Mural Arts Philadelphia's annual Halloween festival in Love Park with live performances, an artist vendor market, mask decorating, pumpkin painting and inflatable games.
Mural Arts Philadelphia is taking over JFK Plaza (Love Park) on Saturday, October 31, for the Mural Arts Fest, their annual Halloween festival. It's the big finale of Mural Arts Month, the citywide celebration of free public art that runs all through October. If you've spent any time in Philly, you know the murals are part of the scenery—the city has more than 4,000 of them—and this is the day the program brings that work into one spot.
The day is built around things you actually do rather than just look at. You can decorate your own mask, write and trade affirmations, and pick up a custom airbrushed tote bag. There's pumpkin painting too, and the one you finish enters you for a chance to win a cash prize. In between, there are inflatable games to keep things loose. It's the kind of afternoon where you can drift from one activity to the next without any real rush.
On the performance side, local artists take the stage throughout the day, with Ryan Gilfillan among them and sound by Club Advisory. There's also an artist vendor market, so you can browse work from local makers while the music is going. The whole thing is free to attend, though they ask for an RSVP.
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It's worth knowing where this comes from. Mural Arts Philadelphia started in 1984 as a city effort to address graffiti, and it's grown into one of the biggest public art programs in the country. They pair professional artists with residents, schools, and community organizations, and they've put a lot of their work into restorative justice and arts education. The city's street art has been getting national attention lately, too—USA TODAY 10Best named Philadelphia the 'Best City for Street Art' for the second year running in 2026.
Mural Arts Fest runs from 12 PM to 5 PM at JFK Plaza (Love Park), 1501 John F. Kennedy Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19102. Admission is free with a free RSVP.
