Kick off Philly Cider Week with a “Sunday Cider Stroll”, a special opening event under the Headhouse Shambles on Sunday, October 26, 3pm -7pm, in grateful collaboration with The Food Trust and South Street Headhouse District (SSHD). After the Headhouse Farmers Market wraps up for the day, swing back through all afternoon long with a whole new set of vendors – all centered around cider! Sip on Pennsylvania’s finest apple-based libations and snack on local eats while the music of Chuck Darwin & The Knuckledraggers fills the crisp fall air. Enter to win cider, swag and gift cards in a special raffle. Go ahead and bring the kids! We’ll have hot cider, face painting, and more!

We’re excited to offer Cider Passports at the Sunday Cider Stroll — a fun way to try all the cideries, find your favorites, AND support The Food Trust! While supplies last, passports are $20 in advance and $25 at the door and include a 2-ounce sample pour from each cidery and may be purchased using this link.

Plus, we’ll be holding a raffle! 100% of the proceeds from both the Cider Passports and the raffle will benefit The Food Trust, supporting their work to bring delicious, nutritious food to all.

This event is all ages (21+ to drink), free to attend and pay-as-you-go. 

Raffle and Cider Passport proceeds benefit The Food Trust, working every day to bring delicious, nutritious food to Philadelphia communities.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY STEPHEN LYFORD

Happy Philly Cider Week!

We have a perfectly cheesy way for you to celebrate. Philly Cheese School is excited to team up with Claire Trindle, a seasoned cider aficionado and Pennsylvania’s first female Certified Pommelier, for an epic cider and cheese pairing class! Claire is not just a certified (literally) cider expert – she's an experienced beverage pro and the mind behind Blind Bear Beverages, where she leads tasting experiences and consults with bars looking to take their drinks menu to the next level. Get ready for a super informative session where Claire breaks down the magic behind some cool ciders and how they can pair with the perfect cheeses.

Join us in the PCS Classroom where you'll be guided through a tasting of four of Claire's favorite ciders, expertly paired with four artisanal cheeses. Claire will co-lead the class alongside PCS’s Julia Fox-Birnbaum and both will offer insight on the products featured, as well as pairing, serving and tasting tips. Guests will also have the chance to tune into their own senses and practice honing their sensory analysis skills.

After class, participants will have access to the PCS Classroom Gift Shop, stocked with PCS merchandise and a rotating selection of cheese-themed gift items.

Booking Info: Ticket Link. All public classes are open only to adults 21+. This class will take place at the PCS Classroom, click here for more info about the space. In order to receive a full refund, cancellations must be made 24 hours prior to the scheduled event time. This page will only show the amount of tickets which are still available for purchase. For example, if you are only able to buy 1 ticket then that means only one seat remains in class. If you are having trouble using a gift card please email julia@phillycheeseschool.com with the class you want to attend, the number of tickets needed and your gift card code number.

About Claire Trindle:
Claire Trindle is a Philly-based beverage professional with a passion for exploring new flavors. Through her business, Blind Bear Beverages, she delights in leading enthusiasts on a journey of flavor discovery, exploring the world of fermented beverages and food pairings. Claire is proud to be Philadelphia’s first Certified Pommelier™ and Pennsylvania’s first female Certified Pommelier™. Claire’s cider industry experience includes roles at Hale & True Cider Co. and Graft Cider. Claire is also a Certified Beer Guide (Cicerone Level 1) and an active member of the Philadelphia chapters of the United States Bartenders Guild, Pink Boots Society, and Sisterly Love Collective. When she's not leading tasting events, you can find Claire enjoying a modern dry cider with a brie. Come learn about cider and cheese pairings with Claire at Philly Cheese School! Follow her liquid adventures at @BlindBearClaire.

About Julia Fox-Birnbaum:
"I’m Julia Fox-Birnbaum and I’ve been in the Cheese Industry since 2014. I’ve worked in cheese education, marketing, social media and more. Before making Philly Cheese School my full-time gig, I filled in as head buyer and manager for one of the largest cheese counters on the East Coast. Over the years I've been lucky enough to visit farms, meet artisan cheese producers and train under some of the best cheesemongers in the field. For me, cheese is a magical food which connects flavor to tradition and science and so much more. My favorite thing about cheese is its ability to tell a story and bring people together. Philly Cheese School was born out of my love of sharing these stories with my community. My goal here is to educate cheese lovers from near and far on this endlessly fascinating and delicious topic which I’ve dedicated my career to.”

Fall in Love with Cider on October 30th! Join Luna Cafe and Home Brewed Events for a collaborative event aiming to highlight a few of their favorite Pennsylvania cideries, a guided tasting, and a brief history of PA cider. Your host, Luna Cafe, will be curating a charcuterie, cheese, and olive board that will complement the 4 cider samples selected from local producers such as Ploughman Cider, ANXO, and more.

Each ticket includes:
-Seat at the class (limited space per class)
-Four locally sourced ciders
-Detailed instruction by a Certified Cicerone
-Cheese & Charcuterie Board complete with olives and sides
-Supporting two female-owned businesses in Philadelphia

Purchase your ticket here! (21+)

✓can accommodate vegans/vegetarians ✓can accommodate gluten-free

PA Libations Philly presents their annual PCW “Meet the Maker” with Brother Monk Ciderworks. Sample the goods, and purchase to-go! Brother Monk Ciderworks will be sampling a number of ciders including their newest release “West Branch Hard Cider”.

As the Full Moon rises over Historic RittenhouseTown, step into an evening of enchantment and shadow on Sunday, November 2nd, from 4–8pm. Wander through hidden speakeasies, savor artisanal ciders from local cideries, and indulge in spellbinding seasonal cocktails/mocktails/teas crafted by Stef and Brooke of Magic of Botanical Mixology. Your first bewitching drink is included, with additional libations available for purchase.

Lose yourself in haunting melodies of live music before gathering for ghostly tales spun by a local storyteller, illuminated by the flicker of lantern light on a special flashlight tour of this centuries-old landmark.

Within the witches’ marketplace, discover charms, botanicals, and curiosities, or dare to peer beyond the veil with Tarot card readings. To close the night, lift your gaze skyward and witness the moon in its full brilliance through the lens of a telescope.

Your ticket includes:
👻After-hours access to Historic RittenhouseTown
🥃Secret speakeasies & seasonal libations
🍎 Access to local cider, beer, and botanical cocktails /mocktails/teas (available for purchase after first beverage included with the ticket)
🔦Flashlight ghost tours of the grounds
🔮Tarot card readings
🌕Full Moon telescope viewing

Purchase your ticket here!

✓can accommodate vegans/vegetarians ✓can accommodate gluten-free

All proceeds support the preservation and educational programs of Historic RittenhouseTown — a National Historic Landmark District and home to America’s first paper mill (1690). Your revelry beneath the moonlight helps sustain the magic of this treasured site for generations to come.

Join cideries, participants, and enthusiasts alike for this special event to celebrate the closing day of yet another Philly Cider Week! Middle Child Clubhouse welcomes PCW with an absolutely unhinged menu takeover of special releases and limited runs from Pennsylvania cideries featured alongside a pay-as-you-go indoor night market of some of our favorite local eats that classically pair so beautifully with all kinds of cider. Confirmed food vendors include Birchrun Hills Farm (cheese), The Farm at Doe Run (cheese), Sweet Amalia Oyster Farm, Flakely (gluten-free bread/pastries), and more to be announced soon!

Enjoy a menu of cider surprises from ANXO, Big Hill, Brother Monk, Dressler Estate, Excursion, Manoff Market, Ploughman, Stone & Key, and more!

This event is free entry, pay-as-you-go, and 21+

✓vegan/vegetarian options ✓gluten-free options