Date & Time
Sept. 28, 2024 12PM - 7PMLocation
On the Ben Franklin ParkwayAttendence
5000+ peopleSpecial Guests
Visiting from IndiaJoin us on the Ben Franklin Parkway, Sept. 28th, Noon to 7 pm
Our BIGGEST festival of the year is this weekend! We are back on the Ben Franklin Parkway and at Eakin’s Oval (in front to the Art Museum) and hope that you’re looking forward to celebrating as much as we are!
Saturday September 28th- Parade and Festivities at Eakin’s Oval
12 Noon – 7 PM
World famous Lord Jagannatha will be having a welcome party – coming out to see friends and devotees as well as passersby. This year the parade route starts at noon at 16th and Ben Franklin Parkway (2 blocks from Love Park) in Center City Philadelphia. The parade will cruise west down the Ben Franklin Parkway. In the center will be a mighty flower-decorated chariot pulled by the participants.
This year’s parade and festival will be enlivened by kirtan singers coming from around the globe! As the parade makes its way toward the Art Museum, singing and dancing all the way, participants will arrive at the festival site at Eakins Oval. There you’ll find a wonderful bazaar with lots of free food for the body, mind and soul waiting for you- a Vegan/ Vegetarian feast, Cultural Programs by International presenters, Yoga presented by facilitators from various Yoga studios, Seminars on the bhakti philosophy by world-class speakers, a Kid’s area to engage the young minds, and much more!
Festival Highlights
Hand & Face Painting
Pull the 36 ft chariot
Spiritual Exhibits
Dance & Singing Performances
Food, Jewelry, & Clothing Vendors
Parade Route
Parking
There are several parking options available for festival visitors. Shuttle service (pick up/drop off) will be available for all the visitors from the Parade Start Location at 16th & Ben Franklin Pkwy and Callowhill parking lots on the festival day.
Parade Start Location
16th & Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Festival Site Location
2600 Ben Franklin Parkway
(Eakins Oval/Philadelphia Museum of Art)
- Museum Parking Garage – Behind the Museum
- Museum Parking Garage – Upper Terrace
- Metered Parking – Benjamin Franklin Parkway (Metered spaces between Eakins Oval and Logan Square)
- Fairmont Avenue Garage – 2201 Fairmount Avenue, Philadelphia, PA
- Pennsylavania Ave – Street Meter Parking
- Street Parking – Sedgely Drive & Poplar Drive
- Parking at 640 Water Works Drive Philadelphia, PA 19130
Public Transportation
Parade Start Location
Suburban Station/ JFK Plaza/ Love Park/ City Hall stations have stops for all regional rails, the Market-Frankford line, and the Broad Street line, Please check SEPTA website for bus routes.
Eakins Oval / Philadelphia Museum of Art
SEPTA
The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) serves the Philadelphia region with subway-elevated, light rail, trackless trolley, bus routes, and commuter rail lines. SEPTA bus routes 7, 32, 38, 43, and 48 currently serve the Museum area.
PHLASH
The Phlash Downtown Visitor Shuttle provides direct service between Penn’s Landing, Center City, and the Museum. Operated several months out of the year by the Philadelphia Trolley Works, the Phlash uses distinctive purple trolleys and runs every twelve minutes between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. For up-to-the-minute Philadelphia area traffic reports, dial SmarTraveler at (215) 576-5678 (or on cell at #211).
Out of Town
PATCO – (856) 772-6900 or (215) 922-4600 The PATCO Speedline is an easy way to travel between southern New Jersey and Center City, with trains running approximately every 15 minutes during the week and every 20 minutes on weekends.
NJTransit Connection at Trenton Station
Amtrak – 1-800-USA-RAIL Amtrak offers convenient, comfortable trains with several routes making stops in Philadelphia. Trains arrive and depart from 30th Street Station, just a few minutes away from the Museum.
Free Shuttle
Free shuttle service (pick up/ drop off) will be available for the visitors from assigned locations in city of Philadelphia. Please make use of shuttle service and enjoy the festival.
For shuttle reservations, contact 215-247-4600.
Shuttle Stops
- Temple – 41 W Allens Lane Philadelphia PA 19119
- Eakins Oval – Festival Site – Philadelphia Art Museum, 2600 Ben Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA 19130
- Callowhill Parking ($10/day) – 1901 Callowhill Street Philadelphia, PA 19130
Shuttle Schedule
From 6 AM – 10 AM (Multiple trips depending on traffic and police detours)
- Temple
- Eakins Oval
- Callowhill Parking
- Temple
From 10 AM – 12:15 PM (Multiple trips depending on traffic and police detours)
- Eakins Oval
- Callowhill Parking
- Eakins Oval
From 2 PM – 4 PM (Multiple trips depends upon local traffic and police detours)
- Eakins Oval
- Callowhill Parking
- Eakins Oval
From 4 PM – 9:30 PM (Multiple trips depending on traffic and police detours)
- Eakins Oval
- Callowhill Parking
- Temple
- Eakins Oval
Final and Last trip back to Temple will be around 9 pm.