If it’s August in Pennsylvania, that means festival season is in full swing.
Bethlehem’s Musikfest, the Pittston Tomato Festival, the Great American Banana Split Celebration in Latrobe, and the Gettysburg Brewfest highlight a fun-filled month of festivals in the commonwealth.
Here are 10 August festivals to put on your calendar.
Chinese Lantern Festival – Philadelphia
Dates: Now through Sunday, Aug. 16
Now in its ninth year, the Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival has become a seasonal staple for locals and tourists, transforming historic Franklin Square into a luminous wonderland. More than a thousand handcrafted lanterns depict intricate scenes from enchanted forests to the underwater world. The centerpiece, a 200-foot-long dragon, has become an iconic symbol of summer in the city.
Musikfest – Bethlehem
Dates: Friday, July 31 to Sunday, Aug. 9
The country’s largest free music festival, Musikfest, takes place in Bethlehem over 10 days each summer, with more than one million people making the journey to the Lehigh Valley city to see performances from over 400 musicians and performing artists. The 2026 main stage headliners (the only stage to charge admission) include Yellowcard, Taking Back Sunday, “Weird Al” Yankovic, AJR, Train, and comedian John Mulaney. In addition to the main stage, 15 other stages will feature free live music and performances.
Goschenhoppen Folk Festival – Perkiomenville (Montgomery County)
Dates: Friday, Aug. 7 and Saturday, Aug. 8
You can enjoy traditional food, handmade crafts, and folk music at the Goschenhoppen Folk Festival, where more than 500 volunteers in period clothing will demonstrate what Pennsylvania German life was like in the 1700s and 1800s. Taking place at the Henry Antes Plantation in Perkiomenville, the 2026 event will be the festival’s 58th year. Tickets include access to living history programs, dozens of demonstrations, delicious Pennsylvania Dutch eats, and live performances.
Plymouth Alive Kielbasa Fest – Plymouth (Luzerne County)
Dates: Friday, Aug. 7 and Sat. Aug. 8
For more than 20 years, the Plymouth Alive Kielbasa Fest has been a cornerstone festival in NEPA, with dozens of vendors and attractions, and live music. And of course there’s a kielbasa competition where several NEPA meat stores and vendors compete for the best tasting kielbasa in categories like smoked and regular.
Barrel & Flow Fest – Pittsburgh
Date: Sat., Aug. 8
Pittsburgh’s Barrel & Flow was the first Black craft beer and arts festival in the country, and has been recognized as one of the best beer festivals in the country by USA Today. The tradition continues this year with dozens of local and national breweries participating, the majority of which are Black-owned. The festival will also include live music, live art, and a market of vendors, community organizations, and food.
CelebrateErie – Erie
Dates: Friday, Aug. 14 to Sunday, Aug. 16
CelebrateErie is the Erie region’s largest festival, a three-day event celebrating—what else?—the culture, food, and community of “The Gem City.” The festival brings dozens of live performances, food vendors, and activities to downtown Erie, with easy access to festival events at the Erie Art Museum, expERIEnce Children’s Museum, and a number of downtown businesses.
Gettysburg Brewfest & Trail 5K – Gettysburg
Date: Saturday, Aug. 15
History meets hops at the Gettysburg Brewfest, with more than 40 types of beer, ciders, and cocktails available to sample from more than a dozen brewers. Held at Historic Daniel Lady Farm, the festival also features live music, food, house and barn tours, and a scenic 5K trail race through the stone roads, grass paths, and woods of the 200-plus-acre property.
Pittston Tomato Festival – Pittston (Luzerne County)
Dates: Thursday, Aug. 20 to Sunday, Aug. 23
Thousands flock to the “Quality Tomato Capital of the World” each summer to celebrate and sample home-grown Pittston tomatoes at this annual festival. Highlights include the Tomato Contest, where ribbons are awarded for largest, smallest, most perfect, and ugliest; the crowning of Little Miss & Mister Pittston Tomato; the Spaghetti Eating Contest; and the big parade through downtown Pittston.
The Great American Banana Split Celebration – Latrobe (Westmoreland County)
Dates: Saturday, Aug. 22 and Sunday, Aug. 23
Did you know that the banana split was invented at a Latrobe pharmacy more than 120 years ago? Latrobe has been celebrating its sweet gift to the world since 2013 at the annual Great American Banana Split Celebration. The two-day festival features music, an appearance by the 2026 Banana Split Princess, kids’ activities, and, of course, lots of ice cream, with a heavy emphasis on the banana split.
Shippensburg Corn Festival – Shippensburg (Cumberland/Franklin counties)
Date: Saturday, Aug. 29
If you’re looking for a day of free family fun featuring a classic car show, live entertainment, and a corn on the cob eating contest, look no further than the 45th annual Shippensburg Corn Festival. Each year, downtown Shippensburg becomes a destination lined with dozens of craft vendors and food booths, along with living history demonstrations and local bands. And keep an eye out for the festival mascot “Corny,” who will be roaming Main Street all day long.
