{"id":789332,"date":"2026-05-11T18:44:13","date_gmt":"2026-05-11T18:44:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/789332\/"},"modified":"2026-05-11T18:44:13","modified_gmt":"2026-05-11T18:44:13","slug":"whats-new-on-phillys-waterfront-glow-rides-aqua-bikes-and-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/789332\/","title":{"rendered":"What\u2019s new on Philly\u2019s waterfront: Glow rides, aqua bikes and more"},"content":{"rendered":"

From glowing swan boats to roller skating by the river, Philadelphia\u2019s waterfront<\/a> is set for another summer of fun. Here’s what to expect this sunny season at Spruce Street Harbor Park and Independence Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest.<\/p>\n

An urban oasis\u00a0<\/p>\n

Returning for its 13th season, Spruce Street will continue to transform the city\u2019s waterfront into an urban oasis<\/a> along the Delaware River. Free and open to the public daily beginning May 22, this seasonal destination features colorful hammocks, floating barges, ambient lights, and waterfront seating, plus free entertainment and programming every Thursday through Saturday.<\/p>\n

This year, the Waterfront is also introducing an exciting lineup of new \u201con-the-water\u201d experiences designed to bring guests even closer to the river. Visitors can pedal across the water aboard Chiliboats (aka aqua bikes), enjoy illuminated swan boat rides beneath the stars, or take in sweeping skyline views from new vantage points over the Delaware.<\/p>\n

The Chiliboats<\/a> are for solo use (though you can ride side by side with friends), while the recently upgraded swan boats now feature larger vessels that can accommodate up to five passengers. The boats have also added enhanced comfort seating and shaded canopies. Guests are encouraged to bring snacks, non-alcoholic beverages, and even their dogs for the experience, or check out special after-dark Glow Night Rides via Wheel Fun Rentals.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re extending the energy and excitement from land onto the water, creating new ways for people to experience and connect with the Waterfront,\u201d says Joseph A. Forkin, president of the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation. \u201cFrom swan boat rides under the stars and Surrey cycles along the trail, to fishing at Pier 68 or enjoying a cocktail aboard our floating double-decker barge, we\u2019re making the Delaware River more accessible and engaging than ever before.\u201d<\/p>\n

Returning attractions include the park\u2019s signature floating experiences like the popular double-decker barge featuring a bar, sandy lounge area, and elevated viewing platform. Seasonal cocktails, Philly-made snacks, beverages, and offerings from local food vendors will also return. Visitors can pair it with entertainment like Live and Local Thursdays, Jazz Nights on Fridays, the Summer Sounds Concert Series on Saturdays, and Family Fundays with PopUpPlay on Sundays.<\/p>\n

Monthly experiences (schedules can be found online<\/a>) include Cosmic Rhythms and Latin Night, featuring salsa and bachata dancing.<\/p>\n

Rides and boardwalk vibes\u00a0<\/p>\n

Independence Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest will also reopen on May 22, bringing back its popular mix of family-friendly attractions and waterfront entertainment. Visitors can enjoy roller skating, festival rides, boardwalk and arcade games, an 18-hole mini golf course, classic carnival fare, and a variety of seasonal events throughout the summer.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Independence Blue Cross cardholders will also receive free roller skating admission with a valid card. Beyond Spruce Street Harbor Park and\u00a0 Summerfest, guests can additionally indulge in a variety of other interactive activities and attractions.<\/p>\n

Fishing, cruises and new experiences\u00a0<\/p>\n

New Surrey Cycle Rentals (operated by Wheel Fun Rentals) will feature multi-person pedal vehicles, and at Cherry Street Pier, \u201cFishing\u201d Fridays during First Friday events will invite guests to cast a \u201cfake\u201d line and \u201cengage with the waterfront in a playful, interactive way.\u201d<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Fishing at Pier 68, held every third Saturday from now through October in partnership with Riverways, will offer hands-on instruction and opportunities for visitors to learn fishing techniques directly from the pier.<\/p>\n

The waterfront will also welcome an expanded lineup of partners this season: American Cruise Lines will introduce a new docking schedule, plus Sea Philly, the Spirit of Philadelphia, the RiverLink Ferry and Ben Franklin Yacht will continue to offer sightseeing cruises, private charters, and other festivities.\u00a0<\/p>\n

To learn more about the 2026 season for Independence Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest and Spruce Street Harbor Park, visit delawareriverwaterfront.com<\/a><\/p>\n

MORE: Italian Market Festival returns with greased poles, live music and more<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"From glowing swan boats to roller skating by the river, Philadelphia\u2019s waterfront is set for another summer of…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":789333,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[5132],"tags":[5229,1448,2830,1311,18823,322508,73330,67,586,132,5230,68,2969,128591],"class_list":["post-789332","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-philadelphia","tag-america","tag-pa","tag-pennsylvania","tag-philadelphia","tag-philly","tag-spruce-street-harbor-park","tag-summerfest","tag-united-states","tag-united-states-of-america","tag-unitedstates","tag-unitedstatesofamerica","tag-us","tag-usa","tag-waterfront"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/116557425386126917","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/789332","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=789332"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/789332\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/789333"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=789332"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=789332"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=789332"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}