The Northern Liberties Spring Festival debuts Saturday, May 9, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 3rd and Poplar and in and around Liberty Lands park — a full-day, free-admission block party that covers two stages, live bands, food trucks, a hot dog eating contest, kids’ yoga, artists, makers, pet portraits, DIY flower bouquets, and the kind of neighborhood energy that has made Northern Liberties one of Philadelphia’s fastest-growing districts.

Presented by the Northern Liberties Business Improvement District and Sprouts Farmers Market, the Northern Liberties Spring Festival is the inaugural edition of what NLBID Executive Director Sydney Rexroad describes as a true block party for the whole community — families, foodies, music lovers, dog owners, and art collectors in one place.

Two Stages and 15 Acts at the Northern Liberties Spring Festival

The Northern Liberties Spring Festival runs two stages simultaneously. The Ortlieb’s Outdoor Stage at 3rd and Poplar hosts a full-day music lineup starting with School of Rock as the house band at 11 a.m., followed by The Broke Brothers, Freelance Sweatpants, The Blackouts, Skip Winters, Mandy Valentine, Cadre Noir, and The Warhawks rolling through indie rock, alternative, singer-songwriter, indie country, and soul until 5 p.m. After the main fest, the party moves inside Ortlieb’s for a happy hour after party from 5 to 7 p.m. featuring a comedy open mic, the hot dog eating contest at 5:15, and psychedelic rock from High Leaf at 6.

The Liberty Lands Kids’ Zone Stage — sponsored by GoPuff and Little City Montessori — runs its own lineup with kids’ yoga from Kelly Pauly of Creative Kids Movement Network, a Liberty City Arts production of Hansel and Gretel, banjo from Huston West, and Living Arts Dance Studio. Adjacent to the stage, Libby’s Garden is a self-guided toddler play area inspired by Liberty Lands’ snail mascot with movement stations, hula hoops, building blocks, and sensory play.

Food, Drink, and the Ortlieb’s Hot Dog Hangout at the Northern Liberties Spring Festival

The Northern Liberties Spring Festival food lineup draws from the Riverwards. El Camino brings Mexican favorites and Texas barbecue. Humpty’s Dumplings serves scratch-made deep-fried fusion dumplings. Hudson Table offers fresh focaccia. Milk Jawn scoops small-batch premium ice cream in dairy and vegan flavors. The Random Tea Room pours loose leaf and iced tea. Jerry’s Bar runs craft beer and specialty cocktails. Urban Village pours locally made-in-Northern Liberties beers.

And Ortlieb’s — with roots in the neighborhood dating back to the 1860s — anchors the Hot Dog Hangout at 3rd and Poplar with hot dogs outside all day and the bar open inside. Philadelphia’s May calendar is already stacked with daytime programming, and the Northern Liberties Spring Festival adds a neighborhood-scale block party that most of the city’s big events do not replicate.

Artists, Makers, and Local Businesses at the Northern Liberties Spring Festival

More than two dozen artists, makers, and crafters set up in and around Liberty Lands and down North 3rd Street for the Northern Liberties Spring Festival. The vendor mix includes Bambino Glasswares with locally hand-blown glasses, Botanical Funk with surreal artwork on repurposed skate decks and license plates, Liz Pop Art with Philly-themed prints and stickers, mohrdoesart with pet portraits, Roots Generate with handcrafted Batik and Kente fabric, STUMP Plants, Trunc with socially responsible handcrafted goods, and Pharm To Flame with chemical-free soy candles. Local businesses on the corridor include 2nd Street Animal Hospital offering complimentary pet screenings, Indy Hall, LaserPhilly, Ray’s Reusables, and a special activation from presenting sponsor Sprouts Farmers Market.

The Northern Liberties Spring Festival is free and open to the public. Food, drink, and shopping are pay-as-you-go. For the full lineup and updates, visit explorenorthernliberties.com.

About Post Author

Allan Lane

Philadelphia born and bred, Allan Lane is the Publisher and Editor in Chief of digital magazines. He launched his first publication, SportBikes Inc Magazine in 2010, followed by dosage MAGAZINE in 2019. Recently, Allan launched his third online publication, Club For Man. As a journalist, Allan covers fashion, lifestyle, culture, art, and motorcycles.

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