Oktoberfest Fall Festival and Oktoberfest Celebration October 7
Friday, September 29, 2023
CELEBRATION TO TAKE OVER RIDGE AVENUE ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7TH
* Roxborough's Largest Fall Street Festival to Feature Fun for All Ages (and Dogs too) with Food, Drink, Live Music, Circus, German Beer, Liter Lift, Pet Costume Contest, more
Philadelphia, PA - Roxborough Development Corporation announces the return of one of the neighborhood's most cherished fall traditions and one of its largest street festivals. The 11th Annual Roxtoberfest will be held on Saturday, October 7th from 12:00pm to 6:00pm, with a r Visit www.roxboroughpa.com/events for more information. Photos for promotion link here. ain date set for Sunday, October 8th. The beloved signature festival brings together the best of family-friendly fall harvest celebrations paired with the traditional feel of a German beer fest including performances by an Oktoberfest band, the dazzling spectacle of circus performers, spirited competitions, an enticing array of food trucks, a doggie costume contest, plenty of beverages fit for a fall fest, and fun activities to delight the youngest attendees. While festively walking along Ridge Avenue from Lyceum to Leverington Avenue festival-goers will enjoy over 100 vendors, including restaurants, bars, breweries, distilleries, artists, makers, small businesses, community groups, sponsors and more. The event is free and open to the public, with food and drink pay-as-you-go. Visit www.roxboroughpa.com/events and follow @roxboroughpa for more information.
"Roxtoberfest is where the magic of community, the talents of great local entertainers, and the flavor of Oktoberfest combine to create unforgettable memories," said Roxborough Development Corporation's new Executive Director Jacqueline “Jax” Cusack. "Join in the fall fun and celebrate Roxborough's long long-time tradition with neighbors, friends and family!"
Roxtoberfest started off in 2013 as a small neighborhood street festival by the RDC 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 circus performances, to a full music line-up and much more.
FIVE ACTIVITY AREAS AND STAGES
For 2023, look for three entertainment areas and two kids activity areas:
1) Lyceum Avenue Main Stage
Oktoberfest Band – Galena Brass Band
A Broadway Halloween with Old Academy Players
Freaky Friday the musical number with ASH Theater Company
The Providers Band – Rock with new singer seen on The Voice – Hillary Torchiana
Stein–holding contests with prizes!
2) Roxborough Pocket Park
Keg Tapping Ceremony with State Representative Tarik Khan
Lederhosen & Dirndl contest with Prizes!
Pet Costume contest with Prizes!
Local Musician – Kenn Kweder
3) Leverington Avenue
Secret Circus Philadelphia– Aerial acts
4) Kids Activity Area on Dupont Street
Flyleaf the Book Fairy
Games like cornhole, giant jenga, connect 4 and more
5) Kids Activity Area at Gorgas Park
In conjunction with Roxtoberfest Gorgas Park will have live entertainment and Pure Fun
Additionally look for:
Axe-Throwing with Throwhouse
Glass blowing demonstrations with Eric Hernandez
FOOD AND DRINK
For food and drink options on the street, festival-goers should come hungry and thirsty for:
* A Taste of Philly - Cheesesteaks and street food
* BOLTD - America's finest craft spirits
* Bacon on a Stick - Sweet and Savory delicious bacon
* Byzantium Empire - Award-winning brisket, BBQ and more
* Calle Del Sabor - Tacos
* Chaddsford Winery - Hot Mulled Wine
* Deke's BBQ - BBQ and smoked
* Epicure Eats - Spicy juicy wings, fries and more
* Hardy Funnel Cakes - Carnival sweet treats
* Haagen-Dazs - Ice cream, sundaes, more
* Kona Ice - One-of-a-kind gourmet shaved ice
* M & M Mobile Bar - Fall Mocktails
* Many Hands Coffee Co. - Coffee and espresso beverages, pastries, snacks
* New Ridge Brewing Co. - Special Festbier made special for Roxtoberfest, plus other beers pouring, and German themed food menu
* Philadelphia Chili - Chili and more
* Popcorn Land - Popcorn and snacks
* Put An Egg On It - Food Truck – Located in Roxborough
* Rio Brazilian Steak Truck - Brazilian BBQ
* Santucci's Original Square Pizza - Pizza and more!
* Stateside Vodka - Adult beverages
* Taqueria Dos Hermanos
* The Little Sicilian LLC
* WillBe’s Corner - Candy
Restaurants along the festival footprint open for dine-in, take-out and festival features will include:
* White Yak
* Taylor’s Cafe
* Santucci's Roxborough
* Roma’s Pizza
* Dream House Asian Bistro
ARTISTS, MAKERS, COMMUNITY GROUPS AND VENDORS
Beyond food and drink options, come ready to shop from local small businesses, artists and makers, plus meet local community groups. Vendors will include:
* 1 Love Jerk Hut - Condiment/sauce
* 3love graphix - Painted and sublimated items
* AdGard Fashions International LLC
* Alchemy In You Candles - Spiritual products
* Allyson Underland Photography - Artwork
* Anchor & Spruce - Artwork
* Art History One Zero One - Clothing
* Art of Henna - Artwork
* Ash's Attic - Artwork
* Aura Artisan Soap - Beauty/Wellness Products
* Balloon Buddies - Balloon twister
* Big Wick Energy - Candles, diffusers, trays, hats, clothes, cutting boards, etc
* Bigiotteria, LLC - Jewelry
* Blu Penny - Jewelry
* Blueberry Fields Artisan Soap - Soap and candles
* Brixxy & Co. - Pet Bandanas
* Buddertool, LLC - Home decor
* Build-A-Balloon - Hand crafted balloons using lights, feathers, paint, confetti
* Butch's Hot Stuff Hot Sauce - Food
* Cat Horn Accessory - Jewelry
* Catalyst Accessories - Home decor
* Champagne on a Wednesday - Jewelry
* Char and Whiskers - custom pet portraits and pet accessories
* Courtney Mizfit Art - Artwork
* CRCA - non-profit
* Crimson Fox - Home decor
* Dainty Studios - Artwork
* Dukes Designs - Clothing, cups
* Emily burke's art - canvas lunch bags, toes, prints and cards.
* Empress Herbal Products
* Epic Church - non-profit
* Eric Hernandez Glass - Glass Blowing
* Goodlands Food Co. - Hot Sauce
* Grand Love Designs - Ornaments and Laser Engraved Gifts
* Handcrafted by Robin - Jewelry
* Hank Sauce - hot sauce, dry rubs, branded merch
* Jazzy River Llc - Clothing
* Joan By J. Soap Creations
* Justin Time Tie Dye - Clothing
* Kar's art & jewelry - Paintings and jewelry
* Knottie Sisters - Accessories and Stadium bags
* Love City Shirts - Clothing
* Love Identity Candle Co - Hand poured candles
* Love, Heather Studios - Crochet Dragons
* Luccicare by Lisa - Jewelry
* Mari Lowery
* Melmos dog treats - Handmade dog and cat treats
* Michael Mara Photography - Photography / Plants
* MRAC - non-profit-
* Native Crafts - Large Vendor - clothing
* Native Sun Companies
* Natural Order Handmade - Beauty/Wellness Products
* Riehl Simple - baby items
* Roxborough Historical Society - non-profit
* Saint Roccos Treats - dog treat
* Scented Shadows - Candles
* Sequoia's Embrace, Inc dba Color & Flame - Candles and Bath & Beauty
* Sew Much Cooler - Clothing
* Smok3yrainbow - Clothing
* Sophie's Candle Shop - Candles
* Status Apparel DC - Clothing
* Sundry Mornings - Bloody Mary mix, spices hot sauce
* SunnyAyre Crafts & Arts and Feels - Embroidery, string art, wooden wall art, cutting boards, propagation stations/ Arts and Feels - polymer clay jewelry, pins, and accessories, art prints
* sunskaara - Home decor
* The 50/50 Company - Artwork
* The Block Church - non-profit
* The Metz Art Gallery - Artwork
* This Urban Cottage
* This Urban Cottage - Home decor
* Thrive Flower Cannabis - Beauty/Wellness Products
* ThrowHouse- Axe Throwing
* Trippy Bunni - Cllothing
* Whiz Spiegs Designs - Home decor
* Wicked & Wild Stitches - Artwork
* Wyld Syrups LLC - Caffeinated simple syrup that people can add to any beverage from Mocktails- Cocktails-Teas- Coffee
KEG TAPPING
New Ridge Brewing Co. will present the keg to be tapped at the Pocket Park at 1:30pm and the strolling Oktoberfest band will keep things festive! State Representative Tarik Khan will be tapping the keg of New Ridge's popular Oktoberfest beer called, Festbier. The beer will not be used as free samples.
OKTOBERFEST COSTUME CONTEST
Prepare to embrace the rich traditions and vibrant fashion of Roxborough type of Bavaria at the Roxtoberfest's Lederhosen and Dirndl Contest! This exciting event invites you to showcase your best Bavarian attire, whether you're sporting a dashing pair of Lederhosen or a stunning Dirndl dress. Registration: To participate in this celebration of Bavarian culture and style, make your way to the RDC table conveniently located at 6120 Ridge Avenue. Upon registration, you'll be assigned a unique number that will help identify you during the contest.
Showcase of Lederhosen & Dirndls: Head to the Pocket Park, situated at 6170 Ridge Avenue at 3:45 pm, you'll be able to show off your best-dressed Lederhosen and Dirndls. This is your chance to shine in your most authentic or creative Bavarian attire. Whether you're donning traditional clothing or putting a modern twist on it, your outfit will be a testament to your love for German culture.
Voting: What sets this contest apart is that the attendees themselves play a crucial role in determining the winners. By using the Rallie app, you can cast your vote for your favorite Lederhosen and Dirndl ensembles.
Winners will be announced on our social media pages. We will notify the winners through phone and prizes can be picked up at the end of the event or the following week at the RDC office.
PET CONTEST
Get ready for a day of furry fun and fabulous costumes at the Roxtoberfest Pet Costume Contest! Whether your pet is a spooky sensation, a charming character, or a whimsical wonder, this event is the perfect opportunity to showcase your pet! Registration: To join in on the excitement, simply register at the RDC table located at 6120 Ridge Avenue. Upon registration, you'll receive a unique number that will help identify your pet during the contest.
Parade of Pet Costumes: The main event kicks off at the charming Pocket Park, conveniently located at 6170 Ridge Avenue, where the Parade of Pet Costumes will begin promptly at 3:30 pm. This is your chance to strut your pet's stuff, so dress them up in their most fantastic attire and let their personalities shine! Expect to see a dazzling array of pets in costumes that range from adorable to hilarious.
Voting: One of the most exciting aspects of the Roxtoberfest Pet Costume Contest is that the attendees themselves get to decide the winners! Using the Rallie app, you can cast your vote for your favorite pet costumes. Winners will be announced on our social media pages. We will notify the winners through phone and prizes can be picked up at the end of the event or the following week at the RDC office.
CEMETARY TOURS
Leverington Cemetery will offer tours at 1pm and 3pm. Meet at the front gate and Don Simon will be sharing haunting historical stories from Roxborough's past.
MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT
Come ready for a full day of live entertainment, music and performances. The schedule for 2023 is as follows:
Lyceum Stage:
12:00pm – 12:45pm – Oktoberfest Band – Galena Brass
12:45pm – 1:00pm Stein Holding Competition
1:00pm – 1:45pm Old Academy Players
1:45pm – 2:15pm –Jeannette’s School of Dance/Action Karate
2:15pm – 2:30pm – Stein Holding Competition
2:30pm – 3:30pm – Moonroof
3:30pm – 3:45pm – ASH Theater Co.
3:45pm – 4:15pm – Oktoberfest Band – Galena Brass
4:45pm – 6:00pm – The Providers
Pocket Park Musicians & Competitions
12:00pm – 1:30pm Acoustic Ferrari
1:30pm – 2:00pm – Keg Tapping Ceremony with Oktoberfest Band
2:00pm – 3:30pm Kenn Kweder
3:30pm – 3:45pm Pet Costume Contest
3:45pm – 4:00pm Lederhosen & Dirndl Contest
4:30pm – 6:00pm – Shattered Figures
Leverington Avenue
1:00pm -2:00pm – Secret Circus
2:00pm – Steven Carpenter Spooky Sounds and Wizardry
3:00pm - 4:00pm – Secret Circus
4:00pm – 4:30pm Positive Movement Drumline (tentative)
5:00pm – 6:00pm Secret Circus
CONNECT AND THANKS
Roxtoberfest is organized by Roxborough Development Corporation, with support from major sponsors Roxborough Memorial Hospital, MGMT Residential, Independence Blue Cross, BSP (Baker Street Partners), ACME, KenCrest: Your Dreams. Our Mission., The Galman Group and
New Ridge Brewing Co.
Website: https://roxboroughpa.com/events/roxtoberfest-2023
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 busses 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.
ABOUT ROXBOROUGH
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.
ABOUT ROXBOROUGH DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
The Roxborough Development Corporation manages the Roxborough Business Improvement District and is dedicated to providing Roxborough residents with high quality shopping, dining and entertainment experiences.
ABOUT THE BANDS
Moonroof is a Philadelphia-based band that plays upbeat, catchy indie rock and alt-pop. Moonroof have been making waves in the indie-pop scene since their 2018 debut. With over 5 million streams on Spotify alone, Moonroof has shared the stage with indie heavyweights The Lumineers, Death Cab for Cutie, and Grouplove. The band consists of lead singer Dave Kim, drummer Dan Rendine, guitarist Francis Convery, and bassist Kevin Randolph. The band began while Dave, Dan, and Kevin were attending Bloomsburg University. After graduation, the band relocated to the Philadelphia area and continued playing shows and releasing music. The band’s music has been played on Philadelphia-area radio stations Alt 104.5 and WXPN. They have a strong social media following with engaged fans. Moonroof signed with Free Dive Records in October of 2020. After the signing, Moonroof released four singles, First, Vanilla, Sweatshirt, and Bored and Numb. Moonroof released their EP Dream State in Oct 2021, which debuted as the #2 Alternative Album behind Coldplay and #6 Overall on the Apple iTunes Top 200. Moonroof played a sold-out EP release show at MilkBoy in Philadelphia on Nov 19, 2021. In 2022, Moonroof Performed at THON at Penn State's Bryce Jordan Center, sharing the stage with Chelsea Cutler. Moonroof shared the stage with Foxtrot & The Get Down on March 18th at Underground Arts in Philadelphia. On June 11th, Moonroof played at Milkboy with Saint Slumber. Summer 2022, Moonroof stayed busy releasing more music, and playing more shows and festivals, like Musikfest, 2nd Street Fest, Beta Hi-Fi music fest, Deutshtown Music fest, and more. On August 19th, Moonroof released their newest Single Maybe Crazy, which premiered on the Alt 104.5 New Music Discovery Show. 2023 Moonroof is staying busy working on new songs and playing many shows on the east coast traveling to new areas like Ohio, Boston, playing shows and festivals.
The Providers is a cover band performing rock/pop songs from the last six decades. The name is inspired by the fact that 6 of our 10 members are medical professionals associated with Roxborough Memorial Hospital in Philadelphia, including 3 Physicians, an OR tech, X-ray Tech and a Nursing Supervisor. We play for private parties, bars and restaurants, conventions, outdoor events, etc. with any configuration from 4 to 9 performers.
The Galena Brass (aka, "The Little Brass Band of the Lehigh Valley") has been entertaining audiences since 1995. Originally started as a few friends getting together for some music and laughs one evening, the group continues to embrace this ideal. Our performances maintain the spirit of camaraderie and welcome the audience into our musical fun. You see, whether we are performing a concert, marching in a parade, providing music for ceremonies, or strolling around the streets playing “mood music,” we always delight in the fact that we are sharing our music.
Born in Upper Darby, the folk-rock musician at first wanted to be a basketball player, but he later entered the music world with his first band, Kenn Kweder & the Secret Kidds. The fiercely independent singer-songwriter has been an iconic name in Philadelphia since the early 1970’s. Noted for his musically diverse styles – his influences range from Leonard Cohen to David Bowie and Lou Reed – he continues to be a vibrant force in the local music scene.
The Old Academy Players is a non-profit community theater established in 1923 and located in the East Falls section of Philadelphia. Our home is the charming, historic Old Academy building, where Grace Kelly and Robert Prosky began their acting careers. Our troupe consists of musical theater performers who will delight the audience with a Halloween themed Broadway set.
Steven Carpenter is a live looping performance artist who explores the dimensions of a "one man band". His music is an eclectic mix of genres pulling from blues, folk, rock, funk, and jazz. The music is kaleidoscopic and polyrhythmic making it build and change throughout the course of each song. Steven enjoys playing for audiences young and old and hopes his unique style can bring generations together in the love of music.