Nanny Goat Festival
Posted to Kensington, Old on May 5, 2026
This Saturday, a new street festival takes over American Street with a legacy dating back to May 1844. 182 years ago, anti-immigrant violence swept through Kensington near the historic Nanny Goat Market. Homes were burned. St. Michael’s Church was destroyed. Lives were lost and hundreds were injured and displaced from their homes. But the story didn’t end there. The immigrant Irish community rebuilt their neighborhood and remained rooted in Kensington for generations. A legacy worth celebrating On Saturday, we’re marking that history with the dedication of a new Pennsylvania Historical Marker and a full-day street festival to honor Kensington’s resilient past and vibrant present, including: 🎸 Live bands all day 🎻 Traditional Irish music session (BYO instrument) ☘️ Irish dance 🛍️ 60+ vendors 🍻 Local food & drink 🐐 And yes, there will be goats! The festival takes its name from the historic Nanny Goat Market, once located on American Street before it was burned in the unrest of 1844. Join us as we create a living memory of Kensington’s Nanny Goat Market. 12 PM: Commemorative Mass at St. Michael’s Church 1 PM: PA Historical Marker Dedication 2 PM–8 PM: Street Festival on American Street Olde Kensington | Philadelphia Free & open to the public. All ages welcome.
This Saturday, a new street festival takes over American Street with a legacy dating back to May 1844. 182 years ago, anti-immigrant violence swept through Kensington near the historic Nanny Goat Market. Homes were burned. St. Michael’s Church was destroyed. Lives were lost and hundreds were injure...
Description
This Saturday, a new street festival takes over American Street with a legacy dating back to May 1844. 182 years ago, anti-immigrant violence swept through Kensington near the historic Nanny Goat Market. Homes were burned. St. Michael’s Church was destroyed. Lives were lost and hundreds were injure...
Nanny Goat Festival starts at 1:00 p.m. and ends at 8:00 p.m.
Times
Nanny Goat Festival starts at 1:00 p.m. and ends at 8:00 p.m.
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