PHILADELPHIA–Philadelphia Parks & Recreation Commissioner Susan Slawson, with the Parkway Council, announced today that The Oval will once again return 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 eight 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 & 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,” said Commissioner Slawson. “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 will open to the public on Thursday, July 11, 2024, and will operate through Sunday, August 25, 2024. The Oval will be open Thursday-Sunday at the following times:
- Thursdays: 4 p.m. – 9 p.m.
- Fridays: 4 p.m. – 11 p.m.
- Saturdays: Noon – 11 p.m.
- Sundays: Noon – 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 August 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.
- Marketplaces and family festivals on select Saturdays and Sundays.
In addition to the fun and recreation that The Oval will bring, it will support the backbone of the city’s creative small businesses: Philadelphia’s local artists, talent, and entrepreneurs. The Oval will also activate the Parkway, turning it into a true park space where people can gather and spend time outdoors, one of the animating goals behind the current planning process for the Parkway’s future.
More information about The Oval can be found online and on social media at @theovalphl (Facebook, Instagram, and X).
Support for the 2024 Oval
Lead support for The 2024 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 of Philadelphia Office of Nighttime Economy, Philadelphia Department of Commerce, and Office of Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy.
Philadelphia Parks & Recreation and the Parkway Council thank Libertee Grounds and Mural Arts Philadelphia for their partnership in making the 2024 Oval a success.
They extend additional thanks to the Association for Public Art, the Barnes Foundation, Collaborative Cataloging Japan and the Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia, Greene Towne Montessori School, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and SNACKTIME for their program partnerships.
Libertee Grounds extends their thanks to the following partners for their support of the beer garden: A Casual Beverage, Kenwood, La Cabra Brewing, Love City Brewing, Mural City Cellars, Two Robbers Spirits Company, and Victory Brewing Company.
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Philadelphia Parks & Recreation (PPR) advances the prosperity of the city and the progress of its people through stewardship of nearly 10,200 acres of public land and waterways, and management of 500 recreation buildings, 166 miles of trail, and 250 playgrounds. PPR offers safe, enjoyable recreation, environmental and cultural programs and events throughout Philadelphia’s parks and recreation system. PPR promotes the well-being and growth of the city’s residents by connecting them to the natural world, to each other and to fun, physical and social opportunities. More than 3,000 full-time and seasonal employees proudly serve Philly residents every day, ensuring the department remains a modern, equitable and exceptional parks and recreation system. Visit us at www.phila.gov/parksandrec, and follow @philaparkandrec on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
The Parkway Council, a not-for-profit organization, works to accelerate the transformation of Philadelphia’s Benjamin Franklin Parkway into a great urban park for all. parkwaycouncil.org