Summer Attractions

These fun zones are open all summer long

The ferris wheel and other attractions at Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest

Ride the Ferris wheel at Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest
Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest keeps visitors entertained for hours with roller skating, Ferris wheel rides, boardwalk games, mini-golf, an arcade and all kinds of summertime grub, such as funnel cakes, cotton candy, chicken wings, crab fries and beer, beer, beer.

Nab a hammock and some beers at Spruce Street Harbor Park
Spruce Street Harbor Park, the seasonal hotspot along the Delaware River waterfront, is now open with all the amenities you know and love—including those Insta-worthy hammocks swaying underneath glowing trees. Visitors will also be able to play arcade games, sip on summer cocktails on a floating barge, and have their choice of Philly food staples—from pretzels to water ice to crab fries and tacos. Peek all the opening weekend details here.

Schedule some playtime on the Parkway
The Oval XP is back on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, turning an otherwise unsightly asphalt jungle into a vibrant community gathering space every Wednesday to Sunday through August 21. Regular Oval favorites return this year, including Philadelphia’s largest beer garden and a slew of activities planned each week, like movie nights and lots of family-friendly play time on the giant mural that makes up the Oval’s floor. New additions include a massive new summer stage that will host live music throughout summer. You’ll also find a 108-feet tall ferris wheel (the world’s largest!) and a carousel. Every Wednesday to Sunday, June 16 to August 21. 24th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

Do all the things at Cherry Street Pier
Cherry Street Pier is always bustling with some kind of activity—whether it’s art shows or food markets or visitors just sitting back, beer in hand, and gazing at the beautiful Delaware River views.

Take in some fun activities in the shadow of City Hall
There are tons of other activities going on at Dilworth Park this summer—from fitness classes and live arts performances to outdoor film screenings and live music. Find a full rundown here.

Take a quick mental getaway to Japan
Shofuso Japanese house and gardens in Fairmount Park is now open for spring tours. You can wander inside the house, and relax next to koi ponds and Japanese maples.

Do some shopping at City Hall
Shop a variety of goods from local artists, crafters and retailers at the weekly Philadelphia Marketplace that pops up every Friday and Saturday at Dilworth Park through fall from noon to 6pm.

Freak yourself out on a nighttime tour of Eastern State Penitentiary
Eastern State Penitentiary is offering after-dark tours on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights throughout summer. Guests will have a chance to explore everything the daytime tours offer (like Al Capone’s cell), but under the eery light of the moon—plus grab a beer from Triple Bottom Brewing Company in the prison’s Fair Chance Beer Garden, or shop the Grant Blvd pop-up shop, which will be there on Thursday nights.

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Outdoor Dining

Grab a meal on local patios, in gardens and other lush locales

Dining out is not only one of the best things to do in Philly right now—it’s also a great way to support our local dining scene. Our outdoor dining guide includes all the best places to eat outside this summer—mostly focusing on those spots with beautiful patios and garden areas.

Outdoor Drinking

Beer gardens and rooftop bars to check out this summer

The PHS Pop Up Garden in Manayunk accompanies an writeup about the return of the popular drinking oasis this spring

BOK BAR
The South Philly rooftop bar with gobsmacking views of the Philadelphia skyline (and then some), is open with a fun slate of weekly activities, such as restaurant pop-ups, drag brunches, rooftop yoga sessions, maker workshops and tons more. You can find the full schedule here.

THE GARDEN AT CHERRY STREET PIER
The Garden at Cherry Street Pier sits in the shadow of the hulking Benjamin Franklin Bridge and along the Delaware River. More than 200 people can comfortably fit in the open-air, industrial venue, which is outfitted with quaint sidewalk café-style seating, with towering trees and overflowing planters separating each table.

THE GROVE AT ASSEMBLY LOUNGE
For summer 2022, the swanky rooftop bar overlooking the Benjamin Franklin Parkway transforms into The Grove, a lush tropical garden in the sky rife with exotic plants, vibrant, textured decor, and a menu featuring refreshing island cocktails.

INDEPENDENCE BEER GARDEN
The bustling beer garden just steps from Independence Hall is back open in 2022 with 20,000-square-feet of open-air space that packs in multiple bars, drinking games like corn hole and Jenga, and a bunch of picnic tables so you can spread out to enjoy your barbecue-style grub and beer, beer, beer.

MORGAN’S PIER
This vibrant beer and cocktail garden brings live DJs, comfort food and all kinds of refreshing adult beverages to the Delaware River waterfront through fall. Grub options include a variety of snacks, flatbreads, sandwiches and seafood, while drinks range from frothy draft beers to a colorful selection of speciality and frozen cocktails and wine.

PARKS ON TAP
Philly’s beloved pop-up beer garden is operating at one location all summer long in 2022: at the historic and picturesque Water Works behind the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Besides idyllic views of the water, Parks On Tap offers a menu of snacks, sandwiches and sweets, plus beers, wines and specialty cocktails. For more, including safety protocols and hours of operation, go here.

PHS POP-UP BEER GARDENS
The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society’s popular pop-up beer gardens—on South Street and in Manayunk—are gorgeous urban garden oases with stunning plant and garden decorations, bars full of food and drink and, new this year at Manayunk, a new game room with foosball, Skee-Ball, pop-a-shot and more. Plan a night there around some of the events taking place throughout the season—from plant swaps, brewery pop-ups, craft nights and more.

Get out in nature

Parks to explore in Philly and just a little beyond

Go for a hike or kayak ride in Philly’s largest park
Fairmount Park is a perfect place to spend a sunny Saturday or Sunday afternoon hiking trails, touring historic mansions or taking a kayak tour along the Schuylkill. Don’t know where to start? Consult the Fairmount Park Conservancy’s digital guide to the park to discover four different trails to explore. You could also check out the organization’s events calendar for upcoming to-dos, such as birdwatching tours, outdoor exercise classes and romantic moonlit strolls.

Paddle your way around Penn’s Landing
Locals can rent a variety of watercraft from the Philly Seaport Museum—from a kayak to a canoe to a swan- or dragon-shaped paddle boat—to cruise around the Penn’s Landing basin through Labor Day. The cost is $10 for a half-hour rental.

Enjoy beautiful Wissahickon Park
Help take care of trails and prevent erosion in the Wissahickon with Stewardship events (kids welcome) on Tuesday and Thursday mornings—then, take advantage of being in our city’s outdoor gem and spend the day exploring a different trail every time.

Go for a lovely spring hike outside the city
Our city is surrounded by gorgeous places to get out around blooming trees, open green space, rivers and streams. Check out this guide for ideas on where to go hiking near Philadelphia this spring—including Tohickon Valley ParkHickory Run State Park and that place where the rocks actually sing to you.

Summer in Philadelphia

From Pride through Made in America, the summer of 2022 invites Philly to join in

Memorial Day through Labor Day, Philadelphia becomes something different. While some residents flee the city for the Shore or mountains, the rest of us reap the benefits of the space the escapees have left — and continue the good, fun work of keeping local arts, culture, historic attractions, dining and farmers markets alive and thriving.

Below, you’ll find all the biggest events happening in Philly through Labor Day — though events are only a small part of what makes summer in Philadelphia so great. You could also check out some of our amazing breweries and distilleries that are serving up great drinks — and good causes — do some outdoor dining at some of Philly’s best restaurants with atmospheric patios and lush gardens, or explore some of our city and region’s most beautiful parks.

Use this month-by-month guide to fill your summer calendar, and keep Philly going. We’ll be updating this list throughout the season, so keep coming back for more ideas about what to do this summer in Philadelphia.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FUN THINGS TO DO IN AUGUST


Celebrate Philly’s Welsh roots
Welsh Week in Philadelphia, happening August 27 through September 4, celebrates three centuries’ worth of rich Welsh traditions in the City of Brotherly Love. Look out for all kinds of entertainment throughout the weeklong fest, including live music at the Kimmel Center, food- and drink-centric events, films and historic panels. Welsh Week also just so happens to coincide with the debut of a new TV series about Rob McElhenney (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia) buying a Welsh soccer team. Various times and locations.

Center City Sips brings discounts to downtown bars and restaurants for 14 weeks this summer and spring. | Photo by M. Fischetti / Visit Philadelphia

Drink on the cheap every Wednesday this summer
What’s one surefire way to get over Hump Day? Center City District Sips, the annual Wednesday night Happy Hour at restaurants downtown. Enjoy $6 cocktails, $5 wine and $4 beer every Wednesday from 4:30 to 7pm at participating locations through August 31. This summer SIPS adds Style, with select boutiques, spas and shops offering a 25 percent off weekly discount program on select items and services on Wednesdays. Check out the list of participating restaurants, bars, and shops here.

Eight glowing installations decorate Longwood Gardens during “Light: Installations by Bruce Munro”

Follow the lights to Longwood Gardens
Artist Bruce Munro’s new exhibition “Light: Installations by Bruce Munro” is now open at Longwood Gardens. Experience art created by light in locations all across the Gardens with Field of Light, featuring 18,000 illuminated bulbs along the pathway near Large and Small Lake, Gone Fishing, three 15-foot structures formed with 100 fishing rods on illuminated discs that reflect on the surface of Small Lake, C-scales, in the Exhibition hall, where 8,960 CDs serve as the screen for a unique film and sound sequence, and much more. The exhibit is on view Thursday thru Sunday evenings until October 30. Timed Tickets are required, and member reservations required after 3pm.

THINGS TO DO OVER LABOR DAY WEEKEND IN PHILLY

A girl sits on someone's shoulders and raises her arms in glee at the Made in America music festival in Philadelphia
Jay-Z’s Made in America music festival returns to Philly in September. | Photo by Joey Thompson / Unsplash

Get lost in the music on the Ben Franklin Parkway
The 2022 version of Jay-Z’s massive outdoor music festival, Made in America, on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, features two-days of performances, including headliners Bad Bunny and Tyler, the Creator, and opening acts like Jazmine Sullivan, Lil Uzi Vert, Burna Boy and Victoria Monét. It’s all going down Labor Day weekend, on September 3 and 4.

Header photo courtesy Tiny Room For Elephants Festival

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