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South 9th Street Italian Market Festival
South Philadelphia’s Italian Market is the nation’s oldest continuously operating outdoor market. Spanning Italian, Mexican, Central and South American, and Asian cuisines, the market is home to some of Philadelphia’s most popular restaurants and bakeries as well as butcher shops, seafood vendors and produce stands with can’t-beat prices.
So what better way to celebrate the market’s 100-plus years of existence than with a blockbuster street festival?
The free-to-attend, pay-as-you-go South 9th Street Italian Market Festival is an annual celebration of the market and its diverse surrounding neighborhoods.
One of the city’s largest and most popular block parties, the family-friendly event features dozens of vendors and local businesses setting up booths along Ninth Street between Wharton Street and Fitzwater Street for a two-day celebration.
The festival is also home to the greased-pole-climbing competition (you read that right), where teams of festivalgoers attempt to climb a super slippery, 30-foot-tall pole to retrieve prizes like meats, cheeses and other goodies.
This year, the South 9th Street Italian Market Festival returns on May 18 and 19, 2024 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.
The ultimate block party, the South 9th Street Italian Market Festival is about as “Philly” as it gets.
While the market’s culinary gems rightfully take centerstage, there are a ton of only-in-Philadelphia traditions, competitions, activities and performances to keep you entertained in between bites.
Here’s a taste of what to expect:
Food & Drink
Mangia! It’s all about the food this weekend:
Art, Entertainment & Competitions
Besides chowing down, there’s lots more to see and do along Ninth Street all weekend long:
Procession of Saints
A Roman-Catholic tradition in many areas of Italy and Mexico, the Procession of Saints in Philadelphia dates back to at least the 1920s. During the procession, statues of saints and religious figures are carried through the streets by members of the community.
The procession starts at the historic Saint Mary Magdalen de’ Pazzi Church, pauses for a blessing of the market at Ninth and Washington streets, proceeds north along Ninth to Christian Street, and concludes at St. Paul Catholic Church.
This year’s Procession of Saints takes place on Sunday, May 19, 2024 at 11 a.m.
The South 9th Street Italian Market Festival is a free event with pay-as-you-go food and drinks.
Street parking near the Italian Market is tight even on a non-festival day, so if driving is a must, aim for one of the nearby parking lots, including lots at 7th & Christian Streets, 7th & Fitzwater Streets and on Washington Avenue between 9th & 10th Streets.
— Photo by Visit Philadelphia
For everyone else, public transportation is the way to travel. Attendees can get to the festival via a number of SEPTA bus routes or by hopping on the Broad Street Line and getting off at either the Lombard-South or Ellsworth-Federal stations. From there, the Italian Market is just a short walk east.
For more information about the South 9th Street Italian Market Festival, including a list of participating vendors, scheduled events and more, click the button below.
The only way to fully experience Philly? Stay over.
Book the Visit Philly Overnight Package and get free hotel parking and choose-your-own-adventure perks, including tickets to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, The Franklin Institute, or the National Constitution Center and the Museum of the American Revolution.
Or maybe you’d prefer to buy two Philly hotel nights and get a third night for free? Then book the new Visit Philly 3-Day Stay package.
Which will you choose?
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