Those with a green thumb and a knack for home/design, and those just looking to have a good time can head to the Chestnut Hill Home + Garden Festival when it returns to the picturesque suburb of Philly on May 7, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
With more than 175 vendors participating along the 8000 to 8600 blocks of Germantown Avenue, Philadelphians can find home and garden décor, outdoor craft demonstrations, live music and children’s activities, while also perusing through the area’s 200 retailers, restaurants, and businesses.
A popular fixture of the event comes in the form of the Maker’s Village, and it’s back in 2023. This portion of the Festival features craft demonstrations—including pottery, macrame, sewing and stained glass, while The Sustainability Hub will highlight businesses, makers, and organizations working to support the goals of a more sustainable Philadelphia.
The Maker’s Village and Sustainability Hub complements the numerous home and garden stores throughout Chestnut Hill, including Laurel Hill Gardens, Foliage, Summer Classics, NoName Gallery, Gravers Lane Gallery, HOST Interiors, Tailored Home, Kitchen Kapers, Garden State Tile, PTK Rug Gallery, and Home Works, a release states.
While at the Chestnut Hill Home + Garden Festival, Philadelphians can also stop by the oldest hardware store in the area—Kilian Hardware (8450 Germantown Avenue), founded in 1913. The family-owned store features everything needed for gardening and other activities around the house.
Family-friendly wise for Philadelphians, there’s “Fun Fest” at Jenks Elementary School, which will feature a DJ, dance performances, carnival games, face painting, an inflatable obstacle course, an inflatable slide and food trucks.
Entertainment-wise, there will be a variety of circus performers—from stilt walkers, to a balloon artist, to a jugglers and more—while at Stagecrafters Theater. Other entertainment there includes tarot card readings by The Amazing Carson, an adaptation of Jack and the Bean Stalk and a SNAP Co. dance demonstration at noon.
Vendor-wise Philadelphians can also find an assortment of sculpture and garden art, heirloom vegetable plants, beekeeping, flowering baskets, terrariums, landscaping, lawn care, masonry, highlight jewelry, vintage goods and collectibles, indoor décor, and more.
The Chestnut Hill Home + Garden Festival will also have live music at both the Buckley Park and Bethlehem Stage. Other can’t-miss activities include an outdoor cookout at McNally’s Tavern (where they will be offering sandwiches like the “Schmitter”, plus beer and spring-inspired slushies,) interactive displays, and a Used Book Sale at Tavern on the Hill with Hilltop Books, the bookstore of the Friends of the Chestnut Hill Library.
And lastly, visitors can also head to Windfall and Villa Ville Kula, who partnered up to host the Burrage Band, a full band with extensive knowledge of pop-culture covers from noon to 4 p.m.
In case of inclement weather, Home + Garden will take place on Sunday, May 21. Philadelphians can check out more updates online at chestnuthillpa.com
