PHILADELPHIA, September 9, 2020 – Fall is on the horizon, and with it comes the return of many Philadelphia favorites, including indoor dining (September 8); iconic tourist attractions Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell (September 9); cultural heavyweights the Philadelphia Museum of Art (September 6) and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (September 12); and seasonal events Center City District Restaurant Week and the Philadelphia Fringe Festival. With so many in-person experiences suspended since the COVID-19 pandemic began in mid-March, these reopenings join hotel and attraction openings that began midsummer to bring much-missed experiences back to Philadelphia.
Plus, these major returns come just before the fall season begins. That’s when, according to Destination Analysts, almost a third (32%) of travelers expect to take their next road trip, with an average planned length of approximately 300 miles. These travel plans are likely to include close family and friends and enjoying nature or visiting new places.
“To have the Independence Hall, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art reopen in the same week is significant for our region’s tourism recovery,” said Jeff Guaracino, president & CEO, VISIT PHILADELPHIA®. “Add to that the return of indoor dining, Restaurant Week, the Fringe Festival and the many other attractions that have reopened throughout the summer, and we’re gearing up for a fall that gives locals and visitors plenty to see and do safely. We’re eager to start welcoming more people back as we ease into autumn, which is really one of the best and most beautiful times to visit.”
Here’s a look at what’s opening this week and what’s coming soon:
About To Return:
- Independence National Historical Park (INHP), September 9: Seven INHP locations reopen in a limited fashion. The Liberty Bell will welcome 20 visitors at a time; Independence Hall nine at a time, with no timed tickets required at either site. Check for access times to Old City Hall, the Second Bank Portrait Gallery, Free Quaker Meeting House and the Merchant’s Exchange Building. Visitors who need help planning their visits beyond the Bell and the Hall can swing over to the newly reopened Independence Visitor Center, operating daily from
9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. - Philadelphia Fringe Festival, September 10-October 4: Over the course of nearly four weeks, the annual Fringe Festival will feature 120 works across a variety of genres and platforms. While most performances will take place virtually, several will be held outdoors with social-distancing measures in place. Among them: TrailOff, an immersive augmented reality audio performance featuring 10 original narratives that people can listen to while walking along various paths of the Philadelphia region’s expansive Circuit Trails network, September 10-October 4; and The Way Out, an immersive drive-through event taking place across 78 acres of Laurel Hill Cemetery, October 1-3.
- Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA), September 12: When PAFA reopens to the public, it will do so with a four-day-per-week schedule (Thursday through Sunday) and with typical health protocols in place: limited capacity, temperature checks, mandatory masks, sanitizing stations, etc. The museum will then close from October 5 through November 18 to install fall exhibits: Taking Space: Contemporary Women Artists and the Politics of Scale and Only Tony: Portraits by Gilbert Lewis, opening on November 19.
- Center City District Restaurant Week, September 13-25: The always popular dining event returns with dozens of restaurants offering $20 prix-fixe lunches and $35 prix-fixe dinners. The twist this year? Diners can enjoy the meals at home or at the restaurants, many of which will be offering indoor dining again for the first time in six months. Participants include: Amada, Barbuzzo, Fork, Red Owl Tavern, SOUTH Kitchen & Jazz Club and Tequilas Restaurant, among many others. Discounted parking is available for those who choose to dine at the restaurant.
Recently Back:
- Indoor Dining, September 8: Indoor dining just returned to Philadelphia, enabling restaurants to reopen at 25% and with table sizes of four people max. Those serving indoors again include: The Love, Talula’s Garden, Jerry’s Bar and the brand-new Steak 48. In addition, spots that opened during the pandemic are showing off their interiors for the first time, namely, Añejo Philadelphia and SET NoLibs. And hotel restaurants are back into indoor dining too: Keating’s Rope & Anchor at the Hilton Philadelphia at Penn’s Landing, Chez Colette at Sofitel Philadelphia at Rittenhouse Square, Louie Louie at The Inn at Penn and Lacroix at The Rittenhouse, among others.
- Philadelphia Museum of Art, September 6: The building at the top of one of the most famous staircases in the world reopened with reduced hours (Wednesday through Sunday) after a six-month closure. Those exploring the museum’s 200 masterpiece-filled galleries are required to wear masks and have their temperatures checked. Purchasing timed admission tickets in advance is highly recommended. The museum’s sister sites — Rodin Museum, Perelman Building and historic houses — will open at a later date.
Coming Soon:
- Wharton Esherick Museum, September 17
- Institute of Contemporary Art, September 26
Spend A Night Or Two:
More to see and do means there will be even more reasons for locals and visitors to spend a night or two at a hotel. Well known for its overnight hotel parking, the Visit Philly Overnight Hotel Package is available at dozens of hotels for one- or two-night stays. Visitors can book this package and many others at visitphilly.com/hotels.
VISIT PHILADELPHIA® is our name and our mission. As the region’s official tourism marketing agency, we build Greater Philadelphia’s image, drive visitation and boost the economy.
On Greater Philadelphia’s official visitor website and blog, visitphilly.com and uwishunu.com, visitors can explore things to do, upcoming events, themed itineraries and hotel packages. Compelling photography and videos, interactive maps and detailed visitor information make the sites effective trip-planning tools. Along with Visit Philly social media channels, the online platforms communicate directly with consumers. Travelers can also call and stop into the Independence Visitor Center for additional information and tickets. 6th & Market Streets, (800) 537-7676