We’ve kept our eye on the 10-day forecast and we’re finally confident enough to say it: Spring is finally here!
After you put away the puffy jacket and break out the shorts, there are lots of outdoor activities to enjoy. Here are a few events happening soon, and a few places you can go to celebrate better weather.
Beer and wine gardens
Various gardens around the city offer both scenic views and tasty cocktails for the season. Here are several that have opened up recently.
Parks on Tap
The city’s “traveling beer garden” was created to allow residents to sip, chat and eat in many of Philly’s parks. There is a rotating schedule, with appearances in various city parks through October. Check out their website to find a location near you.
PHS Pop Up Gardens
With one location on South Street and another in Manayunk, these gardens combine outdoor venues with nature, drinks and food. The gardens are now open for the season, and also offer special programming on various days.
Graffiti Bar
Tucked behind the Sampan restaurant in Center City, this bar offers an outdoor space to mingle, drink and eat. The bar offers everything from its fishbowl-sized cocktail pitchers to bao buns and dumplings. Sit at a graffiti-covered table and enjoy all it has to offer.
Walnut Garden
Rittenhouse’s iconic outdoor garden offers a list of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, food and tables to socialize. Bring a friend, bring your kids, or go alone and enjoy the dog-friendly space.
The Garden at Jet Wine Bar
This South Street garden allows drinkers to enjoy foliage and plants, along with murals and lights. Located outside of Jet Wine Bar, the space offers various food and drinks and also hosts special events.
Independence Beer Garden
Located in Old City, this space offers bites and drinks overlooking the Liberty Bell and Independence National Historical Park. The beer garden offers various games to play, “American favorite” foods and a variety of rotating beverages.
American Sardine Bar
This Point Breeze garden offers food and drink on its backyard patio. This picturesque space offers everything from fries and beers to sardine dip and smash burgers.
Seasonal events
Phillies Game
The Phillies are back to playing for the regular season, though it’s been a bumpy start! Head over to Citizens Bank Park to soak up the sun while cheering for the Phils. And remember, it’s how you end the season, not how it starts.
Southeast Asian Market
This market offers a variety of Southeastern Asian cuisine – including Thai, Vietnamese and Indonesian foods. It is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. – with the exception of some holidays and planned races through FDR Park. There are regular and rotating vendors throughout the season.
Tennis and pickleball
There are various outdoor and indoor pickleball and tennis facilities in the region. Learn on your own, join a league, attend a clinic or hit with other experienced players at any of the area’s courts.
Nature
Immerse yourself in the Philly area nature with walks at local parks, or through planned events. We spoke with two members of the Academy of Natural Sciences at Drexel University – Andrew Kleiner, the Academy’s director of community science and John Eskate, the Academy’s volunteer and civic engagement senior manager.
There are two major nature events coming up: the City Nature Challenge and Little Sit.
The City Nature Challenge is from April 25 to 28 and is a weekend of encouraging people to take pictures of plants, animals, fungi, lichens, or whatever else you see outside.
“You get out there, you take pictures, and then you go on an app called iNaturalist, and you upload them” as part of a national contest that is an accessible way for Philadelphians to get out into nature and work toward a common goal.
Another event is Little Sit, which Disability Pride Pennsylvania will put on at Bartram’s Garden on Saturday, April 26, from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.
“It’s kind of a play on ‘Big Sits’ that birders sometimes do, where they sit at one spot and for 24 hours they try and encounter as many birds as they can hear or see,” Eskate explained.
“And the Little Sit is wonderful because it’s an event that aims to be accessible, and it aims to be inclusive and really kind of welcome a lot of people to the outdoors. And it’s a real convention of bird joy.”
The Academy also regularly hosts events, and gives information on local nature group events.
Panda Fest at Dilworth Park
One of the biggest outdoor Asian food festivals in the U.S., Panda Fest will include activities, tasting, music and vendors that will celebrate cultural traditions from Asia. The festival will be Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at Dilworth Park.
Outdoor art museums
Several art museums in the Philly area offer outdoor collections. The Outdoor Gardens at the Rodin Museum features several outdoor sculptures. The Magic Gardens in South Philly features an outdoor portion in addition to its indoor galleries. The President’s House is an open-air exhibit next to the Liberty Bell Center where visitors can explore where President Washington and Adams lived during their terms.
Farmers markets
While Philly has a mix of year-round and seasonal farmers markets, there is opportunity for everyone to enjoy. Here are a few selections.
Northern Liberties Farmers Market
The iconic combo of vendors specializing in food, retail and drinks is back in the NoLibs neighborhood! The Northern Liberties Farmers Market will reopen on Saturday, April 26 and will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. They’re kicking off their reopening with a Block Party event – with balloon animals, carnival attractions, shopping and more. Check it out this Saturday, or any other Saturday throughout the warm season.
Rittenhouse Farmers Market
Closer to Philly’s center is Rittenhouse’s bi-weekly farmers market! Try apple cider donuts, listen to lively jazz performances or get a fresh batch of flowers on Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. or Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. While this farmers market is year-round, the ambiance is arguably a bit more present in the warmer months
Headhouse Farmers Market
Enjoy an abundance of baked goods, produce and locally sourced creations at this Sunday market in Society Hill. It operates from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and you can find the roster of vendors who will be present each week at their website.
Fitler Square Farmers Market
This market offers year-round offerings on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon. A regular part of its residents Saturday routine, this market offers a variety of farm-fresh items.
Dickinson Square Farmers Market
This market offers several consistent market attendees, with a host of rotating and guest vendors. There are baked goods and produce, and occasionally drinks, ice cream and more. Check it out on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
East Falls Farmers Market
The East Falls neighborhood also has a Saturday morning market appearance. The farmers market hosts artisans, musicians, beverages and community organizations. It is every Saturday, rain or shine, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Fairmount Farmers Market
This Fairmount neighborhood market has been serving the community for over 20 years. Now open year-round, the market offers produce from local farmers, coffee, wine and spirits, and other goodies. This is a weekday market – operating Thursday from 3 to 7 p.m.
The city has a farmers’ market finder that is helpful for further info.
Rooftop bars
There are a lot of rooftop bars in Philly. We’re highlighting a few – and will update this list as more open.
Bok Bar
This seasonal rooftop boasts views from West Philly all the way to South Jersey. What started as a popup has become a fully functioning rooftop bar that has varying monthly food partners and cocktail offerings. Check it out through November!
El Techo
The rooftop taqueria and counterpart to the Condesa restaurant has opened its roof for the season! The patio with a retractable roof allows for fun – rain or shine – and offers a variety of drinks, with a focus on tequila and mezcal. Head over to Rittenhouse to check it out.
Sunset Social/Cira Green
This West Philly rooftop boasts a grassy escape on top of the Cira Green building. It is now open for the season and offers a variety of food and drink options – including burgers and frozen drinks.
Attico
Located in the heart of Center City, this rooftop bar and seating space offers both indoor and outdoor seating (with open windows in the indoor part). The restaurant offers a weekly happy hour, dinner and brunch and bar seating to enjoy the rooftop ambiance.
Victory Brewing Tap Room
Victory Brewing’s Tap Room is just a part of Victory Brewing Company in Philadelphia. The space features a two-story taproom, a lower-level street patio and a rooftop patio. The bar features many beers and food pairings. It’s located on the Ben Franklin Parkway.
Assembly Rooftop Lounge
This outdoor rooftop space features views of the art museum district and a variety of drinks. The bar, on top of the Logan Square Hotel, has a list of bubbly cocktails, wines by the bottle and glass, and small plates.
This is an ongoing list that will be updated as more information becomes available and more spaces open up.
