Germantown, PA

Local Events

Reenactments, heritage festivals, and living history programs — experience the Revolution where it happened.

Upcoming This Year

Oct

ReenactmentFeatured

Battle of Germantown Reenactment

Cliveden (Chew House), 6401 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA

Annual large-scale reenactment of the October 4, 1777 Battle of Germantown, held on the grounds of Cliveden (the Chew House), which served as a fortified strongpoint for British troops during the actual battle. Hundreds of costumed Continental and British reenactors recreate the dramatic assault on the stone mansion, complete with musket fire, artillery demonstrations, and tactical narration. The event includes living history encampments, period crafts, and guided tours of the house and grounds.

FreeHeld on the first Saturday in October, near the anniversary of the October 4, 1777 battle; exact date varies by yearMore info →

Jun

Guided Tour

Stenton Colonial Life Programs

Stenton (Logan House), 4601 N. 18th Street, Philadelphia, PA

Stenton, the 1730 mansion built by James Logan (William Penn's secretary), hosts seasonal living history and educational programs interpreting 18th-century life in Germantown. Programs often include colonial cooking demonstrations, textile arts, discussions of enslaved people who lived and worked on the property, and special Revolutionary War-era interpretive events tied to the Battle of Germantown, during which the house served as a headquarters.

Suggested donation; varies by programPrograms offered spring through fall; check Stenton's calendar for specific dates. Contact the site to confirm current programming.More info →

Oct

Festival

Revolutionary Germantown Festival

Multiple historic sites along Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA

A major annual community heritage festival spanning multiple historic sites along Germantown Avenue. Participating sites including Cliveden, Stenton, the Deshler-Morris House, Grumblethorpe, and others open their doors for tours, living history demonstrations, colonial craft activities, and family-friendly programming. The festival connects the neighborhood's colonial, Revolutionary, and broader history into a walkable experience along one of America's oldest roads.

Free to low cost; varies by siteTypically held on a Saturday in mid- to late October; exact date varies. Contact individual sites or the Germantown Historical Society to confirm.More info →

Oct

Guided Tour

Deshler-Morris House Open House and Interpretive Programs

Deshler-Morris House, 5442 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA

The Deshler-Morris House, known as the 'Germantown White House' because President Washington lived here briefly in 1793–1794, hosts interpretive open houses and special programs operated by the National Park Service. Events explore Washington's use of the house during the yellow fever epidemic, its role in the Battle of Germantown (British General Howe used it as his headquarters), and the stories of the enslaved people Washington brought there. Special programming often coincides with the October battle anniversary.

FreeOpen seasonally with special events near the battle anniversary in early October; contact the National Park Service or check the Independence NHP website for current schedule.More info →

Date

TBD

Lecture

Germantown Historical Society Lecture Series

Germantown Historical Society, 5501 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, PA

The Germantown Historical Society hosts an ongoing series of public lectures and programs throughout the year, frequently featuring topics on the Battle of Germantown, the 1688 antislavery protest, colonial-era Germantown, and the neighborhood's broader role in the American Revolution. Guest historians, authors, and researchers present new scholarship on the community's rich Revolutionary heritage.

Free or small suggested donation; varies by eventLectures held throughout the year on varying dates; check the Germantown Historical Society website or contact them directly for the current schedule.More info →