Neighborhood Festival Watch: Mark Your Calendars and Stock Up on Sunblock

Bonus festival points if you attend all of these, but hey, no pressure. We'll see you out there.

On Saturday May 1, Walnut Street is blocked off between Broad and 19th Streets for the annual Rittenhouse Row Spring Festival, a rain or shine pedestrian-fest. It's the perfect time to try restaurant samples from Walnut Street's many restaurants that set up booths outside, or get a peek of local fashion at the all-day fashion show. Many of the stores have special sales and deals during the event. The live music and crowd ensures that Rittenhouse Square awakens any dormant aspects of spring.

Save next Saturday, April 24, for your North or South festival needs. If you're a Fishtowner, you've got to represent at the ShadFest at Penn Treaty Park. If you're in South Philly, stick to Passyunk Avenue for Flavors of the Avenue. You could do the civil thing and attend both, but we say? Follow your passions. Both promise lots of tasty local flavors and live music. Flavors of the Avenue is from 12 pm - 5 pm at East Passyunk Avenue, between Dickinson and Morris. Tickets to sample 20 restaurants cost $20 in advance/$25 at the door. The Crafty Balboa craft market will also be on Passyunk Avenue that day.

Yesterday, we mentioned Philadelphia Restaurant Weekend. But on Sunday, May 2nd, the Piazza will also host the Equality Forum's SundayOUT 2010. From 12 - 7 pm, the LGBT festival will fill the Piazza with live entertainment, a fashion show, Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus Cabaret, dance performances, and more, at $10 for adults and $5 for students.

Related:

Rittenhouse Square: Dog-Walkers And People-Watchers

Have a Taste of Philly at Philadelphia Restaurant Weekend