42nd Annual Fall for the Arts Festival Returns to Chestnut Hill With 300+ Artists and Vendors

42nd Annual Fall for the Arts Festival Returns to Chestnut Hill With 300+ Artists and Vendors

The 42nd annual Fall for the Arts Festival will return to Chestnut Hill on September 27, bringing more than 300 artists and vendors to Germantown Avenue for one of the neighborhood’s largest annual events. The festival runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is free and open to the public.

Fall for the Arts transforms Germantown Avenue into an open-air arts destination, featuring paintings, photography, pottery, jewelry, woodwork and other handcrafted pieces from artists across the region. In addition to the artist market, the event includes live music and entertainment, artist demonstrations, interactive workshops, and opportunities to explore the galleries, shops and restaurants throughout Chestnut Hill.

Chestnut Hill’s connection to the arts dates back more than a century, tracing to Woodmere, an art museum founded when collector and civic leader Charles Knox Smith began welcoming visitors to view his art collection in 1910. That collection eventually developed into one of Chestnut Hill’s most prominent cultural institutions.

Today, Woodmere occupies two 19th-century stone mansions across 10 acres and focuses on the art and artists of Philadelphia. Its collection includes more than 11,000 works, and the museum holds accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums, a distinction held by approximately 3% of museums nationwide. In 2025, Woodmere expanded with the opening of the Frances M. Maguire Hall for Art & Education, adding 14 galleries, a children’s art and education studio, and additional public space.

Beyond Woodmere, Chestnut Hill’s arts community includes a number of galleries, such as NoName Gallery, Gallery on the Avenue, The Little Gallery, Borrelli’s Chestnut Hill Gallery and Gravers Lane Gallery, each showcasing work from local, regional and national artists. The neighborhood also hosts Arts & Eats First Fridays, a monthly event held on the first Friday of each month that turns Germantown Avenue into an evening celebration of the arts, featuring after-hours gallery access, exhibitions, demonstrations, lectures and live music, alongside participation from local restaurants and retailers.

2026 Festival Highlights

• More than 300 artists and vendors — Original artwork and handcrafted pieces spanning painting, photography, sculpture, pottery, jewelry and woodworking
• Makers Village — Opportunities to meet artists and makers and watch live demonstrations throughout the day
• Live music and entertainment — Performances throughout Germantown Avenue
• Interactive art experiences — Hands-on demonstrations, workshops and creative activities
• Family-friendly activities — Arts-focused programming for young artists and families
• Shopping and dining on the Avenue — Access to Chestnut Hill’s independent galleries, boutiques, restaurants and businesses throughout the festival