The Rittenhouse Row Festival is This Weekend and Will Feature Plenty of Food, Shopping and Family Fun
If you know you know. Every first Saturday of fall Rittenhouse shuts down a corridor along Walnut Street to host their annual Rittenhouse Row Festival. This Saturday September 25th from 10 am – 6 pm, festival goers will be able to enjoy plenty of food, shopping and family fun. The Rittenhouse Row Festival 2021 is a Covid-friendly, 2021 iteration of the organization’s beloved annual event, the Rittenhouse Row Spring Festival. The day is a free, public celebration of Rittenhouse Row intended to expose attendees from all over the region to the best shopping, dining, culture and family fun. This year is especially poignant, as a true welcome back party for the area’s treasured office workers.
“It’s not going to look like the festivals we ran since the late 90’s, it can’t…but what it will be is a day where the whole area feels special, is extra welcoming and has surprises to create joy in passersby. It’s a new formula that we will recreate seasonally,” said Corie Moskow, Executive Director, Rittenhouse Row.
Rittenhouse Row is a 501C6 non-profit organization that is a catalyst for commerce and community in the commercial district around Rittenhouse Square, between the Avenue of the Arts to the Schuylkill River and the Parkway to South Street. Rittenhouse Row’s goals are to present an appealing neighborhood experience characterized by a deeply engaged commercial community. We present a strong image and have two decades of experience in leading this district and strong relationships with our neighbors. The organization is the voice of the neighborhood’s high-end consumer-facing businesses.
THE RITTENHOUSE ROW OUTDOOR DINING ROOMS/THE BACKDROP
The City of Philadelphia, Center City District and Rittenhouse Row have collaborated to create unique and refined, socially distanced dining experiences with multiple streeteries and pedestrian thoroughfares on closed Rittenhouse streets. The program soft-launched for proof of concept on Labor Day weekend in 2020. Since then, Rittenhouse Row has worked to grow the Dining Rooms through expanded day parts, seven day a week closures and new Dining Rooms within the neighborhood established seasonally. The Outdoor Dining Rooms represent the best of Rittenhouse Row experiences, the best of our pivot from the pandemic and the best visual representation of how life in Philadelphia can still be beautifully lived. We developed the 2021 Festival to make the most of the new footprint established by the hard-working Streetery team, led by the Commerce Department.
The Rittenhouse Row Festival will thoughtfully present sponsored activity areas that are spread out throughout the area in key open spaces to offer unique sponsor driven programming for the day that complements the special experiences that the area’s small businesses contribute year-round. Our small businesses continue to push forward to create world-class experiences.
KEY ACTIVITIES INCLUDE
The Festival footprint will expand beyond Walnut Street to include areas adjacent to our Rittenhouse Row Outdoor Dining Rooms, and key points of hospitality and commerce. Walnut Street will remain open to vehicular traffic on 19th Street
The Spa at The Rittenhouse will offer chair massages, free samples and share information about memberships (just past 19th)
Firsttrust Bank Corner at 19th and Walnut will have a visit Trusty from 11-2 and from Swoop and The Eagles Cheerleaders from 1-2, plus giveaways, prize wheel and games. Metropolitan Bakery is ready for fall with new selections featuring French berry rolls, canelle, kuouign amann and artisan bread selections.
At 5:00 p.m., the public is invited to attend the ribbon cutting for the first new small business to open in Rittenhouse this fall, The Goat, at 1907 Sansom Street. Finally, after 20 years of friendship, Fergus Carey and Jason Evenchik, of The Vintage Syndicate, have teamed up to remodel, and relaunch The Goat, as “The Goat Rittenhouse” an upscale neighborhood bar located at 1907 Sansom Street. The beverage menu features classic cocktails, your favorite draft and bottled beers, and a curated wine list. The food menu has been created by Mackenzie Hilton, Executive Chef of Time, Heritage and Vintage Wine Bar and boasts quality ingredients with approachable dishes.
As an homage to the history of the location the beautiful glass racks of Oh! Shea’s Pub remain, however, the rest of the space has been transformed once again into a neighborhood bar that befits it’s Rittenhouse address, with a clean uncluttered aesthetic that embraces mid century ideas. It now features Carrera marble bar tops with wired glass overhead, a pool table, and booth seating that invites larger groups to come and congregate.
The second bar is now separated from the main room by sliding doors and a communal high top observation table. This space will be perfect for happy hour parties or semi private events.
After a very long shut down, The Goat Rittenhouse is finally opened Tuesday to Sunday from 5pm to 2am. Brunch, lunch and Mondays to follow soon.
Pop Up performance from the University of Pennsylvania Band from 4-6 p.m.
18th Street
18th and Walnut (park side, backing up to TD Bank): Visit INFINITI and experience the all-new 2022 INFINITI QX60. Find out how the QX60 can help you conquer life in style.
Stop by PhillyLiving’s booth on 18th and Walnut Street, in front of A. Kitchen. This full service real estate team will have a balloon maker and lots of great raffle prizes that you won’t want to miss including a ring doorbell, a CB2 gift card, 6 months of free home security, and the opportunity to list your home for free with PhillyLiving.
Inspired by the Rittenhouse Farmers Market, Via Locusta will be featuring a Honey Crisp Apple Spritzer this Saturday for Rittenhouse Row Festival. Come see us for brunch starting at 10am!” In the parking lane from The Dandelion to Chestnut, Two Robbers Takeover-free tastings in the tent next to Dandelion, with specials on Two Robbers at Cleavers and Tria next to the tent
Mac Mart: Fall into the season with everyone’s favorite comfort-food classic: Mac n’ cheese made anyway you want it. What could be Cheddar than Getting Your Mac On while supporting a family-owned small business? We promise it’ll make you melt… Mention RittRow festival or seeing this post and get a 1lb Marts Mac for just $5.00 with purchase.
DiBruno Bros. will feature delicious fall coffee beverages and cider at the coffee bar and we have a bunch of great Pumpkin and Oktoberfest ales and beer in the Bottle Shop, as well as the newest Di Bruno Bros wine collaboration, DB Grigio, from Oregon, zesty pinot grigio in collaboration with Maloof wines.
Rittenhouse Square
Extended hours for the Rittenhouse Square Farmer’s Market open until 3:00 p.m.
Across the street, on the sidewalk between Anthropologie and Barnes and Noble and in front of The Alison Building, the former location of Barney’s New York and 1845 Walnut… Councilman Domb’s Constituent Action Booth
Meet The Rounds with giveaways and a raffle for 10 free memberships to The Rounds, a new sustainable amenity service that stocks your home with everyday items with zero packaging waste and zero boxes.
1700 Block of Walnut
The Jim Beam® Flavors Find Your Flavor Experience invites consumers to learn about the versatile product offerings and discover their favorite flavor. The footprint features a variety of fun and interactive elements to create the ultimate immersive experience, including custom flavor walls, photo engagement, games, and, of course, delicious samples of Jim Beam® Flavors. A pop up shop for We Are Philly Merchandise that feeds Philadelphians in need Bucky Body Center will offer consults and free samples of luxurious Augustinus Bader products Rothman wellness booth Pop up workouts from Rittenhouse Row fitness studios and trainers Strong. Enduring. Resilient. The newest Collection Tiffany Knot balances strength and elegance. It’s about taking something light and sensual, like a cord, thread, or wire and turning it into something delicate but tough. Join us to discover Tiffany Knot along with other iconic jewelry collections from Tiffany & Co.
1600 Block of Walnut
The Sisterly Love Food Fair returns to Rittenhouse Row. On the 1600 Block of Walnut Street from 10-6, look for an extra large rendition featuring: Bridget Foy’s, Charcuterie Chic, Dock Street Brewery. Essen Bakery, Elizabeth Payton Creations, Feel Goodies, Fishtown Pickle Project, Heirzoom Bakery, Kismet Bagels, Kouklet Bakehouse, Lil Pop Shop, Lone Wolf Jewelry, Maker Missya, Milk Jawn, Noshes By Sherri, Poppa’s Custard, Puyero, Sazon, The Scrunchie Club, Sri’s Company, Tarta, Viva Leaf Tea
Visit the Xfinity Experience to get tips on creating the ultimate in-home WiFi with Xfinity xFi; Find out how Xfinity Mobile can save you money; and Experience Xfinity X1 and the award-winning Voice Remote.
The Aardvark new screen truck will display images of Rittenhouse while a DJ from Norma Michaels Entertainment plays, set to beautiful art images from Rittenhouse Row’s galleries
1500 Block of Walnut
While taking in all that the festival has to offer, be sure to stop by and raise a toast with a refreshingly bright Blue Moon beer at 15th and Walnut
Republic Bank Family Play Zone at Syndenham Street features photos and selfies with R-Dog, jump rope competition, sidewalk chalk art gallery, yo yo competition, and more giveaways.
Primp and Play Kids Area with rainbow hair extensions, glitter tattoos and make and take primping crafts
Ripped fitness booth
Center City District Welcome Kiosk in front of Starbucks
Kimmel Center: Promoting the new branding of the Kimmel Cultural Campus, with branded giveaways, as well as enter to win tickets to see Anastasia, Stomp and Pretty Woman.
Dviniti Skincare: Giveaways and free skincare consults
Around The Neighborhood
Healing Arts Community Acupuncture will be doing a pop-up in front of their office at 2012 Walnut St and offering mini acupuncture treatments, giveaways of free private and community treatments as well as swag giveaways.
PIzzata Pizzeria will offer 10% off all orders for the RittRow event on Saturday, Sept 25th to those who mention the code word “pizzata party”.
Hoorsenbuhs Debuts at Joan Shepp
Visit the Rouge Garden Streetery for the last weekend before it renovates for Fall
