Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Commissioner Susan Slawson, with the Parkway Council, announced that The Oval has once again returned to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway for a summer of fun programming and activities.
For seven weekends of the summer, The Oval transforms a public parking lot into an outdoor urban oasis where locals and visitors alike can enjoy 8 acres of food and beverage, art, music and entertainment, wellness experiences, and free special event programming.
“Providing unique outdoor experiences during the summer is what Parks and Rec does best, and The Oval will be an exciting destination for people of all ages to have fun and relax amid the beauty of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway,” Slawson said. “I’m grateful for our partnership with the Parkway Council to bring The Oval back this summer.”
This year, new partnerships will offer novel experiences at The Oval. Libertee Grounds will install an all-ages mini golf course featuring famous Philadelphia landmarks, and local band Snacktime will curate a concert series.
“The Parkway Council is delighted to deepen its partnership with Philadelphia Parks and Recreation and activate this amazing public space with programming for all,” said Nicholas Anderson, executive director of the Parkway Council. “As the council continues to work with the city on the Parkway planning process, events like the Oval demonstrate the potential the Parkway has as a great urban park for Philadelphia and the region.”
The Oval opened to the public on July 11, and will operate through Sunday, Aug. 25.
The Oval will be open Thursdays from 4-9 p.m., Fridays from 4-11 p.m., Saturdays from noon to 11 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 9 p.m.
Highlights of this year’s Oval include a mural created by Mural Arts Philadelphia; a beer garden and pop-up restaurant by Libertee Grounds; a selection of food trucks; a temporary art installation, opening Aug. 1, in partnership with the Association for Public Art; group wellness and fitness activities; cultural performances and movies on Fridays; concerts by Philadelphia bands on Saturdays; family-friendly activities on Sundays; Quizzo on Sundays; and marketplaces and family festivals on select Saturdays and Sundays.
More information about The Oval can be found on social media at @theovalphl (Facebook, Instagram and X).
Lead support for The Oval has been provided by Visit Philadelphia and the hotel community, the Philadelphia Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, and La Cabra Brewing.
Additional support has been provided by AIR Communities/Park Towne Place Museum District Residences. Econsult Solutions, Prudent Management Associates and the city Office of Nighttime Economy and Department of Commerce. ••
