SUMMER STARTS MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND ON THE DELAWARE RIVER WATERFRONT
Last year, thousands of Philadelphians and visitors to the region enjoyed a true summer oasis at Spruce Street Harbor Park. Thanks to the generosity of Univest Corporation and Valley Green Bank, A Division of Univest Bank and Trust Co., the Delaware River Waterfront Corp (DRWC) will be able to re-open Spruce Street Harbor Park this summer, on Memorial Day Weekend, one month earlier than its debut last year. It will remain open every day through the end of September.
In addition, DRWC will be introducing Philadelphia’s first outdoor roller skating rink. Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest will also be opening on Memorial Day Weekend and will remain open seven days a week, thanks to the generous sponsorship by Independence Blue Cross. The opening of these parks plus a host of summer events makes the Delaware River Waterfront the place to start and spend the summer.
Want to be the first to hear about announcements, events, and specials? Sign up for the Waterfront mailing list.
Spruce Street Harbor Park Presented by Univest/Valley Green Bank Highlights:
Season? An extended season from May 22 through the end of September, seven days a week
Food and Drinks? You asked and we listened. There will be more food and drink locations throughout the park. Garces Group will return with all new restaurant concepts, and we'll be announcing all of the other collaborations with notable Philadelphia restaurateurs shortly. Be the first to hear by joining the DRWC email list.
What else is new?
- A planted meadow with flowers donated by the Philadelphia Museum of Art, thoughtfully repurposing the materials from Sol LeWitt’s award-winning temporary installation Lines in Four Directions in Flowers .
- A longer boardwalk with more food vendors, seating options, and a new family entertainment area.
- The Oasis returns with three floating barges, water gardens, colorful seating, and a newly conceptualized restaurant and bar. The centerpiece of the Oasis, the net lounge, will extend from the barges allowing visitors to hang over and almost touch the water underneath them.
- More bike parking including a Ride Indego station across the street from Spruce Street Harbor Park at Foglietta Plaza.
- Lights, Camera, Action! The lights that made the park so unique, and that were so popular on Instagram, will be back to once again create a visual feast along the waterfront.
- More hammocks and seating! Hammocks will be added to every accessible area to allow for summer lounging along the waterfront. Bistro tables, Adirondack chairs, and picnic tables will be added to the expanded footprint of the park to accommodate even more visitors.
- Well, the entire Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest!
- Using the Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest footprint, this new roller skating rink will feature both roller skates and inline skates and a roller hockey-grade flooring system.
- Unique to Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest is a landscaped island in the center of the roller rink that provides shade and seating.
- A canopy of lights over the rink making summer nights feel magical.
- The Lodge will be transformed into a boathouse, with décor to match the relaxed summer vibe – think canoes, paddles, fans, misters and more. It will be a respite from the summer heat with air conditioning and will be a great place to relax, have a bite to eat, grab a drink, and watch the skaters and the river.
- Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest will also be a family playground… literally. In addition to roller skating, a naturalistic playscape and arcade will provide an area for kids to play while they’re not skating.
Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest will be FREE and open to the public. Roller skating will be a ticketed activity with tickets that can be purchased in advance online or on-site. As during the winter, all Independence Blue Cross Cardholders will receive FREE skating admission.