Philadelphia’s Nanny Goat Festival is set to take place on May 9, 2026. The festival will be held at American Street and Master Street in the Kensington section of Philadelphia, PA. It will feature live music, food and drink vendors, Irish dance, cultural exhibits, and activities for the whole family to enjoy.
At this event, the dedication of a Pennsylvania Historical Marker will take place. This historical marker will commemorate the Kensington Riots of 1844. The event started as a way to recognize this pivotal moment in the history of Philadelphia’s Irish community, and has evolved to honor resilience, neighborhood pride, and heritage.
The day will kick off with a memorial mass. From there, the
Historical Marker will be dedicated with a ceremony. After the ceremony, the
festival will commence with activities, food vendors, and more for the
community to enjoy.
“The goal is not simply to mark a tragic event,” says Kevin
Brett, the organizer of the festival and the person who helped in receiving the
Historical Marker, “but to recognize the resilience of the 19th-century Irish
immigrant community who rebuilt their neighborhood and remained rooted for
generations.
The festival got its name from the Nanny Goat Market, which
is also known as Washington Market. It was located on present-day American
Street between Master and Jefferson Streets in the Olde Kensington neighborhood
of Philadelphia. The market was one of many buildings in the area to be
destroyed in the riots.
The Kensington Riots were riots that took place between May
6 and May 8, 1844. Violence erupted between the Irish immigrants and nativist
Protestants. Ultimately, several people were killed, and more were injured. 30
Irish homes and storefronts were destroyed. There are still descendants of those
impacted by the Riots in the Philadelphia area, including some people who volunteer
on the planning committees for the event.
The historical marker program is facilitated by the Pennsylvania
Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC). The process to get a historical marker
for a location is to submit a formal nomination with extensive citations and
undergo an independent academic review. From there, the Historical Marker Panel
reviews the submission before the commission approves it. Then the production
of the marker itself begins with the drafting and editing of the text for the
marker.
If those hose who are attending the festival want to be more
involved, they can donate to the festival or volunteer on one of the festival’s
planning committees. Brett hopes it will be a day full of fun with “Irish
music, neighborhood food and drink, and a shared sense of place and pride.”
This is the first Nanny Goat Fest, and if all is successful, talks of future
festivals will take place.
Brett hopes that attendees can understand what people of the
past have had to deal with. Conflict over immigration is not a new thing, and
political rhetoric comes with consequences. This shows that local history matters.
“The Kensington Riots were one of the deadliest episodes of
anti-immigration violence in American history prior to the Civil War,” said
Brett. “Yet most Philadelphians have never heard of them.”
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