Searching for food- and drink-focused events in Philly this summer? We’ve got you covered. From an outdoor pop-up fitness class complete with cocktails to a barbecue feast on center field—and even a pair of events for July 4—you’ll have plenty to choose from in the city this July.
Free Outdoor Fitness Pop-Up – Sweat + Sip (Sundays through Aug. 28)
Love an outdoor pop-up fitness class and a refreshing cocktail? The collaborative Sweat + Sip event hosted by SWEAT Fitness and City Tap House University City is for you. These fun outdoor fitness classes will take place every Sunday through August 28 from 10–11 a.m. on the City Tap House patio. After the workout, stay for a complimentary brunch-style cocktail, such as a beermosa, mimosa, Bloody Mary or the unique Bloody Tasty, a concoction of Tito’s vodka, green tomatoes, lemon juice, salt, wasabi, baby kale, honey and green Tabasco! The classes include the following:
- July 10: Booty Blast
- July 17: SweatX
- July 24: Barre
- July 31: Cycling
- August 7: SweatX
- August 14: Cycling
- August 21: Barre
- August 28: Yoga
Classes are free to attend. Learn more by visiting the Sweat + Sip event page on Facebook. 3925 Walnut St., (215) 662-0105
Champagne and Oysters at Fork (Kicks Off July 2)
Champagne and oysters go perfectly together, and the team at Fork is pairing the two on summer weekends starting July 2. The Champagne and Oysters event will take the place of brunch through the end of September. Offerings will consist of more casual breakfast and lunch items served from noon–4 p.m., with live jazz music from 12:30–2:30 p.m. both days. The menu will include fresh shucked oysters, seafood salad, vegetable quiche, dry-aged beef burger and, of course, champagne. Make Fork your midday weekend destination during the summer and enjoy oysters, champagne and more. 306 Market St., (215) 625-9425
4th of July at Urban Farmer/Assembly Lounge (July4)
Urban Farmer Steakhouse and Assembly Rooftop Lounge’s Fourth of July party will include an all-day summer barbecue, prix-fixe dinner at Urban Farmer and fireworks-viewing with cocktails at Assembly. The outdoor barbecue will take place from 11 a.m.–7 p.m. at Urban Farmer with delicious BBQ fare, such as barbecue chicken, pulled pork, slow-smoked brisket and all of the fixings, and a beer garden. The prix-fixe dinner begins at 8 p.m., when guests will be able to choose an appetizer, entrée and dessert for $65 per person (beverages, tax and gratuity not included). From 8 p.m.–midnight, the fireworks celebration will unfold at Assembly Lounge, where guests will view the lovely fireworks display while sipping cocktails and enjoying light fare throughout the night. 1850 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy., (215) 963-2788
Celestial Salute at SkyGarten (July 4)
Get a great view of the Philadelphia Fireworks on July 4th from the open air terraces at SkyGarten—the beer garden located over 700 feet up on the 51st floor of Three Logan Square. The $76/person Celestial Salute includes a 3½-hour open bar from 7:30 p.m.–11 p.m., featuring SkyGarten’s selection of German beers, local craft beers, house wine and a premium bar, and an American BBQ buffet from 8–10 p.m. The Philly concert and fireworks will also be simulcast on SkyGarten’s big-screen TVs. Tickets are limited availability, and advanced purchase is required. Get tickets online! 1717 Arch St., 51st floor, (215) 557-1999
La Sagra del Peperoncino at Le Virtù and Brigantessa (July 11–17)
Le Virtù and Brigantessa are turning up the heat with La Sagra del Peperoncino, a weeklong celebration of Calabrese diavolicchi, or “little devil” hot peppers. Beginning on July 11, Brigantessa will offer four menu additions:
- Antipasto: Crostini with in-house ‘nduja, stracciatella cheese, extra virgin olive oil
- Pizza: Montanara, eggplant peperoncino, lemon whipped sheep’s milk ricotta
- Pasta: Struncatura, Manila clams, Calabresi chilies, toasted breadcrumbs
- Dessert: Spicy Calabrese orange marmalade crostata, with chocolate cayenne gelato
The week wraps up on Sunday, July 17, at an outdoor festival in Le Virtù’s Campo garden with an authentic menu of pepper-spiced Abruzzese fare. From 1–5 p.m., Il Campo will fill in for a village piazza to bring Italian sagra, food festival, culture to Philadelphia; a chili-inspired menu of traditionally spicy Abruzzese dishes will be offered. All items, including beer and wine, will be sold individually. Featured dishes will include:
- Bruschette with peperoncino jam
- Pasta aglio, olio e peperoncino, pasta with garlic, oil and hot pepper
- Grilled hot Abruzzese sausage
- Pastries and gelato with hot pepper
Artisan’s Cellar will provide wines from Abruzzo’s Cantina Frentana, including Pecorino, Cococciola, Cerasuolo and Montepulciano; in addition, the restaurant will tap an Italian beer alfresco. Brigantessa, 1520 E. Passyunk Ave., (267) 318-7341; Le Virtù, 1927 E. Passyunk Ave., (215) 271-5626
University City Dining Days (July 14–24)
University City dining is in the spotlight from July 14–24 when University City Dining Days unfolds. Enjoy three-course dinners for three prices—$15, $25 and $35—at 30 different restaurants in this culinary-filled Philadelphia neighborhood. Some of the spots participating in this dining deal event include Bobby’s Burger Palace, HipCityVeg, Doc Magrogan’s Oyster House, Distrito and more.
The Oval Returns to Philly (July 15)
The Oval, a popular outdoor entertainment space at Eakins Oval, or Philly’s “Park on the Parkway,” will be returning on July 15 and continuing through August 21. Oval attendees will experience entertainment of all genres, including interactive games, live music, movie nights, a beer garden and more! Specific days will feature certain themes, such as Wellness Wednesdays, Food and Flicks Fridays and more. 2451 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy.
BBQ Fest (July 30)
Citizens Bank Park will be taking a break from baseball on July 30 and welcoming barbecue lovers to the field from noon–6 p.m. for BBQ Fest. Guests will indulge in barbecue samplings from more than 40 barbecue masters, watch a rib-eating contest, enjoy a craft beer garden, play carnival games, listen to live music and more. Guests will have two ticket options to choose from: general admission and VIP. General admission tickets, or “half-rack” tickets, are $50 per person and include 10 barbecue samples, a voucher for two Phillies game tickets and a commemorative apron. VIP, “full-rack” tickets are $75 per person and include a one-hour early admission, 10 barbecue samples, a voucher for two Phillies game tickets, VIP rooftop access and more. Even better: a portion of the proceeds will benefit The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. One Citizens Bank Way
- Bloody Tasty brunch cocktail photo: City Tap House University City
- Assembly Rooftop Lounge view photo: Assembly
- Pulled pork sandwich photo: BigStock
- Le Virtu photo credit: Visit East Passyunk
