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    The Oval

    3.7 (33 reviews)

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    Jennifer N.

    Great outdoor park to hangout. Enjoyed a couple of drinks and rode the Ferris wheel. The sunset on the Ferris wheel was really enjoyable. There were also finger foods available. There was also live music that played in the evening time. The night I was there, there were playing jazz music.

    Silent Philly Event @ The Oval (Beer Garden)
    Shardai G.

    The Oval is one of the many reasons why I love Philly and its city park initiatives. This park, smack dab in the middle of fairmount park area, across from the art museum, always has festivities and activities for all ages. This time, I came for a free Silent Philly event with my sister. It was fun and I noticed that they've added picnic tables which is a nice addition for people. It has been maintained well with plenty of space to hang with friends. It would be nice if they held more events throughout the year such as fall events and during the Christmas season. I can see it being really festive and fun for families. Parking can be a hassle, as is the case for many locations in this area.

    Ferris wheel at night!
    Dawn W.

    Really loved this year's set up with the beer garden moved to the other side and more activities to go on/try out. My only wish is that they had multiple food trucks and better food options!

    The Oval -- food truck "chicken taco" = 1 chicken finger wrapped in ElPaso tortilla with squirt of mayo for TEN DOLLARS! Total slop rip-off!
    L L.

    Friday night, between 6:30-7:45pm, hit up The Oval. My idea was to hop the train downtown, walk Schuylkill River Trail, ride the Ferris wheel at sunset, then head home. Two thrills for my little one; train and ferris wheel. For the most part that mission was accomplished. All I wanted out of The Oval was a ride, not a night of entertainment, and The Oval was not bothering to offer more at the time of my visit anyway. Where things went south was the food. I'd briefly looked up food ahead and planned for a dinner-ish snack to keep energy up. The food looked nothing like online photos, nor even another Yelper, who had some pink cabbage slaw or kimchi filling in the chicken tacos. I got one chicken finger and an El Paso tortilla with a squirt of mayo. TEN DOLLARS for food that is a joke! Also, the cheapest most disgusting food concoction I've ever seen, batter dipped fries, were--without warning--the "fries" they sold me for EIGHT DOLLARS. Right in the trash. Yes, this is the food truck not the park, but this is part of Oval XP, the event taking over the park all summer, a carefully curated experience that IS the park in summertime. I'd have given the park itself a 4 or 5 just for existing as greenspace, but being tricked and robbed for food even McDonalds can beat (at 1/4 the cost) definitely downgraded my experience. I'd rather have been mugged; no calories, and a better story. The ferris wheel was fun, views were very cool. My child loved it. For this $12pp novelty, I am grateful. Got to see the band warm up and play one song. I felt bad for them that pretty much no one was there. We left at 7:45 and show started at 8, so hopefully more people showed up in that 15min window. Kid activities were boasted on social media and any other promos I saw, but apart from some colorful flower (sculptures?) jawns, I saw zero sign of kid-friendliness, no one playing anywhere, just several other lethargic kids-with-parents wandering around wondering where the promised fun went? The Local was the beer garden area, all roped off and people being carded to enter. The food is here too. From afar it's like how are you supposed to get food if you have a kid with you? You have to go negotiate all this upon entry. I get the need to abide alcohol laws, but this was just a stupid hassle. As far as my evening, the whole thing was pretty ill conceived, especially for high profile city public space. I've seen better set-ups at mom-n-pop farm markets and little suburban parks. But we will remember the ferris wheel ride, so thanks for that!

    Allie A.

    PRO TIP: The PHLASH bus drops you off here - very convenient. Fun to wander around and take touristy photos. We spent a long time admiring the statuary here and people watching. Wish there was a bit more signage on the history of the art, but we made up stories in our head and that was fun.

    Emily Y.

    Cute outdoor park in front of the Philadelphia art museum. Got drinks (after making it through a long line), chilled out, and people-watched. There were some food trucks nearby selling pizza, tater tots, sandwiches and ice cream. Overall, a nice way to spend a summer afternoon.

    In the football area with our yummy autumn cupcakes.
    Rachel K.

    I came here with a few friends for Outdoorsy Weekend. The online event page had made it sound absolutely thrilling--complete with plenty of food, beer, and Sunday Afternoon Football. We were pumped. Upon arriving, it was pretty anti-climactic. There were maybe two or three food trucks, including one that only sold cupcakes; there was only one beer vendor, which was a bit overpriced; and the game was being shown on two tiny TVs, instead of a large screen like we had anticipated. Overall, the park is located in a very nice area near the Philadelphia Art Museum and it's certainly very scenic and peaceful. Unfortunately, the reputation of the events that take place here are kind of lame, and this was no exception. Side note: we did break out into an amazingly spontaneous dance battle at one point with a few strangers. Totally awesome.

    Eakins Oval
    Maggi R.

    If you are driving to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, you cannot miss going in the Eakins Oval. It is the traffic circle right in front of the museum. There are several fountains and monuments within the oval. This traffic circle is really busy so do be careful. The oval is named for Thomas Eakins, a world-famous realist painter and fine arts educator.

    Beer garden
    Nina S.

    Such a great idea! An outdoor beer garden built with milk crates but has lounge chairs, hammocks, tables, etc. beautifully decorated with lanterns on trees! Party time, great gathering with friends! They also have a section for kids or kids at heart with giant connect fours, chess, checkers.. Value 5/5 Atmosphere 5/5 Service 4/5 Quality 4/5 18/20

    Patricia H.

    A rainbow walkway leads you into the best summer pop-up Oval design yet! Hip vibe with light swags in the trees hanging over long picnic tables, smart new giant blocks that help to carve up the space. Way better than past years.. yummy food trucks, beer garden, giant chess and ice cream. Busy but not over crowded on a Friday night. Had a yummy blood orange white wine spritzer to start the evening off right! Really can't beat the stunning Art Museum back drop! Apparently there are movies on Fridays, and I'll definitely be back for Saturday Quizzo and live music!

    Somewhere in the midst of this foliage party is a beer garden.
    El B.

    It's a giant concrete playground for kids. Bring knee pads, a helmet, and a towel. On the other side is a beer garden where you can sit on manhole covers and play corn hole.

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    11 years ago

    Nice place in the best area of the town. Beer garden, concerts, play area, kids and baby friendly! Great!!

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    Ask the Community - The Oval

    Review Highlights - The Oval

    The Oval actually offers some pretty cool free programming, in addition to the food trucks and beer garden.

    Mentioned in 12 reviews

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    Schuylkill River Park - Fall views 2024

    Schuylkill River Park

    4.7(40 reviews)
    1.0 miFitler Square, Rittenhouse Square

    Whenever I'm in Philly, my running route is from Queen Village to the Schuylkill River Park. I…read morealways break stride of my elite 9 minute mile pace, pause the Watch the Throne album blasting in my ears, and walk through this park. It is a great moment to just take in the peaceful energy. I love this place and parks like it in general. Everyone is just out enjoying life: Kids playing basketball, friends having picnics, people playing tennis, others reading a book or taking a calm walk with their airpods in, dogs running around the dog park while their owners watch from the sidelines, etc. The kids playing basketball always gets me a little emotional because that used to be me and my friends before the responsibilities of adulthood caused my cortisol levels to go through the roof. All we cared about was playing basketball and having fun. It's like a little time portal to the past. The FMC tower watches over the park, reflecting the sky. I always get fascinated with buildings like this and it makes me appreciate human beings. Like we just built that thing no problem. Wild. I can't close out this review without shouting out running. I could be spiraling into the abyss of negative thoughts and force myself to go for a run, and it completely alters my brain chemistry. I feel like I can do anything after a run. It has done more for me than any drug ever could. IG @jnov_ Tiktok @jnov_reviews

    I love walking along the Schuylkill River trail. It's nice to take a leisurely stroll up and down…read morethe path, especially on a nice day. It's a great opportunity to people watch as well. There are many stops along the path to sit at a bench, but I generally enjoy a continuous walk.

    Photos
    Schuylkill River Park - 04.25.2025

    04.25.2025

    Schuylkill River Park - Fall 2024 view. Autumnal colors

    Fall 2024 view. Autumnal colors

    Schuylkill River Park - Running / walking path

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    Running / walking path

    Fairmount Park - Beginning of the bloom.

    Fairmount Park

    4.4(64 reviews)
    2.6 mi

    Fairmount Park is one of the biggest parks in the United States. It still has original houses from…read morethe 1700s. It has walking trails, ballfields and playgrounds. You can also drive through the park. Smith playground is a mansion with indoor activities and a big outdoor playground for kids. The best part about Smith playground is the giant wooden slide. The kids and adults can both go on the discovery center is in a former reservoir. It has walking trails and indoor activities to learn about the park. The horticultural center in Japanese teahouse are also located in the park. It's a great place to picnic!

    Fairmount Park offers a wide range of activities, from exploring historical sites and gardens to…read moreenjoying outdoor recreation and attending events. You can stroll along the Trolley Trail, visit Boathouse Row, and marvel at Shofuso Japanese House and Garden. For outdoor enthusiasts, there are trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding, as well as opportunities for picnicking and boating on Concourse Lake. Fairmount Park is also home to the Please Touch Museum and the Philadelphia Zoo, making it a great destination for families. I am normally here for The roots picnic, but realized this park has so much to offer. If you are up for outdoor activities, make sure to come by and explore. One tidbit, make sure you make sure you are going to this park because there is another Fairmount park that is also in Philly. Enjoy!

    Photos
    Fairmount Park - Fairmount Park

    Fairmount Park

    Fairmount Park - View of Schuykill River

    View of Schuykill River

    Fairmount Park

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    Wissahickon Valley Trail

    Wissahickon Valley Trail

    4.7(153 reviews)
    8.8 mi

    X-posting a review from the Wissahickon Park page. This park is so good it deserves two 5-star…read moreratings. Hard to rate an entire park this massive, but all things considered, after 5 years of traversing the trails here, this is an awesome park. Note that I live in U-City, so the fact that such a massive trail system exists in only a ~20 minute drive, depending on which part of the park I start in, is a blessing and keeps my sanity. Friends of Wissahickon does a great job maintaining trails and even expanding the system over the past few years. I don't think I've ever observed an unseemly part of the park. Definitely unseemly times of year like the snow thaw or the time between the trees dying and the snow falling, but otherwise, this park is beautiful all times of year. I've never had a hard time parking, never even had trouble with crowds even around the most popular trails (ex. Forbidden Drive). Even the bikers are friendly and patient here! Would strongly recommend not only visiting but coming back to keep exploring! I'm still finding new gems in this massive trail system.

    Today I decided to switch things up and take a trip to Valley Green in Wissahickon Park, Philly…read more I've always heard about Devil's Pool but had never been, so when I saw the trailhead, I figured--why not check it out? What I've known about Devil's Pool is that it's been a popular hangout spot, especially for teens and young adults--swimming, drinking, smoking, etc. But I wasn't prepared for how disappointing the trail would be. At nearly every turn, there was trash--plastic bottles, wrappers, and even entire black garbage bags just left behind. The closer I got to Devil's Pool, the worse it got. There are clear signs asking visitors to take their trash with them, yet so many clearly don't. It's really disheartening to see such a beautiful natural space disrespected like that. Instead of feeling peaceful or connected to nature, it honestly felt a bit unsanitary and neglected. Wissahickon Park deserves better. If you visit, please respect the space and take out everything you bring in.

    Photos
    Wissahickon Valley Trail - Me and my granddaughter and daughters!

    Me and my granddaughter and daughters!

    Wissahickon Valley Trail
    Wissahickon Valley Trail - Morning glory at Bells Mills Road

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    Morning glory at Bells Mills Road

    Bartram's Garden - Bartram's Garden

    Bartram's Garden

    4.5(64 reviews)
    2.8 mi

    Came here for a 52 Firsts event during Spring Fest and it ended up being such a fun day. There was…read morea lot going on without feeling overwhelming. Live energy, little activity tables, and a small plant sale that was honestly very tempting. One of the coolest things I learned is that they have what's believed to be the oldest ginkgo tree in both North and South America. That alone made the visit feel a little special. I spent some time walking the trails and made my way around the water too. It's really pretty back there. Lots of flowers in bloom, open space, and quieter areas if you want a break from the crowd. I definitely liked the more shaded, tree-heavy sections the most. Some of the booths were set up fully in the sun and it got a bit intense after a while, so having those cooler, shaded areas made a big difference. Staff were very helpful and the trails are clearly marked, which made it easy to just wander without worrying about getting lost. Only downside is the location can be a little tricky to get to, especially if you're not driving. But once you're there, it's absolutely worth it. Overall just a really enjoyable, laid-back outdoor spot with a lot to explore. I'd come back, especially for another event.

    Had a few hours before my flight and was looking for something to do. I came across this garden…read moreand it was beautiful. Well maintained and relaxing. Plenty of trails and benches. The flowers were gorgeous. You get a nice view of the city from the boat dock and parking area. I spent a few hours here. Great if you're solo or with people.

    Photos
    Bartram's Garden - Bartram's Garden

    Bartram's Garden

    Bartram's Garden
    Bartram's Garden - Bartram's Garden -- 2025

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    Bartram's Garden -- 2025

    The Oval - parks - Updated May 2026

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