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Choose Your Waterfront Adventure: Arts and Entertainment Edition

Published on June 21 2023
By Jarreau Freeman 
Check out all the great things to do on Philly’s Delaware River Waterfront this summer for art and entertainment lovers. 
  • Festival of India part of the PECO Multicultural Series
Any adventure you choose, is one worth having. So, if you’re eager for a trip oozing with arts, culture, live music, and interactive experiences, look no further than the Delaware River Waterfront. With these picks, you’re sure to have a day and night filled with the best Philly has to offer!
 

The Arts
The Waterfront is an artistic destination with permanent pieces like Weaver’s Knot: Sheet Bend on the Delaware River Trail, to new and exciting pop-ups like Ekumen’s Loop (now through August 14), and the newest exhibition A League Apart (June through August). 

Located in the center of Spruce Street Harbor Park, Loop features six (6) giant wheels that guests can sit inside, while they pump a bar that makes cylinders turn, creating pictures (short flipbook-style movies inspired by Quebec literature) spring into motion. Loop is best enjoyed with a wheel-buddy so you both can pump the bar and create magical animations together. 
A League Apart at Cherry Street Pier is a powerful photo exhibition that highlights the importance of breaking barriers through stories from members of the Philadelphia Negro League such as Octavius V. Catto, Ed Bolden, Richard “Dick” Allen, and Mo’ne Davis.  Learn more about how they stepped up to the plate to change the biases and traditions of baseball. Review the full list of upcoming exhibitions, too.
 
UPDATE: The Waterfront has taken its art game to the next level by becoming an open-air gallery where you can stroll from Pier 68 (South Columbus Boulevard) to Race Street Pier (North Columbus Boulevard) and enjoy several installations that will be available the remainder of the summer through the fall - “Hip Hop 50” hosted by Thomcat23 at Cherry Street Pier, Robin Cameron, and G. William Webb’s “Monument to Reproduction” at Race Street Pier, and Pockets of Light (Waterfront-wide). 
  • Pockets of Light, Waterfront-Wide, July to September, 2023
  • Pockets of Light, Waterfront-Wide, July to September, 2023
  • Pockets of Light, Waterfront-Wide, July to September, 2023
  • Pockets of Light, Waterfront-Wide, July to September, 2023
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The Fun and Games
For the young and young at heart, there is no shortage of fun in the sun on the Waterfront.

Fan out as your favorite movies come to life through Pixar Putt, the ultimate pop-up, open-air mini-golf experience (July 1 to October 1); or take a stroll every Thursday evening during the Philly River Stroll (now through August 31) featuring $5 rides on the RiverLinkFerry, food and drink deals, as well as buy-one-get-one free carousel and Ferris wheel rides at Independence Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest. Plus, there are live DJs provided by Q102 at Spruce Street Harbor Park and pop-up circus acts along the way to your favorite Waterfront locations.

Family Funday Sunday has also become an afternoon favorite, featuring free make-and-take crafts (while supplies last) with PopUp Play or a resident artist from Cherry Street Pier.
 

The Live Music
The epic dance party we had on Memorial Day Weekend, we’re bringing you all summer long with several ways to move and groove to beats by homegrown artists. Every Friday, After Work Sessions (now through September 1)  is making Spruce Street Harbor Park a party with dancing and music hosted by Shekhinah B. of The Women's Coalition for Empowerment, Inc. A quick walk down Penn’s Landing and you’ll encounter Friday Flavor or Saturday Sounds at the #RiverRink  where you can skate to live DJs from 7pm to 10pm.  

  • beaumonde originals commercial photographer philadelphia 156

On select weekends this summer, celebrate Philly’s diversity at the PECO Multicultural Festivals with live performances, music, signature dishes, craft vendors, and more from a variety of cultures represented in our great city.

This Independence Weekend, join us for the return of the U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own” Concert and Fireworks (July 1) part of the Wawa Welcome America. The concert begins at 8pm with fireworks following at 9:30pm. 

  • Fireworks at Independence Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest
No adventure is complete, without sharing it with your friends and family, while stirring up  a bit of #FOMO, too. During your next Waterfront adventure, use hashtag #MyPhillyWaterfront for a chance to be featured on our social media channels. 

Stay updated so you don’t miss opportunities to learn about all the adventures you can create - sign up for our email list and follow us on social media: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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This is the second post in our “Waterfront Adventure” series that highlights activities for travelers and locals who visit the Delaware River Waterfront in Philadelphia.

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This blog post was updated on Thursday, August 3, 2023.