Panda Fest Is Making Its Return to Philly This Fall With Two Days of Food, Fun, and of Course, a Giant Panda
After a sold-out debut this past spring, Panda Fest is making its highly anticipated return to Philly. Created by Xuan (BiuBiu) Xu, the two-day celebration of Asian food and culture will once again take over Dilworth Park at City Hall on Saturday and Sunday, October 4–5. This fall’s event promises an even bigger experience, with more vendors, expanded space, and increased capacity to welcome guests from across the region.
Running from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday and until 8 p.m. on Sunday, the festival will continue its mission to highlight the vibrancy of Asian cuisine and traditions, all while celebrating the symbolic and much-loved panda. Upon entering the festival, visitors will be greeted by a towering 15-foot inflatable panda, setting the tone for a weekend filled with culinary discovery and cultural connection.
More than 60 food vendors will be on site, offering a wide array of street foods from countries including China, Japan, Thailand, Korea, Vietnam, the Philippines, and beyond. Alongside the food, guests can expect cultural performances, games, raffles, merchandise booths, and family activities designed for all ages. Children under five are welcome to attend for free, and the event remains stroller- and pet-friendly.
Tickets go on sale Friday, August 8 at 10 a.m., with early bird general admission tickets priced at $10 for the first 100 sold per time slot. After that, general admission is $14, and VIP tickets are available for $25. All attendees will receive two free gifts: a custom panda pin featuring a Philly theme and an inflatable headband. VIP guests will enjoy an additional exclusive panda-themed bag and expedited entry access.
The spring edition of Panda Fest drew more than 250,000 attendees across five cities, including Atlanta, Boston, Seattle, and Minnesota. Due to the overwhelming response in both Philadelphia and Atlanta, Xu and her team chose these two cities for the fall return.
Panda Fest is a spin-off of Dragon Fest, a festival launched in 2023 that connects communities to Asian food, artists, and cultural traditions. Since its inception, Dragon Fest has hosted 21 events nationwide, attracting over 500,000 attendees. With Panda Fest now becoming one of the largest outdoor Asian food events in the U.S., the organizers are aiming to make it a bi-annual tradition in Philadelphia.
“Philadelphia welcomed us with open arms this past spring, and we couldn’t be more excited to return,” said Xu. “We’ve listened to the feedback and are working to make this fall’s event even more accessible and enjoyable. With more vendors, additional food and drink options, and greater capacity, we’re looking forward to another amazing weekend in the City of Brotherly Love.”
