Here’s the summer schedule for Cherry Street Pier, Spruce Street Harbor Park, Penn’s Landing, and more
May 10 marks the reopening of Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest and Spruce Street Harbor Park, bringing roller-skating, hammock-hanging, and plenty of other al fresco fun to the Delaware River waterfront. This year also marks the first summer for Cherry Street Pier and its full bar.
Who’s ready for roller-skating, hammock-hanging, and beer-drinking amid beautiful waterfront views? On May 10, two of Philly’s most popular seasonal attractions, Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest and Spruce Street Harbor Park, will reopen with plenty of al fresco fun. This year also will bring the first summer of warm temps for hanging outdoors at nearby Cherry Street Pier.
Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest and Spruce Street Harbor Park will operate on a Friday through Sunday schedule until May 24, when a daily schedule begins.
Visitors can look forward to a robust lineup of programming at all three destinations, and at the adjacent Penn’s Landing, too.
Follow each attraction’s social media channels to stay up to date on the latest happenings.
Cherry Street Pier
This will be the first summer that Philadelphians can enjoy the freshly reworked maritime warehouse on Cherry Street Pier, which opened to the public last October. Besides food and drinks from Little Baby’s Ice Cream, Birdie’s Biscuits, Hardena, and Cooperage, pier-goers can enjoy sweeping views of the Delaware River and Ben Franklin Bridge from the end of the pier’s patio. Several shipping containers have been repurposed to house artist studios and gardens.
Hours
Cherry Street Pier’s food vendors will be open 4 to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 4 to 10 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. The Cherry Street Pier bar is open 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, 4 to 9 p.m. Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Highlights
A performance by the Bearded Ladies Cabaret, as part of the city’s year-long celebration of Walt Whitman’s 200th birthday on May 31.
Flea markets galore, including: Philly Flea on May 18, July 14, and Oct. 20; Liberty Flea on May 25; an artists and artisans market on May 26, June 30, July 28, Aug. 25; and Art Star Pop-Up Market on June 23.
A slew of festivals, including Dream Philly Children’s Festival on May 12, Peace in the East Festival on June 15, Indonesian Festival on Aug. 17, and Design Philadelphia on Oct. 1-14.
Wednesday jazz concerts, June 5-Aug. 28.
Monday movie nights from June 17 through Sept. 23.
Kids Sip-N-Paint sessions on the first Sunday of the month, June 2-Oct. 6.
Exhibitions such as Al-Bustan’s Immigrant Alphabet, depicting high school students’ immigrant journeys, on display now through the end of June, and the Ed Marion exhibition, featuring pizza box portraits, Sep. 1-29.
Spruce Street Harbor Park
This “urban beach” has been a perennial hit since it opened in 2014. You can kick back in a hammock under neon-illuminated trees, grab a beer, and nosh on treats from such vendors as Chickie’s & Pete’s, Franklin Fountain, and HipCityVeg. Plus, there’s a waterfront boardwalk and a floating barge beer garden.
Hours
From May 10 to May 23, Summerfest will be open Friday through Sunday. From May 24 to Sept. 29, the park will be open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m.; vendor and beer garden hours can be found here.
Highlights
Sunday live jazz concerts, May 12-Sept. 8.
Thursday WXPN-curated concerts, June 6-Aug. 29.
Art Star pop-up markets every Saturday and Sunday, May 18-Sept. 29.
Salsa dance lessons and socials, May 17, July 19, and Sept. 20.
Two weekend-long festivals: Univestival over Memorial Day weekend, May 24-26, and a pumpkin-carving, cider-filled Fall Fest, Sept. 20-22.
Sunday Pop-UpPlay sessions, featuring free kids’ activities with such monthly themes as water science and civic engagement, May 12-Sept. 29.
Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest
Anchored by its full-size skating rink, Summerfest also features a 60-foot-tall Ferris wheel, carnival games, and a nine-hole mini-golf course. Visitors can enjoy eats and drinks from the air-conditioned Chickie’s and Pete’s Waterfront Crabshack, and such treats as milkshakes and ice cream floats from an outdoor Franklin Fountain booth.
Hours
From May 10 to May 23, Summerfest will be open Friday through Sunday; 1 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Friday, 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Sunday. Between May 24 and Sept. 3, Summerfest’s grounds will be open 1 to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 1 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday. Skating, mini-golf and rides stop 30 minutes before the close. Bars and food vendors stop serving an hour before close. Summerfest will close after Labor Day weekend.
Highlights
Opening weekend features a roller-skating party with a competition, prizes, and live music on May 10-11.
Silent discos featuring a DJ competition streaming through the headphones that you’ll wear while dancing or skating, June 20 and July 25.
Latin music nights on June 6 and Aug. 1 or 8 (August date still being finalized).
Great Plaza at Penn’s Landing
Named after the 1682 landing of Pennsylvania’s founder, William Penn, Penn’s Landing is the oldest staple of the Delaware River waterfront, offering programming for more than 25 years. Its main public space, the Great Plaza, hosts an array of seasonal events that draw hundreds to the area every spring, summer, and fall.
Hours
Open daily year-round
Highlights
Art Star Craft Bazaar, bringing 125+ vendors from which to shop May 11 and 12.
The return of the PECO Multicultural Series, celebrating Brazilian, Indian, Caribbean, and an array of other cultures (June through September).
The festival portion of the Philly Pride Parade on June 9.
A free Philadelphia Orchestra Neighborhood Concert on June 28.
Free fireworks: over Memorial Day weekend (May 25), following the United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own” concert (June 29), and over Labor Day weekend (Aug. 31).
Thursday movie nights, July 11-Aug. 29.
Friday jazz concert series, Aug. 2-30.