Panda Fest Returns to Philly This October

Panda Fest is back—and bigger than ever. Following its wildly successful debut this past spring, Panda Fest returns to Dilworth Park on Saturday and Sunday, October 4th through the 5th, offering Philadelphians two full days of immersive Asian food, culture, and family-friendly fun. Situated in Center City at 1 South 15th Street, this second installment promises expanded space, more vendors, and an even more vibrant lineup of entertainment and culinary offerings.

Panda Fest stems from the same cultural ethos as its sibling event, Dragon Fest, which has produced 21 successful events and attracted over 500,000 attendees across the U.S. Since its July 2024 launch, Panda Fest has become one of the country’s largest outdoor Asian food festivals—and the organizers are working toward making it a biannual Philly tradition.

Founded by visionary entrepreneur and cultural advocate Xuan (BiuBiu) Xu—also the creator of Dragon Fest—Panda Fest is an evolution of the NYC-based Asian cultural celebration that has taken the country by storm.

Xu, whose innovative career includes launching the viral Egg House in NYC and founding the non-profit Mulan House, expressed deep gratitude for Philadelphia’s warm embrace of the event: “We received a lot of feedback from a ton of people, and we’re going to have more vendors, more food and drink options, and more capacity this time around. We’re looking forward to another incredible weekend in The City of Brotherly Love.”

This time around, Xu and her team have partnered with the City of Philadelphia to increase capacity, ensuring smoother access and shorter lines. The festival kicks off at 10 a.m. both days, running until 10 p.m. Saturday and 8 p.m. Sunday.

Upon arrival, guests will be greeted by a giant 15-foot inflatable panda, setting the tone for a weekend of joyful discovery. More than 60 Asian food vendors will serve over 100 types of street food, featuring bold, authentic flavors from China, Japan, Thailand, Korea, Vietnam, the Philippines, and beyond. Expect everything from dim sum and bao buns to sizzling skewers and bubble tea—all curated to highlight the culinary richness of Asian cuisine.

Panda Fest Experience: Food, Family, and Festive Flair

But Panda Fest isn’t just about eating. It’s an all-ages celebration of culture, art, and community. Live performances showcasing traditional and contemporary Asian music and dance will take the stage throughout the weekend, while games, raffles, merchandise, and interactive activities round out the programming. Whether you’re chasing the perfect bite or introducing your children to new cultural experiences, Panda Fest delivers an atmosphere of exploration and connection.

Tickets go on sale Friday, August 8, at 10 a.m., with early bird general admission priced at $10. Once those sell out, General Admission tickets will be $14, and VIP passes will be available for $25. Every attendee receives two free gifts—a customized Philly-themed panda pin and an inflatable headband—while VIP guests will enjoy an additional panda tote bag and access to a skip-the-line fast pass. Children under five enter free, and yes, strollers and leashed pets are welcome. All tickets must be purchased online in advance.

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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