Parks on Tap Announces Return to Fairmount Water Works This Summer, Plus Travelling Series for Fall
Philadelphia’s famous beer garden that gives back to city parks announces its return for the summer season. Parks on Tap will start their extended stay outside of the historic Fairmount Water Works (640 Waterworks Drive) on Friday, May 20, 2022. For fans of the original traveling format, Parks on Tap will travel again starting August 31, 2022, hitting the road for five weeks highlighting five different Philadelphia parks. This hybrid model will offer the perfect blend of experiences for Philadelphia locals and tourists alike. When open, patrons will be able to enjoy sweeping riverfront views, fresh food, beers on tap, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages in a secure outdoor environment with comfortable chairs and clean restrooms. Parks on Tap is family (and fido) friendly.
Season hours for Parks on Tap at the Water Works location will be Wednesday to Friday, from 5:00pm to 10:00pm, and Saturday and Sunday from Noon to 11:00pm, weather permitting. Parks on Tap at Water Works celebrates Juneteenth on Sunday, June 19th, plus there will be special hours on Monday, June 20th from 5:00pm to 10:00pm in honor of the official City holiday of Juneteenth, and Tuesday, June 21st from 5:00pm to 10:00pm. Pride at the Park: Pride Day at Parks on Tap returns Saturday, June 18th, from 12:00pm to 6:00pm. For 2022, all guests must sign-in prior to entry to access their free seasonal membership. Food and drink are pay-as-you-go. Seating is first come, first served.
“FCM Hospitality is excited to announce both a season-long location and the return of the traveling format so many patrons have been missing,” said FCM Hospitality owner, Avram Hornik. “One of my all-time favorite locations is at Fairmount Water Works. This location is always a big hit with young families and neighbors. We love seeing all the familiar faces who visit every time we pop up behind the Philadelphia Museum of Art. No matter which location you pick and are closest too, we invite you to come out, relax and enjoy the summer days ahead with our Parks and Tap family.”
The summer-long Parks on Tap location outside the famous Fairmount Water Works (640 Waterworks Drive) offers riverfront views that are the perfect backdrop for day and night outings in the warmer weather. For its return, Parks on Tap rejoins the existing business community outside the Fairmount Water Works, including Cosmic Cafe, a farm-to-table organic cafe option for guests, and Wheel Fun Rentals, which offers family-friendly four-wheel multi-passenger surrey rides for sight-seeing along Boathouse Row.
For set-up, Parks on Tap is self-contained within roped boundaries, providing its own power, bathrooms, food and drink trucks, seating, shade and lights – all without use or dependency of existing park facilities. This means more money can be raised and make a direct impact on park improvements and future programming.
For seating, Parks on Tap does not offer reservations. All seating is first come, first serve. Parks on Tap is family and fido friendly. The beer garden is 21+ to enter. Children, families, and anyone under 21 are welcome to participate if they are accompanied by a parent or legal guardian who has legal identification. Alcoholic beverages must stay within the beer garden’s fenced area. This is required for full compliance with PLCB code. All patrons will be asked to digitally sign in when visiting the park. Signing in and entry are complementary and can be done in advance by visiting parksontap.com/signin. Well-behaved dogs are welcome and must always be on a leash.
For food and drink, Parks on Tap will offer the casual fare and local brews that it has become known for. In addition to providing a variety of local craft beers, patrons can also expect wine, cocktails, and non-alcoholic beverages such as water, lemonade, and iced tea. A food menu is available for purchase at the Water Works location which highlights convenient grab and go menu items such as locally sourced wraps and snacks. The beer menu will include Mainstay Independent Brewing Company’s Love Your Park Pale Ale. Love Your Park Pale Ale was originally created exclusively for Parks on Tap to help raise awareness for volunteering at loveyourpark.org.
All credit cards and cash are accepted for food and drink. Credit cards are preferred. The opening food and drink menu is as follows:
WATER WORKS MENU
Snacks:
Warm Soft Pretzel (V) $4
Spicy Maple Mustard
Burrata Cheese $11
Pesto, Prosciutto, Sesame Crackers
Hummus (V) $9
Edamame, Mint, Spring Onion, Togarashi, Pita Chips
-sub cucumber and celery for pita (GF)
Salads
Arugula (VG) $11
Dried Cherries, Roasted Squash, Aged Gouda, Balsamic Vinaigrette, Pretzel Crouton
Soba Noodle (V) $12
Snow Peas, Shaved Hearts of Palm, Shiitake Mushrooms, Ginger-Soy Vinaigrette
Sandwiches
(All served with a bag of potato chips)
Pulled Pork $14
Coleslaw, B&B Pickles, Brioche Bun
Hot Roast Beef $15
BBQ Eye of Round, Horseradish-Miso Sauce, White Soy Pickled Onion, Seeded Long Roll
Turkey Hoagie $12
Smoked Turkey Breast, Lancaster Colby, Shaved Iceberg, Cherry Pepper Relish, Seeded Long Roll
Veggie Wrap (V) $12
Hummus, Roasted Peppers, Broccoli, Red Onion, Flour Tortilla
Kid’s Hot Dog $5
All Beef Hot Dog, Martin’s Potato Bun
Sweets
Jumbo Chocolate Chip Cookie $3
DRINKS
Beer on Tap
Mainstay Bowline IPA (8.4%) $7
Mainstay Poplar Pills (5.0%) $7
Mainstay King Laird Weisse (5.3%) $7
Mainstay Love Your Parks Pale Ale (5.3%) $7
Mainstay Constitution lager (5.4%) $7
Kenwood light lager (4.2%) $7
Downeast Cider $7
Beer in Cans
Bowline IPA $7
2SP- Sunfest Shandy $7
Bud Light Seltzer $7
Coastal Rose Spritz $7
Parks Pale Ale $7
Cocktails
Hibiscus Lemonade $10
Vodka, Hibiscus, Fresh Lemonade
Hanami Punch $10
Tequila, Soju, St. Germain, Green Tea, Lemon Juice
Wine
Rose $9
Non-Alcoholic
Red Bull $6
Fresh House Lemonade $3
Bottled Water $3
For events this year, guests will have many reasons to come back again, including:
Pride in the Park: Pride Day at Parks on Tap
Saturday, June 18, 2022, 12:00pm to 6:00pm
On June 18th, Pride in the Park: Pride Day at Parks on Tap is scheduled to return from 12:00pm to 6:00pm. Come out and enjoy a lively day of music, cocktails, and camaraderie benefitingLGBTQ+ non-profit organizations William Way LGBT Community Center, Philly Asian Queer, The Attic Youth Center and Galaei. Pride in the Park is presented by FCM Hospitality, with support from Philly Gay Pride Month and Aversa PR.
Juneteenth at Parks on Tap
Sunday, June 19, 2022, 12:00pm to 11:00pm
On Sunday, June 19th, FCM Hospitality and owner Avram Hornik will offer another unstinting showing of support for the community and its members, announcing that 100% of sales on Juneteenth will be donated to racial justice nonprofits. Parks on Tap at Water Works will also offer special hours on Monday, June 20th from 5:00pm to 10:00pm in honor of the official City holiday of Juneteenth.
For nearby events and exhibitions, guests can visit the following this spring and summer:
Art in the Open
Friday, May 20 and Saturday, May 21, 2022
As a part of the Schuylkill Banks for Art in the Open, the public is invited to a unique, artistic perspective of the Schuylkill River and its banks on May 20th and May 22nd. Art in the Open (AiO), a biennial event hosted in partnership with Fairmount Water Works, offers the public a new chance to see how creative practice can turn the Schuylkill Riverbanks into an outdoor studio tour. Volunteer opportunities are available. For more information, visit www.cfeva.org/aio.
POOL: A Social History of Segregation Exhibition
Wednesdays to Saturdays through September
“POOL: A Social History of Segregation” at The Fairmount Water Works offers an immersive experience with curated collections of art installations and experiences focusing on the nation’s handling of race as it relates to public pools. This free experience is offered Wednesdays to Fridays from 11:00am – 5:00pm, and Saturdays from 10:00am – 5:00pm through September. More information and content from the exhibition can be found at poolphl.com.
For hours, Parks on Tap at Fairmount Park’s Water Works will be open Wednesday to Friday from 5:00pm to 10:00pm, and Saturday and Sunday from Noon to 11:00pm. Additional hours for Parks on Tap at Water Works location include Monday, June 20th from 5:00pm to 10:00pm in honor of the official City holiday of Juneteenth, and Tuesday, June 21st from 5:00pm to 10:00pm to offer guests of the national city parks conference, Greater & Greener. The Greater & Greener conference is presented by the City Parks Alliance in partnership with Philadelphia Parks and Recreation and the Fairmount Park Conservancy. For additional information regarding the City Parks Alliance, visit www.greatergreener.org.
For fall, Parks on Tap will again become the traveling beer garden and offer its traditional module for five weeks from Wednesday, September 7, 2022 to Sunday, October 2, 2022. The official schedule and locations will be announced in August. When opened, season hours for traveling editions will be Wednesday to Friday from 5:00pm to 10:00pm, and Saturday and Sunday Noon to 11:00pm.
