Hooray! Spruce Street Harbor Park and RiverRink Summerfest open for the season on Friday, May 22.
(Photo by Matt Stanley courtesy DRWC)
Philly, the waterfront is calling.
This Memorial Day weekend, the Delaware River Waterfront will transform from an urban riverside into a lush oasis with the grand opening of Spruce Street Harbor Park and RiverRink Summerfest, the two seasonal parks at Penn’s Landing.
On Friday, May 22, Spruce Street Harbor Park will re-open and the brand-new first-for-Philadelphia RiverRink Summerfest will debut with the city's only outdoor roller skating rink.
Each site has a whole host of great things to do, tasty foods to eat and delicious brews to drink.
Read on for our primer of what’s going down on Penn’s Landing when these two sweet summertime destinations debut.
SPRUCE STREET HARBOR PARK
Spruce Street Harbor Park on the Delaware River Waterfront was an absolutely amazing addition to Philadelphia's alfresco summer scene in 2014, and we are super psyched to see the riverfront park return this year.
Developed by the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation, the seasonal village returns this summer with an expanded schedule it's opening a full month earlier a great boardwalk, more food, more hammocks, more bars, more arcade space, more games, more seating, more tables, tons of colorful LED lights and new planted greenery that repurposes materials from artist Sol LeWitt's verdant installation at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
The park will remain free and open to the public with hours every day this summer thanks to the generosity of Univest Corporation and Valley Green Bank, a division of Univest Bank and Trust Co. Pretty cool.
Spruce Street Harbor Park is continuing to rock the Delaware River Waterfront with a floating restaurant and beer garden, games, a hammock lounge and more. (Photo by Matt Stanley courtesy DRWC)
For more on Spruce Street Harbor Park and RiverRink Summerfest, see below.
The Food & Drink
At Spruce Street Harbor Park, the floating barges with walk-up food service from shipping containers return for 2015, but the park expands its offerings from Garces Group with new players on the boardwalk including Federal Donuts and Franklin Fountain.
In addition to all of the new food options, look for Frozen Delights to return with traditional concessions, as well as local craft beers 15 taps throughout the park! wine and summer cocktails.
This summer also brings the debut of a beer made just for kicking back at Spruce Street Harbor Park: Yards Brewing Company and Spruce Street Harbor Park collaborated to create Lazy Hammock IPA, a Belgian-style pale ale that will be available on the waterfront.
Check out our guide for a complete rundown of the food and concessions at Spruce Street Harbor Park.
Things To Do
Though kicking back in hammock or sitting by the water is reason enough to visit, the park also offers a packed schedule of things to do and see.
Opening Weekend
To kickoff the summer at Spruce Street Harbor Park, the site will be filled with free entertainment from May 22 through May 25. Look for face painting, stilt walkers, circus artists, live music and a performance by aerial dance group Invisible River on Saturday, May 23, 1-4 p.m.
For the complete opening weekend schedule of events, check right here.
On The Water
Throughout the summer, there will be plenty of opportunities to take to the water at Spruce Street Harbor Park. Every day, amateur boaters can Sail Spruce Street Harbor Park via radio- and wind-powered toy boat rentals or Paddle Penn’s Landing on kayaks, canoes or swan boats.
On Land
Starting Memorial Day weekend and continuing through September, tons of entertainment will pop up in the park. Check out the complete schedule, and look for such highlights as live music nights, paint nights, circus arts performances and multicultural entertainment. Later this season, Thursday nights will bring Waterfront Sessions, a concert series at both Spruce Street Harbor Park and Summerfest in collaboration with WXPN’s the Key.
We’re thrilled that Spruce Street Harbor Park is staying open for another month, and this weekend is a perfect one to take advantage of the pop-up park. (Photo by Douglas Bovitt for DRWC)
Pop-Up Markets
For summer shopping, the crafty folks behind the Art Star Craft Bazaar and the Punk Rock Flea Market are each curating an open-air retail experiences.
Like the annual Art Star Craft Bazaar, the Art Star Pop-Up Market brings out handmade gifts by some of the best indie crafters from Philadelphia and beyond to the Delaware River waterfront. Each Saturday, a group of 21 rotating vendors peddle a range of goods kids items, clothes, jewelry, posters, pottery and more.
On Sundays, the Punk Rock Flea Market brings the goods to the park, with an eclectic array of vendors selling vintage goods, crafts, jewelry and more.
Instagram the Scene
While at Spruce Street Harbor Park, be sure to look out for the big red Visit Philly Adirondack chair it’s a perfect photo op to Instagram. Snap the shot, then tag the photos with #visitphilly and #sshp your photo might just be featured on visitphilly.com or uwishunu.com!
Penn's Landing is bringing back the amazing Spruce Street Harbor Park for 2015 and they're upping the awesomeness with an all-new outdoor roller rink! (Rendering courtesy Groundswell Design Group/DRWC)
RIVERRINK SUMMERFEST
For the first time this year, the area that housed winter's Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest will transform into a warm-weather edition with an outdoor roller rink, a boathouse-styled Lodge, a play area for kids, tons of food and drink options and summer events throughout the season.
Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest will be free and open to the public every day all the way through the end of September, and it's worth noting that Summerfest and Philadelphia's first outdoor roller rink wouldn't be opening without the support of Independence Blue Cross, the organization also responsible for Philadelphia's new bike share program, Indego.
The Food & Drink
Complementing dining at year-round waterfront spots like La Peg at FringeArts and Morgan's Pier, Spruce Street Harbor Park and RiverRink Summerfest will offer an array of excellent options for eating and drinking.
At Summerfest, much of the eating and drinking will be done in The Lodge, the boathouse-style space that boasts air conditioning, plenty of seating, a bar and a pop-up shop from Shane Confectionery. Inside the lake house-style enclosure, look for food and drink daily inspired by Garces’ Village Whiskey restaurant.
Sip a frosty beer at either Spruce Street Harbor Park or Summerfest on the Delaware River Waterfront this summer. (Photo by M. Edlow for Visit Philadelphia)
Things To Do
A summertime recreation jackpot, RiverRink Summerfest will be an awesome destination for families, couples, groups — really anyone looking for summer fun.
Opening Weekend
Launching what’s sure to be an amazing summer of skating, a ton of special programming May 22-25 will create a lively, come-one-come-all atmosphere.
Just before the rink officially opens to the public at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 22, Philly’s Roller Derby Girls will help christen the roller rink with a few rousing laps. On Friday afternoon, around 3 p.m., none other than the Phillie Phanatic will hit the rink.
Plus, on Friday night from 9 to 11 p.m., Philly’s own DJ Jazzy Jeff will perform at RiverRink!
Throughout the rest of the holiday weekend, Summerfest will also welcome other performances and family-friendly fun. For details, check out the complete schedule of opening weekend events.
RiverRink Roller Rink
Philadelphia’s first outdoor roller rink will debut at RiverRink Summerfest, set against a summertime landscape think summer camp on the Delaware River.
Skating will be a ticketed activity (as ice skating was in the winter) with skating tickets that will be available for purchase in advance online or on-site. As during the winter, all Independence Blue Cross cardholders will receive free skating admission.
Plus, the new roller-skating rink will feature all brand-new skates for rental, a hockey-grade flooring system and a landscaped island in the center of the rink to provide shade and seating.
Like Winterfest, the summer edition of the waterfront park will offer tons of opportunities for family-friendly fun and games. (Photo by Matt Stanley for DRWC)
Hanging Out at Summerfest
Surrounding the rink, the Summerfest space will become a family-friendly hangout with natural landscaping outside, a wraparound porch and the boathouse-themed Lodge. Grab a rocking chair and kick back or head to the mister-filled oasis a boulder-filled play area surrounded by cooling misters.
Later this season, Thursday nights will bring Waterfront Sessions, a concert series at both Spruce Street Harbor Park and Summerfest in collaboration with WXPN’s the Key.
Instagram the Scene
While at RiverRink Summerfest, don’t miss a photo op at the big Visit Philly rocking chair it’s a perfect Instagram shot. Snap the shot, then tag the photos with #visitphilly and #riverrink your photo might just be featured on visitphilly.com or uwishunu.com!
GETTING THERE
All of the Delaware River Waterfront and Penn's Landing is super accessible via public transportation, bike and by foot.
To arrive by foot, head east on either Market, Chestnut, Walnut or Spruce streets. For the RiverRink, cross Front Street and head East over the Market Street Bridge. The rink will be straight ahead. For Spruce Street Harbor Park, cross Columbus Boulevard at Spruce Street (just past the Philadelphia Vietnam Veterans Memorial) and you've arrived.
By SEPTA, take the Market-Frankford Line to 2nd Street, or numerous SEPTA buses stop at or near Penn's Landing, as well as the Philly Phlash this summer. By car, look for parking lots located at Lombard Circle, Walnut and Market Streets at Columbus Boulevard.
We highly recommend that visitors arrive on foot, by bike (try Indego!) or by public transportation via SEPTA.
For additional directions to the sites, check here.
Stay tuned for even more on these quintessential Philadelphia summertime destinations.
See you on the waterfront!
Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest
Spruce Street Harbor Park presented by
Univest/Valley Green Bank
Spruce Street Harbor Park returns Memorial Day weekend in all of its summertime glory with floating barges, comfy hammocks, cool LED lights and more. It’s going to be a stupendous summer, Philly. (Photo by Matt Stanley for DRWC)
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