Philly’s Open Streets program launches for the season beginning Easter Sunday
The weekly events have returned for their third consecutive year, closing off city streets for on-foot fun.
Philadelphia’s Open Streets program begins anew Sunday, launching the season with an Easter celebration that includes a visit from the Easter Bunny, chalk art, crafts, live music, and more.
The program — which closes 18th Street from Locust to Chestnut Streets and Walnut Street from Broad to 19th Streets to vehicles, allowing pedestrians free rein to shop, dine, and play — runs every Sunday through May 17. It first launched two years ago, and has become a permanent series.
When he announced the program’s return last month, Andrew Jacobs, the Center City business improvement district’s vice president of planning and public realm, called Open Streets a high-demand model that “delivers social and economic benefits” to Philadelphia: Over the last two years, according to city data, more than 170,000 people visited 20 free Open Streets events.
Here is everything you need to know to visit an Open Streets day this season.
When and where are Open Streets?
Open Streets events in the West Walnut corridor are held on seven consecutive Sundays, beginning April 5 and ending May 17. The events span 18th Street from Locust to Chestnut Streets and Walnut Street from Broad to 19th Streets. Each day starts at 10 a.m., and draws to a close at 5 p.m.
In June, the program transitions to Midtown Village, closing swaths of Drury, Sansom, and 13th Streets to vehicles on Tuesday nights from June 2 through June 30. The events begin at 4 p.m. and end at 9 p.m.
Open Streets shuts down in July and August, but will return in September.
What can you expect to see at Open Streets?
Open Streets events aren’t street festivals: You won’t find food trucks and trinket vendors lining city blocks. Instead, the city bills the events as an “extension of public space for pedestrians.”
But that doesn’t mean an Open Streets event is like any other day, sans traffic. Each Sunday offers a little something different, from free Double Dutch dance lessons to mini golf and bicycle races.
The nitty-gritty details
Open Streets offers a lot of things — but public restrooms aren’t one of them, the city warns.
And if you’re thinking of driving to an Open Streets event, you might want to think again: Free parking isn’t provided, and paid garages can fill up fast.
If you bike, the city also requests you walk — not ride — your wheels through the events.
The full schedule
Here’s what you can expect to see over the next seven weeks of Open Streets:
April 5 (Easter)
Bubble Magic: 10 a.m.-noon
Easter Bunny Visit: 10 a.m.-noon
Bunny HOPscotch chalk art: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Easter Treat Trail: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Easter Crafts: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Live Musicians: 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Easter Egg Roll Race: 12:15 p.m.
Philly Girls Jump Double Dutch Lessons: 2-3 p.m.
April 12
Bubble Magic: 10 a.m.-noon
Live Musicians: 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Philly Girls Jump Double Dutch Lessons: 2-3 p.m.
April 19
Bubble Magic: 10 a.m.-noon
Live Musicians: 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Lady Hoofers Tap Ensemble: 2-3 p.m.
Philly Girls Jump Double Dutch Lessons: 3-4 p.m.
Curtis Institute PopUp: 3-4 p.m.
April 26
Bubble Magic: 10 a.m.-noon
Live Musicians: 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Philly Girls Jump Double Dutch Lessons: 2-3 p.m.
May 3
Bubble Magic: 10 a.m.-noon
Live Musicians: 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Philly Girls Jump Double Dutch Lessons: 2-3 p.m.
May 10 (Mother’s Day)
Bubble Magic: 10 a.m.-noon
Mother’s Day Flower Giveaway: 10 a.m. while supplies last
Live Musicians: 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Mother’s Day Mini Golf: 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Philly Girls Jump Double Dutch Lessons: 2-3 p.m.
May 17
Bubble Magic: 10 a.m.-noon
Children’s Bicycle Race Track: 10 a.m.- 5 p.m.
Live Musicians: 10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Philly Girls Jump Double Dutch Lessons: 2-3 p.m.
Fralinger String Band: 3-4 p.m.