Eat, drink, shop, rock - and time warp! South Street Headhouse District presents South Street Spring Festival this Saturday, May 6, 2017, from 11:00am to 8:00pm. Philadelphia’s largest spring festival takes South (between Front and 8th) and Headhouse Plaza (between South and Lombard), plus connecting side streets. The all-ages, all-day, free outdoor block party will feature 125+ vendors, 35+ restaurants and bars, 30+ bands, 3 stages, 7 performance areas, 24 makers/artists and more.

Festivities will include Philadelphia’s largest location for National Comic Book Day (at the 3rd Annual Atomic-Con). On the 700 block, Brauhaus Schmitz will hoist the city’s largest maypole for the 5th Annual German Maifest. Jim’s Steaks and Lorenzo & Sons Pizza will again present the Philly Taco eating challenge. The South Street Sideshow Stage will feature the strange, unusual and unexpected. The grand finale (and new for 2017) is the gigantic Time Warp Dance performed in front of the Theatre of the Living Arts at 4th & South. As the lights of the festival go down, the party moves to the TLA where Transylvanian Nipple Productions will stage their live stage show with the Rocky Horror Picture Show. It's just a jump to the left - and then a step to the right. Philadelphia here we go…as they say, “only on South Street!”

South Street Spring Festival is free and open to the public. For updated line-ups and information, visit southstreet.com and South Street Headhouse District on Facebook.

** FOOD AND DRINK

Spring Festival will close South Street to traffic and transform this historic business district into one of the city’s largest block parties. Enjoy al fresco dining and sips from 35+ restaurants, bars, vendors and food trucks. Look for everything from free samples, to special one-off dishes, to signature favorites, to specially priced grab-and-go. Pricing will vary by vendor and ranges from free samples to pay-as-you-go.

Restaurants and bars serving in the street:

Bahn Mi & Bottles (new in 2017)
Bistro Romano
Brauhaus Schmitz
Bridget Foy’s
Bubble Time Tea & Waffles
Cavanaugh’s Headhouse
Copabanana
Fat Tuesday’s
His & Hers
Hurricane Alley
Jim’s Steaks South Street
Khmer Sweet Basil (new in 2017)
Lovash
Malbec (new in 2017)
Milkboy
Nomad Pizza (new in 2017)
Paddy Whacks
Primo Hoagies
Queen Village Market
Rita’s Water Ice
Spice End (new in 2017)
The Twisted Tail
Whetsone
Woodrow’s Sandwich Shop
Woolly Mammoth

Cafe seating and outdoor service:

Ishkabibbles
Jon’s Bar & Grill
Las Bugambilias
Little Negril Jamaican
Pietro’s Pizza
Pizzeria Stella
South Street Souvlaki

Food trucks:

Basset’s Ice Cream
Cow & the Curd
Dr Wutzit’s Wonder Balls (new in 2017)
Gus’ Hot Dogs
Lil’ Pop Shop
Mobile Mardi Gras (new in 2017)
Mom Pops
Revolution Taco (new in 2017) (this is a brand new truck launched this spring)
Say Cheese.

Specialty Food Vendors

Bacon Jams
Jerky Hut
Passasnate’s
Philly Sweet Tooth
Unbreakable Dames

** SOUTH STREET VINEYARD COURT

In conjunction with Whetsone, South Street Vinyeard Court is a new addition to South Street Spring Festival and will feature delicious wines and ciders from Commonwealth Ciders. A portion of the proceeds from this area will benefit beautification efforts in the South Street Headhouse District corridor. Location will be near the 5th Street stage.

** PHILLY TACO EATING CONTEST

The Second Annual Philly Taco Eating Contest will headline the South Street Sideshow Stage at 5th Street at 4:00pm. The legendary challenge of many a late night on South Street, the Philly Taco combines an oversized Lorenzo’s Pizza slice wrapped around a Jim’s cheesesteak. The contest, which will be open to the first 20 contestants, to sign up will be a simple race to the finish line for whomever can finish the mammoth meal the fastest. The prize, a year’s worth of cheesesteaks and Pizza for the winner. Sign ups ahead of time by emailing FESTIVAL@SOUTHSTREET.COM with the subject TACO CONTEST. The entry fee is $20 and includes a free t-shirt and a chance to win a year's worth of cheesesteaks and pizza.

** MAIFEST

The 5th Annual Maifest by Brauhaus Schmitz will take over the 700 block of South Street with food, drinks, dancers and live music, all free and open to the public; limited VIP tickets are available now. Open to the public, Maifest has quickly become a beloved annual South Street Spring Festival tradition of food, drinks and live music. Maifest t is free to attend, with pay-as-you-go food and beer, and limited VIP Tickets.

VIP Tickets include an appetizer buffet, served from Noon to 6:00pm, along with access to private restrooms, a commemorative beer stein, exclusive beers in the VIP Brauer Bund Bierhall and seven tokens good for a beer or food item each ($100 per person; click here to purchase). Individual tokens can be purchased for $7 each, or buy 10 tokens for $60, good for use on food and beer throughout the day.

There will also be pay-as-you-go food options, including: Roast Pork, Bratwurst (pork, marjoram, caraway, mace) and Bauernwurst (hickory smoked pork and beef, garlic, pepper, mustard seed); and pay-as-you-go beer selections will include: Warsteiner Pilsner, Konig Ludwig Hefeweizen, Hofbräu Original, Hofbräu Maibock, Paulaner Helles, Hacker Pschorr Hubertus Bock, Traunstein Zwickel and Kostritzer Pale Ale.

During Maifest, guests will enjoy traditional German fare from Chef Jeremy Nolen alongside the city’s best line-up of authentic German beers. In addition, traditional German dancers will perform between 2:00pm to 6:00pm, with live music from Heimatklänge from 1:00pm to 6:00pm – and a booth from Philadelphia Magic Gardens, where their skilled artisans will instruct guests on how to make flower crowns. In addition, Pastry Chef Jessica Nolen will be selling baked goods from her Little Bird Bakery, including: Soft Pretzels, Lebkuchen Gingerbread Cookie Heart Necklaces and Cones of German Candied Nuts, all items will be on sale for $5 each (cash and credit only, no tokens).

The complete itinerary for the day and evening is as follows:

Festival starts and tents open, 11:00a
Masskrugstemmen, a liter lift competition, 1:30pm
Live music and ceremonial tapping of first keg, 2:00pm
Maitanz, official Maypole dance, 2:45pm
Holzhacker, German wood-chopping contest, 3:45pm
Schuhplattler, traditional German folk dance, 4:45pm
Conclusion of festival, including last call, 7:00pm

** 3RD ANNUAL ATOMIC-CON COMIC BOOK EVENT

For the true believers of the world the first Saturday in May is known as Free Comic Book Day (FCBD). Celebrated at comic shops and libraries nationwide, Atomic City Comics, located at 638 South Street, has always offered the biggest and most dynamic FCBD event in Philadelphia, and this year is no exception.

Once again the Atomic City crew is joining forces with the South Street Spring Festival to create the 3rd Annual Atomic-Con on Saturday May 6, 2017. The event will have more free comics than anywhere in the city, incredible local artists selling their best art prints and comics, an outdoor art gallery featuring Atomic City All-Stars' Local Comic Creators, a Cos-play costume contest with fabulous prizes and Philly's best DJ's providing the beats to keep the energy high. Legendary Comic Creator J.G. Jones, best known for his work as cover artist on titles such as Batman and Robin, Doc Savage, Frankenstein, Agent of S.H.A.D.E. and Mister Terrific will be on hand to with signed copies and original artwork of his newest graphic novel, Strange Fruit.

** MUSIC

This year’s South Street Spring Festival will keep the crowd dancing in the street from start to stop. Three main stages (at 2nd, 5th, and 8th Streets) as well as numerous street performance locations along the festival will showcase many of the region’s rising stars. The street will reverberate with tunes ranging from New Orleans jazz, funk and soul, country, jam bands, indie rock, and the blues. Curated by DVT Entertainment, this line-up of musical talent features a diverse array of styles offers something for everyone.

Over 30 popular local music acts will perform from 11:00AM to 8:00PM, including:

5th Street - Stage 2

11:00am Blue Bond Band (Rock and Roll)
12:00pm iLLECTIVE (Funk)
1:00pm The Sly Foxes (Funk Rock)
2:00pm Wayside Shakeup (Classic Rock)
3:00pm Xpresidents (Hip Hop Rock Funk)
4:00pm Dr. Beardface and the Spaceman (Punk Rock)
5:00pm Flightschool (Rock)
6:00pm Aviance (R&B trio)
7:00pm The Jawn (Hip Hop Funk Jammers)

2nd Street Stage 2

11:10am Walt Lafty (Singer/Songwriter)
12:10pm Buster (Jazz & Blues)
1:10pm Calla Bere & The Attitude (Acoustic)
2:10pm The Quixote Project (Neo-Roots)
3:10pm Ivory (World Folk Music)
4:10pm Philly Taco contest
5:10pm Post War Dream (Progressive Rock)
6:10pm Blind Spots (Moxy Party Rock)
7:10pm Adam Travis (Soulful Rock)

8th St. Stage - Maifest by Brauhaus Schmitz

1:00pm to 6:00pm HeimatKlange

Street Performers

Adventure Lost
Baby Diaz
James Barrett
T.C. Cole
David Darmon
Jessica Graae
Good Look Sigourney
Katie McCorry
Mike Nappi
Reece Ratliff
Riverside Odds

** ROCKY HORROR COMES HOME TO TLA (NEW)

It's astounding. Time is fleeting. Madness takes its toll. As South Street Spring Festival winds down, the fun isn’t over! The entertainment continues outside the historic TLA (334 South Street) as TNP - Philly's Own Rocky Horror Cast will lead a huge flash dance of the Time Warp right on South Street! Bring the kids as this flash dance is ALL AGES! Costumes are encouraged! At exactly 9:15PM we will jump to the left. Afterward, those over 21 are invited to come into the TLA for LET THERE BE LIPS – a Rocky Horror celebration and Costume Party — complete with special guests, performances, dance music and of course the movie.

** OTHER SURPRISES AND VENDORS

Families can enjoy family oriented activities and vendors spread throughout the festival. Over 100 boutiques, small businesses and other other retailers will cater to your style, beauty, health, fitness and other shopping needs.

** FREE ALL-DAY FUN!

South Street Spring Festival is free and open to the public. All music concerts are free! Food and drink are pay-as-you-go. Twenty-one and up with identification to drink.