Germantown Avenue will soon turn into an open-air art gallery, with hundreds of artists, makers and performers filling the streets of Chestnut Hill.
The Fall for the Arts Festival returns for its 42nd year, bringing more than 300 artists and vendors to the neighborhood on Sept. 27.
From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., visitors can stroll along Germantown Avenue while browsing paintings, photography, pottery, jewelry, woodworking and other handmade creations from artists and makers throughout the region.
There will also be live music, artist demonstrations, interactive workshops and plenty of opportunities to pop into the neighborhood’s galleries, shops, restaurants and other local businesses.
And while Fall for the Arts is a big day on the Chestnut Hill calendar, it’s really an extension of something the neighborhood has been doing for generations.
Chestnut Hill’s relationship with the arts goes back more than a century.
One of the biggest pieces of that history is Woodmere Art Museum, where collector and civic leader Charles Knox Smith began welcoming visitors to see his art collection in 1910.
More than 100 years later, Woodmere remains a major part of the neighborhood’s cultural landscape.
The museum now occupies two historic 19th-century stone mansions across 10 acres and houses more than 11,000 works focused on the art and artists of Philadelphia. It’s also accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, a distinction held by only about 3% of museums nationwide.
Woodmere continued expanding its role in the community in 2025 with the opening of Frances M. Maguire Hall for Art & Education. The new space added 14 galleries, a children’s art and education studio and additional public spaces.
Chestnut Hill is home to a growing collection of galleries, including NoName Gallery, Gallery on the Avenue, The Little Gallery, Borrelli’s Chestnut Hill Gallery and Gravers Lane Gallery, where visitors can find work from local, regional and national artists.
And on the first Friday of every month, Arts & Eats First Fridays gives visitors an additional reason to experience them firsthand.
Galleries stay open late, welcoming guests to check out new exhibitions and installations, while demonstrations, lectures and live music add to the evening.
Restaurants and retailers also take part, creating an experience that connects Chestnut Hill’s artistic community with shopping and dining.
The 2026 Fall for the Arts Festival features more than 300 artists and makers across a variety of disciplines, including painting, photography, sculpture, pottery, jewelry, and woodworking.
At Makers Village, you can see creativity in action, with live demonstrations throughout the day. And live music and entertainment performances will add to the festival atmosphere along Germantown Avenue.
Visitors can get hands-on through demonstrations, workshops, and creative activities with interactive art experiences, and young artists and families can participate in special arts-focused programming throughout the festival.
The festival runs Sept. 27 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is free to attend. The rain date is Sunday, Oct. 11. For the latest festival information, updates, and event details, visit chestnuthillpa.com
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