Summerfest Returns This Weekend at the Blue Cross RiverRink!
Summerfest Returns This Weekend at the Blue Cross RiverRink!
The Delaware River Waterfront, Philadelphia’s most sprawling and beloved al fresco summertime destination, announces the return of a full Summer on the Waterfront season featuring several popular amenities that have been absent since summer 2019. The summer will kick off with the opening of Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest which opens this Friday, May 7th along with an exciting program of appropriately-sized performances, events and exhibits at the year-round Cherry Street Pier, and will follow up a short time afterwards with the reopening of Spruce Street Harbor park with some exciting new food offerings.
The Delaware River Waterfront Corporation (DRWC) is excited to welcome visitors back with continued socially distanced beer gardens and safe take-away food options, sit-down reservations compliant with current outdoor dining regulations, and additional measures in place to ensure that visitors can take advantage of the Summer and enjoy all that the Waterfront has to offer, comfortably and safely, from Washington Pier all the way to Race Street Pier.
“It is so important for Philadelphians and visitors to be able to gather safely outside and enjoy precious moments together with friends, family, and loved ones. It continues to be our mission to make the Delaware River Waterfront the absolute best place to do just that,” said DRWC President, Joe Forkin.
At Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest, Philadelphia’s Waterfront summer destination is back in action with the return of boardwalk-style rides, games, concessions, and of course our signature 12,000 square foot roller skating rink with sweeping views of the water and the Ben Franklin Bridge. Chickie’s & Pete’s will continue to offer their classic and coveted Philly fare with easy breezy contactless QR ordering.
Cherry Street Pier returns for its third full Summer season with 12 resident artists, the popular French Toast Bites by Lokal Artisan Foods, Rita’s Italian Ice, and The Garden at Cherry Street Pier by FCM Hospitality. This outdoor oasis is a stunning open-air eatery with 20,000 square feet of space featuring 250 covered shaded seats, floor to ceiling trees, blooming flowers, lush greenery, wooden picnic benches, modern art, urban design – and of course, amazing day and night views of the stunning Benjamin Franklin Bridge. For more information about The Garden and making a reservation, visit www.cherrystreetgarden.com.
Cherry Street Pier will also be home to a number of exciting performances and events, kicking off on the season’s first First Friday, May 7th with the Pennsylvania Ballet’s Spread Your Wings, an enthralling free public exhibition in partnership with Mural Arts Philadelphia. Spread Your Wings is a dynamic display of photography, video, an indoor mural, and live performances to inspire creativity and personal engagement with dance and storytelling. An opening night live performance will take place on May 7th at 7pm. Also opening on First Friday is Cherry Street Pier resident artist’s Ed Marion’s exhibit, Fat Man, Smiling, which features 120 self-portraits made over a 40 year period.
On Saturday, May 8th the School of Rock will host a free ticketed event featuring an afternoon of live music, performed by students as they take over the adjacent Race Street Pier and show off their amazing talents in this Spring showcase. For more information on Cherry Street Pier happenings visit www.cherrystreetpier.com.
The current Cherry Street Pier current Cohort of Artists is comprised of:
Acori Honzo
SpArc Services
Ed Marion
PLAID – Sharif Pendelton
Blue Stoop
Jason Ramirez
Thomcat23
Orchestra 2001
James B. Abbott & India Abbott
Portside Arts Center
Samantha Billig
Athena Scott
