Festival season is officially underway in the City of Brotherly Love, and Northern Liberties will debut its own version of the fun with its Spring Fest.

Set for Saturday, May 9, at 3rd and Poplar and Liberty Lands, the event will feature an array of tasty fare, entertainment and plenty of other quirky surprises from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

“Northern Liberties has always been a neighborhood that defies easy description,” says NLBID Executive Director Sydney Rexroad. “It’s creative, it’s historic, it’s growing and it’s deeply local. Spring Festival is our way of throwing open the doors and celebrating everything that makes us unique and different. It is a true block party for the whole community — families, foodies, music lovers, dog owners, art collectors, you name it.”

The Liberty Lands Kids’ Zone, for one, will feature performances and hands-on exploration for youngsters, including Kids Yoga, a showing of ‘Hansel and Gretel’ by Liberty City Arts, banjo music from Huston West and an energetic showcase from Living Arts Dance Studio. Kids can also bounce between playful “garden spots,” experiment with hula hoops, build and stack, or engage their senses through simple activities like seed scooping while here.

Additionally, Ortlieb’s — with roots dating back to the 1860s in the neighborhood — will host a Hot Dog Hangout with local vendors and a curated stage of local artists throughout the day. A hot dog eating contest will also be housed in the space starting at 5:15 p.m.

The Spring Fest’s centerpiece, however, is the selection of local vendors setting up shop to sell their creative goods to the public.

Locals can sift through finds from Ray’s Reusables, Trunc, Indy Hall, Botanical Funk, Carly’s Crochet Critters, Philly Candles, Petal to the Metal Decor,  Lunar Sparkles Glitter Bar, Dulce Creations and much, much more.  

Food and drink-wise, Spring Fest will also feature scratch-made deep-fried fusion dumplings from Humpty’s Dumplings, premium ice cream with dairy and vegan flavors from Milk Jawn, Mexican favorites/Texas BBQ from El Camino Real, fresh-made focaccia bread from Hudson Table, and plenty of other bites and sips.  

“One of our core missions is to make Northern Liberties a destination, not just a place to pass through,” adds Rexroad. “This festival puts our small businesses, artists and restaurants front and center, and that’s exactly where they belong. We’re incredibly proud of the community that shows up and shows out in this neighborhood every single day.”

To find out more information on Northern Liberties Spring Fest, visit explorenorthernliberties.org

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