Make memories in May with these unforgettable events and festivals across the Keystone State. Start celebrating the warmth of a new season approaching, indulge in some sweet scenes and treats, and get ready for endless adventures this month. Our destinations are ready to welcome you to #SpringItOnPA with these must-attend events.
Admire the breathtaking landscape during the day and bask in the beauty of the Festival of Fountains at Longwood Gardens at night. Watch as the fountains dance to perfectly paired music and water jets shooting 175 feet high in the air. Visit during the week to experience a splash of color (literally) as the fountain shows are paired with colorful lights.
Gear up for a week filled with nature and creativity with the 14th Annual Wayne Art Center 2022 Plein Air Festival. The festival will bring 32 emerging, nationally recognized artists to share their creative endeavors with collectors and the public amidst the lush beauty of the Delaware Valley painting “en plein air” (French for open air).
Join award-winning pastel and oil painter Susan Nicholas for a unique opportunity for artists of all skill levels and ages at the Hamaeu Artist Retreat. Visitors will get full access to samples from the Sponsors’ Art Supply Table and meals will be provided. Gather your paint brushes and attend this year’s event.
Enjoy the sights and sounds of the 82nd Gettysburg Blue Grass Festival. The historic and internationally acclaimed Gettysburg Bluegrass Festival brings together families and communities to enjoy the biggest names in bluegrass. If you want to learn a new bluegrass tune, make a pit stop at the Workshop Stage which focuses on a wide variety of informative and instructional presentations. Make attending the multi-day event even easier by camping on site at the Granite Hill Camping Resort.
Relax and watch The Dad Vail Regatta from the banks of the beautiful Schuylkill River, an annual collegiate regatta draws participants from more than 100 North American colleges and universities. Come for the race and stay for the weekend so you can explore the sights and scenes of Philadelphia when you’re not cheering on your favorite team.
Now is your chance to take a spin on the iconic Pocono Raceway! The Stock Car Racing Experience will teach you what you need to know and suit you up in official gear for the main event, a ride in a 600-horsepower NASCAR Sprint Cup style stock car traveling up to 165 miles per hour around NASCAR's famous 2.5-mile Pocono Raceway.
Feast your eyes and tastebuds on the Feast Berlin Food Truck Festival with an array of local food trucks offering milkshakes and tacos to French fries and freshly twisted pretzels. Make sure you come to this event on an empty stomach so you can try a little bit of everything.
Hang on tight and experience the first dam release of the season at Whitewater Rafting Adventures. The higher water levels produce bigger rapids, just one of the reasons to be there to experience the thrilling 13-mile course.
Theater for the whole family is back and in person for the 36th Annual EQT Children’s Theater Festival! This production from the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust fosters the imagination of kids of all ages through high-quality, professional theater performances from around the world. View the full program of performances and secure your seat on their website.
Attend a spring tradition in downtown Wayne at the Wheels of Wayne Car & Motorcycle Show (WOW) . This family-friendly event will be packed with displays of local cars, trucks, and motorcycles as well as exciting activities, local vendors, entertainment, great food, and plenty of outdoor fun.
When: May 15; Rain date May 22
There are two must-see exhibits coming to the Brandywine River Museum this season. Dawoud Bey: Night Coming Tenderly, Black (May 19) showcases the works of one of the most important photographers in today’s art world. Dawoud Bey is known for his compelling, large-scale portraits, and street photographs of the Black community in Harlem and Queens from the 1970s to present day. Gatecrashers: The Rise of the Self-Taught Artist in America (May 28) will feature post-war era artists with no formal training who “crashed the gates” of major museums throughout the United States, pushing boundaries and diversifying the art scene.
Take flight with the Mifflin Soaring Association during its National Soaring Championship! If you are seasoned competitor or a beginner looking to gain more experience with the sport of gliding, be sure to register for this event through the website.
Nothing complements warmer weather like a homestyle BBQ. At the BBQ Bonanza, you can watch and enjoy an intense BBQ competition, participate in family-friendly activities and truck pulls, and attend the car show.
This month you can attend the first ever Allegrippis Trail Days 2022! This event will be a weekend full of fun for the whole family, so grab your bikes and explore this incredible trail system. On Saturday night enjoy live music, beer, kombucha, and other non-alcoholic options.
Join more than 100 antique dealers and collectors for a buyers and sellers paradise at the 55th Annual Gettysburg Spring Outdoor Antique and Art Shows. Find high quality antiques and collectibles you won’t find anywhere else.
Calling all AC/DC fans! Jam to all of your favorite AC/DC tunes with the ultimate cover band at the Highway to Rock Concert and enjoy great food and adult beverages offered to compliment your night of tunes.
Don’t miss the Kielbasa Fest and Heritage Day an opportunity to explore and indulge in kielbasa, pierogies, an abundance of other food and beverage vendors, and live music. Stay for the Parade of Nations and celebrate traditions from other countries around the world.
Explore new vendors and artists with one-of-a-kind items at the May Makers Market. This event at Brookmere Winery features vendors who showcase everything from clothing and jewelry to candles and coffee. While you shop, enjoy live music, food, coffee, beer, and other adult beverages.
Travel back in time to the 1980s and 1990s at this year’s RADwood Philly car show featuring the awesomeness of automotives from that period. Wear your best 1980s and 1990s attire when you attend, pack your rollerblades and bring your BMX bike because its surely going to get RAD event!
Float your way through the oldest existing transportation tunnel in the nation at the 32nd Annual Union Canal Days event. Listen to the sounds of nature and a narrated boat tour as you make your way down the canal then check out local exhibitors and vendors, listen to live music, or purchase spring garden plants at the flower booth.
Cost: $10 for adults; $5 for students (ages 5-17); Children under 5 free
Travel back in time with costumed interpreters, livestock, and restored and reconstructed buildings during Colonial PA Plantation’s Historic Timeline. Enjoy and learn from demonstrations featuring the history of agricultural and trade-based technologies.
Immerse yourself in America’s history at EBT Goes to War! A Living History Event. You will walk through living history displays representing the Civil War, World War I and World War II and experience encampments, displays and storytelling.
Feast your eyes on Philadelphia’s largest block party at the annual Italian Market Festival. Enjoy delicious Italian favorites, both sweet and savory, from local vendors while listening to great music on South Street this month at the nation’s oldest outdoor market.
Join the town of Jim Thorpe as it celebrates its’ namesake’s birthday at the Jim Thorpe Birthday Celebration. Kick off the festivities with a Native American tribute at the Jim Thorpe Mausoleum, where the standout athlete is buried. The weekend includes free musical performances, Native American folklore, dancing and drumming, and craft and food vendors. Discover the beauty of this quaint town and honor the man who inspired it.
Take an ATV ride through the scenic Allegheny National Forest on exclusive, designated forest roads and trails at the Tour De Forest in Marienville! Riders of all ages and skill levels are welcome to buckle up for a ride in one of Pennsylvania’s most scenic forests.
Meet new furry friends when you attend Quiet Valley’s Annual Farm Animal Frolic! A preserved 19th century living history museum comes to life with farm animals for children and the young-at-heart to see and touch. Watch as baby chicks hatch from their eggs, pet new lambs with their soft, woolly fleece, or be entertained by the frisky baby goats. This event is great fun for all animal lovers.
Celebrate Memorial Day and the unofficial start to summer vacation at the Three Springs Homecoming Carnival. Explore the carnival classics with local vendors, live music, games, and rides by Bartlebaugh Amusements. Munch on traditional carnival fare like cheesesteaks, funnel cakes, cotton candy, and ice cream. This festival will be a great kick off to summer.
Race to High Point Raceway, one of the most popular tracks in the motocross sport, to watch top amateur motocross racers from across the region compete for their chance to the AMA Northeast Amateur Regional Championship. Regional championships are the second step in qualifying for the world’s largest and most prestigious amateur motocross championship. Watch and cheer on the racers as they make their way through the jumps and long sweeping corners of the course.
Dine your way through Kennywood Park enjoying chef-inspired tastings, specialty drinks and live entertainment at the Bites and Pints Food & Drink Festival. Sample a variety of food offerings and ride a roller coaster or two while you’re there.
When: May 26-June 26 (Thurs.-Sun. only)
Enjoy a weekend of fun and folk music when you attend this year’s Folk College. Play or listening to folk music with workshops, concerts, and jam sessions for all instruments and musicians of all skill levels. This non-competitive environment will put you in tune (wink) with everything there is to know about the magic of folk music.
Celebrate the heritage of the small, quaint communities of Fryburg and Marble with a 5k fun run and walk, hayrides, live music, food vendors, car shows, and live animal at this year’s Fryburg Mayfest. Honor local heroes at the Heroes Among Us parade and end the weekend with a fireworks display.
Follow local historians as they take you on a journey through various eras in history at the Cook Forest Living History Weekend. Listen to storytellers and learn facts about the French and Indian War, Colonial times, and the Civil War and enjoy first-person character portrayals, hands-on demonstrations, and music for a fully immersive experience.
Start your Memorial Day weekend off right at the 30th Annual Country Memories Day. The event features more than one hundred vendors, food, wagon rides, and live entertainment. If you’re not dancing to the DJ, be sure to stop by the car show.
Celebrate local works of art in all shapes and sizes at the 54th Annual Harrisburg ArtsFest. Browse creative pieces from hundreds of artists and vendors featuring unique furniture, glasswork, jewelry, sculpture, photography, painting, and woodworking. If browsing makes you hungry, enjoy your favorite local food vendors on hand. Embrace the unofficial start to summer along the Susquehanna River with live music, entertainment, and children’s activities.
Rev your engines and take a ride to the fun-filled Memorial Day Car Show for enthusiasts of all ages. If you want to show off your own hot wheels and participate in the event register your vehicle on the website.
Honor veterans this Memorial Day at the Gettysburg Memorial Day Parade. Attend the ceremony and hear from keynote speaker Major General Mark Schindler, The Adjutant General of Pennsylvania.
To find even more events across Pennsylvania go to visitPA.com, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for additional inspiration and ideas of places to visit around our state, and never miss an update by signing up for our monthly Happy Thoughts e-newsletter.
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