Philadelphia and the Countryside - Press Room

When it comes to celebrating America’s birthday, nobody rocks it like Philadelphia, America’s birthplace, and 2013—the country’s 237^th birthday—will be no exception thanks to festive happenings before, during and after the Fourth of July. From July 1-7, Wawa Welcome America! hosts a week-long celebration filled with festive events, including the largest free concert in America starring Philly hometown heroes and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon house band The Roots. Add to that two major fireworks shows, more concerts, movie screenings and food-focused events—all of which are free—for a Fourth of July weekend that’s sure to go down in history.

The Calendar of Events is organized as follows:

June 2013
July 2013
August 2013
September 2013
October 2013
November 2013
December 2013
January 2014
February 2014
March 2014
April 2014
May 2014

JUNE 2013

Through June 2, 2013
ANNUAL STUDENT EXHIBITION. The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, the country’s oldest and largest art museum and school, previews the works of third- and fourth-year art students during this 112^th annual exhibition. (215) 972-7600, pafa.org

Through June 2, 2013
DEVON HORSE SHOW AND COUNTRY FAIR. The country’s oldest and largest event of its kind features hunters, jumpers, Saddlebreds, four-in-hand coaching,

Inspired by Philly Beer Week, kicking off today, the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) polled the newly created Philly Friends opinion panel about the city’s beer scene. The findings are mouthwatering.

Question #1: What do you think makes Philly’s beer scene so impressive? (Select all that apply.)

• Beer-centric pubs & bars – 76%
• Quality breweries – 69%
• Beer gardens – 54%
• Philly Beer Week – 43%
• Bartenders who know their stuff – 37%
• Home-brewing scene – 19%
• Other – 7%

Question #2: What is your favorite place in Philadelphia to enjoy beer on a hot summer day?

Philadelphia is brimming with historical riches, and the sites and attractions that show off the city’s historic side are constantly evolving to create richer experiences for modern-day visitors. This year brings upgrades, expansions and exhibitions designed to shine a new light on Philadelphia’s well-established historical attractions.

Renovated & Renewed:

• The Pearl S. Buck Museum reopens after the completion of its eight-year interior restoration project on June 26, which would have been the Pulitzer Prize-winning writer’s 121^st birthday. Tours of the national historic landmark home feature increased access to collections, including clothes that she wore, tableware and linens that

MAY 2013

May 4-5
GORUCK CHALLENGE. For those adventure seekers who wish to recreate the experience of participating in urban military combat, this 15- to 20-mile overnight challenge sends teams across the city to navigate a course while wearing backpacks stuffed with bricks. The challenges are led by Green Berets, and a portion of every entry fee benefits the Green Beret Foundation. goruck.com

May 5
BLUE CROSS BROAD STREET RUN. The largest and one of the fastest 10-mile runs in the nation goes from North Philadelphia down the length of Broad Street to The Navy Yard to raise money for

From spring until fall, Philadelphia hosts a variety of festivals that music fans and culture vultures will consider must-dos, must-sees and must-hears. For music fans, there’s the second-annual Budweiser Made In America concert on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, headlined by Beyonce. Literature lovers will swoon over the Celebration of Black Writing, one of the oldest African-American literary events in the nation. And for movie buffs, the sophomore BlackStar Film Festival, a unique gathering of filmmakers and storytellers of the African diaspora, will be a two-thumbs-up experience. Here are six sizzling festivals worth attending in Philly this spring and beyond:

1. Marking

Visitors to Philadelphia can choose from an assortment of options to explore the region, including those of the air, automotive, audio, culinary, self-guided and water-based varieties. And the sightseeing fun doesn’t stop when the sun goes down. Those who come out at night can join tours that feature behind-the-scenes action and even spirits from beyond. Here’s a selection of tours available throughout the region:

History Lessons By Day & Night:

• The Constitutional Walking Tour of Philadelphia – Visitors get an up-close look at history during this 75-minute walking tour to more than 20 sites. It runs daily from April

Philadelphians love their festivals. Whether it’s local artisans and craftspeople sharing their wares in West Philadelphia, a traditional Yoruba-style street fair on South Street, a craft beer party on East Passyunk Avenue or a re-enactment of the storming of the Bastille in Fairmount, there’s always a reason to celebrate in the authentically Philly neighborhoods outside of Center City. The following are some mark-the-calendar happenings for 2013:

Fishtown & Northern Liberties:

• Lining the cobblestone street with artists of all stripes and genres, the Trenton Avenue Arts Festival includes the storied Kensington Kinetic Sculpture Derby, a quirky competition for the most

The warm-weather months sizzle with fun, exploration and intrigue in Philadelphia thanks to a slew of new exhibitions, museum openings and special events on tap for summer 2013. Visitors can discover the new and super green KidZooU at the Philadelphia Zoo, unravel the secret world of espionage while touring Spy: The Secret World of Espionage at The Franklin Institute and admire the work of contemporary artist Ellsworth Kelly at the year-old Barnes Foundation.

Here’s a look at what’s new and notable in Philly this summer:

New & Renewed Attractions:

• Ben is back. After an 18-month revitalization, the new Benjamin

This week, March Madness kicks off sports-filled seasons in Philadelphia, which is playing host to some big events in spring and summer. Fans traveling to the region to watch their favorite teams—or just get in on the fun—will round out their trips with food, museums, art, nightlife and history.

“We’re thrilled to see more of these sporting events coming to Philadelphia,” said Meryl Levitz, president and CEO of GPTMC, which markets to leisure travelers. “New visitors experiencing the city for the first time find reasons to come back again, and repeat visitors take in their favorite sites and add a

Philadelphians love their festivals. Whether it’s local artisans and craftspeople sharing their wares on Penn’s Landing, a celebration of the fall season in Midtown Village, a traditional Yoruba-style street fair on South Street or a craft beer party on East Passyunk Avenue, there’s always a reason to celebrate in neighborhoods in and around Center City. The following are some mark-the-calendar happenings for 2013:

CENTER CITY

Benjamin Franklin Parkway:

• For the third year running, the Philadelphia Science Festival will unleash 10 days of exploratory exhibitions, lectures, debates and hands-on activities on campuses, museums and other venues around the city, culminating

Art lovers, garden enthusiasts, film connoisseurs and sports fans keep coming back year after year for festivals, athletic events, art shows, parades and cultural events in Philadelphia. Here’s what’s going on in the region in 2013*.

January:

• Thousands of decorative strutters kick off the New Year by marching up Broad Street in the festive day-long Mummers Parade that ends with the Fancy Brigade Finale at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. January 1, 2013. phillymummers.com
• The region gets revved up in the 2013, thanks to the Philadelphia Auto Show. The Pennsylvania Convention Center transforms into a car lover’s dream, with 700

Beginning today, the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) embraces summer in a major way with its 31 Days With Summer Love promotion, encouraging residents and visitors to enjoy the many fun and only-in-Philly experiences available in the region. A component of GPTMC’s popular With Love, Philadelphia XOXO® campaign, the facebook.com/visitphilly sweepstakes features 60 prizes, including restaurant giftcards, attraction tickets, tour passes, hotel stays and a pair of grand-prize Fuji bikes—all valued at nearly $10,000.

From July 16 through August 15, fans of facebook.com/visitphilly will have a chance to win one of 31 inspired Philly prize packages—several of which include

For one month only, the popular Philly Overnight® Hotel Package is going mega. Visitors who book the Mega Philly Overnight Hotel Package for a stay in the month of August get accommodations for two nights and free hotel parking as usual, along with a voucher for two roundtrip megabus.com tickets for a return trip to Philadelphia. The package is available at more than 45 hotels in the city and region, and it’s bookable at visitphilly.com/phillyovernight.

The free megabus.com tickets to and from Philadelphia are valid through March 15, 2013 from the following 14 cities: Boston, MA; Buffalo, NY; Buffalo

Families vacationing in Philadelphia and The Countryside® this summer can easily add a round of miniature golf to their fun-packed itinerary. Courses at 30th Street Station, the King of Prussia Mall and Franklin Square mean people don’t have to venture far to enjoy the classic game. Visitors of all ages can improve their short game or just putt around in Philadelphia this summer at these venues:

• The Porch at 30^th Street Station hosts free miniature golf during the month of July. At the public space located just outside of the train station, the nine-hole course also offers golfers a

A Philly summertime favorite, water ice is just the tip of the frozen dessert scene in a city where artisan purveyors, trendy restaurateurs and brilliant pastry chefs are reimagining the possibilities for ice cream, popsicles, shakes and sundaes. From the just-opened Shake Shack (replete with locally themed shakes) to the artisan vegan ice cream sold from Little Baby’s tricycle to a dip-your-own popsicle in chocolate fondue, there are all sorts of ways to get and stay cool in Philly this summer.

For a full look at Philly’s best summer events, treats and must-dos, check out uwishunu.com’s Summer Guide, available

Anyone who has wished to be inside a Van Gogh painting can now get a bit closer to that dream, thanks to an inventive Foursquare program and contest from the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC). Through “Check In to a Masterpiece,” part of the With Art Philadelphia™ campaign, people can share their art experiences in a new way—by virtually checking in at 12 works of art in Philadelphia. Plus, this summer, they could win a grand prize including an overnight stay in Philadelphia and museum memberships and tickets.

To leverage the energy of the biggest art story in the