The Oval opens today, transforming a surface parking lot at Eakins Oval on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway into a pedestrian-friendly pop-up park. (Photos by M. Fischetti for GPTMC)
The Benjamin Franklin Parkway is a Philadelphia cultural mecca — an epicenter of art museums, educational institutions and public spaces.
Now, there’s yet another reason to proceed to the Parkway: The Oval is open for the summer.
The brand-new open-air public space at Eakins Oval brings engaging new dimension to the Parkway, transforming an island of asphalt and surrounding lawns at 24th Street and the Parkway into an eight-acre public space devoted to summertime fun.
Open July 17 through August 18, Tuesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., The Oval is scheduled to host free daily educational programming, tons of free live entertainment, a daily lineup of food trucks and a weekly beer garden.
Read on for our complete guide to the location, food and drink, entertainment and education at The Oval, and check out more online.
Stay tuned for more on this super new summertime attraction right here, too.
See you at The Oval!
The Layout
Located within easy walking distance of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, The Barnes Foundation, The Franklin Institute, Academy of Natural Sciences, the Free Library, the Rodin Museum and Sister Cities Park, The Oval is situated in what was a surface lot in front of the Museum of Art.
An eight-acre open-air urban oasis, the painted-over parking lot and surrounding grassy areas is a super pedestrian friendly public space, welcoming visitors to four summertime-themed areas with permanent features like tables and chairs, brightly colored sails and, yes, public restrooms.
Check out “The Beach” and “The Blanket” to cool off with misters, play in sand boxes and with oversized board games (like chess!), plus look out for ping-pong tables and corn-hole bean bag games.
A rotating selection of three or four food trucks per day, and entertainment stage and cafe tables and chairs will live in “The Boardwalk.”
“The Lawn,” just off of the asphalt area in the shaded grass, includes Adirondack chairs, twinkly lights and colorful vinyl globes, volleyball, badminton and — maybe best of all — a nine-hole mini-golf course, which is also totally free.
Food and Drink
Plan on coming hungry to hang out at The Oval.
• Food Trucks: A daily lineup of food trucks (generally three savory, one sweet) will be dishing street food each day The Oval is open. Coordinated by Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, who also bring food trucks to Love Park, look for trucks like Vernalicious, Delicias, Sum Pig, Chewy’s, Sweet Box and Lil’ Pop Shop.
Food trucks will serve up eats at The Oval all day, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Wednesdays through Saturdays. On Tuesdays, look for trucks from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. only. On Sundays, look for trucks from noon to 4 p.m.
The company of trucks varies daily, and is subject to change. Check here for a complete calendar of the food trucks at The Oval.
• Beer Garden: For thirsty visitors, a beer garden is scheduled for each Thursday evening through August 8, 5 to 9 p.m.
Sip a craft brew from Great Lakes Brewery or Sixpoint Brewery, or grab a good ol’ Yuengling, Coors Light or Blue Moon. Besides the brews, beer garden Thursdays feature live music curated by the Trocadero and games like bocce ball and frisbee golf.
In honor of opening weekend, July 18-20, the weekly beer garden is extended through Friday and Saturday evenings, too.
Kicking off the beer garden series, brews on on Thursday, July 18, are accompanied by the Winners Oval, a special food truck series presenting the winners of the Vendy Awards from the past three years. Sweet!
On Friday, July 19, grab a brew from 5 to 9 p.m. before The Awesome Fest screening of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.
On Saturday, July 20, the adult beverages flow all day thanks to the Young Involved Philly Summer Jam, noon to 4 p.m., and a special beer garden from 4 to 9 p.m.
More on The Oval, below.
The Oval on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway welcomes visitors and residents of the nearby Fairmount and Spring Garden neighborhoods to play. (Photo by M. Fischetti for GPTMC)
Daily Programming
Beyond the built-in daily elements, you’ll find themed activities every day at The Oval — Tuesdays are all about wellness, Wednesdays focus on arts and culture, Thursdays center on the environment, Fridays are for food and flicks, Saturdays bring a live music series and Sunday is for family fun.
Music lovers, check out such events as live Japanese drumming and percussion on Wednesday, July 17, the Ferko String Band play in a grand procession on Saturday, July 20, Jazz Night on Saturday, July 27 and hip-hop and African dance and drumming on Wednesday, July 31.
Arts and culture aficionados, check out highlights like a civic architecture and water education workshop, Thursday July 18, as well as Fleisher ColorWheels and Mural Arts Program art classes on Wednesdays, July 24 and July 31.
Families will have tons of fun at The Oval, too. The Free Library presents storytelling on Thursday mornings and there’s mommy-and-me yoga on Tuesdays, July 23 and July 30. Plus, every Sunday brings a family fun day with face painting, colorful characters and children’s music.
For a complete schedule of the multitude of daily events, check the online calendar here.
Getting There
Located in the shadow of the Philadelphia Museum of Art at Eakins Oval, the space is at the center of a hub of vehicular traffic. By far, the easiest way to arrive at The Oval, though, is by foot or bicycle. There are crosswalks leading from the sidewalks of the Parkway, straight to the park and bike racks are on site.
By public transportation, take SEPTA bus routes 2, 7, 32, 33 and 48. The Phlash is also a great way to go, with stop number 13 delivering passengers right to Eakins Oval.
The Oval
When: July 17-August 18, Tuesday-Sunday, 9 a.m.-9 p.m.
Where: Eakins Oval, 2601 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Cost: Free
More info: www.phila.gov