Parkway Council

Representing Philadelphia’s cultural district, the Parkway Council is a coalition of
cultural and educational institutions, residences, and businesses along the
Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

The Parkway Council's mission is to accelerate the transformation of the Parkway into a great urban park filled with exceptional cultural institutions, inviting gardens, active public spaces, and dynamic programming that welcomes and engages everyone.

Learn more about the Reimagine the Benjamin Franklin Parkway planning process that will create a public realm plan for people-centric, physical improvements to the Parkway. Take the first public engagement survey and share your thoughts on how you use the Parkway and what you would like to see change.

Wawa Welcome America Festival 2022

Philadelphia’s city-wide Independence Day festival is back this year with free family-friendly events June 19 – July 4. Activities include the Salute to Independence Day Parade, programming commemorating Juneteenth, block parties, complimentary museum access, Wawa Hoagie Day, and the iconic Party on the Parkway, culminating in fireworks and the free July 4th concert, this year starring Jason Derulo and Ava Max.

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Oval XP

The Oval XP transforms Eakins Oval into Philadelphia’s largest outdoor urban oasis with eight acres of food and beverage—including the city's largest beer garden—, a site specific mural and other art installations, music and entertainment, wellness experiences, a children's Imagination Space, a carousel and Ferris wheel, free special event programming, and more! Open Wednesday through Sunday through August 21, 2022. Presented by Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, Welcome America, and Our People Entertainment.

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Fairmount Arts Crawl

The Fairmount Arts Crawl is a free indoor/outdoor festival on June 26, 12:00 – 4:00 p.m., organized by the Fairmount CDC. The event transforms the art museum area of Philadelphia into an eclectic showcase of local artists and performers in its streets, restaurants, businesses, shops, and bars. Pick up an event map and enjoy music in front of Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site on Fairmount Avenue and then visit participating storefronts across the 

neighborhood.

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Reimagine the Benjamin Franklin Parkway: A Public Event

On June 21, the public is invited to attend a lecture and panel discussion about the Parkway and other similar projects around the world that seek to develop sustainable, desirable, and inclusive cities. Philippe Chiamberetta, whose firm PCA Stream led the work to reimagine Paris’s Champs-Élysées, will speak and a panel of local and national public realm experts will follow. This event is part of the Reimagine the Benjamin Franklin Parkway planning process.

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Reimagine the Benjamin Franklin Parkway Public Engagement Event

Meet the design team and share your preferences for the future of the Parkway during Wawa Welcome America’s July 4th concert. Engage in activities and give feedback on preferences for transportation, 

amenities, programming, and attractions. All are invited to take an online survey to share your thoughts on the Parkway.

Live at Sister Cities Park

Thursday evenings through August 25, unwind and relax on the lawn of Sister Cities Park as local singer-songwriters perform amid the bustle of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Beer, wine, and Hornitos Tequila cocktails will be available at the Sister Cities Café, plus snacks and treats for the kids. Pack a blanket, pick a spot, and enjoy the show! Please note, this program is not BYOB. Presented by Center City District.

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The Galleries at Moore

Visit The Galleries at Moore this summer and view the 2022 Juried Alumni Biennial, featuring more than 80 works, and SKÄL /ɧɛːl/ for Weaving, a project by artists Nathalie Wuerth and Anamaya Farthing-Kohl, featuring everyday objects found in the waste stream and incorporated into a large-scale weaving made specifically for the window gallery space. The galleries are free and open Monday – Saturday, 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. 

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POOL: A Social History of Segregation

On view through August 30 at the Fairmount Waterworks, the free exhibition POOL explores the history of public pools and the connections between water, social justice, and public health. POOL weaves together the history of segregated swimming in America with multi-disciplinary artworks, storytelling, and place-based learning.

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You Are Here

From studying the buildings we populate, to the bodies we inhabit, to how we navigate the world at large, You Are Here explores themes of mapping and placemaking. In this exhibition, a group of seven artists take on various approaches to these themes to examine the places where we live, work, and play. The exhibition, in partnership with InLiquid, is on view at Park Towne Place through October 1.

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Free Events at the Parkway Central Library

The Free Library of Philadelphia at its Parkway Central main branch hosts near daily free events, ranging from author talks with celebrated writers to workshops on practical skills to family activities for all ages. Outdoors in Shakespeare Park, on Mondays at 10:30 a.m., for those 2 and under and their caregivers, enjoy Read Baby Read: Baby & Toddler Storytime!

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DIY Tour of the Parkway's Public Artworks

Use the Association for Public Art’s guide to learn about the many public artworks along the Parkway. From memorials and monuments to statues and murals, see what makes Philly an arts destination.

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Parkway Pals

Center City 

District invites children to learn and play outside with friends with help from neighboring institutions along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Stop by every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday morning from June 13 – August 17 for unique, interactive activities that are both educational and entertaining.

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Horwitz-Wasserman Holocaust Memorial Plaza

Explore the United States’ oldest Holocaust monument and take a tour of the site with IWalk, a free educational app that uses survivor 

testimony. Produced by the Philadelphia Holocaust 

Remembrance Foundation. On June 18 at 7:00 p.m. attend a Pride Havdalah event.

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Jazz on the Parkway at Cret Park

Enjoy the rhythm of jazz tunes on Sunday afternoons this spring at Capriccio Café and Bar at Cret Park. Local jazz ensembles will perform as you sip your favorite cocktail under the café’s shaded outdoor patio. Additional seating for non-café customers is available on the lawn areas of the park. Presented by Center City District.

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STAY CONNECTED
Provide your contact information to receive future updates from the Parkway Council.

Looking for information on how to hold arts or cultural programming on the Parkway?
Write to us at info@parkwaycouncil.org for more information.