The Elfreth’s Alley Museum in Philadelphia’s historic Old City is gearing up for the return of a uniquely local celebration. On a Friday evening from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. the museum will open its doors free of charge for the second hitchBOT Festival a tribute to the hitchhiking robot that met a violent end in the alley in 2015.
From cross-country adventure to a tragic Philadelphia stop
Created in 2013 by Canadian professors David Harris Smith and Frauke ZellerhitchBOT was a social experiment designed to test trust in strangers. After successful rides across Canada, Germany and the Netherlands, the robot set off on a U.S. journey in 2015, traveling from Boston to San Francisco. On July 17, 2015 a photo captured the robot hitchhiking near Marblehead, Massachusetts. Two weeks later, on Aug. 1, 2015 it was discovered decapitated at the top of Elfreth’s Alley, the oldest continuously inhabited street in America. No charges were ever filed, and the incident entered the local lore as a reminder of the uneasy relationship between people and modern technology.
Last year’s record-breaking remembrance
To mark the 10-year anniversary of the incident, the museum organized a First Friday event that attracted roughly 550 attendees—a record turnout for its 323-year history. Jeff Winner, owner of the popular Old Cilly social accounts and one of the organizers, said at the time, “We want the hitchBOT Festival to become an annual Philadelphia tradition — something uniquely Old Cilly that gets a little bigger and stranger every year.” The celebration featured robot-building stations, a tasting of craft beer supplied by the Human Robot Brewery, and a surprise video message from the robot’s creators, Smith and Zeller.
What to expect at this year’s event
The upcoming festival will echo many of the popular elements from the previous year. Visitors can assemble their own miniature hitchBOT models, trade salvaged robot parts, and enjoy refreshments donated by the Human Robot Brewery. A suggested donation will grant access to the beer and additional goodies. In addition, a prerecorded message from Smith and Zeller will be played, reminding attendees of the original purpose of the experiment.
Organizer Susan Poulton, vice-president of the Elfreth’s Alley Association and resident of the alley, recalled how the idea originated from an April Fool’s post by Winner that teased a fictitious “Rust in Peace” festival. “Everyone thought it was real” she noted, sparking the decision to turn the joke into a genuine First Friday gathering.
Winner also hinted at long-term ambitions: expanding the celebration beyond the alley onto nearby 2nd Street, adding food trucks, live music, and perhaps establishing the event as a staple comparable to Punxsutawney Phil’s Groundhog Day. For now, the museum hopes the turnout matches—or exceeds—the record set last year, confirming that the hitchBOT tragedy can evolve into a beloved Philadelphia tradition.
