Buckle up! Nearly 200 classic, antique, muscle and custom cars, trucks and motorcycles cruise into South Philly for the 13th annual East Passyunk Car Show and Street Festival on Sunday, July 29.
Following a record-setting year in 2017, this year’s event promises more cars, more food options and more entertainment than ever before.
CAR SHOW AND STREET FESTIVAL FAST FACTS
- The 2018 East Passyunk Car Show and Street Festival takes place Sunday, July 29 from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- The festival runs along East Passyunk Avenue between Broad and Dickinson streets.
- Visitors can marvel at nearly 200 classic, antique, muscle and custom cars, trucks and motorcycles.
- The free fest also includes a craft show, food and drink vendors, circus artists, live music and family activities.
Along with the eye-catching car show, visitors can peruse handmade crafts from local artisanal vendors at the Bang! Boom! CRAFT! Show at East Passyunk Avenue’s singing fountain and indulge in a variety of food and drink offerings — most for just $5 each! — from popular neighborhood eateries.
Live music at four locations along the festival footprint, circus performers, a free bounce castle and more family fun round out the day’s entertainment.
The Layout
The festival route runs along East Passyunk Avenue between Broad and Dickinson streets. Flashy cars, food and drink vendors, music and shopping line the avenue.
Dozens of artists and crafters set up booths at the neighborhood’s Singing Fountain, located at the corner of Tasker Street and East Passyunk Avenue, for the Bang! Boom! CRAFT! Show. Live music can be found at the Singing Fountain, too, and also outside of Pistolla’s Del Sur, Stogie Joe’s Tavern and the parking lot on the 1600 block of the avenue.
The fun starts at 11 a.m. and continues until 4 p.m. The event is free and open to the public, with pay-as-you-go food and drink.
The Cars
Last year was the biggest year ever for the car show, with more than 140 cars and record crowds turning out for the event, and this year promises to be even bigger.
Nearly 200 classic, antique, muscle and custom cars, trucks and motorcycles are expected to show and compete for the coveted awards and bragging rights. The categories this year include Top 50, Best Stock, Best Modified, Best Engine, Best Paint, Best ’50s Custom, Best Street Rod, Best Low Rider, Best Truck, Best Motorcycle, and Best of Show Car and Motorcycle.
Judges announce the winners and award trophies at 3:30 p.m. at 1636 East Passyunk Avenue.
Food & Drink
More than 20 of the neighborhood’s popular restaurants, bars and cafes stationed along the festival footprint serve their specialties curbside, with most offering $5 specials.
Look for deals on eats from Adobe Cafe ($5 burritos), Barcelona Wine Bar ($5 vegetable paella), Brigantessa ($5 eggplant polpette, fried Brussels sprouts and baccala fritters), Cantina Los Caballitos ($5 chicken chorizo empanadas and barbecue-wing-style cauliflower sampler), Marra’s ($5 meatball sandwich on a Sarcone’s roll), Stargazy ($5 cornish pasty) and more.
Visitors can score $5 margaritas, local craft beer and refreshing summer cocktails from many vendors, too.
Other restaurants and food trucks doling out delicious food and drink include Mike’s BBQ, Bad Mother Shuckers, Hardy Funnel Cakes, Puyero Venezuelan Flavor, Sunny Flavors Water Ice and Separatist Beer Project (an Easton, Pennsylvania, brewery — formerly known as Sole Artisan Ales — that’s opening a new location this year on East Passyunk Avenue).
Music & Festivities
Live music fills the five-block festival, with local bands performing oldies, today’s hits, R&B, jazz and more genres sure to get the festival crowds grooving. Look for performances by Las Palabras, DJ Lindsay Marie, Blue Pharaohs, Rick Baccare and more outside of Stogie Joe’s, Pistolla’s Del Sur, the Singing Fountain and other select locations.
Circus artists from Philadelphia School of Circus get in on the action this year. Retro-outfitted stilt walkers roam the crowd, interact with kids and families and pose for photos. A bounce castle, art-making stations and outdoor games provide even more family fun.
At the Singing Fountain, visitors can shop for handmade art, jewelry, decor, ceramics, clothing and other gifts at the Bang! Boom! CRAFT! Show, curated by neighborhood craft shop Nice Things Handmade.
Getting There
Navigating to East Passyunk is simple. Taking SEPTA’s Broad Street (Orange) Line to the Tasker-Morris Station place attendees just two blocks east of all the action on East Passyunk Avenue. Getting off at the Snyder Avenue station and walking one block north to East Passyunk Avenue is another great option.
For drivers, event organizers suggest parking at the 24-hour parking lot located at Constitution Health Plaza (1485 McKean Street between Broad and 15th streets), which is a short walk from the start of the car show on Broad Street and East Passyunk Avenue.
The chance to admire rare cars while enjoying an authentic South Philly street festival only comes once a year. Don’t miss out!
The post The East Passyunk Car Show And Street Festival Returns To South Philly On July 29 appeared first on Uwishunu - Philadelphia Blog About Things to Do, Events, Restaurants, Food, Nightlife and More.
