• by Danielle Oster , October 1, 2025

It’s a match made in Philly, as Pepsi turns to the city famed for cheesesteaks with its latest “Local Eats Deserve Pepsi” activation.

On Oct. 4, the brand will take over Eakins Oval -- a large traffic circle in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Modern Art -- for a festival featuring food vendors from across the city, running from 12- to 5 p.m.

The food most associated with the city, the Philly cheesesteak, will be represented by at least three local vendors known for the sandwich: Philip’s Steaks, Oregon Steaks, and Curly’s Comfort Food.

It’s less clear if the city’s other signature sandwich, the Italian roast pork sandwich, will be represented, but it's on the menu of at least two participating restaurants: Three Monkey’s Cafe, and Chickie’s & Pete’s. Other participating food vendors include Café Carmela and The Flavor Spot.

Pepsi’s “Philly Eats Fest” will also feature musical performances by hip hop duo Clipse, singer-songwriter Ari Lennox, and Philadelphia rapper Freeway. It will also include an appearance by former Philadelphia Eagles star running back Brian Westbrook, as well as Philadelphia cheerleaders, drum line, and mascot.

The brand’s Drips by Pepsi offering will also be on hand, serving nine different layered drinks with mix-ins.

To bring “Philly Eats Fest” type flavor to a wider, national audience, PepsiCo is partnering with delivery service DoorDash for an offer of $15 off a “Philly favorite meal” with the purchase of a Pepsi on Oct. 15.

The “Local Eats Deserve Pepsi” activation is the latest addition to Pepsi’s “Food Deserves Pepsi” platform, focused on promoting the beverage as the perfect pairing for a variety of popular foods. It follows the brand’s similar celebration of the food of New Orleans earlier this year.

Why the focus on Philadelphia? While it didn’t top Tripadvisor’s list of top food cities in the U.S. the way Pepsi’s previous “Local Food Deserves Pepsi” destination did, it did make number six on U.S. News & World Report's list of “15 Best Food Cities in the U.S.” (New Orleans topped that list as well).

It probably helps that the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles are hosting the Denver Broncos the following day as well. Pepsi hosted its “NOLA Eats Fest” in the Super Bowl host city during Super Bowl weekend, and launched its “Tailgate Crashers” campaign during the NFL’s opening weekend.

“Philadelphia’s food scene is one of the most exciting in the country, where decades-old staples sit side by side with bold new spots,” PepsiCo Away From Home CMO Scott Finlow said in a statement, while describing the preceding “NOLA Eats Fest” as a success.