(PHILADELPHIA, PA) -- Roxborough Development Corporation (RDC) will bring back the 14th Annual Roxtoberfest on Saturday, October 3, 2026 from 12:00pm to 6:00pm, transforming Ridge Avenue into one of Philadelphia's biggest and best-loved Oktoberfest and fall festival celebrations. Roxtoberfest has grown from a small neighborhood street festival into one of Philadelphia's oldest and best-attended Oktoberfests, attracting thousands of neighbors and visitors for a day packed with live entertainment, local food and drink, family-friendly activities, shopping, community fun and plenty of Oktoberfest and fall harvest spirit.
Come ready for live music, 100+ vendors, pet costume contest, Oktoberfest costume contest, cemetary tours, scarecrow walk, kids' root beer liter lift, wellness village and more. Don your best pair of lederhosen, sip on New Ridge Brewing Co. beer, and join us on Ridge Avenue between Lyceum Avenue and Leverington Avenue, with a Scarecrow Walk extending from Leverington Avenue to Hermitage Street. The event is no charge and open to the public, with food and drink pay-as-you-go.
"Roxtoberfest has grown tremendously since those early neighborhood festivals, but at its heart, it's still about bringing people together," said Jax Cusack, Executive Director of the Roxborough Development Corporation. "It's a celebration of our businesses, artists, community organizations, families, and neighbors - and one of our favorite ways to welcome fall in Roxborough."
Festival favorites also include 100+ food trucks and local eateries, artists and makers, the Art on the Ridge Marketplace, and multiple beer gardens and bars, including the Top of the Ridge Bar. There's something for everyone and every age!
Roxtoberfest started off in 2013 as a small neighborhood street festival by the Roxborough Development Corporation with help from community partners, businesses and sponsors. It has grown each year to become one of the most well-known fall festivals in the region. The festival has always focused on a family-friendly atmosphere welcoming neighbors and visitors to the "Oktoberfest" themed fest. While there is German beer, music, decor and contests, the festival has continued to grow and expand, adding everything from a pet costume contest , to a full music line-up and much more.
FOOD AND DRINK
Award-winning food trucks will include:
* A Taste of Philly - classic Philly treats ... with a twist
* Deke's BBQ - savory sandwiches and plates
* Federal Donuts - twice-fried chicken and delectable donuts
* Frios Gourmet Pops - gourmet ice pops
* Humpty's Dumplings - savory dumplings with a variety of fillings
* Taqueria Los Gallos - gourmet tacos and more
* Hardee's
Local eats will include:
* Roma Cafe
* Lenny's Hoagies
* Santucci's
* New Ridge Brewing Company
* Fly South Coffee
* Jenny's Smoothies
* Roma Pizza
* Taylor's Cafe
Libations will include:
* New Ridge returns with their Fiestbier and all your other favorites including their pumpkin beer Horror Business at their tap room next to the pocket park and at locations throughout the festival.
* Foodery located at 6148 Ridge Ave always has a selection of craft beer and seasonal slushies to go!
* Peck Miller's always brings the fun and the Jell-o Shots for Roxtoberfest. It's also a great spot for the after party!
LIVE MUSIC AND STAGES
RoxYunk Porchfest stage presented by Roxborough Memorial Hospital
Community Stage presented by Jefferson Health
The festival will feature three stages rocking the Ridge all afternoon with a growing lineup of live entertainment, including Emmanuel Ohemeng III, Perpetual Motion, The Band Joe, Action Karate, and Pretzel Theater Co. These acts will be spread across all three stages, with the full lineup coming soon! And, of course, Galena Brass Band will be bringing the Oktober oompah music to Roxtober from 1:00pm to 3:00pm.
SCARECROW WALK AND SCARECROW BUILD
Roxborough Development Corporation teams up again with Friends of Gorgas Park for the return of one of Roxtoberfest's most festive fall traditions. Along Ridge Avenue, the Roxborough Scarecrow Walk will add even more fall flair to the festival. Local businesses, organizations, and community members will create their own scarecrows for thousands of festival-goers to discover, photograph, and vote for. Prizes will be awarded for the best, funniest, and quirkiest scarecrows.
PET COSTUME CONTEST
PAWrade & Costume Contest puts Roxborough's furry festival-goers in the spotlight!
One of Roxborough's cutest traditions returns this year with pets of all shapes, sizes and personalities invited to strut their stuff in Pocket Park. Whether they arrive spooky, silly, stylish or completely over-the-top, the PAWrade gives local pets and their people a chance to take center stage and show off their best looks.
Contestants will compete in four categories: Best Costume, Best Strut/Wag, Most Creative and Best in Show. Judges will be looking for standout costumes, creative concepts, runway confidence, personality and overall crowd-pleasing charm.
The PAWrade begins at 3:00pm in Pocket Park, with the Jefferson Health Community Stage providing the backdrop for all the furry fun. So grab the costume, practice that strut and bring your furry festival superstar. Spooky, silly, spectacular, Roxborough wants to see it all!
RAISE YOUR STEINS - BEER AND ROOT BEER
Roxtoberfest wouldn't be Roxtoberfest without its fan-favorite traditions.
Adults: Test your strength and endurance at the fan-favorite Beer Stein Competition. Hold that stein as long as you can and compete for bragging rights and prizes!
Kids: Little stein-holders, this one's for you! Kids can join the fun with our Root Beer Stein Competition. Grab a root beer, show off your strength, and compete for prizes and serious bragging rights.
Both will be held at the Main Stage at Ridge and Lyceum, with registration to be held at the stage.
KIDS ZONE
Roxtoberfest Kid Zone this year will be featured in the Roxborough Pocket Park from Noon to 5:00pm. Relax as your little ones play with balloon animals, carnival games, our 3-hole mini golf and entertainment with Bloom the flower fair and Fauve the animal Fairy.
NEW: FAMILY AND FALL FUN
New: Watch award-winning pumpkin carver John Zeggert works his magic from Noon to 4:00pm with live carving throughout the festival.
New: The Great Fairy Games - Meet Bloom the Flower Fairy and Fauve the Animal Fairy for an interactive, all-ages game show featuring traditional games, audience participation, and plenty of fairy fun.
NEW: COMMUNITY WELLNESS VILLAGE
The Community Wellness Village, presented by IBX, offers a place to take a beat without missing any of the Roxtoberfest action. Discover local health and wellness resources, get information, enter raffles, stretch, test your strength, enjoy a massage, and try something new. It's a chance to connect with local options, recharge, and have a little fun along the way.
HISTORICAL CEMETERY TOURS
Visitors can also step into Roxborough's history at historic Leverington Cemetery, presented by the Central Roxborough Civic Association (CRCA). Open throughout the festival, the cemetery offers a unique opportunity to explore the stories of early settlers, Revolutionary War patriots, Civil War heroes, and other remarkablecommunity members who helped shape Roxborough.
VENDORS, COMMUNITY GROUPS AND MORE
Alejandra & Co, Art By Alicia, Build a Balloon, CeCe Sows, Central Roxborough Civic Association, Chop Shop, Cracked Bell, Deke's BBQ, Emily Burke Art, Fairmount Behavioral Health, Federal Donuts, Frios, Hammy's Workshop, Hardy's Funnel Cake, HBN Designs, Humpty's Dumplings, IBX, It's a Janda, Jefferson Healthcare Partners, JK Custom, JoAnn Cannon, JoAnn the Balloon Artist, Kathryn Maxwell, LaBella's Paper Petals, Lily Lough, Lindsey Jeane Designs, Lulu Stunner Haute, Macramaybee, Mag Hugg, Maker Missya, Manayunk Roxborough Art Center, Metz Art Gallery, New Ridge, North Light Community Center, NRG/ Green Mountain, Palestine Lodge, Philadelphia Candle Co., Piggy Back Treats, Pressed Vibrations, Ray's Appliances, Rebel Potters, Rep. Tarik Kahn, Rox Library, Roxborough Memorial Hospital, RoxYunk Conservancy, S & T Bank, Sarah Beahm Illustration, Sidewalk Press, Sisterly threads, Solar Sunglasses, Sow & Sew, Summit Apartments, Sunny Ayre Arts, Taqueria Los Gallos, Taste of Philly, The 50/50 Company, The Dermatologist Solutions, The Little Sicilian, The Third Space Collective, Thrive, Trippie Times, Truist, VFW 333 Hattal- Taylor, Village on the Ridge, Vybe Urgent Care
CONNECT AND THANKS
Roxtoberfest is organized by Roxborough Development Corporation, with support from major sponsors MGMT Residential, European Wax Center, Independence Blue Cross, New Ridge Brewing Company, Anastasio Trucking Company, Roxborough Memorial Hospital and Comcast/Xfinity.
Admission is no charge. So grab your friends, bring the family, dress up the dog, raise a stein, check out the scarecrows, watch a pumpkin transform, and come experience a full day of fall fun on the Ridge.
Facebook/Instagram: @roxboroughpa
Hashtags: #Roxtoberfest #RoxboroughPA
TRAVEL AND PARKING
By Car - Just across the Schuylkill from I-76, Roxborough is easy to reach by car. The drive is 11 minutes from Chestnut Hill, 19 minutes from University City, and 22 minutes from Center City Philadelphia. It is just over 20 minutes from the shopping hub in King of Prussia and less than half an hour from the Philadelphia International Airport. For parking, two parking lots are available for convenient access to the festival, one at 465 Leverington Avenue and the other at 514 Dupont Street.
By Bike - The scenic, riverside Kelly Drive makes biking to Roxborough from Center City an easy ride. Just ride north on the bike path beside the Schuylkill River until it hits Main Street in Manayunk. Then that will take you right through Manayunk and into the heart of Roxborough.
By Bus - An array of buses run right through Roxborough. The #9 runs from Center City to Andorra. The #27 goes from Plymouth Meeting Mall to Center City. The #32 will take you right from Roxborough to Center City via Philadelphia University. The #35 runs a Manayunk / Roxborough Loop. The #38 goes from 5th and Market to Wissahickon. And the #65 goes from Germantown / Chelten to 69th St. Transportation Center.
By Train - Septa's Manayunk/Norristown Regional Rail Line runs out to Roxborough, stopping at Wissahickon, Manayunk and Ivy Ridge.
Roxborough is unique because of its history as one of America's oldest towns. Back in the 1600's it was a neighborhood of farms stretching from the clear waters of the Wissahickon Creek to the apex of Ridge Avenue. Now it has a more city-like appearance still with a small-town charm. It's close to the Wissahickon where many enjoy the trails and nature and close enough to hustle and bustle of the city for work and outings.
Roxborough Development Corporation is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit, economic development organization dedicated to enhancing and supporting the growth of the Roxborough neighborhoods and Ridge Avenue commercial corridor.
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