Summer is (almost) upon us, and what better way to enjoy the warm temps than by hitting up some of our region’s outdoor offerings? From the artsy to the boozy to the creative, the events coming down the local pike will have you soaking up the rays while soaking in a bit of culture, community-building and, of course, fun.
Philadelphia
Philadelphia’s waterfront is quickly transforming into one of the city’s best summer spots. The wildly popular Spruce Street Harbor Park reopened last weekend for its second season.
The food selection at the outdoor refuge is expanding this year; Garces Group is bringing back a rendition of its shuttered Chifa, which will join newcomers Federal Donuts, Franklin Fountain, Shane Confectionery as well as several other Garces outposts.
Diners and drinkers enjoying The Oasis — a restaurant and bar surrounded by quirky, colorful gardens and a net lounge — can enjoy expanded seating areas, and more hammocks were also added throughout the park, which was enhanced with a new flower garden.
The sights and sounds of the park are supplemented this year with the new Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest. The wintertime ice rink has been repurposed into a roller rink, and the area features a boathouse-style lodge with an array of food and drink options, as well as an arcade and kids’ play area.
Both locales are free and open to the public through the fall.
The waterfront will also be the focal point of the Tall Ships Challenge, June 25-28. More than a dozen ships will dock at Penn’s Landing and Camden’s waterfront for the festival, which will include historical reenactments, live entertainment, children’s activities and more.
Further inland is Night Market Philadelphia. Hosted by The Food Trust, the traveling food-truck extravaganza takes dining and drinking al fresco to a whole new level. Night Market packs the streets of its selected neighborhood (Callowhill June 18 and Lancaster Avenue Aug. 6) with some of the area’s best dining establishments (many on wheels), complete with live music and artisans.
It outdoor drinking is your cup of tea, you’re in luck. The Beer Garden Series is Visit Philly’s new traveling Friday-evening happy hour, held each week at a different beer garden through Labor Day Weekend. Each event will feature specials on food and local craft beers. The fun kicks off at 4 p.m. June 6 at Morgan’s Pier.
More beer-garden festivities can be found at The Oval, the “Park on the Parkway” that opened in 2013 as a playplace for kids of all ages. The space offers everything from arts and culture programming to family-friendly events to health and wellness activities (and, of course, the beer garden!). From May 30-June 6, The Oval will showcase “Future Sensations,” a world-premiere exhibition that fuses science, storytelling and art to showcase global innovations.
And what summer outing can be complete without festivals?
Pride is right around the corner. The event kicks off with a Gayborhood block party June 12, and the parade steps off at 11:30 a.m. June 14, heading for the Penn’s Landing festival.
The next month marks the 50th anniversary of the Annual Reminders, one of the nation’s earliest LGBT-rights demonstrations. From July 2-5, a number of special activities, including discussions, parties, concerts and a Sunday street festival in the Gayborhood, will commemorate the occasion; visit lgbt50.org for the full lineup.
Asbury Park, N.J.
While the very-LGBT-friendly beach town is always a great space to take in a show, catch fireworks on the beach or sip cocktails at one of the many outdoor bars, there are also several special events happening to lure you north this summer.
The Asbury Park Night Bazaar will be held from 6-11 p.m. every Saturday in June at the Grand Arcade of Convention Hall. Each night features music by different performers, as well as dozens of artisan vendors, food and drink specials and beach games. A party in the sand? We’re there.
Tattoo enthusiasts will be crawling the beach and boardwalk July 24-26 for the annual Visionary Tattoo Arts Festival. More than 150 artists will be on hand, and the festival also features parties, contests and other interactive activities.
Later this summer, don’t miss the inaugural Asbury Park LOVES Jazz Weekend. Held Aug. 7-9, the festival will feature live jazz events and concerts throughout Asbury.
Rehoboth Beach, Del.
Another rainbow beach town, Rehoboth, is also offering plenty of summertime fun.
Take a break from your beachside tanning to check out the myriad eateries in town at the annual Rehoboth Restaurant Week, June 7-12, when more than 20 restaurants will offer three-course, prix-fixe meals — between $25-$45 per person. Several restaurants offer outdoor dining, making the deal even sweeter.
Another tastebud teaser is the third-annual VegFest, June 12-14. Special events are held throughout the weekend, the highlight of which is the free festival, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. June 13 at Epworth United Methodist Church, featuring food samples, cooking demonstrations, exhibitors, speakers, kids’ activities and more. There will also be non-veg options for the carnivores.
And, for some family-friendly fun, Dewey Beach offers free movie nights on Mondays and bonfires on Wednesdays at Dagsworthy Street. Movies start at 8:30 p.m. and bonfires at 7:30 p.m. Don’t forget your popcorn and marshmallows!