Philly Fall Bucket List: 2021 Edition

BrainDo Culture

Philly Fall Bucket List: 2021 Edition

 

A Philly bucket list activity is something that makes you even more Philly than you already are, so here are a few things you can do to “phill” your checklist this fall.

 
1. Start an Eagles Chant in Public

You’re not a true birds fan until you’ve belted out E-A-G-L-E-S at the top of your lungs… in public. The greatest thing about this bucket list activity is that you don’t even have to be at the game or a tailgate party. You can do it almost anywhere in the Tri-State – just look for a group of people wearing green and start the chant…

 
2. Pig Out on Gourmet Pumpkin Treats

We all know Philly is the best food town on Earth, and that holds true for fall-themed sweets, too. We’ve got pumpkin-flavored everything – ice cream sandwiches, donuts, Danishes, vegan brownies, popsicles, and more. This Inquirer article points you in the right direction.

 
3. Sip on Local Craft Apple Ciders

Even though New York gets all the apple cred, Philadelphia has plenty of worthy fermented apple offerings harvested from Pennsylvania orchards. There’s an extensive cider menu at Hale & True Cider Co in Bella Vista, where one owner sits on the board of the Pennsylvania Cider Guild. On the other side of town in Olde Kensington, Original XII Ciderworks makes a complete line of cider drinks to explore.

 
4. Festival Like a Fall-a-delphian

One reason fall weekends in Philly are never dull is because it’s festival season. We’ve included a few must-dos below, but you can also go to VisitPhilly.com to see the full calendar.

  • Halloween Nights at Eastern State Penitentiary – Eastern State Penitentiary transforms into a bewitched beer garden alongside various attractions (now through Nov 13).
  • DesignPhiladelphia – The nation’s oldest design festival with various events around the city (now through Oct 17).
  • Philadelphia Open Studio Tours – Artists open their workshops and studios to guests (Oct 16, 17, 12, 24).
  • Oktoberfest – There are over 11 Oktoberfests in Philly this fall. Here’s where to find them (October).
  • Philadelphia Film Festival – Indie films from around the world descend on Philly area theaters (Oct 21-31).
  • CraftMONTH – Events showcasing local craftspeople around the city, including at the Philadelphia Museum of Art (November).

 
5. Run in a Marathon

The world-famous Philadelphia Marathon takes place on Sunday, Nov 21, and there are plenty of ways to partake (even if the only marathon you’re familiar with is the one on 16th and Samson). There’s a half-marathon (13.1 miles), a series of 5-milers and kid-friendly races, or you can walk to the race and spectate.

 
6. Parade Like You’re an Underdog

Philly’s Thanksgiving Day parade is quintessentially Philadelphia. It’s the oldest Thanksgiving Day parade in the country but gets little acknowledgment from anyone outside the Tri-State. It’s so homespun it doesn’t even have a website, just a Facebook event page. And it’s hosted by our beloved Action News team. It doesn’t have the gigantic balloons or internationally recognized celebrity hosts of that other parade in New York. Still, it offers the most heartfelt assortment of local talent and appearances from celebrities you’ll probably have to Google. It may not be the nation’s preeminent Turkey Day parade, but it’s ours! Philly charm at its best.

 
7. Peep the Leaves

There are so many trees in Philly it’s hard to miss fall foliage. But if you want to see fall in all its splendor, here are a few parts of town worth leaving your neighborhood for.

 
8. Pick Your Own Pumpkin

If you want to put a proper notch in your Philly belt, look into picking your own pumpkin at one of the many farms within a few hours’ drive. Here are 14 you can’t miss. If you can’t make it, by all means pick one up at Acme but go early because the good pumpkins sell out fast.

 
9. Root for Philly’s Other Teams

You could feel bad for basketball and hockey in the fall, thanks to all the attention football gets. But, don’t forget that Sixers’ home opener on Oct 22 against the Brooklyn Nets, and the Flyers home opener on Oct 15 against the Vancouver Canucks.

 
10. Shop for Rare Vintage Clothing

Get your gritty city uniform in check. The Philly Vintage Flea, Philly’s largest vintage clothing flea market, takes over The Greater Philadelphia Expo in Oaks, PA., chock full of rare T-shirts, sneakers, denim, and more.

 
11. Go See Dead People

Philly is one of the most haunted cities in the U.S. right M. Night? So, there’s no shortage of places to experience the supernatural. From old creepy cemeteries and prisons to boats and streets, here’s a list of Philly’s must-see haunted places.