Philadelphia, PA – Fall and family fun are in the air in Fishtown! This September, look for four major events, festivals and block parties set to take over one of Philadelphia’s hottest neighborhoods. First up, get ready to raise a glass at the 15th Annual Frankford Hall Oktoberfest on Saturday, September 19, 2026, from 12:00pm to 8:00pm, on the 1200 Block of Frankford Avenue. Look for live music by the Polka Brothers, dancing in the street, great German beer, pretzels, sausages, decorations and more. For families, come out and enjoy Fishtown Oktoberfest Family Funfest by Fishtown District on Saturday, September 19th from 12:00pm to 4:00pm, on Frankford Avenue, between Thompson and Master Streets. Look for face painting, vendors, balloon artists, nine-hole open-air mini golf, pop-up a-shot basketball, outdoor games, makers, artists and more.
Also, Saturday, September 19th, look for the return of Fishtown Fall Family Festival, from 12:00pm to 6:00pm, on the 1700 Block of North Front Street, outside Evil Genius Beer Company. Look for Lulu’s Casita to pop-up with a special family play area and Lulu’s on Wheels, plus DJ Bob Beast with family friendly hits, crafts and activities for the kiddos, Pink’s Treats, artists, makers, vendors, food, drink and other surprises. Wrapping up September, look for the return of Evil Genius Oktoberfest on Saturday, September 26th, from 12:00pm to 5:00pm. This ticketed event moves to the Evil Genius Beer Garden for the first time, with German style beers, German themed eats, DJ and EDM infused oompah music, Oktoberfest best dressed content, stein holding contest and more. All events are no charge and open to the public, families and fido too, with the exception of Evil Genius Oktoberfest which is a ticketed adult only event. Tickets start at $30 including a stein and first drink. VIP is $50 per person and includes two stein fills and early access.
Fishtown is one of Philadelphia’s hottest neighborhoods for food and drink – and one of Philly’s fastest growing business districts and neighborhoods for families. This September come out for not one or two, but four major events taking over with something for every age! Bring the family, the kiddos and the fidos too – this is the best time of year to experience Fishtown and all its charm, businesses, food, drink and amazing sense of community.
OKTOBERFEST SEASON IN FISHTOWN
Get ready to raise a liter and dance in the street during not one but two Oktoberfest celebrations this September in Fishtown, including:
* 15th Annual Frankford Hall Oktoberfest
Saturday, September 19, 2026
Noon to 8:00pm
Frankford Avenue 1200 Block
Get ready to don your Dirndls and Lederhosen – Frankford Hall’s Oktoberfest is back for our 15th year! Enjoy family-friendly activities, live music by the Polka Brothers, and plenty of great German Beer, pretzels, sausages and much more. Presented by Frankford Hall. No charge to attend, family and fido friendly outside on the street, food and drink pay-as-you-go.
* Evil Genius Oktoberfest
Saturday, September 26, 2026
Noon to 5:00pm
New in the Evil Genius Beer Garden
EDM infused Oompah music, DJ, best dressed contest, stein holding contest, German food and German style beers, and more in the Evil Genius Beer Garden. Tickets start at $30 including a stein and first drink. VIP is $50 per person and includes two stein fills and early access.
Evil Genius is back with a new twist on its ever popular Oktoberfest celebration, including moving it to the Evil Genius Beer Garden with an all new layout and format. Details:
* This is a ticketed event that will take place in our beer garden, tickets are limited to 100 guests for a more exclusive and unique event
* All tickets come with an exclusive Evil Genius Oktoberfest Glass Stein
* GA Tickets are $30 and come with one stein fill and standard access to the event at 1pm.
* VIP tickets are $50 and come with two stein fills and early access to the event at noon.
-* Four exclusive German style beers will be served at the event
– I Love Lamp (Pineapple Hefeweizen), Like and Subscribe For Part 2 (Dortmunder), Weird Flex But OK (Hoppy Pils), Every Day I’m Rustlin’ (Oktoberfest), a yet to be named Dunkelweizen, and a Coffee Infused Every Day I’m Rustlin for VIP only.
* German themed bites and eats menu additions
* DJ Bob Beast will be playing EDM infused Oompah music and other hits
* Trachtenwear is encouraged, and there is a prize for best dressed
* Stein holding contest
Tickets are available on the Evil Genius website and are going fast!
FAMILY FUN IN FISHTOWN
Fishtown is one of Philadelphia’s hottest and fastest growing neighborhoods for families. This September look for two big events on the same day to celebrate all the families, kiddos and fidos too – including:
* Fishtown Oktoberfest FunFest by Fishtown District
Saturday, September 19, 2026
Noon to 4:00pm
Frankford Avenue between Thompson and Master Streets
Outdoor games, mini-golf, prizes, face painting, balloon artists, vendors.
Fishtown District presents an afternoon of fall fun for all ages from the littlest in the bunch to the grown-ups with everything from face painting from 12:00pm to 2:00pm, balloon artist from 2:00pm to 4:00pm, nine-hole open-air mini golf, pop-a-shot outdoor basketball, giant checkers and outdoor games, local businesses on the street, rack sales, craft vendors, pop-ups hops, sidewalk sales – all between Thompson and Master on Frankford Avenue.
* Fishtown Fall Family Festival
Saturday, September 19, 2026
Noon to 6:00pm
1700 Block of N. Front Street
Giant outdoor children’s play area, Lulu’s Casita pop-up, DJ and family music, vendors, artists, food, drinks, games and other surprises.
Evil Genius presents their annual FIshtown Fall Family Festival with a giant block-party taking over the 1700 block of N. Front Street and the Evil Genius Beer Garden. Look for:
* Lulu’s Casita is an Ardmore-based play area geared towards children aged 0-5. The carefully curated environment includes a wide variety of activities so that children can play fre ely in a safe and stimulating environment. They have a portable version called “Lulu’s On Wheels”. This school bus will pull up and set up an outdoor play area.
* DJ Bob Beast will play family friendly hits all day
* A Dash of Magic Events will operate a crafts and activities booth for kids
* Pink’s Treats will be our food truck offering hot dogs, sausages, pizza pretzels, and water ice.
* Artists, makers, vendors, food vendors:
– Queer Candle Co: Hand-poured, small-batch soy candles
– Kurious Stitches: Hand-crocheted plushies
– Tiger Snake Vintage: Hand-picked vintage treasures and tongue-in-cheek embroidery
– Sweet Nostalgia Scents: Hand poured, nostalgia inspired candles.
– Weekapaug Woodworks: Upcycled art & functional decor.
– Lunar Sparkles Glitter Bar: Mobile Glitter Body Art Bar
– All Glass, No Brakes: Hand-blown glass items
– Nini B. Sweets: Small batch baker
– Jrip Juicery: Cold pressed organic juices
– Fishtown Stitch: Hand-embroidered goods
– Murderous Jewels: Handmade jewelry
* More – plus food, drink, pool and games inside the tap room
All events are no charge and open to the public, families and fido too, with the exception of Evil Genius Oktoberfest which is a ticketed adult only event.
MORE FALL FUN
Look for tons more fall events in Fishtown including:
* Evil Genius 15th Annual Music Festival
Saturday, October 3rd
11:00am to 10:00pm
Evil Genius will present the largest festival of the season in the Riverwards – and their largest event to date with 100 vendors, music and live bands from Noon to 10:00pm, food, drink, restaurants out in the street and tons more. Look for the major announcement and band reveal in mid-September.
* Hop Ones Returns to Fishtown: The challenge with hot wings and colder beers!
Evil Genius Beer Company
1727 N. Front Street
Friday, October 2nd @ 7:00 to 9:00 PM
Tickets are $35 a
Join us as we taste through progressively hotter and hotter wings with sauces from the official Hot Ones lineup! As you taste you’ll be provided with question cards with hotter and hotter questions to chat about with your table. At the end of each round guests can share their answers with the entire crowd and the person with the best story will win a comp beer. Tickets come with ten wings (vegetarian option available) and access to all 10 sauces!
Please note that only ticket holders will be permitted entrance to the event area. Any spectators who wish to watch the event but not participate must purchase a ‘Spectator Ticket’. Spectator tickets do not come with wings.
Hot One’s Jr. The Green: We’re starting your taste buds off easy with the first ever hot sauce for kids. It’s tart, it’s sweet, and has a just right-there level of heat. Green apple, banana, spinach, and jalapeno add layers of flavor to this mild sauce. (Spice Level: 1/10)
Little Dick’s Ghost Pepper Pear: The crispness of pear comes through early with just a hint of creeping ghost pepper and aromatic spice. Additional flavors come through with additions of lemon, honey, onion, Carolina Reaper peppers, cinnamon, ginger, and more spice. After all, you know what they say, Little Dick’s, big flavor. (Spice Level: 2/10)
Sam Sa’House’s Pina Danada: A mild sauce with a bright and savory flavor profile, beginning with the sweetness of charred pineapple, the tang of distilled vinegar and preserved lemon. Aromatic notes of fresh ginger and toasted spices – coriander and cumin – build depth along savory yellow onion and garlic. Scotch Bonnet peppers contribute a subtle, delayed heat that lingers on the tongue. (Spice Level: 3/10).
Secret Handshake Food Co’s Everything Bagel Hot Sauce: It’s EVERYTHING you love about everything bagel seasoning: garlic, poppy seed, onion flakes, sesame seeds, and salt. That savory spice mix is balanced by the slow-building sting of Scorpion Pepper powder. (Spice Level: 4/10)
Alchemy Pepper’s Serrano Mango Hopp Sauce: This well-balanced sauce combines sweet tart fruit juices with ghost pepper puree and citrusy hops. Alchemy Peppers specializes in sauces blended with hops, the ingredient that gives a great IPA its aromatic notes. This one was made with Citra hops, just like our flagship IPA Stacy’s Mom! (Spice Level: 5/10)
Sauce Leopard’s Seventh Reaper: A take on Argentinian red chimichurri. This sauce features savory notes of roasted red peppers, tomato, and garlicky goodness. This medium level sauce get’s its oomph from additions of Carolina Reaper peppers. (Spice Level: 6/10)
Black Eyed Susan Spice Co’s Red Flag: Named for the pirate signal that means, “no mercy,” Red Flag is a spicy treasure that is fruity and tart yet sizzling and savory. Trinidad Scorpion Peppers hit with intensity while muscadine juice, raspberries, apples, and hibiscus add a tangy contrast. (Spice Level: 7/10)
Da Bomb Evolution: IFYKYK. This fiery red super hot scorpion pepper based sauce features hearty spices like paprika and turmeric while a hint of delicate herbs like cilantro and mint finish things off. It will leave you stopped in your tracks but paradoxically asking for more. (Spice Level: 8/10)
Karma Sauce’s Funken Hot Yellow Edition: This scalding mix of yellow Moruga scorpion peppers and fatalii peppers is balanced with lime juice, sugar, and spices. It’s a citrus forward flamethrower that lights up the palate. (Spice Level: 9/10)
Heatonist’s The Last Dab Thermageddon: This is a cataclysmic combination of the world’s hottest peppers. This sauce was forged with the four of the hottest peppers on Earth: Pepper X, The Apollo, Carolina Reaper, and Scorpion Pepper delivered in pepper mash, pepper powder, pepper puree, and pepper oil forms. Get ready for a soul searing, full body burn. (Spice Level: 10/10)
* Fishtown October Harvest Festival
Saturday, October 10th @ Evil Genius
Details to be announced
* Fishtown Queer Social
Tuesday, October 13th @ Evil Genius
6:00pm to 9:00pm
* Dog Costume Contest
Saturday, October 17th @ Evil Genius
12:00pm to 3:00pm
* Schrunch – Shrek Drag Brunch @ Evil Genius
Sunday, September 27th @ 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Don’t worry, it’s all ogre now. Join the hottest Drag Queens in Philly in the sexiest atmosphere of all… THE SWAMP! So grab some onions and gumdrop buttons, and get ready to be transported far, far away! It’s serving swamp!
* It’s All Just A Brunch of Hocus Pocus @ Evil Genius
Sunday, October 25th @ 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Drink up, Witches! Drag is back and it’s 2 Spooky 4 Me. Join us for an exclusive lineup of drag performers including the Sanderson Sisters and more for a show of nostalgic halloween goodness.
ABOUT EVIL GENIUS
Evil Genius Beer Company was started in 2011 by best friends Luke Bowen and Trevor Hayward. After 11 years, and a motto of “Very Silly Names for Very Serious Beers”, Evil Genius Beer Company now distributes to 9 states (CT, DE, MD, MI, NJ, OH, PA, VA and RI) and pumps out a variety of different core and seasonal beers to quench their ever thirsty customers. For more information, visit www.evilgeniusbeer.com and connect on social @evilgeniusbeer.
ABOUT FISHTOWN DISTRICT
Fishtown District is a thriving commercial corridor and community destination in Philadelphia, known for its vibrant mix of local shops, restaurants, creative spaces, and neighborhood experiences. Dedicated to supporting small businesses and fostering community connection, the district continues to serve as one of the city’s most dynamic neighborhoods.