The Top 17 Things To Look Forward To In Philadelphia This Fall 2015

Posted by Jillian Wilson

Filed in: ATTRACTIONS

Philadelphia, a huge season is in store for fall 2015.

Autumn in the City of Brotherly Live begins with a historic moment when Pope Francis visits Philadelphia for the first time ever and hundreds of thousands of pilgrims make their way to Philadelphia to celebrate his arrival.

Beyond this weekend’s papal festivities, fall in Philadelphia means a visit from the Dalai Lama in October, the debut of Philadelphia’s first-ever major observation deck, gigantic exhibitions, the return of blockbuster fall festivals (hello, Harry Potter Festival and Midtown Village Fall Fest) and much, much more.

Read on for our guide to the top 17 things to look forward to this fall in Philadelphia.

1. The Historic Visit of Pope Francis to Philadelphia This Weekend

It’s no secret that we are very excited for World Meeting of Families and Pope Francis’ visit to Philadelphia. Tens of thousands of people from around the globe will converge on Philadelphia to hear Pope Francis say a public mass, speak at Independence Hall and take part in two Papal processions. The festivities also include a free concert with Andrea Bocelli, Aretha Franklin, Sister Sledge, The Fray and more. MORE INFO

2. The Dalai Lama’s Visit to Philadelphia to Receive the Liberty Medal in October

The spiritual leader of millions, the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet, visits Philadelphia for two days of official events this fall. In recognition of his ongoing work to promote peace and freedom, the National Constitution Center awards this year’s Liberty Medal to the Dalai Lama and the public will have two opportunities to hear him speak – a presentation at LaSalle University on October 26 and at the Liacouras Center on October 27. His visit will also be highlighted by a Day of Kindness on October 26, a series of public events and activities focusing on messages of peace, hope and kindness. MORE INFO

3. Philly’s First Major Observation Deck to Open at One Liberty Place in November

Soon, not only birds will be able to enjoy over-the-rooftops views in Philadelphia. This November, soaring skylines will be the highlight of the One Liberty Observation Deck. From high atop the 57th floor of Liberty Place, visitors will be gobsmacked by the 360-degree landscapes that stretch for miles. MORE INFO

4. Open Source – Mural Arts’ Month-long, Public, Outdoor Citywide Exhibition – Debuts In October

This October, Mural Arts debuts Open Source: Engaging Audiences in Public Space. Curated by internationally renowned artist Pedro Alonzo, Mural Arts has engaged 14 local and international artists to create a series of site-specific installations in a public outdoor temporary exhibition that address the core tenets of Mural Arts’ mission. MORE INFO

5. 41 Soaring New Light Towers Debut Along North Broad Street This Fall

This fall, bright lights on the Avenue of the Arts, Philadelphia’s Broad Street arts and nightlife district, will go to the next level with a new lighting and landscaping installation. A section of North Broad, from Hamilton Street to Glenwood Avenue, will be the site of an impressive new urban beautification project. The street-lighting project will consist of 41 light masts each towering 55 feet in the air — lining the center of the street along a 2.5-mile stretch of thoroughfare. MORE INFO

Philadelphia’s new light masts — composed of 55-foot tall columns of internally lit LED lights — will stretch along a 2.5-mile stretch of North Broad Street — and have begun to be installed with completion scheduled for later this fall.
(Rendering courtesy Bohlin Cywinski Jackson)

More, below.

6. Temple Football To Take on Notre Dame at Lincoln Financial Field on Halloween

On the heels of an exciting 3-0 start – including a win over Penn State; the first in 74 years – Temple football has serious buzz. Perennial college football powerhouse Notre Dame, currently ranked sixth in the nation, arrives to play Temple in Philadelphia for the first time ever. This will be the first time Notre Dame takes on a Philadelphia university football team in Philadelphia since 1955. Here’s hoping for an epic contest and a win for the Cherry and White. For the moment, tickets are still available. MORE INFO

7. The Grand Opening of Pier 68 on the Delaware River Waterfront in October

On October 1, the Delaware River Waterfront will welcome Pier 68, a space that is complete with picnic areas, spots for fishing, lounging and more. The once-abandoned space at 1751 S. Columbus Boulevard will be South Philly’s latest spot to hang out along the waterfront. MORE INFO

Next week, Pier 68 will transform from a once-abandoned space into an oasis for fishing and hanging out along the waterfront in South Philly. (Image courtesy Brian Hanes Studio) CLICK TO ENLARGE

8. Harry Potter Festival Weekend Returns to Chestnut Hill in October

The huge annual Harry Potter Festival returns to Chestnut Hill Friday, October 16 and Saturday, October 17 for two days of events that magically morph the already-charming neighborhood into the fictional world created by author J.K. Rowling. The festivities kick off with a pub crawl throughout the town on Friday, and continue on Saturday with Horcrux scavenger hunt, a fall maze at Woodmere Art Museum, Defense Against the Dark Arts classes, sorting hat demonstrations, fortune tellers and more. MORE INFO

9. The First-Ever Philly Cheesesteak Festival Hits The Linc In October

Philadelphia’s first-ever major Cheesesteak Festival will hit Lincoln Financial Field on Saturday, October 24. The festival will feature cheesesteaks from more than 40 vendors, the construction of the world’s longest cheesesteak and a cheesesteak eating competition. Cheesesteak fans will not want to miss it. MORE INFO

10. More Blockbuster Fall Festivals Hit Philly Every Weekend in October

Fall is prime festival season in Philadelphia with events celebrating autumn’s bounty, the local art scene, craft brews and more. Look forward to the Fishtown Night Market on October 1,Midtown Village Fall Festival on October 3, Bloktoberfest on October 3, Design Philadelphia from October 8 through 16, Old City Fest on October 11, and many more.MORE INFO

11. Philadelphia Marathon Blankets The City For a Weekend in November

Philadelphia Marathon Weekend will return from November 20 through 22 with health and fitness expos, fun runs and the main event — the annual marathon and half-marathon on November 22. MORE INFO

12. Grand Opening of The Fillmore Music Hall in Fishtown in October

Philadelphia’s music scene ought to flourish in 2015 with the opening of The Fillmore Philadelphia, a new venue from the House of Blues Entertainment.The Ajax Metal Factory on Frankford Avenue in Fishtown will debut as a modern music hall and entertainment venue this October. MORE INFO

13. Bloomingdale’s to Open its First-Ever Center City Store in November

This November, another major player will join the shopping ranks in Philadelphia: Bloomingdale’s, The Outlet Store will open in the Shops at Liberty Place at 1625 Chestnut Street. The 22,700-square-foot space will occupy a vacant space on the second floor of the mall accessible from the corner of 17th and Chestnut Streets. The store will be the first Bloomingdale’s Outlet in the Philadelphia area. MORE INFO

This November, Bloomingdale’s, The Outlet will open at the Shops at Liberty Place. (Image via The Shops at Liberty Place)

14. Opening of the New Permanent SportsZone Exhibition at The Franklin Institute

The Franklin Institute’s long-standing Sports Challenge exhibition has undergone a major $3.1 million redesign and will emerge this October as SportsZone, a 3,600-square-foot permanent exhibition that will celebrate the science of sports while also honoring Philadelphia’s love of sports and the great teams that call Philly home. MORE INFO

The Franklin Institute celebrates the science of sports with a brand-new (and permanent!) immersive exhibition, SportsZone. (Photo courtesy The Franklin Institute)

15. Exhibition Celebrating 150th Anniversary of Alice in WonderlandOpens at the Rosenbach in October

When Alice began her fantastical journey 150 years ago, the world rushed to follow her adventures in wonderland. The Rosenbach of the Free Library of Philadelphia celebrates the sesquicentennial of the surreal tale with Down the Rabbit Hole: Celebrating 150 Years of Alice in Wonderland, a host of exhibitions and programs that explore the literary classic, debuting on October 14. MORE INFO

16. Audubon to Warhol: The Art of American Still Life Opens at the PMA in Late October

In an unusual match-up of artists, the Philadelphia Museum of Art weaves together Audubon’s classic illustrations, Hartnett’s magical trompe l’oeils, Warhol’s humorous pop art and other masters of still life in one exhibition opening October 27. Featuring oil paintings, watercolors, and works in other media, Audubon to Warhol: The Art of American Still Life displays 130 masterpieces, some rarely seen, drawn from private and public collections across the country. Opening on October 27. MORE INFO

17. More Than 20 Awesome New Restaurants Opening in Philly This Fall

Over the past few weeks, Philadelphia has seen a burst of excellent new restaurants — Bud and Marilyn’s, Bar Bombón, Whetstone and Fourth and Cross. Over the next few months, the dining scene will grow even further with Neuf from chef Joncarl Lochman of Noord, Hungry Pigeon from chef Scott Schroeder, Kanella Queen Village and much more. MORE INFO

From Jillian Wilson, www.uwishunu.com