Oval Live: Four Days of New Programming on the Parkway Over Labor Day Weekend

Oval Live: What to Expect

Over Labor Day weekend, The Oval goes big for Oval Live, four days of free end-of-summer fun:

Friday, September 1, 2023

Catch a free flick on a big screen in the great outdoors. The Philadelphia-set DC Comics film Shazam! Fury of the Gods screens against the stunning backdrop of the Philadelphia Museum of Art at 8 p.m.

Saturday, September 2, 2023

Enjoy a full day of live music programming from local Philly artists. In between lively sets featuring R&B, hip-hop and soulful sounds, grab a bite to from local food trucks, grab a drink in the beer garden, or take part in family-friendly games and activities.

Sunday, September 3, 2023

Bring the kiddos for a day of family-friendly fun, including face painters, jugglers, caricature artists, make-your-own-kite crafting stations, music from DJ Flip and more.

Monday, September 4, 2023

Round out the holiday weekend at The Oval with a day of outdoor wellness activities, including a free yoga class and a community run.

More Philly Things to Do for Labor Day Weekend

While it’s nonstop action at The Oval during Oval Live, there’s plenty to do all throughout Greater Philadelphia over Labor Day weekend.

Hit one (or both!) of Philly’s two beautiful waterfronts, catch legendary rockers Aerosmith at the Wells Fargo Center or eat at one of dozens of James Beard Award-honored restaurants.

Paddle Penn's Landing on the Delaware River waterfront   — Photo courtesy Independence Seaport Museum

Interest sufficiently piqued? Check out our full guide to Labor Day weekend in Philadelphia by clicking the button below.

Stay Over in the City of Brotherly Love

Make the most of the long Labor Day weekend in Philadelphia with a hotel stay. Whether you’re in town for vacation or staycation, you deserve a deal. We’ve got a couple:

Score Savings (and Perks!) with the Visit Philly Overnight Package

Deal alert: Book the Visit Philly Overnight Package and get free hotel parking plus very-cool choose-your-own-adventure perks, which include:

• two tickets to The Franklin Institute
• two tickets to the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Rodin Museum, or
• two tickets to the National Constitution Center and the Museum of the American Revolution.

Make It a Three-for with the Visit Philly 3-Day Stay Package  

Three-day weekend, three-day stay: It just makes sense. Enjoy a third helping of Philly goodness with the satisfyingly simple Visit Philly 3-Day Stay hotel package. The deal is straightforward: Buy two nights and get a third free (yes, free) at 12 participating hotels.

More About The Oval

For 2023, the reimagined public space and pop-up park — home to a huge outdoor beer garden, a selection of good eats, family-friendly activities, music and dance, and copious summertime vibes — serves as a lively gathering place for locals and visitors alike.

  — Photo by Visit Philadelphia

Located across the street from the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the 33,000-square-foot park and green space also celebrates the work of Philadelphia-based artists, performers, musicians, entrepreneurs and community leaders.

A popular summer feature at The Oval is a new mural each year from the public art specialists at Mural Arts Philadelphia. But don’t look for it on any wall.

The entire footprint of The Oval is once again covered by a dynamic ground mural (don’t worry, you can walk on it!), with 2023’s edition a fun riff on the legend of Benjamin Franklin’s kite experiment — from his perspective — and Franklin’s lasting impact on the city from artist Nathaniel Lee.

Getting There & More Info

The Oval is located on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, a short walk from Center City attractions, and serviced by several SEPTA public transit routes.

In addition, a number of Indego bike share stations offer docking options near The Oval.

  — Photo by J. Moore-Griffin

For more information, check out The Oval’s official Instagram page or click the button below.