Open Streets is back for the final time this year.  Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., pedestrians can once again walk right in the middle of Walnut and Broad streets and not look twice.

Prema Katari Gupta, the president and CEO of Center City District, is excited for the temporary public space to come back this holiday season. While some may think that heading outdoors for Open Streets is more of a summer activity, Katari Gupta believes winter is actually one of the best times for the event.

“One of the things that was a little surprising to me when I started at Center City District is that at Dilworth Park… winter is when we get our highest visitation, because we have the skating rink, we have the cabin, we have the Winter Garden, we have the Holiday Market,”  Katari Gupta said. “I think that just says that Philadelphians aren’t afraid of winter — aren’t afraid of cold weather.”

“It tends to be a time when we gather with our families,” she added.

A map of Open Streets: West Walnut (Courtesy of Center City District)

Walnut Street from Broad to 19th streets and along 18th Street, from Locust to Chestnut, will be open to pedestrians. 

In addition to the dozens of retailers and stores to shop at down Walnut, Open Streets will offer a variety of holiday fun. Philadelphians of all ages are encouraged to come and participate. 

The intersection of 18th and Walnut will feature a baby grand piano carved from ice that is actually playable. Ice Sculpture Philly will carve the piano on-site, and then at 3 p.m., a pianist from the Curtis Institute will play on it. There will be kid-friendly activities like carolers and a “bubble magician.” Santa is also rumored to make an appearance. 

“It’s just a nice way to kind of stroll and enjoy the architecture and kind of slow down a little bit in the city,” Katari Gupta said. “Everyone’s in a good mood, and I think, like, we need more of these third places, where people actually interact with strangers in a delightful way.” 

Santa is headed to Philly for Open Streets on Sunday. (Matt Stanley Photography LLC)

Anyone who buys something at one of the participating stores downtown will get a raffle ticket or “gift tag” that they can enter to win “dinner for a year” —   a series of gift certificates to Center City restaurants. You can also buy a tag directly at the CCD table at Walnut and 18th.

“We’ve got a lot of really great new retailers that I think people will be excited to check out and seem like a great location for holiday shopping,”  Katari Gupta said.  “My personal challenge is always to see if I can do all of my holiday shopping at Open Streets for my entire family.”

Katari Gupta is hoping people will avoid online and Amazon shopping and support Center City. Downtown has undergone a tremendous economic shift since the pandemic, and the CCD’s Open Street Sundays sees 65% more foot traffic and an almost 40% higher sales volume than before it. However, even if you don’t want to buy anything, Katari Gupta encourages people to come out. 

“It’s just really fun to watch,” she said. “One of the things that I’ve enjoyed about Open Streets is the dog-watching. The dogs get a lot of attention at Open Streets. The toddlers who have been told their entire life not to leave the sidewalk, really, are nervous at first, but really delight in being able to run and play in the middle of the streets.”

Holiday shoppers stroll along during Open Streets. (Matt Stanley Photography LLC)

In some ways, Center City is Philadelphia’s holiday hub, with the Christmas Market, the ice skating rink at Dilworth Park, the Comcast Holiday Spectacular and the Wanamaker Light Show. This Open Streets edition is an extension of that fun.

“We need to remind people that the experience of coming downtown to go shopping for the holidays is sort of timeless,” Katari Gupta said.  “It’s one of those essential urban experiences, and we’re just trying to reinvent it in a different way.”

Open Streets: West Walnut returns this Sunday, Dec. 7. Street closures begin at 7 a.m. and end at 6 p.m., and activities run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The full entertainment schedule: 

Live Musicians, 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Bubble Magic, 10 a.m. – Noon
Santa Claus, Noon – 1 p.m.
Carolers 1-2 p.m.
Philly Girls Jump, 2-3 p.m.
Ice Piano Performance, 3-4 p.m.