Philadelphia County packs the weekend of Friday, October 2 through Sunday, October 4, 2026 with two free street festivals, a Revolutionary War reenactment, an Italian market tradition, the season opener for Halloween Nights, and an Eagles home game against the Rams. Every event below was verified against official event pages, venue sites and local news, with the neighborhood, venue, days, times and cost written out so you can build your own itinerary.
Friday, October 2: Haunted Nights, First Fridays and a Concert
Halloween Nights at Eastern State Penitentiary
Neighborhood: Fairmount, Philadelphia
Venue: Eastern State Penitentiary, 2027 Fairmount Avenue
When: Opens Friday, October 2, then select nights through Saturday, November 7; evening entry windows roughly 7-10 PM
Cost: Tickets required and sold in advance, about $49-$79 for general admission depending on the night
The historic prison's immersive Halloween experience opens its 35th season this Friday with five haunted houses, live performances, themed bars and museum exhibits; see the official schedule and pricing before booking.
First Fridays at Cherry Street Pier
Neighborhood: Old City, Philadelphia
Venue: Cherry Street Pier, along the Delaware River
When: Friday, October 2, monthly First Friday crawl
Cost: Free
Artist studios, pop-up markets and exhibit openings make this a relaxed way to ease into the weekend; it is one of many free First Friday options covered in Visit Philadelphia's October roundup.
Jonas Brothers at the Wells Fargo Center
Venue: Wells Fargo Center, South Philadelphia Sports Complex
When: Friday, October 2, 7:30 PM
Cost: Ticketed concert
The Jonas Brothers bring their fall tour to Philadelphia on opening night of the weekend; tickets are sold through the venue and Ticketmaster. The 35th Philadelphia Film Festival (October 1-25) and the DesignPhiladelphia Festival (October 1-11) also run across the city all weekend, spotlighted on Visit Philadelphia's October events guide.
Saturday, October 3: History in the Morning, Festivals All Day
Revolutionary Germantown Festival
Neighborhood: Germantown, Philadelphia
Venue: Cliveden, 6401 Germantown Avenue, plus Historic Germantown sites
When: Saturday, October 3, 10 AM-4 PM, rain or shine
Cost: Free
Reenactments, Chew House tours and open historic sites mark the 249th anniversary of the 1777 Battle of Germantown; details are on the Cliveden event page. While you are in the neighborhood, our Germantown community guide covers the area's housing and daily life.
Chinatown Mid-Autumn Festival
Neighborhood: Chinatown, Philadelphia
Venue: 10th Street near the Friendship Gate at 10th & Arch
When: Saturday, October 3, noon-8 PM (rescheduled from September 26 due to weather)
Cost: Free
The 31st annual Mid-Autumn Festival, hosted by Asian Americans United, brings lion dances, Korean drumming, Chinese opera, cultural performances, carnival games, a mooncake-eating contest and a lantern parade to 10th Street; see the official festival page for the program.
Old City Creative Block Party (Old City Fest)
Neighborhood: Old City, Philadelphia
Venue: North 3rd Street from Arch to Race
When: Saturday, October 3, 11 AM-6 PM
Cost: Free admission; food and drink pay-as-you-go
Art, design, craft and culture take over a closed street with 100+ vendors, live music, a family fun zone and a creative economy showcase presented with the DesignPhiladelphia Festival; more on the Old City District event page. For more on the neighborhood, browse our Old City community guide.
Evil Genius Beer Company 15th Anniversary Block Party
Neighborhood: Fishtown, Philadelphia
Venue: Evil Genius Beer Company, Fishtown
When: Saturday, October 3
Cost: Free street festival; food and drink pay-as-you-go
The Fishtown brewery's 15th anniversary block party features roughly ten hours of live music across multiple stages, about 50 local vendors, and a headline set from Wheatus; see the PhillyVoice rundown for the lineup. If Fishtown interests you as a place to live, our Fishtown community guide is a good starting point.
Sunday, October 4: Eagles Football and an Italian Street Festival
Eagles vs. Los Angeles Rams
Venue: Lincoln Financial Field, South Philadelphia Sports Complex
When: Sunday, October 4, 1 PM
Cost: Ticketed NFL game
The Philadelphia Eagles host the Los Angeles Rams in a 1 PM kickoff, broadcast on FOX; parking and gate details are on the Lincoln Financial Field events page. Budget extra time for sports-complex traffic if you are heading to the game.
St. Nicholas of Tolentine Authentic Italian Festival
Neighborhood: South Philadelphia (Italian Market district)
Venue: 1700 block of South 9th Street
When: Sunday, October 4, noon-8 PM (rain date Sunday, October 11)
Cost: Free admission; food, games and shopping pay-as-you-go
Held every first Sunday of October since 1987, this family-friendly Italian festival opens with a religious procession at noon and fills the block with food, music and games; see the official festival site for details. Nearby, our Bella Vista community guide covers the Italian Market neighborhood.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's happening in Philadelphia this weekend, October 2-4, 2026?
The big draws are the Eagles hosting the Rams on Sunday at 1 PM, Halloween Nights at Eastern State Penitentiary opening Friday, and two free Saturday festivals: the 31st Chinatown Mid-Autumn Festival (noon-8 PM on 10th Street) and the Old City Creative Block Party (11 AM-6 PM on North 3rd Street).
What can families do this weekend?
The Revolutionary Germantown Festival at Cliveden (Saturday, 10 AM-4 PM, free) is built for families with reenactments and house tours, while the Chinatown Mid-Autumn Festival adds carnival games, crafts and a lantern parade for children. The Old City Creative Block Party also includes a dedicated family fun zone on Saturday afternoon.
Are there any free events in Philadelphia this weekend?
Yes. Free events include the Revolutionary Germantown Festival, the Chinatown Mid-Autumn Festival, the Old City Creative Block Party, First Fridays at Cherry Street Pier and the St. Nicholas of Tolentine Italian Festival. Paid events include Halloween Nights at Eastern State and the Eagles game on Sunday.
What festivals are happening in Philadelphia this weekend?
Saturday, October 3 has two street festivals: the Chinatown Mid-Autumn Festival and the Old City Creative Block Party. Sunday, October 4 brings the St. Nicholas of Tolentine Italian Festival in South Philadelphia, while the Philadelphia Film Festival and DesignPhiladelphia Festival both run citywide all weekend.
Smarty's Pick: Chinatown Mid-Autumn Festival
My pick for Philadelphia County this weekend is the 31st annual Chinatown Mid-Autumn Festival on Saturday, October 3, noon-8 PM on 10th Street near the Friendship Gate. It is free, family-friendly and completely different from the usual fall fair: lion dances, mooncakes, carnival games and a lantern parade that lights up Chinatown. Come hungry, come early, and stay for the evening lantern parade.
A Note on Plans: Confirm Before You Go
Event times, parking, vendors and ticket prices can shift as the weekend gets closer, so confirm details with each organizer before you head out. A quick check of the official event pages linked above is the best way to avoid a closed gate or a sold-out entry window.
Make a Weekend of It: Scout a Neighborhood
Festival weekends are also a great time to explore a neighborhood you might call home. Notice how the streets feel, whether parking is easy, and whether the shops and restaurants match your routine. For honest, local guidance on which communities fit your wish list, schedule a chat with Smarty, and compare the rest of the region in our Philadelphia Region weekend guide.
