Art in the Open 2018
2018-05-18 08:00 - 2018-05-20 17:00 (America/New_York)
Art in the Open (AiO) is a biennial citywide event that celebrates artists, their inspirations for creating art, and their relationships with the urban environment. Art in the Open debuted in June 2010, bringing a jury-selected group of artists to the Schuylkill Banks – from the historic Fairmount Water Works to South Street – to inspire new ways of seeing the river and the city it runs through. Every other year, a new group of artists is chosen for a three day event, creating new works of art outside, in a creative process open to everyone.
The public is encouraged to participate in Art in the Open by visiting often during the three-day event, to see the works of art evolve and talk with the artists about their creative process. By actively engaging with AiO, you become part of that process – shifting ideas of the art audience, and as part of the environment the artists are considering, influencing how the art take shape. Artists’ working times will vary with their project’s particular needs; most activity takes place between 9 am and 5 pm.
Partnering civic and cultural organizations throughout Philadelphia also offer extensive opportunities for public engagement with the event, showcasing the vibrant community of working artists, galleries and institutions that make Philadelphia a major Urban Art Center, and its two rivers: waterways which continue to inspire creative response and also serve as an ecologically critical lifeline for its residents.

We Drink the River
2018-05-19 13:00 - 17:00 | Fairmount Water Works, 640 Water Works Drive, Philadelphia, PA, 19130, United States
The Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center is offering a special bus tour of the Philadelphia Water Department’s drinking water system. Learn how it’s connected to our rivers, including past and present-day infrastructure that brings us clean and safe drinking water every day. Enjoy a special tasting afterwards!
Register here.

River Reimagined: A Land & Water Tour
2018-06-07 14:00 - 16:30, 2018-06-21 14:00 - 16:30, 2018-07-12 14:00 - 16:30, 2018-07-26 14:00 - 16:30, 2018-08-09 14:00 - 16:30, 2018-08-16 14:00 - 16:30, 2018-09-06 14:00 - 16:30 | Fairmount Water Works, 640 Water Works Drive, Philadelphia, PA, 19130, United States
Learn about the Fairmount Water Works, one of Philadelphia’s first tourist attractions, and cruise the Schuylkill for a new perspective on sites along this historic river. After a brief tour of the Fairmount Water Works, stroll through the beautifully landscaped South Garden, and along the Schuylkill Banks for a 1.5 mile walk to the Walnut Street dock to board a boat for a 1-hour narrated cruise.
PLEASE NOTE: Comfortable and sturdy shoes are strongly recommended for the 1.5-mile walk. Transportation from the Walnut Street dock back to the Fairmount Water Works is available. In the event of inclement weather, we may have to cancel the tour. You will be notified by email if the tour must be cancelled.
Tickets must be purchased in advance. No at-the-door sales.
Register here.

"Philadelphia's Breweries on the Schuylkill" (Rich Wagner, Beer Historian)
2018-06-09 14:00 - 15:00 | Fairmount Water Works, 640 Water Works Drive, Philadelphia, PA, 19130, United States
The Schuylkill River is known as one of the nation’s oldest industrial rivers and one of the industries that thrived along its banks has been brewing. And nowhere along the course of the river were there more breweries than in Philadelphia: from Robert Smith’s India Pale Ale Brewery near the Girard Avenue Bridge to Hohenadel in East Falls and Liebert & Obert in Manayunk, the Schuylkill River has been home to some of the city’s most memorable breweries. Rich will feature views from early maps and photographs the breweries and their advertising to bring to life the rich brewing heritage of “Philadelphia’s Breweries on the Schuylkill.”
About Rich Wagner (Beer Historian):
Rich’s interest in brewing began in 1980 with a summer vacation camping and visiting Pennsylvania breweries for tours and hospitality. The landscape between stops was littered with the industrial skeletons of long-closed brewing plants. Over the next seven years he visited approximately four hundred brewery sites throughout Pennsylvania and found something to photograph at about half of them: everything from complete factory complexes to foundation walls and lagering cellars dug into the sides of hills.
He began researching the state’s brewing history and self-published guidebooks and conducted tours in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Luzerne and Lackawanna counties, the Lehigh Valley and the central region from Reading to York.
In addition to his guidebooks Rich is the author of Philadelphia Beer: A Heady History of Brewing in the Cradle of Liberty (The History Press 2012) and a frequent contributor to a number of publications aimed at the craft brewing industry and breweriana collectors.
This is a free event, space is limited! Register today.

We Drink the River! (SOLD OUT)
2018-09-22 13:00 - 17:00 | Fairmount Water Works, 640 Water Works Drive, Philadelphia, PA, 19130, United States
The Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center is offering a special bus tour of the Philadelphia Water Department’s drinking water system. Learn how it’s connected to our rivers, including past and present-day infrastructure that brings us clean and safe drinking water every day. Enjoy a special tasting afterwards!
Registration for this particular date is full, but you can register here for the next tour on November 3.

We Drink the River! (SOLD OUT!)
2018-11-03 13:00 - 17:00 | Fairmount Water Works, 640 Water Works Drive, Philadelphia, PA, 19130, United States

Delaware River Festival
2019-09-07 10:00 - 16:00 | Penn’s Landing, Fairmount Water Works, Philadelphia, 19106
So excited about this year’s Delaware River Festival!
At our table, show off your creativity and create river murals with watercolors.

Engage With Your World: Find New in the Familiar
2020-09-16 19:00 - 20:00
During this two-part program we’ll search for the surprising and refreshing in familiar places, and the new and urgent in ourselves.
About this Event
This is a two-part virtual event, taking place on September 16 & 23 from 7pm – 8pm via Zoom.
These past months, it may seem that our personal worlds have grown smaller, or crowded, and our own lives nudged off course. In this one-hour program we’ll search for the surprising and refreshing in familiar places, and the new and urgent in ourselves.
Author Beth Kephart will lead an illustrated two-part ZOOM presentation and conversation on September 16th & 23rd from 7 pm to 8 pm based on her books—Flow: The Life and Times of Philadelphia’s Schuylkill River, Cloud Hopper, and the upcoming Wife|Daughter|Self: a memoir in essays.
She will inspire us to listen to/look for/document the sound of the rain, the roles we play in our lives, and the passions that keep us alive, among other imaginative prompts.
The second part of the event will be for creative sharing with the group.
Photo: Beth Kephart

River Days 2021
2021-10-02 11:00 - 14:00 | The Discovery Center, 3401 Reservoir Drive, Philadelphia, PA, 19121, United States
Enjoy hands-on activities for families throughout the day, plus a live performance conducted by the Cultural Heritage Fund Group, comprised of citizens of the Nanticoke Lenni Lenape tribe and presented by the Lenapehoking~Watershed, a place for water, art and culture.
Lenape performance/presentation starts at 1pm!
Space is limited, so be sure to secure a space for you and your family today!
Note:
Hurricane Ida is the second storm in recent FWW history that’s caused flooding of this magnitude. We understand that climate change is responsible for the intense storms we’ve experienced.
Due to extreme flooding at the Interpretive Center, this event will be held at The Discovery Center (, Phila., PA 19121).

Honoring Our Past: Lenni Lenape Origins in Our Urban Watershed
2022-10-08 12:00 - 15:00 | Fairmount Water Works, 640 Water Works Drive, Philadelphia, PA, 19130, United States
Our River Days Program aims to honor and recognize the Lenni Lenape as the original shepherds of this region and provide community members with an opportunity to explore our watershed through games, hands on activities, and walking tours.

We’ll host the Aqua Marooned Game, lead a water quality testing activity, and wrap up the day with a Lenni Lenape land acknowledgement and interactive presentation.
No registration required.

Book Party & Exhibition Opening - "Inland: The Abandoned Canals of the Schuylkill Navigation"
2022-10-11 17:00 - 18:30 | Fairmount Water Works, 640 Water Works Drive, Philadelphia, PA, 19130, United States
Please join Sandy Sorlien and other contributors to celebrate the launch of Inland, a new book of photographs, maps, and essays about the historic Schuylkill Navigation system and its mostly-hidden ruins. Inland was published in hardcover by George F. Thompson Books, designed by Deborah Larkin in Philadelphia, and printed by Brilliant Graphics in Pennsylvania.

Main Point Books will be on site with books available for purchase ($45).

An exhibition of prints and maps from the book will be on view in the Media Gallery through January 8, 2023.

Fluency: The Language of Water and Who We Are (Pop-Up Event in the Historic Kelly Pool)
2023-04-08 15:00 - 16:30 | Fairmount Water Works, 640 Water Works Drive, Philadelphia, PA, 19130, United States
Frae-Frae: Daughter of Drexciya presents Fluency: The Language of Water and Who We Are
An immersive sonic experience wading through memories, dreams, and reflections regarding how water can divide and unite, while never being defeated.
LaFrae Sci a.k.a Frae-Frae: Daughter of Drexciya, is an award-winning and internationally acclaimed multi-instrumentalist, educator, composer, and electro-acoustic adventurer. Bedrock to her artistry is the roots and the fruits of the blues from spirituals to afro-diasporic futuristic soundscapes that explore time travel, prayer, meditation, and the African American ecstatic tradition. To date, she has shared her intentional creativity in 38 countries.
LaFrae is also the Executive Director/Dir. of Artistic Programming at Willie Mae Future Sounds named after Willie Mae “Big Mama” Thornton. W.M.F.S. is a STEAM-based, year-round empowerment through music program that includes deep listening, Afro Diasporic futurism, critical thinking and leadership, including music technology through the lens of the blues tradition for girls and gender non-conforming youth in New York City.
Support for this program has been provided by The Sachs Program for Arts Innovation, the Department of Music of the University of Pennsylvania, and MUSICA PRACTICA / ELETTRONICA VIVA.
Please Note – POOL: A Social History of Segregation is open Wednesdays thru Saturdays 11:00 am – 5:00 pm Admission is Free
POOL was created by Victoria Prizzia of Habitheque and made possible by the generous support of The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage with additional support from the Philadelphia Water Department and the School District of Philadelphia’s Green Futures program. Much of the historical content was researched and referenced by Dr. Jeff Wiltse, author of Contested Waters: A Social History of Swimming Pools in America. We would also like to thank leadership of the Fund for the Fairmount Water Works and Philadelphia Parks and Recreation for their ongoing support for this project.

High Water: An Informal History of Flooding in Philadelphia
2023-04-18 19:00 - 20:30 | Venice Island Performing Arts & Recreation Center, 7 Lock Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19127, United States
When a city is built along a river—and Philadelphia is wedged between two, the Schuylkill and the Delaware—floods are an inevitable occurrence, with sometimes tragic consequences. In this illustrated talk, environmental historian Adam Levine will talk about some of the worst floods ever to hit Philadelphia, beginning in the early 1800s and ending up with Hurricane Ida in 2021. He will also discuss the causes of different types of flooding that occur in urban areas, and what we can do to help mitigate future floods.
Levine has been delving into the history of Philadelphia’s rivers, streams, and water supply and drainage systems since 1998, as a consultant to the Philadelphia Water Department and as webmaster of waterhistoryPHL.org. His talks are always illuminating, and this one will include rarely-seen pictures, maps, and stories that he has uncovered in his years 25 years of research.
Adam Levine’s presentation kicks off SUBMERGED: A Changing Global Climate a special exhibition theme centered on flooding and Global Climate Change. The exhibition is directed by Karen Young for the Fairmount Water Works and curated by Thom Duffy. The exhibition’s purpose is to bring focus to historic and current extreme weather events impacting our region and the Planet’s struggle for survival. The show opens on EARTH DAY, Saturday, April 22 and closes July 29.

The Watershed is an Open Book
2023-11-18 12:00 - 14:30 | Fairmount Water Works, 640 Water Works Drive, Philadelphia, PA, 19130, United States
A fun, family program for PreK-3rd grade and their caregivers. (All siblings welcome)
All programs are free, but pre-registration is required.
https://tinyurl.com/y89rkpzr

A PROGRAM SUPPORTED BY THE WILLIAM PENN FOUNDATION.

Take Me to the River: Boathouse Tour and More!
2023-12-09 10:00 - 12:00 | Lloyd Hall, 1 Boathouse Row, Philadelphia, PA, 19130, United States
Take Me to the River:
Boathouse Tour and More!
Adults and children 12 and up. Children aged 12-18 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian.
Meet at Lloyd Hall Recreation Center at 10am

Have you ever been curious about the 19th century boathouses lining the Schuylkill River? Together these historic buildings form the iconic Boathouse Row. Each rowing club is a member of the Schuylkill Navy of Philadelphia, the oldest amateur athletic governing body in America. Join us on a walk from Lloyd Hall to 12 Boathouse Row, home to Penn Athletic Club, for an inside tour of the building and to learn about the sport of rowing. Learn how Fairmount Water Work’s innovative technology and construction of Fairmount Dam set the stage for this very important recreation area.
At Fairmount Water Works, we will enjoy a cup of hot chocolate and a curator-led tour of the art exhibit “Take Me to the River”. One of the featured artists will discuss his special connection to the river through his artwork and demonstrate some of his most effective art techniques.
Learn about Philadelphia City Rowing, a program that is open to middle and high school students in the School District of Philadelphia, and where to get more information for interested students.
Program is free, but pre-registration is required. Space is limited.

To register:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/take-me-to-the-river-boathouse-tour-and-more-tickets-764178998957?aff=oddtdtcreator

FREE MUSEUM DAY during the PHILLY HOLIDAY EXPERIENCE
2023-12-20 10:00 - 17:00
Come visit on Free Museum Day during the Philly Holiday Experience! We will be offering tours on the hour from 11 am to 2 pm and we will have a fun, hands-on, pop-up activity from 11 am – 3 pm in our LAB:
Fish: Playing it Cool around the Holidays!
Do you wonder what happens in the Schuylkill river in the winter? What do the fish and other animals do when the water gets cold? Learn about the cold-blooded residents of the Schuylkill river and how they survive the winter. You will also discover a physical difference between hot and cold water and how that can affect fish in the winter. Be creative and make a fish ornament to take home!

CURRENTS OF CHANGE: Networking & Insights for Young Environmental Professionals
2025-05-16 13:00 - 16:00 | Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center, 640 Water Works Drive, Philadelphia, PA, 19130

The Delaware River Festival
2025-09-27 10:00 - 16:00 | Penn’s Landing
The Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center is excited to be a part the Delaware River Festival!
Enjoy a ride on the RiverLink Ferry between Philadelphia and Camden…
Visit the Independence Seaport Museum…
Spend time on the water at Paddle Penn’s Landing…
Live bird shows…
Get your face painted…
Learn from environmental exhibitors…
Win prizes from the scavenger hunt…
Views of sailboats racing in the Philadelphia Cup Regatta
…and so much more!
More info at www.delawareriverfest.org.
