The Oval 2018 Aerial View
‘Summer Fun For The Family’
Go Big or Go Home!
The Oval+ park, based at Eakins Oval across from the Philadelphia Museum of Art, returns once again for four weeks, from July 20 to August 19, with a new extended pedestrian promenade that runs almost half the length of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway!
The dynamic park brings community programming, public art, special events and activities to this outdoor space.
This year’s season of The Oval+ builds directly on the public feedback and data that Fairmount Park Conservancy and Philadelphia Parks & Recreation collected as part of 2017’s “What’s Your Parkway, Philly?” More than 40 percent of visitors said they wanted to see more family-related activities at The Oval+. This input, added to ongoing safety concerns about crossing multiple lanes of traffic, especially with small children, led the partners to build on the popularity of last year’s installations beyond the perimeter of Eakins Oval.
Kathryn Ott Lovell, Commissioner of Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, said,
“Whether you live near Center City or are coming in for the day, we see The Oval+ as an oasis where you can catch some shade and watch the world go by.”
New Installations at Eakins Oval
Life-size interactive installations geared toward kids and families occupy the center of The Oval+. Visitors can play in an 800-square-foot sandbox, take in the surrounding views from a four-tiered seating platform, watch patterns created by the sun in a ribbon pavilion and cool off in an 800-square-foot misting pavilion — dubbed Mr. Mister — throughout the day.
2018 Pop-Up Attractions & Activities
Beer Garden and Food Trucks
Visitors will get to enjoy and relax at Eakins Tavern, a beer garden serving Meltkraft sandwiches, which will return along with a rotating line-up of food trucks.
Movies, Music, Yoga, Dance and Arts & Culture
The Oval+ will also feature active programming between the hours of 11 a.m. and 11 p.m., Wednesdays through Sundays. Dozens of free activities and events are planned around the themes “Wellness Wednesdays,” “Arts & Culture Thursdays,” “Friday Food & Flicks,” “Game Day Saturdays,” and “Sunday Family Fundays.”
The event calendar will be filled with many various activities for both kids and adults. Enjoy Wellness Wednesdays, arts and culture such as hip-hop fundamentals and dancing with DJ’s every Thursday, free movie screenings on Friday nights, Quizzo on Saturdays, a dance party for the kids every Sunday and so much more.
Each day visitors can enjoy activities including interactive art installation, chalkboards, a maze, 9-hole mini golf, bean bag toss, Legos, Connect Four, Ping Pong, a sandbox, and chess and checkers! Calendar of Events At The Oval
Movies Friday Nights (movie starts at 9 pm)
7/20 – The Greatest Showman
7/27 – Battle of the Sexes
8/3 – Karate Kid
8/10 – Wayne’s World
8/17 – Creed
Limited Road Closure Details
Philadelphia Parks & Recreation and Fairmount Park Conservancy worked with City agencies and partners to develop a traffic protection and maintenance plan and to implement safety measures that correspond with the closure and detour schedule outlined as follows:
From July 5 to August 26 vehicle traffic will be redirected in the following ways:
- The outbound outer lanes (north side of Parkway) will be closed to vehicles between 20th street and Art Museum Drive;
- The outbound Parkway bike lane will remain open;
- N. 20th St, N. 21st St. and N. 22nd St. will remain open;
- Vine St. traffic will be directed to the Parkway inner lanes or to make a right onto 20th St.
Years of Previous Themes At The Oval
2017 ~ “The Oval Asks: “What is Your Parkway, Philly?”
2016 ~ “Rhythm and Hues”
2015 ~ “Summer Kaleidoscope”
2014 ~ “The Magic Carpet”
2013 ~ “Beach Fun”
Location
The Oval aka Eakins Oval (In front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art Museum)
2451 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia, PA 19130
Dates
July 20 – August 19, 2018
Times
Wednesday – Sunday: 11:00 am – 11:00 pm
Wednesdays (Wellness): 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm – Enjoy FREE fitness classes: (Power Yoga, Yoga Habit; Philly Dance Fitness; CKO Kickboxing; Dance Boot Camp)
Thursdays (Arts & Culture): 7:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Fridays (Food & Flicks): Starts at 9:00 pm – enjoy food trucks and movies
Saturdays (Game Day): 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm Quizzo
Sundays (Family Fun): 2:00 pm – 7:00 pm ~ featuring a weekly family dance party called Let’s Rock Recess
The Oval Summer 2018 Beer Garden Hours:
Wednesdays – Fridays: 5:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Saturdays & Sundays: 2:00 pm – 11:00 pm
Cost
FREE to the public | Pay-As-You-Go for food & beer
Web Site
pp
Map
Follow Us!