How to Attend the Cannstatter Volksfest in Philadelphia
The Cannstatter Volksfest in Philadelphia is an annual festival organized over the Labor Day weekend. Also known as Philadelphia's Oktoberfest, the festival attracts international music bands, a rich variety of entertainment options and food aficionados from around the state. The Cannstatter Volksfest is located just outside the city, on Academy Road.
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Instructions
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Bring the kids along. Children under 12 are free, and the Cannstatter Volksfest offers rides and games, a playground area and a series of raffles and events aimed at a younger audience.
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Come hungry. One of the best things about the Volksfest is the large variety of food and drinks available. From traditional German food, like Sauerbraten and Bratwurst, to imported German beer and wines, the festival is a great time to skip home cooking.
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Attend the free concerts. Every year, a few authentic German bands make their way to Volksfest to showcase traditional and classical music. Singing and dancing take place both on stage and among the audience, who sometimes wear traditional costumes to honor their heritage.
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Mingle with the organizers. The festival is a great way to find out about German-American heritage activities in the Philadelphia region. If you're interested in learning traditional dances, studying German or becoming a member of the local group, this is your chance to get to know the people involved.
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Take a souvenir home. Traditional German arts and crafts and souvenirs are for sale during the festival, as are CDs, DVDs and other memorabilia from the bands performing.
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Tips & Warnings
For a full experience, make sure you attend more than once. Every day during the Labor Day Weekend, the festival offers different kinds of entertainment options. This may also help you save money, since the cost of a multi-day ticket is only slightly more than that of a single day ticket.
Plan for a long day. During the festival, the park opens at noon and activities don't stop until 10 p.m.
Take a look at the official Cannstatter Volksfest website before you attend the festival to see the scheduled events for the weekend (see Resources below).
Don't expect a wild Oktoberfest celebration like the kind you imagine would happen in Germany or other top celebration areas. The Cannstatter Volksfest in Philadelphia is a mild family affair. Drinking too much is discouraged (despite the variety of beers for sale), as are loud, flashy displays of behavior.
