Last year, The Oval popped up on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway with a beach-themed placemaking installation. In 2014, The Oval' summer season runs July 16 through August 17 with a whimsical installation by artist Candy Coated, a beer garden and full calendar of events. (Photo by M. Fischetti for Visit Philadelphia)
The Benjamin Franklin Parkway is a Philadelphia cultural mecca an epicenter of art museums, educational institutions and public spaces.
This summer, there’s yet another reason to proceed to the Parkway: The Oval summer season has returned for 2014.
After an awesome run in 2013, the open-air public space at Eakins Oval has once again transformed an island of asphalt and surrounding lawns at 24th Street and the Parkway into an eight-acre public space devoted to summertime fun — this year with a brand-new theme and even more programming.
Open July 16 through August 17, The Oval will host tons of activities 10 hours a day Wednesday through Sunday, including free live entertainment, family-friendly programming, a lineup of food trucks and (wait for it!) a beer garden.
Also elevating the park-going experience this year, the Association for Public Art commissioned renowned local artist and designer Candy Coated to create a site-specific installation, Magic Carpet, to thematically connect the entire eight acres.
Read on for more on Magic Carpet and The Oval.
The Layout
Located within easy walking distance of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, The Barnes Foundation, The Franklin Institute, Academy of Natural Sciences, the Free Library, the Rodin Museum and Sister Cities Park, The Oval is situated in what was a surface lot in front of the Museum of Art.
An eight-acre open-air urban oasis, the painted-over parking lot and surrounding grassy areas is a super pedestrian-friendly public space, welcoming visitors to summertime-themed areas with features like tables and chairs, brightly colored sails and, yes, public restrooms.
A huge array of free activities and interactive events are scheduled both day and night, and The Oval will be open Wednesday through Sunday. From Wednesday to Friday, park hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 7 p.m. (weather permitting).
The Oval, the temporary outdoor oasis on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, welcomes some of the city’s best food trucks daily and a pop-up beer garden Wednesday through Saturday! (Photo by M. Fischetti for Visit Philadelphia)
Beer Garden & Food Trucks
Plan on coming hungry and thirsty to hang out at The Oval.
Beer Garden: Wednesday through Saturday, the Beer Garden at The Oval pours local brews in a shady grove. Built with repurposed park artifacts, including man hole covers, reclaimed bluestone, granite benches and bollards, and tree grates, The Oval's beer garden is a breezy getaway under the trees.
Try your hand at lawn games including Trac Ball, Cornhole, and Kubbspel, a traditional Viking game of skill.
Look forward to a variety of craft beer options including 21st Amendment Watermelon Wheat, Harpoon Summer Ale, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Yuengling and an exclusive Yards draft.
Food Trucks: A daily lineup of food trucks (generally three savory, one sweet) will be dishing street food each day The Oval is open. Coordinated by Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, who also bring food trucks to Love Park, look for trucks like Reuben on Rye, Braz BQ, Surf n' Turf, Mama's Meatballs, Guerrilla Ultima, Foolish Waffles, and Lil’ Pop Shop.
Food trucks will serve up eats at The Oval all day, but hours do vary. Generally, trucks roll through on weekdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 to 10 p.m. On Saturdays, trucks serve from noon to 7 p.m.
The company of trucks varies daily, and is subject to change. Check here for a complete calendar of the food trucks at The Oval.
See below for more on The Oval.
Built with repurposed park artifacts, including man hole covers, reclaimed bluestone, granite benches and bollards, and tree grates, The Oval's beer garden is a breezy getaway under the trees.(Photo by M. Fischetti for Visit Philadelphia)
Candy Coated’s Magic Carpet Art Installation
A five-section concept by artist Candy Coated, Magic Carpet includes 3D illusion art, brightly colored sandboxes, oversized game boards, patterned umbrellas and much more.
Visitors to The Oval are greeted by vibrant swirling colors, a labyrinth-like design, hanging vinyl globes, bright pink sandboxes and — perhaps the best part — a high-design 3-D optical illusion perfect for photo ops.
A multimedia sculptor who earned her MFA from the Tyler School of Art at Temple University and previously worked as a master printer at the Fabric Workshop and Museum, Candy Coated is a progressive art maker with a self-professed obsession with all things decorative or artistic. Last year, the Philadelphia Museum of Art exhibited Candy Coated Wonderland, an installation that reinterpreted children's costumes from the museum's collection.
The Visit Philly Beer Garden Series & More Special Events
The cool atmosphere, art installation, and wide array of food and drink on tap at The Oval means visitors can count on considerable fun on a regular basis. But on certain days, The Oval kicks its programming into high gear with one-off special events in collaboration with Philadelphia partners.
Kick-Off Party: Wednesday, July 16, 5:30-10 p.m. Tonight, join the Association for Public Art, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation and Fairmount Park Conservancy at The Oval for a Magic Carpet Kick-Off Celebration. A free event for all ages, come out to see the debut of The Oval with food trucks, performances, face painting, crafts, and more.
Visit Philly Beer Garden Series: Friday, July 18 and Friday, August 15, 4-7 p.m. The Visit Philly Beer Garden Happy Hour Series continues this week with the first stop at The Oval and its magical beer garden. The beer garden happy hour series has had a great start, and opening weekend at The Oval promises to be borderline epic. A few Yards beers will be on special in The Oval's beer garden from 4 to 7 p.m. And then the Pizza Party gets underway at 7 p.m. Stay tuned for more info on the Beer Garden Series happy hour coming later this summer, too.
On certain days, The Oval kicks its programming into high gear with one-off special events in collaboration with Philadelphia partners, including the Visit Philly Beer Garden Series. (Photo by M. Fischetti for Visit Philadelphia)
Pizza Party: Friday, July 18, 8-10 p.m. Coming up this Friday, July 18, is a pretty awesome-sounding event for The Oval's opening weekend. Promoted as a giant Pizza Party, Friday's event will feature a screening of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, a performance by Macaulay Culkin's band, The Pizza Underground, and of course pizza to enjoy. The Oval's beer garden will also be operating to complete the all-too-perfect combo of pizza and beer.
Vendy Awards Winners Circle: Saturday, July 19, noon-7 p.m. Miss the Vendy Awards? No problem. This Saturday from noon to 7 p.m., the winners from the last three years of the Vendy Awards, which are essentially the Academy Awards for food trucks, will be in attendance at The Oval serving up fine food for the masses at the Winners Oval event. The food truck roster is a who's who of mobile dining, including Bonjour Creperie, Pie Stand, Vernalicious, Delicias and Lil’ Pop Shop.
The Awesome Fest’s Bacon Fest: In honor of Kevin Bacon, The Oval makes all of your bacon dreams come true with a solid lineup of food trucks offering tasty bacon-infused treats for the crowd. Stay tuned for more details as the smoked-meat fest approaches.
The Awesome Fest returns to The Oval for summer 2014 with alfresco movie nights on select evenings throughout the pop-up park’s run. (Photo by M. Fischetti for Visit Philadelphia)
Movie Nights, Live Music & Daily Programming
Each day The Oval is open, visitors can engage a ton of activities and events presented in cooperation with a bevy of neighborhood and civic partners. No matter what your interest — arts, fitness, beer, technology, family fun and more — The Oval has an event for you.
Beyond the built-in daily elements, you'll find themed activities every day at The Oval Wednesdays are all about wellness, Thursdays focus on arts and culture, Fridays are for food and flicks, Saturdays bring a game day and Sunday is for family fun.
For a complete schedule of the multitude of daily events, check the online calendar here.
Getting There
Located in the shadow of the Philadelphia Museum of Art at Eakins Oval, the space is at the center of a hub of vehicular traffic.
By far, the easiest way to arrive at The Oval, though, is by foot or bicycle. There are crosswalks leading from the sidewalks of the Parkway, straight to the park and bike racks are on site.
By public transportation, take SEPTA bus routes 2, 7, 32, 33 and 48. The Phlash is also a great way to go, with stop number 13 delivering passengers right to Eakins Oval.
With a full calendar of events on tap including live musical performances, interactive arts activities, fitness and wellness activities, movie nights, beer gardens, miniature golf, food trucks and more, The Oval will keep visitors retuning throughout the summer.
Stay tuned for updates on this stupendous summertime destination.
See you at The Oval!
The Oval
When: July 16-August 17; Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays, noon-7 p.m. (Note that the beer garden is closed on Sundays)
Where: Eakins Oval, 2601 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Cost: Free
More info: www.theovalphl.org
Each day The Oval is open, visitors can engage a ton of activities and events presented in cooperation with a bevy of neighborhood and civic partners. It’s a come one, come all summer destination! Don’t miss visiting this awesome space. (Photo by M. Fischetti for Visit Philadelphia)