Events

SPECIAL NOTICE REGARDING SPECIAL EVENT APPLICATIONs

UPDATED 4/9/21

No Special Events are allowed to take place in the Borough of West Chester until, as of now (and this date may change pending PA DOH guidelines), after AUGUST 1st 2021 due to the ongoing Coronavirus Pandemic.

The Borough will begin to accept new (not recurring from previous years) Special Event Applications as of MAY 1st, 2021 for the remainder of this calendar year. Applications will be reviewed and approved/denied as PA Dept. of Health guidelines and protocols allow. 

Any questions pertaining to SEAs can be directed to Keith A. Kurowski, Director of Parks and Recreation at kkurowski@west-chester.com

You can complete a SEA form here.

The Borough of West Chester Parks and Recreation Department host a variety of family fun events year round. Check out our event for full details on each event.

All events/dates are tentative pending Covid-19 regulations and restrictions based upon the PA Dept. of Health and Center for Disease Control protocols. 

May Day Festival of the Arts
CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS
May Day Celebration is a daylong celebration of the arts held at Everhart Park. Approximately 45 to 60 artists set up booths throughout the park to sell their high quality arts and crafts. This festival also includes entertainment, artisan demonstrations, an outdoor art show and delicious food for visitors to enjoy all day. Festival attendance 2,500+

West Chester Al Fresco
CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS 
The Swingin’ Summer Thursday Series is an evening of live music on the streets of Downtown West Chester. It is held the first Thursday in June, July, August, and September.  Each Swingin’ Summer Thursday has a musical genre theme and two bands are selected to perform.  Local food vendors, information booths, and local artisan booths are spread out among two blocks of Downtown West Chester. Festival attendance ranges from 2,500 to 3,500.

As of Monday March 15th, 2021, vendors (crafters, non-crafters, non-profits, and food will be able to apply and pay for the Turks Head Music Festival spaces. Spaces are limited and the event is tentative. Use our online software here:  https://westchesterpa.myrec.com/

Turks Head Music Festival
July 18, 2021 (rain date July 25) 12pm - 8pm
A daylong celebration of local music held at Everhart Park. Approximately 35 - 50 artists and vendors set up booths throughout the park to sell their high quality arts and crafts. Throughout the day, the two stages will feature eight local bands performing different genres of music. Terrific fresh food from local vendors is available all day. Festival attendance is approx. 5,000 throughout the day.   

Touch A Truck Day
August 8, 2021   12pm - 4pm
Touch a Truck Day is a family friendly event, held at the Chester County Government Services Complex on Westtown Rd.,  that allows children of all ages to explore the vehicles that fascinate them. This hands on event gives children the opportunity to see, touch, interact with and learn about dozens of vehicles. Festival attendance 2,000+

Applications for the Chester County Restaurant Festival coming soon to our online site here: https://westchesterpa.myrec.com/

Chester County Restaurant Festival
September 19, 2021 (rain date September 26) 12pm - 530pm
The Chester County Restaurant Festival is the biggest festival of the year. This foodie event is full of entertainment, information booths, local artisans, and tons of delicious food from around Chester County. Local Chester County food vendors and restaurants take over Downtown West Chester serving up some of their delicious, gourmet, ethnic, and unique restaurant favorites.  Our Beer and Wine Garden is a great place to stop and enjoy your food and a beverages. There are three stage areas with bands performing throughout the day. This is our largest event of the year with tens of thousands of patrons attending.

Halloween Parade
October 27, 2021 (rain date October 28) 7pm start time
The Halloween Parade brings together local organizations, businesses, and schools for a night filled with Halloween spirit. 3,000 goody bags stuffed with donations are handed out to children at stations throughout the parade route. It’s fun for everyone to watch the festive groups march thru West Chester and see performances from high school bands, cheer teams, and dance teams.

Breakfast with Santa 
TBD
Families come together to enjoy a delicious buffet breakfast with Santa. Children get to sit with Santa to share their Christmas wish lists, take photos, and receive a goody bag with special items inside. Seats are limited and registration is required. 

Easter Egg Scramble Drive Thru 
April 3, 2021 11am (please pre-register here: https://westchesterpa.myrec.com/)
A twist on our Annual Egg Hunt, this event will be very similar to our "Drive Thru Trunk or Treat" we organized back in Oct. 2020. Several volunteer groups will have "Easterized" stations in the Municipal Bldg. rear parking lot. Parents drive thru the parking lot and our awesome volunteers will hand out eggs and goodies. Contactless, safe, Covid protocol compliant...we want to give the kids a little something to look forward to this year. 

If you are interested in joining us by sponsorship, donating goodies, volunteering your time, please contact the Parks and Recreation Director for more info.  There will be thousands of  eggs filled with candy and toys as well as a chance to win prizes.

Bark in the Park
CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS 
You and your best fur friend friend are welcomed to Hoopes Park to enjoy a day filled to with K9 demonstrations, treats for you and your dog, vendors, and more! Be sure to check our social media for updated information about our pet contests.