Food Fest
Philly News 2025
Pop Culture
Name That (Holiday) Tune
Ghosts of Inquirer Past
100

This company provided complimentary copies of WHAT A RUN! for Food Fest gift bags.

Lincoln Financial

100

Taylor Swift announced her 12th album on this popular podcast hosted by former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce and his brother.

New Heights

100

This rapper rocked jeans during his performance at this year’s Super Bowl halftime show.

Kendrick Lamar

100

Written in just 15 minutes and first recorded in 1994, this modern classic did not hit #1 on the charts until 2019.

"All I Want for Christmas Is You"

100

This former member of the Marketing Ops team knows where all the bodies are buried.

Kim Johnston Rossmair

200

This Philadelphia Eagles offensive tackle and his wife served as judges for the Great Inquirer Bake-Off.

Jordan Mailata

200

This famously stoic Philadelphia Eagles quarterback opted not to attend the Super Bowl champions’ celebration at the White House.

Jalen Hurts

200

This legendary sketch comedy show celebrated its 50th anniversary in February.

SNL / Saturday Night Live

200

It took 36 years for this classic holiday song by Wham! to reach #1 in the U.K.

"Last Christmas"

200

While working at The Inquirer, this former Data & Insights team member and his wife welcomed twins named Frank and Phoebe.

Dan Kirchberger

300

To thank our subscribers, The Inquirer offered a chance to win one of these many different prizes from the claw machine.

500 prizes

300

After scrapping plans for a Center City arena, the Sixers plan to build a new stadium in this Philadelphia neighborhood known for its Italian and Irish roots, iconic food scene, and classic row homes.

South Philly

300

Known as the “City of Bridges,” this Pennsylvania city is the setting for a popular medical drama that debuted this year on HBO Max.

Pittsburgh

300

José Feliciano wrote this bilingual holiday classic so it could air on both English- and Spanish-language radio stations.

"Feliz Navidad"

300

This former member of the Marketing Ops team left The Inquirer to work at Lilly Pulitzer.

Mia Serrano

400

Kicking off Food Fest with soaring vocals, soulful beats, and house-driven energy, these performers opened the event.

Opera Philly & BWC Sounds

Also accept Amanda Sheriff in place of Opera Philly and Joshua Lang and DJ Sylo in place of BWC Sounds

400

Located along Philadelphia’s Museum District Parkway, this art space dedicated to sculptor Alexander Calder opened in September.

Calder Gardens

400

GAP’s viral “Better in Denim” commercial featured this multicultural girl group dancing to Kelis’s “Milkshake.”

KATSEYE

400

This timeless, nostalgic ballad sung by Bing Crosby remains the best-selling single of all time.

"White Christmas"

400

When he’s not consulting for other newspapers, this former Inquirer chief executive can be found cheering on his daughter at her hockey games.

Pete Doucette

500

The Inquirer earned this amount in net sales from Food Fest ticket sales.

$204,718

500

As the U.S. minted its final penny this year, the first pennies were struck in Philadelphia, then the nation’s capital, in this year.

1793

500

TikTok was temporarily banned in the United States for roughly this length of time before being reinstated.

12 hours

500

Originally written for Thanksgiving, this familiar holiday tune became the first song ever broadcast from space.

"Jingle Bells"

500

This former member of The Inquirer's Consumer Marketing team is a devoted Blink-182 fan and roots for the Rams.

James Wilkinson