What are some other words for summer fun? Tall Ships. Fireworks. Festivals. Beer gardens. Pop-up parks. Philadelphia. This summer will go down as a season of non-stop, pull-out-all-the-stops fun in the city that scored a #3 placement on The New York Times’ influential “52 Places to Go in 2015” list.
As the birthplace of America, Philadelphia knows how to shine. Fireworks blazing over the Philadelphia Museum of Art are a Fourth of July tradition during Philadelphia’s multi-day Wawa Welcome America! bash. Timed perfectly with exhilarating live music, the fireworks paint the skies over the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.
Credit: Photo by G. Widman for Visit Philadelphia™
Some of the summer highlights include the Tall Ships Philadelphia Camden Festival; the launch of Indego, Philadelphia’s bike-sharing program; the eagerly awaited return of the acclaimed Spruce Street Harbor Park; and the season-long showing of Discovering the Impressionists: Paul Durand-Ruel and the New Painting at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Add in plenty of pop-up beer gardens and public art displays for an unforgettable Philly summer.
Here’s a look at what’s happening:
New Amenity: Bike Share:
West Philadelphia is one of the most easily traveled areas of the city. People can easily access the neighborhood from Center City via cabs, the Market-Frankford Line (also called “the el” for its elevated section) and one of the nation’s few remaining streetcar networks. The trolleys run from City Hall down Market Street and through University City, with lines servicing the neighborhood’s three main corridors of Lancaster, Baltimore and Woodland Avenues. West Philly also boasts some of the most bicycle-friendly streets in the city, with a network of roughly 25 miles of bike lanes. Credit: Photo by J. Fusco for Visit Philadelphia™
What has 1,200 wheels and runs on pedal power? Indego, Philadelphia’s bike-share program set to launch this spring. The long-awaited human-powered public transportation system launches with 600 bikes available at 60 kiosks in Center City and parts of North, South and West Philadelphia. The easy-to-use system allows riders to rent a bike at one location and drop it off at another. May. Various locations. rideindego.com
Special Events:
2015 marks 100 years for the S. 9th Street Italian Market Charter, but the monthly celebratory events prove that the market itself still boasts a youthful energy. Food is always at the forefront of events here, and hungry visitors can chow down at the annual S. 9th Street Italian Market Festival (May 16-17) and the Vendy Foods Awards Winners Circle Food Truck Event (June 19). Also on the docket are Multicultural Music Month activities (July) and the bocce and scopa tournaments (August). 9th Street between Wharton & Fitzwater Streets, (215) 278-2903, italianmarketphilly.org
Always a bustling neighborhood, the Italian Market turns it up a notch during the 9th Street Italian Market Festival in May. Live entertainment and games accompany the mouthwatering cannolis, homemade sausages, imported meats and cheeses, luscious cappuccino, specialty cookware and fresh pastas that have made the market a favorite for visitors and residents alike. Credit: Photo by R. Kennedy for Visit Philadelphia™
Standing directly across the street from Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell Center at 6th and Chestnut Streets, this historic marker was erected to coincide with the 40th anniversary of the first Annual Reminder, a demonstration led by gay activists on July 4 from 1965 to 1969. Credit: Photo by K. Ciappa for Visit Philadelphia™
The 50th Anniversary of the Gay Rights Movement kicks off in June with three exhibitions, including the opening of Speaking Out for Equality: The Constitution, Gay Rights, and the Supreme Court at the National Constitution Center. Other exhibitions and activities celebrating LGBT culture and heritage are planned for the William Way LGBT Community Center, the Free Library of Philadelphia, The African American Museum in Philadelphia, the Opera Company of Philadelphia and Taller Puertorriqueño, among others. The celebration’s signature events take place over Fourth of July weekend, with a reenactment of the Reminder Day demonstrations in front of Independence Hall, a wreath-laying ceremony at the historic marker that acknowledges the site of the demonstrations, panel discussions, a festival, concerts and more. June-December. Constitution Center, 525 Arch Street, (215) 409-6700,constitutioncenter.org; various locations for other happenings, reminder2015.org, lgbt50.org
When the Tall Ships Philadelphia Camden pulls into port from June 24-28, 2015, visitors can watch the colorful parade of sail that includes the Gazela (pictured here) and L’Hermione, a replica of the ship that brought General Lafayette to the aid of the fledgling United States during the Revolutionary War, along with many other vessels from around the world. Ships will be docked on both sides of the river at Penn’s Landing and along the Camden Waterfront. Also on tap: live entertainment, hands-on activities and a dazzling fireworks display. Credit: Photo courtesy of Draw Events
The billowing sails of 15 majestic vessels mark the arrival of the Tall Ships Philadelphia Camden festival. Docked along both sides of the Delaware River waterfront will be elegant tall ships from France, Brazil, Canada and all around the globe. Visitors can tour the ships, including the L’Hermione, a replica of the French naval ship that brought General Lafayette to America to help fight the British. Also on tap: live entertainment, hands-on activities, games and a spectacular fireworks display to close out the largest sailing event in the United States in 2015. June 25-28. Penn’s Landing, Columbus Boulevard at Walnut Street; Camden Waterfront, tallshipsphiladelphia.com
Pop-Up Parks & Gardens:
The Delaware River Waterfront Corporation’s new Spruce Street Harbor Park offers a summer getaway right in Philly. From June 27 through August 31, visitors can enjoy festivals, concerts and movies on the Great Plaza; relax in one of the giant hammocks in the Hammock Lounge; cool off under the Mist Walk; lounge under an umbrella at the Urban Beach; and indulge in their favorite summer foods and beverages at The Oasis, a series of floating barges accented with a lily pad garden and hang-out area.
Credit: Photo by M. Edlow for VISIT PHILADELPHIA™
Following a smashingly successful first season that earned “Best Urban Beach in the World” status from The Huffington Post, Spruce Street Harbor Park returns to Penn’s Landing to brighten up the summer. The hammocks, lounge chairs, oversized games, floating beer garden and twinkling lights all return, along with some new surprises. Opens May 22. Spruce Street at Columbus Boulevard, (215) 629-3200, delawareriverwaterfront.com
Back on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway for its second summer of outdoor fun, The Oval features food, musical performances, movies, mini golf and a beer garden on Wednesday through Saturday nights through August 16. The pop-up park is sandwiched between two spectacular views: the Center City skyline and the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Credit: Photo by M. Fischetti for VISIT PHILADELPHIA™
Philadelphia is one of four cities from around the world and the only U.S. city to host Saint-Gobain’s never-before-seen traveling exhibit Future Sensations, a high-concept, immersive experience featuring five distinct ephemeral pavilions. Science, storytelling and art highlight the innovations, wonders and advancements that have changed the face of the world over the past few centuries and show off future innovations. Founded in 1665, Saint-Gobain celebrates 350 years as a world leader in high performance materials and solutions for sustainable building with this epic traveling exhibit, making stops in China, Brazil and France. May 30-June 6. The Oval, 24th Street & Benjamin Franklin Parkway, (215) 422-4169, theovalphl.org, futuresensations.com
Arts Inside & Out:
Internationally known for its collection of artwork by three generations of Wyeths and other Brandywine River School artists, the Brandywine River Museum exhibits American illustration, still life and landscapes depicting the rolling Chester County countryside. Visitors can also enjoy the wildflower and native plant gardens in bloom around the museum.
Credit: Photo by J. Smith for Visit Philadelphia™
Horace Pippin: The Way I See It is the nation’s first major exhibition of the artist’s works in more than two decades. The show at the Brandywine River Museum of Art features more than 60 works that capture Pippin’s bold, colorful and candid paintings reflecting life in the African-American community and commenting on race, religion, war and history. April 25-July 19. U.S. Route 1 by Creek Road, (610) 388-2700, brandywine.org
Barnes Foundation architects Tod Williams and Billie Tsiem designed a “gallery within a garden and a garden within a gallery,” a concept that honors the work of both Dr. Albert Barnes and his wife Laura. Blending art, nature, education and aesthetics, the 4.5-acre Barnes campus is a fitting addition to the culturally rich Parkway. Philadelphia’s tallest building, the Comcast Center, stretches 975 feet high in the distance.
Credit: Photo by B. Krist for Visit Philadelphia™
Mark Dion, Judy Pfaff, Fred Wilson: The Order of Things features three new large-scale installations by these internationally renowned artists. Commissioned for the show, each work is a response to the unconventional way that Dr. Albert C. Barnes chose to display his collection. The exhibition also features an installation designed by Barnes—a small room in the Merion gallery building that was replaced by an elevator shaft in the 1990s. May 16-August 3. The Barnes Foundation, 2025 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, (215) 278-7000, barnesfoundation.org
Meg Saligman’s “Philadelphia Muses” at 13th and Locust Streets is one of 3,000 works commissioned by the Philadelphia Mural Arts Program, which began in 1984 as a component of the city’s Anti-Graffiti Network.
Credit: Photo by K. Ciappa for Visit Philadelphia™
There’s big, bigger and then there’s Mural Arts’ new project: Open Source: Engaging Audiences in Public Space, the city’s biggest site-specific public art project to date. Fourteen artists from around the world work in various communities around the city to create a major piece of public art resulting from their interactions. Among the artists, whose works range from sculpture to murals to street art, are JR, Shepard Fairey, Sam Durant, Odili Donald Odita, Sterling Ruby, SWOON and Michelle Angela Ortiz. June launch, with most events taking place in October. Various locations. (215) 685-0750,opensource.muralarts.org
Opera Philadelphia, will celebrate its 40th anniversary with a season of premieres and casts that possess an unprecedented roster of operatic firepower. The acclaimed Lawrence Brownlee will star in the world premiere of Charlie Parker’s YARDBIRD, a dramatic imagining of the tortured jazz soloist’s personal purgatory, revisiting the inspirations, demons and women who fueled his creative genius. June 5-14. Kimmel Center, Broad & Spruce Streets, (215) 893-1018, operaphila.org
The area’s largest outdoor juried arts and crafts festival takes place every June along energetic Main Street in Manayunk. Each year, the Manayunk Arts Festival presents an eclectic variety of fine arts and crafts from about 300 artists from across the country.
Credit: Photo by J. Fusco for VISIT PHILADELPHIA™
Main Street transforms into a giant outdoor art gallery for the Manayunk Arts Festival. The juried show represents works by more than 300 artisans from around the country. June 20-21. Main Street, (215) 482-9565, manayunk.com
The Philadelphia Museum of Art was forever immortalized in the classic Rocky film franchise. While the “Rocky Steps” draw a slew of visitors who want to reenact Stallone’s on-screen training regimen, the museum is even more impressive inside. The astounding art collection here comprises more than 200 galleries housing more than 227,000 works in media, including photography, sculpture, paintings, textiles and more.
Credit: Photo by M. Fischetti for Visit Philadelphia™
Discovering the Impressionists: Paul Durand-Ruel and the New Painting celebrates the ambitious and visionary Parisian art dealer who supported and helped elevate a new style of painting. On view at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, its only U.S. stop, the exhibition showcases approximately 95 impressionist works, making it bigger and more comprehensive than its showings at the Musée du Luxembourg in Paris and the National Gallery in London. Art lovers enjoy works by Monet, Pissarro, Renoir, Sisley, Degas, Manet and others. June 24-September 13. 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, (215) 763-8100, philamuseum.org
The region’s premier horticultural wonderland, Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Chester County rambles over 1,050 acres of gardens, woodlands and meadows. The illuminated fountain shows brighten the vast gardens at night during the summer and holiday seasons.
Credit: Photo by B. Krist for Visit Philadelphia™
Come for the flowers, stay for Nightscape: A Light & Sound Experience at Longwood Gardens. As visitors wander through the evening gardens, they encounter moving images that originated in the studios of the Klip Collective, but use the plants, trees and landscape as the canvas. Enhancing the visual images are choreographed lights, specially commissioned soundscapes and scores by John Barthmus, Julian Grefe and Justin Geller. July 1-October 31. 1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square, (610) 388-1000, longwoodgardens.org
A Historical Perspective:
The world’s only museum dedicated to the U.S. Constitution, the National Constitution Center puts into historical context the most famous four pages ever written through multimedia exhibitions, sculpture, film, artifacts and interactive displays. In Signers’ Hall, visitors walk among the life-sized statues of the 39 signers of the Constitution—and they can choose to sign their own John Hancock or to dissent. Credit: Photo by J. Smith for Visit Philadelphia™
Creating Camelot: The Kennedy Photography Of Jacques Lowe offers a peek into the private and public lives of President Kennedy and his family in the years leading up to his election. The 70 photographs in the exhibition at the National Constitution Center, many of which have never been seen before, were among the few that could be restored after more than 40,000 of Lowe’s original negatives, which had been stored in a vault in the World Trade Center, were destroyed. Through September 7.525 Arch Street, (215) 409-6700, constitutioncenter.org
Visitors to Historic Philadelphia can’t help but notice the striking National Museum of American Jewish History, located right on Independence Mall just steps from the Liberty Bell. The glass façade reflects the open nature of America and the perennial fragility of democracy, and the Religious Freedom statue welcomes all who enter.
Credit: Photo by M. Kennedy for Visit Philadelphia™
The National Museum of American Jewish History is the exclusive U.S. venue for Richard Avedon: Family Affairs, featuring striking photographs that helped define America’s perceptions of beauty, politics and power. The exhibit showcases more than 70 works by the renowned photographer, including a massive mural of beat poet Allen Ginsberg and his family, a group portrait of Andy Warhol and the Factory and a series of portraits published by Rolling Stone on the eve of the 1976 presidential election. April 1-August 2. 5th & Market Streets, (215) 923-3811, nmajh.org
From an illiterate, unsophisticated warrior to a world conqueror, Genghis Khan evolved into one of the most powerful leaders in history. In The Franklin Institute’s blockbuster interactive exhibition Genghis Khan: Bring the Legend to Life, visitors can time travel to 13th-century Mongolia. Vibrant marketplaces and battlegrounds, hundreds of weapons, jewels, saddles and armor recreate a vanished world. They can even launch catapults and fire arrows and play a general, princess or spy. May 9-January 3. 222 N. 20th Street, (215) 448-1200, fi.edu
A Family Affair:
It took a staggering one million-plus LEGO bricks to create The Art of the Brick, on view at The Franklin Institute and comprised of more than 100 works of art made using the popular toy. All ages will appreciate the LEGO recreations of acclaimed artworks such as van Gogh’s Starry Night and Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, a 20-foot-long T. rex, a Liberty Bell created especially for the Philadelphia iteration of this exhibit and much more. Through September 6. 222 N. 20th Street, (215) 448-1200, fi.edu
The Philadelphia Zoo, the nation’s first and one of the most animal-packed zoos in the country, sits among a charming 42-acre Victorian garden. With tree-lined walks, ornate iron cages, animal sculptures, and wide-open exhibits, visitors can connect with hundreds of animals in a naturalistic setting.
Credit: Photo by J. Fusco for VISIT PHILADELPHIA ™
Recycling is second nature at the Philadelphia Zoo, so, of course, their new art installation Second Nature is fashioned from recycled materials. A dozen artists have reused and repurposed unexpected materials to draw attention to the plight of endangered animals. The exhibit includes a 13-foot-tall blue gorilla sculpted entirely of recycled car parts, two giant nine-foot-tall pink rabbits fashioned from recycled plastic and a menacing five-foot-long alligator molded from chewing gum. April 11-October 31. One month later on May 16, the zoo opens its Gorilla Treeway, the newest addition to its first-in-the-world animal travel and exploration trail system called Zoo360. The treeway gives the zoo’s Western lowland gorillas the ability to enjoy long-distance travel in a mesh passageway positioned overhead. 3400 W. Girard Avenue, (215) 243-1100, philadelphiazoo.org
Kids go wild over the Rock Around the Block Parade at Sesame Place, the only theme park in the nation featuring the popular TV show’s most lovable characters, including Zoe and Big Bird. A water park, rides, interactive activities, fireworks and the brand new Sunny Day Carousel add to the fun.
Credit: Photo by R. Kennedy for Visit Philadelphia™
Sesame Place turns the big 3-5 this year and celebrates with a birthday-themed parade, birthday décor throughout the park and three new seasonal rides. Even Elmo’s Eatery gets a makeover for the occasion. As always, everyone’s favorite, furry monsters pop up to greet their adoring fans. May 2-December 31. 100 Sesame Road, Langhorne, (866) GO-4-ELMO (464-3566), sesameplace.com
At more than 200 years old, The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University is America’s oldest natural history museum. Visitors of all ages can wander through a tropical garden filled with live butterflies, meet live animals, see three continents of wildlife in their natural habitats and get face to face with towering dinosaurs.
Credit: Photo by J. Fusco for VISIT PHILADELPHIA™
It’s slimy, stinky and downright yucky, which means kids will love Animal Grossology, an exhibition about the ickiest creatures on earth. Based on the best-selling children’s book series Grossology, the interactive exhibit at The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University oozes with disgusting science and entertaining learning games that explain why the dung beetle is called nature’s pooper scooper, why cows chew cud and how snail and slug slime could potentially become medical treatments. May 16-August 30. 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, (215) 299-1000, ansp.org
Fans of Lyle, the city-dwelling crocodile that lives in a Victorian brownstone with the Primm family, will be delighted with the exhibition Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile And Friends: The Art Of Bernard Waber at the National Museum of American Jewish History. Original illustrations and writings reveal how Waber created the lovable hero of the classic children’s picture books and also highlight his work as a designer. Special activities and programs are also in the works. August 27-November 1. 101 S. Independence Mall West, (215) 923-3811, nmajh.org
Annual Favorites:
Back on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway for its second summer of outdoor fun, The Oval features food, musical performances, movies, mini golf and a beer garden on Wednesday through Saturday nights through August 16. The pop-up park is sandwiched between two spectacular views: the Center City skyline and the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Credit: Photo by M. Fischetti for VISIT PHILADELPHIA™
Beer lovers sample the suds during Philly Beer Week’s Opening Tap kickoff night. Brewers and ale aficionados come from all over the U.S. and beyond for the 10-day festival, overflowing with dinners, tastings, tours, workshops, meet-and-greets and more that highlight Philly’s brewing culture.
Credit: Photo by G. Widman for Visit Philadelphia™
It’s the largest beer celebration in the United States. Lasting 10 days and nights, Philly Beer Week attracts people from all over who come together for beer-pairing dinners, beer gardens, spirited homebrew competitions, citywide pub crawls and meet-and-greets. New this year: a one-day stop in Philly for Street Pub, the world’s biggest transportable bar; special activities for Yards Brewing Company’s 20th anniversary; and Beer Oyster Cult, a special night of oyster and beer pairings at various bars and restaurants. May 29-June 7. Various locations, phillybeerweek.org
Ahmir “?uestlove” Thompson of the pioneering hip-hop group The Roots adjusts his signature hair pick during the second annual Roots Picnic at Penn’s Landing on June 6, 2009. The Roots are Philadelphia’s honorary creative ambassadors for 2009, part of the new Philly 360º initiative that highlights the city’s creative scene. The day-long concert also featured Philly’s own Santigold, Writtenhouse, Back to Basics, TV on the Radio, The Black Keys, Public Enemy and others.
Credit: Photo by M. Kennedy for Visit Philadelphia™
For music lovers, the unofficial start of summer begins with the Roots Picnic, a daylong festival featuring Philly’s hometown heroes and house band for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Once again, the guys have locked down some of the hottest names in the music business, including The Weeknd, Erykah Badu, A$AP Rocky, Phantogram, DJ Mustard and Rae Sremmurd. May 30. Festival Pier, Columbus Boulevard & Spring Garden Street, rootspicnic.com
Before crossing the finish line on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, the international field of pro cyclists must complete the grueling 156-mile course, which includes 10 laps up the infamous 17% grade Manayunk Wall. This event is commonly called the “Bike Race.”
Credit: Photo by R. Kennedy for Visit Philadelphia™
Cheering crowds pack the streets for the giant neighborhood party that accompanies the annual Philadelphia International Cycling Classic. This race brings some of the world’s best riders to take on “The Wall,” Manayunk’s steepest topographic challenge. New this year, recreational cyclists can ride the closed course before the pros. June 7. philadelphiainternationalcyclingclassic.com
The Odunde Festival, held each June on Philadelphia’s South Street, is the largest African-American street festival in the nation. The festival covers 12 city blocks and features 100 art, craft and food vendors, as well as two stages of live entertainment by African and Caribbean performers.
Credit: Photo by M. Edlow for Visit Philadelphia™
Based on Yoruba traditions, ODUNDE, the largest African-American street festival in the country, celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2015. The festival marks the New Year for Africans and African-Americans around the world with a procession, ceremonial offering, live entertainment and an African marketplace with crafts from more than 100 vendors stretching over 12 city blocks. June 14. (215) 732-8510, odundefestival.org
Singers, dancers, color guards and entertainers highlight Philadelphia’s Independence Day Parade, just one of the many activities that is part of the city’s Wawa Welcome America! celebration. The festivities also include several fireworks shows, family activities, patriotic ceremonies and the nation’s largest free outdoor Fourth of July concert.
Credit: Photo illustration by G. Widman for Visit Philadelphia™
Philadelphia celebrates America’s birthday like no place else. In the week leading up to Independence Day, Wawa Welcome America! lights up the city with concerts, fireworks, historic re-enactments, Wawa Hoagie Day and other family-friendly activities. Then on July 4, the granddaddy of all concerts takes over the Benjamin Franklin Parkway with chart-topping artists hitting the stage and a grand-finale fireworks display. June 27-July 4. Various locations. welcomeamerica.com
VISIT PHILADELPHIA® makes Philadelphia and The Countryside® a premier destination through marketing and image building that increases the number of visitors, the number of nights they stay and the number of things they do in the five-county area. On VISIT PHILADELPHIA® ’s official visitor website and blog, visitphilly.com and uwishunu.com, visitors can explore things to do, upcoming events, themed itineraries and hotel packages. Compelling photography and videos, interactive maps and detailed visitor information make the sites effective trip-planning tools. Along with Visit Philly social media channels, the online platforms communicate directly with consumers. Travelers can also call and stop into the Independence Visitor Center for additional information and tickets.
Filed under: Americana, Anniversaries & Celebrations, Arts & Culture, celebrations, Culture, Dance, Film, Fine Wines & Liqueur, Food, Holiday Entertaining, Hotels and Hospitality, Lifestyle, Living/Travel, Movies, Museums & Exhibitions, Music, Photography, Science, Social/Life, Sports, Tech/Design, Technology, Theater, Travel Tagged: 2015 Roots Picnic, A$AP Rocky, Animal Grossology, Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Brandywine River Museum of Art, Charlie Parker’s YARDBIRD, Creating Camelot: The Kennedy Photography Of Jacques Lowe, Discovering the Impressionists: Paul Durand-Ruel and the New Painting, DJ Mustard, ERYKAH BADU, Genghis Khan: Bring the Legend to Life, Horace Pippin: The Way I See It, Indego, Independence Hall, John Barthmus, JR., Julian Grefe, Justin Geller, Kimmel Center, Lawrence Brownlee, Manayunk Arts Festival, Michelle Angela Ortiz, Multicultural Music Month, Mural Arts, National Constitution Center, National Museum of American Jewish History, Nightscape: A Light & Sound Experience at Longwood Gardens, Odili Donald Odita, ODUNDE, Open Source: Engaging Audiences in Public Space, Opera Philadelphia, Penn’s Landing, Phantogram, Philadelphia International Cycling Classic, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia Zoo, Philly Beer Week, Rae Sremmurd, Richard Avedon: Family Affairs, S. 9th Street Italian Market Charter, S. 9th Street Italian Market Festival (May 16-17), Sam Durant, Sesame Place, Shepard Fairey, Spruce Street Harbor Park, Sterling Ruby, SWOON, Tall Ships Philadelphia Camden Festival, Taller Puertorriqueño, The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, The African American Museum in Philadelphia, THE ART OF THE BRICK®, The Barnes Foundation, The Franklin Institute, the Free Library of Philadelphia, the National Museum of American Jewish History, the Opera Company of Philadelphia, The Weeknd, Vendy Foods Awards Winners Circle Food Truck Event (June 19), Wawa Hoagie Day, William Way LGBT Community Center