Welcome to Explore – your guide to events happening this fall in northwest Philadelphia and eastern Montgomery County. A biennial publication produced by the Chestnut Hill Local, Explore puts over 100 local events from Ambler to Manayunk at your fingertips. Our Go-To Guide, a comprehensive list of local restaurants and attractions, will help you design your perfect weekend plan.
Each community features multiple events each season. Some of the large-scale events this fall are: Ambler – Oktoberfest (October); Chestnut Hill – Fall for the Arts (September); Germantown – Historic Germantown Festival (October); Glenside – WinterFest (December); Manayunk – Out & About (October); Mt. Airy – Decemberfest: Made in Mt. Airy (December); Roxborough – Roxtoberfest (October)
The Wissahickon Valley boasts an embarrassment of riches from history and nature to the arts and entertainment. There are plenty of opportunities to create your own path based on your specific interests.
A trail for history buffs: Embrace the history that is entwined with our communities. Learn the history and architecture of Chestnut Hill at the Chestnut Hill Conservancy’s Night of Lights Celebration (October). Get revolutionary by immersing yourself in colonial America at the Revolutionary Germantown Festival (October) or the reenactment of the 1777 Whitemarsh Encampment (November). Looking to own a piece of history? Visit one of the many antique shops in the Northwest (see listing in the Go-To Guide).
Nature trails: The Wissahickon Creek provides the connective tissue of our communities. From the meadows in Montgomery County to the gorges in Philadelphia, this spectacular natural wonder provides endless opportunities for connecting with nature and the history of the valley. Activities range from hiking, biking and running to horseback riding, bird watching and picnicking.
The Friends of the Wissahickon (fow.org) stewards the 2,000-acre Wissahickon Valley Park in Philadelphia which boasts 50 miles of trails through the Wissahickon Gorge. Forbidden Drive is the primary trail (5.3 miles) which connects the seven trails that traverse the park.
Wissahickon Trails (wissahickontrails.org) provides stewardship for the 64 miles of the Wissahickon watershed in Montgomery County. The Green Ribbon Trail runs along the creek (12.5 miles) to the Philadelphia border. The watershed encompasses 12 preserves and 24 miles of trails.
Adjacent to the park, you can find the curated natural beauty of the Morris Arboretum and Gardens in Chestnut Hill and the Awbury Arboretum in Germantown.
Queueing for the live arts: If plays are your passion, check out the 24-25 season line ups at one of the four theatres and playhouses in the area (see list in the Go-To Guide). If you follow the music beat, then Glenside is the place to be. The Keswick Theatre presents a full schedule of concerts and at the Royal, you can sit back and enjoy or join the show on Open Mic Nights. Two community-curated Porchfest events in Mt. Airy (September) and Roxborough/Manayunk (October) give you the chance to stroll the neighborhoods and take in the sounds. For jazz afficionados, check out the Friday Night Jazz schedule at the Woodmere Art Museum.
Create your own pub crawl: You’ll be pretty busy if your challenge is to visit all of the craft brew houses in the Northwest. The area is home to over a dozen breweries, which also feature music and food. Craft brewers will be in the spotlight at the Octoberfest events in Ambler and Roxborough.
Halloween haunts: From the scary to the sweet, there are plenty of Halloween options in our area. Hang out in Laurel Hill Cemetery or Lincoln Mill for spine-tingling fun. Or take part in a hayride or community trick-or-treat event for kids (and pets) of all ages.
Go-To Guide: A comprehensive list of dining, drinking and attractions across northwest Philadelphia and eastern Montgomery County.
Check the Go! Local calendar each week in the Chestnut Hill Local and Mt. Airy Local for previews of these events and additional events as they are added to this year’s schedule.
