Philadelphia, PA – South Philadelphia’s largest and oldest Halloween tradition is back! Nice Things Handmade, in partnership with the East Passyunk Avenue Business Improvement District, announces the return of East Passyunk Fall Fest on Saturday, October 31, 2026, from 11:00am to 4:00pm. This all-ages, all-day celebration will close East Passyunk Avenue to traffic from Morris to Dickinson Streets, centering around the iconic Singing Fountain, with additional festivities extending up to Mifflin Triangle, The Gateway, and Broad Street.
Celebrate all things autumn and make it a spooky Saturday with 110+ artists, makers, vintage vendors, Avenue businesses and community groups line the Avenue alongside live music, pop-up activations, Hocus Pocus outdoor screening, trick-or-treating for kids, seasonal food and drinks, live music, pumpkin carving, a dog costume contest, and make-and-take craft stations. Don’t miss the special Halloween-inspired pop-up by the Drunken Knit Wits and South Philly Yarn, bringing extra handmade magic to the day. The festival is no charge to attend and rain or shine, with food, drinks, shopping, and select activities pay-as-you-go. Fido-friendly and full of neighborhood spirit – this South Philly tradition is one you won’t want to miss. For more info, follow @nicethingshandmade and @eastpassyunk on social media, plus visit visiteastpassyunk.com/events/
“When I started Fall Fest back in 2012, I just wanted to bring artists and neighbors together to celebrate creativity and community,” said Elissa Kara, owner of Nice Things Handmade and founder of East Passyunk Fall Fest. “Thirteen later, it’s grown into one of South Philly’s favorite traditions – a day that perfectly captures what makes this neighborhood so special: art, small business, families and a lot of heart.”
“East Passyunk has such incredible energy in the fall, it’s cozy, creative and a little spooky,” said Kara. “Fall Fest is our grand finale to the season, and it’s all about celebrating local makers, supporting small businesses, and giving families a fun, safe way to enjoy Halloween on the Avenue. I can’t wait to see everyone there!”
East Passyunk’s grand finale to the fall festival season began in 2012, founded by artist and shop owner Elissa Kara of Nice Things Handmade at 1731 East Passyunk Avenue. Over the past thirteen years, the event has grown into a cornerstone of South Philly’s autumn celebrations, now offering a double dose of spooky-season fun.
Each year, more than 110+ of the region’s top artists, makers, crafters and small businesses fill the Avenue for this giant outdoor fall celebration. Beyond showcasing local talent, the festival provides a fun, safe, and festive day for families to trick-or-treat, explore, and discover East Passyunk’s many hidden gems and neighborhood charm.
FALL FEST HIGHLIGHTS & TIMELINE
* Halloween Yarn Pop-Up (11:00am to 4:00pm)
The Singing Fountain
Drunken Knitwits and South Philly Yarn will pop-up at the Singing Fountain with another viral yarn bo mb and pop-up for this event. Come out and meet the artists and enjoy a make-and-take station with them from 11:00am to 4:00pm.
* DJ Linz X Mars (11:00am to 4:00pm)
PPA Parking Lot
* Photo Booths and Pop-Ups (11:00am to 4:00pm)
South Philly Time Capsule providing a Halloween themed Polaroid photo booth in the PPA Lot) with Polaroid style photo opps. Local Photographer Mendel Productions providing Halloween inspired fun photo portraits at East Passyunk and Morris Street (near Cantina).
* Artists and Makers (11:00am to 4:00pm)
East Passyunk from Morris to Dickinson and PPA Lot
(See full list below)
* Dog Costume Contest (12:00pm)
Hosted by Monster Minders
The Singing Fountain
Come enjoy pre-contest pup-cups at the Singing Fountain
Registration starts at 11:00am
Complimentary Pup-Cups for those that register, first come first serve at 11:00am
Categories:
Best Overall
Best Foodie Costume
Best Pop Culture Icon
Best Dog/ Human Duo
Bring your pups in their Halloween best for the Dog Costume Contest at the Singing Fountain! Special guest judges include South Philly’s own Monster Minders dog walkers, with paw-some prizes for your favorite four-legged friends. Plus, meet and greet adoptable dogs from Street Tails Animal Rescue – you might just find your new best friend!
* Hocus Pocus Halloween Movie Outdoor Showing (12:30pm)
Located at Tasker and 11th street
Outdoors on movie truck – more details coming
*Live Painting (12:00pm to 4:00pm)
Four artists will be live painting by the Fountain
* Pop-up Drum Performance (1:15pm)
Batala will have two dozen drummers give a heart-pumping performance at the Singing Fountain and down East Passyunk. (After dog costumes)
* Live Music (2:00pm to 4:00pm)
The Singing Fountain
UP AND DOWN THE AVENUE
* East Passyunk Creepy Crawl Trick-or-Treating (11:00am)
First come first served
East Passyunk’s Creepy Crawl Trick-or-Treating will run alongside Fall Fest starting at 11:00am while supplies last, and all are welcome to join in this ghoulish community gathering! Keep an eye out for spiders in East Passyunk business windows as you haunt up and down the Ave! Those brave enough to approach will get tricks AND treats, with candy sponsored by FCCB
* Pumpkin Carving (11:00am to 3:00pm)
The Gateway, at Broad and Tasker
All tools and pumpkins are provided while supplies last, sponsored by South Broad Neighborhood Association
* Specials, Deals and Activations (11:00am to 4:00pm or while supplies last)
Various businesses on the Avenue –
*A Novel Idea -Halloween books for all ages, astrology readings from 3-6 ($25 for 15 min), and tarot readings from 3-6 ($20 for 10 min)
*August Moon Boutique – Sidewalk Sale Rack
* Cantina Los Caballitos- Kids Halloween Coloring Contest Winners Announced. CLC is throwing a Killer All Hallows Eve Tricks, Treats & Tequila costume party beginning at 10PM on Saturday, October 31st. Costume prizes awarded all evening with a grand prize awarded at midnight. DJ GR/EG Mezcalexander spins a web of spooky tunes on the patio all night.
* DaVinci & Yu / FLANNEL – Outdoor tent with food and drinks
* Eastern Pass Tattoo Co – Discounts of Halloween Flash + F ree Halloween Temp Tattoos
* Frame Fatale (1813 E. Passyunk Ave.) – “Dead Frames” Sale + spooky Halloween window display
* Good B uy Supply – Spooky specials including: poison apple candles, eyeball cat toys, witches brooms and more!
* Hazel Moon Ceramics- Hazel Moon Ceramics will be open during Fall Fest, selling select handmade ceramics and sharing information about upcoming workshops, classes, and 24/7 studio memberships!
* Kouklet & Tanda Brazilian Bakehouse -We’ll have a fall menu specific for the festival.
* Little Yenta Books- We’ll be hosting New Yorker cartoonist Natalie Horberg, who will be doing fr ee live portrait drawing!
* Lucky 13 Pub – Flatbread pizza special for lunch
*Passyunk Pilates -trick or treating, promos
* Pub On Passyunk East (P.O.P.E.) – We are planning our 20th anniversary & costume party Halloween night. Details to follow
* P’unk Burger (1823 E. Passyunk Ave.) – $6 Nadia’s Single Smashburger, $6 Beyond Cheeseburger, $7 Select Milkshakes, plus a Lunch Combo (any burger or BYO up to 3 toppings + fries + soda) and Pumpkin Spice Latte milkshakes!
* Superette- We plan to set up a table outside of the business in the street.Hot cider, alcoholic and non-alcoholic
* Stitch and Story Consignment – Pop up purse art
* The Bottle Shop -Having a tent outside selling beer and wine & drafts
* This Time Tomorrow – Design your own Trick or Treat Bag (Price to be determined)
Many more to be announced!
For additions and changes to the line-up follow @nicethingshandmade and @eastpassyunk on social media, plus visit visiteastpassyunk DOT com/events/fall-fest
There is no charge to attend the festival and trick-or-treating. Food and drinks from vendors and restaurants are pay-as-you-go. Other activities, tricks or treats, are no charge unless otherwise noted. Event is rain or shine.
ABOUT NICE THINGS HANDMADE
Nice Things Handmade, located at 1731 East Passyunk Avenue, is a South Philadelphia gift boutique and art gallery curated by artist Elissa Kara. Nice Things supports over 75 top artists from around the region, and across the country, that sell handmade ceramics, jewelry, clothing, prints, accessories and artwork. While other artists have turned to the internet in recent years, Kara provides a physical space where customers can see the details of the stitches, appreciate the variations in color and, most importantly, appreciate the quality found in the handmade. Kara herself is a featured artists at Nice Things Handmade, specializing in textiles and fibers. She even hand spins and hand-dyes her own yarns! For more information, call (267) 455-0256, visit nicethingshandmade dot com or follow @nicethingshandmade
ABOUT EPABID
East Passyunk Avenue Business Improvement District is home to 160+ independently owned shops and restaurants that perfectly balance the best of old and new. East Passyunk is a mile-long continuously walkable corridor mixing boutique shopping, world-class cuisine, and world-famous cheesesteaks, with trendy shops, handmade arts, and popular events. More than 50 eateries offer a diverse array of dining options, from authentic traditional Italian, to fine contemporary American, to Mexican, Asian, gastropubs and more, including many regulars on Philly’s top best-of lists. Centered around the beautiful Singing Fountain, a communal gathering place on Tasker Street, this store-lined commercial corridor is a South Philly gem.
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