Philadelphia’s beloved traveling beer garden, Parks on Tap, is back for its eighth season beginning on April 9, 2025, with an opening celebration at the Azalea Garden in Fairmount Park. Organized through a partnership between FCM Hospitality and Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, Parks on Tap has already welcomed over 200,000 guests and raised more than one million dollars for local parks. This year’s program expands to 27 stops—seven more than in 2024—and invites visitors of all ages to explore new green spaces, savor diverse food and drink offerings, and support park improvements across the city.
Since its inception, Parks on Tap has provided a model for community-oriented social spaces. Every purchase supports park revitalization, encouraging everyone to discover and appreciate Philadelphia’s abundant green landscapes. FCM Hospitality and Parks & Recreation staff clean up thoroughly, ensuring each park remains pristine after the event.
Parks on Tap: Expanding Community Engagement
For seven months, Parks on Tap will rotate through 27 iconic and lesser-known locations, including Columbus Square Park, FDR Park, Lemon Hill, Clark Park, and Belmont Plateau. Each stop highlights the neighborhood’s unique character, encourages residents to see their local park in a fresh light, and generates vital funds for ongoing maintenance and community-driven projects like trail work, reforestation, and free local events. FCM Hospitality fully underwrites the expenses for Parks on Tap, ensuring proceeds directly benefit park friend groups without any city investment.
The official 2025 schedule begins April 9–13 (and April 16–20) at the Azalea Garden, followed by Columbus Square Park from April 23–27, Markward/Schuylkill River Park from April 30–May 4, and FDR Park from May 7–May 11—just in time for Mother’s Day. Other highlights include Clark Park over Memorial Day weekend, Belmont Plateau over Father’s Day weekend, and Penn Treaty Park spanning Labor Day. Finally, Strawberry Mansion Bridge will round out the season from October 8–12. Visitors can bring blankets, chairs, children, or leashed dogs, and each site offers about 200 seats in a laid-back atmosphere. Entry is free, requiring only an on-site Parks on Tap membership registration, valid for the entire season.
Parks on Tap: Food, Drinks, and a Vibrant Atmosphere
Each Parks on Tap location operates Wednesday to Friday, 4 pm to 10 pm, and Saturday to Sunday, 12 pm–10 pm. The setup includes wooden picnic tables, silk canopies, hammocks, and twinkling market lights. Food-wise, guests can feast on creations like grilled chicken BLTs, mushroom cheesesteaks, hot dogs topped with tomatillo relish, and kid-friendly bites like cheeseburgers with chips. Snacks range from onion dip with veggie sticks to an adult lunchable with soppressata, ham, and Irish cheddar, while salads, such as the Southwest Caesar, offer fresh and crunchy alternatives.
Complementing the food menu, Parks on Tap serves local craft beer on draft and in cans (from Mainstay, Conshohocken, 2SP, and more), cocktails like Hibiscus Lemonade and the Spicy Mango Margarita, plus spiked seltzers and wine. Non-alcoholic options include lemonade, soda, coffee, tea, and alcohol-free beers. Reflecting their mobile beer garden ethos, each site comes equipped with a deluxe restroom trailer, is wheelchair accessible on grass, and welcomes bicycles, although bike parking may be limited.
Entry requires guests to be 21 or older with a valid photo ID for alcohol service, though families with children and dogs are welcome to explore and relax in designated areas.
By spotlighting well-known gems and smaller neighborhood parks alike, Parks on Tap unites Philadelphia’s communities around an enjoyable cause—one that guarantees lasting improvements and greener neighborhoods citywide.
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