Get ready to close out summer in style, because Franklin Square is bringing the free fun all August long. After two years, the country’s oldest public fountain is renovated with all new waterworks and LED lighting. It debuts July 31 with a brand, new nightly fountain show set to music! Every 30 minutes starting at 6 pm, enjoy free fountain performances, with synchronized colored illuminations. To celebrate, Franklin Square has a month of FREE programming called Summer Splash in the Square. Here’s what’s going on, all August long.

Franklin Square 13th Birthday Splash

July 31, 11 am—1 pm and 7:30—9 pm

 

Join neighbors, community partners, and guests to celebrate Franklin Square’s 13th birthday and the debut of the Franklin Square Fountain Show with birthday cake, the Phillie Phanatic, Ben Franklin, and free rides on the Parx Liberty Carousel! Don’t miss the inaugural Fountain Show at 12:30 pm.

 

Then come back at night to see the first evening Fountain Show at 8:30 pm. Plus, enjoy music, Colonial lawn games, and inaugural competitions of B-E-N-G-O and Deborah Franklin Quizzo. The pop-up Oasis Cocktail Garden will also be open!

Throwback Thursdays

Thursdays, 5—10 pm

 

Dance and sing along to classic tunes as DJ Robert Drake fills the Square with the biggest hits of the decade, celebrating a different musical era each week. Decade dress is encouraged! It starts August 1 with the 1960s, and then each week is the next decade, culminating with the 2000s on August 29 (so break out those ruffly miniskirts if you still have them in storage… I know I do).

Franklin Fridays: Game Nights

Fridays, 5—10 pm

 

Franklin Square hosts weekly game nights, featuring B-E-N-G-O hosted by Benjamin Franklin with prizes, Colonial games, and Quizzo with Deborah Franklin.

Super Movie Saturdays

Saturdays, 8:30 pm

 

Free screenings begin at approximately 8:30 pm, but come early to buy some movie snacks at the square! Every week will be a superhero movie:

 

August 3: Superman

August 10: Shazam!

August 17: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

August 24: The Incredibles

August 31: Wonder Woman

Fun in the Sun-days

Sundays, 11 am—6 pm

 

Franklin Square hosts lawn games, musical chairs, bocce, and volleyball on the Great Lawn with fun for all ages, and prizes. Plus, yoga at 11 am, Storytime with Mother Goose from noon to 2 pm, and daytime fountain shows from noon to 2 pm.

 

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Franklin Square is located at Sixth and Race streets in Philadelphia. All events are free—rides, mini golf, and food are pay-as-you-go.

 

Lead photograph and video by Jeff Fusco, courtesy of Historic Philadelphia.