2015-05-07



Philadelphia has one of the biggest urban park systems in the country with more than 10,000 acres of space including Belmont Plateau (shown here) in the gem Fairmount Park. (Photo by J. Smith for Visit Philadelphia)

Starting this Saturday, May 9 and running through Saturday, May 16, the annual Love Your Park Week returns to Philadelphia with cleanup days, parties, sporting events, festivals and much more.

The annual event celebrates Philly’s expansive park system, which is made up of more than 10,000 acres of open space including trails, streams, forest and more than 70 neighborhood playgrounds spread across the city.

Read on for our top picks for Love Your Park Week events, but remember, this is just a smattering of the events — click here for the full event list.

Citywide Cleanup Day

Saturday, May 9. Love Your Park Week kicks off with a citywide volunteer day, a cleanup event at parks from Bensalem to South Philadelphia and beyond. Sign up online and head out for a day of cleanup with provided bags, gloves, tools and t-shirts. MORE INFO

Free Yoga at Mifflin Square

Saturday, May 9, 9 a.m.-11 a.m. Mifflin Square celebrates its park with a free family yoga class from 9 to 10 a.m. and a free adult yoga class from 10 to 11 a.m. Mats are provided for yogis. MORE INFO

Lemon Hill Clean Up, Kickball and Beer Garden

Saturday, May 9. Help clean up Lemon Hill at the corner of Poplar Street and Poplar Drive from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and then enjoy a game of kickball and a beer garden from 2 to 6 p.m. at the baseball diamond. MORE INFO



That giant park system serves more than 1.5 million residents and many millions of visitors annually.
(Photo by R. Kennedy for Visit Philadelphia)

Mother's Day Boat Tour to Bartram’s Garden

Sunday, May 10, noon-3 p.m. On Mother’s Day, hear about the Bartram’s family’s impact on education, natural science and government in Philadelphia on a boat tour to Bartram’s Garden. Also take in the sights on a walking tour on the actual garden’s grounds. Tickets are required. MORE INFO

Party in the Playground at Smith Memorial Playground

Wednesday, May 13, 6-8 p.m. The Smith Memorial Playground welcomes adults only for an evening party celebrating the park. Enjoy bites from food trucks, drinks, a silent auction, games and much more. Tickets are required. MORE INFO

More, below.

Mountain Bike Race at Belmont Plateau

Thursday, May 14, 6-8 p.m. Bicyclists can show off their mountain biking skills at a race at Belmont Plateau for Love Your Park Week. The race will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. MORE INFO



Philadelphia’s park and trail system includes many new parks like Race Street Pier, which combines green space and waterfront access.
(Photo by R. Kennedy for Visit Philadelphia)

Party in the Park in Clark Park

Saturday, May 16, 4-8 p.m. Clark Park invites guests in for a Friday night hang for the annual Party in the Park. Guest can sip brews from Dock Street Brewing Company while enjoying live music, games and a variety of food. MORE INFO

A Ghostly Circus at Laurel Hill Cemetery

Saturday, May 16, 8 p.m. Laurel Hill Cemetery asks fans of fun performances (i.e., everyone) to pack a picnic and a picnic blanket to watch performers demonstrate fire dancing, aerial performances, theatrical side-show and more. After the show, guests can get down to tunes from a DJ at the Dance with the Dead After Party. Tickets are required. MORE INFO

Play Manayunk

Saturday, May 16. The new Venice Island Performing Arts & Recreation Center in Manayunk will host Play Manayunk, a festival celebrating fitness and the great outdoors. Enjoy nature walks, games, live music, kayaking, dragon boat rides and much more. MORE INFO

Parks are well loved and used by the city’s youth with festivals, sports, programming and more. (Photo by J. Fusco for Visit Philadelphia)

Trolley Tour — Love Your Park

Sunday, May 17, 1-4 p.m. The Philadelphia Museum of Art hosts a celebration of the buildings, vistas and sculptures throughout Fairmount Park with a special Love Your Park Week Trolley Tour. The tour ends at Laurel Hill Mansion with refreshments for guests. Tickets are required. MORE INFO

Dickinson Square Farmers' Market Grand Opening and Art Fair

Sunday, May 17, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The farmers’ market at Dickinson Square opens for the season during Love Your Park Week — stock up on local produce, meat and cheese and shop items from a one-day-only art fair in celebration of opening day. MORE INFO

Rooms in Bloom at Fairmount Park Mansions

May 17-23. The historic estates throughout Fairmount Park — Cedar Grove, Laurel Hill, Lemon Hill, Mount Pleasant, Historic Strawberry Mansion and Woodford — will each open Rooms in Bloom, special art arrangements in celebration of Love Your Park Week. Bonus: Enjoy free admission on May 17 for International Museum Day. MORE INFO

Philadelphia’s founding father William Penn even planned the city to be a “greene country towne” by using five square parks in the city’s original grid including Rittenhouse Square, which is today one of the most popular parks. (Photo by J. Smith for Visit Philadelphia)

Show Off Your Love…

For The Parks. May is one of the most picturesque times to be out and about in Philly’s parks. If you get inspired and snap a photo, be sure to share it with us using #visitphilly.

A photo posted by Visit Philly (@visitphilly) on
May 9, 2014 at 12:46pm PDT

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