) 684-7930, www.philamuseum.org/pmacraft/
High school and college track stars compete for glory in multiple events at the legendary Penn Relays. April 24-26, (215) 898-6145, www.thepennrelays.com
The Broad Street Run spans 10 miles from Olney to South Philadelphia, and competing runners raise money for the American Cancer Society. May 4, (215) 235-7481, www.broadstreetrun.com
The Schuylkill River is the site for competitive rowing at the Dad Vail Regatta, the nation’s biggest collegiate regatta. May 9-10, (215) 248-2600, www.dadvail.org
Equestrians show their talents at the Devon Horse Show and Country Fair, a series of contests and exhibitions topped off by an old-fashioned fair. May 22-31, (610) 964-0550, www.thedevonhorseshow.com
The event that earned a certain stretch of Manayunk the nickname “the wall” is the USPro Cycling Championships, which pits cyclists against Main Street’s steep terrain and one another. June 8, www.firstunioncycling.com
Home and Garden
Professionals and hobbyists display their horticultural creativity at the Philadelphia Flower Show, which routinely draws plant-lovers from all around the country. March 2-9, (215) 988-8899, www.theflowershow.com
Local restaurants welcome cookbook authors for a series of special dining events during The Book & the Cook Festival, which also features an impressive culinary market. March 14-23, (215) 545-4543, www.bookandthecook.com
Treasures await at the Philadelphia Antiques Show, where dealers from across the U.S. gather to display their unique finds. April 5-9, (215) 387-3500, www.philaantiques.com
Get a closer look at the homes and gardens of the region during Philadelphia Open House, which offers bus and walking tours through charming neighborhoods and cultural treasures. April 21-June 1, (215) 928-1188, www.friendsofindependence.org/openhouse
For more than two weeks, gardens, arboretums and conservancies all around the Philadelphia area celebrate the World’s Largest Garden Party, with special events demonstrations, tours and exhibits. Throughout May, www.worldslargestgardenparty.org
The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation is a non-profit organization dedicated to generating awareness of and visitation to Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery Counties. For more information about travel to Philadelphia, visit www.gophila.com or call the new Independence Visitor Center, located in Independence National Historical Park, at (800) 537-7676.
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Note to Editors: For story angles and photographic images of Philadelphia and its surrounding countryside, visit www.gophila.com/pressroom. February 2003
