The 14th Annual Roxtoberfest Returns With 100+ Food Trucks, a Scarecrow Walk, Pet Costume Contest, Beer Stein Competition, & More
The 14th Annual Roxtoberfest Returns With 100+ Food Trucks, a Scarecrow Walk, Pet Costume Contest, Beer Stein Competition, & More
The Roxborough Development Corporation (RDC) will host the 14th annual Roxtoberfest on Saturday, October 3, from noon to 6 p.m., transforming Ridge Avenue between Lyceum Avenue and Leverington Avenue into one of Philadelphia’s largest Oktoberfest and fall festival celebrations. The event is free and open to the public, with food and drink available on a pay-as-you-go basis.
Roxtoberfest has grown from a small neighborhood street festival into one of the city’s oldest and most well-attended Oktoberfest celebrations, drawing thousands of attendees for a day of live entertainment, local food and drink, family activities and community programming.
Jax Cusack, Executive Director of the Roxborough Development Corporation, said the festival has grown significantly over the years but remains centered on bringing the community together. Cusack described the event as a celebration of the neighborhood’s businesses, artists, community organizations, families and neighbors, and one of the organization’s favorite ways to welcome fall.
The festival will feature more than 100 food trucks and local eateries. Food trucks scheduled to participate include A Taste of Philly, Deke’s BBQ, Federal Donuts, Frios Gourmet Pops, Humpty’s Dumplings, Taqueria Los Gallos and Hardee’s. Local eateries include Roma Cafe, Lenny’s Hoagies, Santucci’s, New Ridge Brewing Company, Fly South Coffee, Jenny’s Smoothies, Roma Pizza and Taylor’s Cafe.
Beverage options will include New Ridge Brewing Company, which will serve its Fiestbier and pumpkin beer Horror Business at its taproom near the pocket park and at additional festival locations; Foodery, located at 6148 Ridge Ave., offering craft beer and seasonal slushies; and Peck Miller’s, known for Jell-O shots and serving as a gathering spot after the festival.
The festival will feature three stages throughout the afternoon: the RoxYunk Porchfest stage, presented by Roxborough Memorial Hospital, and the Community Stage, presented by Jefferson Health. Performers include Emmanuel Ohemeng III, Perpetual Motion, The Band Joe, Action Karate and Pretzel Theater Co., with additional lineup details to be announced. The Galena Brass Band will perform traditional Oktoberfest oompah music from 1 to 3 p.m.
The Roxborough Development Corporation is again partnering with Friends of Gorgas Park for the Roxborough Scarecrow Walk along Ridge Avenue, extending from Leverington Avenue to Hermitage Street. Local businesses, organizations and community members will create scarecrows for festivalgoers to view and vote on, with prizes awarded for best, funniest and quirkiest scarecrows.
The PAWrade & Costume Contest returns this year, inviting pets to participate in a costume parade in Pocket Park beginning at 3 p.m., with the Jefferson Health Community Stage serving as the event’s backdrop. Pets will compete across four categories: Best Costume, Best Strut/Wag, Most Creative and Best in Show.
The festival will include its traditional Beer Stein Competition for adults, testing participants’ strength and endurance holding a full stein, along with a Root Beer Stein Competition for children. Both competitions will take place at the Main Stage at Ridge and Lyceum, with registration available at the stage.
The Roxtoberfest Kids Zone will be located in Roxborough Pocket Park from noon to 5 p.m., featuring balloon animals, carnival games, three-hole mini golf, and entertainment from Bloom the Flower Fairy and Fauve the Animal Fairy.
This year’s festival includes several new additions: award-winning pumpkin carver John Zeggert will perform live carving demonstrations from noon to 4 p.m.; The Great Fairy Games will offer an interactive, all-ages game show featuring Bloom the Flower Fairy and Fauve the Animal Fairy; and a new Community Wellness Village, presented by IBX, will offer local health and wellness resources, raffles, stretching, strength testing and massages.
Historic Leverington Cemetery, presented by the Central Roxborough Civic Association, will be open throughout the festival, offering visitors the chance to learn about early settlers, Revolutionary War patriots, Civil War veterans and other notable figures connected to Roxborough’s history.
Vendors and Community Groups
Participating vendors and community organizations include:
Alejandra & Co, Art By Alicia, Build a Balloon, CeCe Sows, Central Roxborough Civic Association, Chop Shop, Cracked Bell, Deke’s BBQ, Emily Burke Art, Fairmount Behavioral Health, Federal Donuts, Frios, Hammy’s Workshop, Hardy’s Funnel Cake, HBN Designs, Humpty’s Dumplings, IBX, It’s a Janda, Jefferson Healthcare Partners, JK Custom, JoAnn Cannon, JoAnn the Balloon Artist, Kathryn Maxwell, LaBella’s Paper Petals, Lily Lough, Lindsey Jeane Designs, Lulu Stunner Haute, Macramaybee, Mag Hugg, Maker Missya, Manayunk Roxborough Art Center, Metz Art Gallery, New Ridge, North Light Community Center, NRG/Green Mountain, Palestine Lodge, Philadelphia Candle Co., Piggy Back Treats, Pressed Vibrations, Ray’s Appliances, Rebel Potters, Rep. Tarik Khan, Rox Library, Roxborough Memorial Hospital, RoxYunk Conservancy, S & T Bank, Sarah Beahm Illustration, Sidewalk Press, Sisterly Threads, Solar Sunglasses, Sow & Sew, Summit Apartments, Sunny Ayre Arts, Taqueria Los Gallos, Taste of Philly, The 50/50 Company, The Dermatologist Solutions, The Little Sicilian, The Third Space Collective, Thrive, Trippie Times, Truist, VFW 333 Hattal-Taylor, Village on the Ridge, and Vybe Urgent Care.
