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Party ’til Midnight: Dance on the Falls Bridge is a Unique Urban Experience

October 7, 2015 / Comments Off on Party ’til Midnight: Dance on the Falls Bridge is a Unique Urban Experience

Story by Cassie Hepler, photos by Cassie Hepler/David Houck

We admit it. We’ve been stalking the East Falls bridge since… oh, maybe 2006?

A smart commuters destination choice to drive downtown (other than straight-shooting down Kelly Drive), it is a handsome bridge with greenish-blueish wrought iron spirals and swirls. Complete with Iron Pratt trusses with a granite base, it uses both gas and electric lights.

In 1892, James H. Windrim, Director of Public Works for the City of Philadelphia, presented a plan for the proposed Falls Bridge, a “double decker” bridge, connecting Neil Drive to the top of Calumet Street and the Powers and Weightman Chemical Company. On June 3, 1895, the single bridge connecting the East and West sides of the Schuylkill River was dedicated by the Mayor, Charles Warwick. It cost the city what seems a pittance nowadays at $261,744.

We decided to take the train from Manayunk, which was a great idea on the way there but perhaps we should have take an Uber or Lyft on the way back. Or we could have snagged the park a mile from the bridge option at “Ravenhill Parking, Philadelphia, PA 19129” and rode the Dance on the Bridge shuttle bus for $2/person, cash only. (The bus will ran from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. with free return rides after 10 p.m.)

A truly unique urban experience on one of America’s historic bridges, it was an evening of fun, food and dancing on the Falls Bridge. Online tickets ($75) were sold out with a limited number of tickets at the door ($80), the line was wrapped down Kelly Drive even at 9 p.m. (hours were 8 p.m. to midnight) so arriving early next time may be a good option for all you party hardy types!

The 5th year was the biggest yet with live music from The Sofa Kings (high-energy 10-piece band), an open bar (with red and white wines flowing like… well, wine), liquor tasting from Art in the Age, Philly food trucks (Just Jackie’s , Curbside Creamery, Philly Fry, The Tot Cart, Sugar Philly) with a $5 food voucher per person, coffee bar from ReAnimator Coffee, photo booth by Poser and memories (or lack thereof) to last you a lifetime.

The Dance on the Falls Bridge is a fundraiser for the East Falls Development Corporation, a non-profit dedicated to community-based economic development for the benefit of East Falls. Driving over it, it seems quite short and functional. But walking into it is quite a different experience at 554 feet long and 40 feet wide. Enjoy the photo story below and share away, bridge friends!

The East Falls bridge at night looking all dreamy and sparkly.
The East Falls bridge at night looking all dreamy and sparkly.
Blue lights rim the top row at East Falls bridge.
Blue lights rim the top row at East Falls bridge.
White streamed lights show the entrance of the bridge at the dance.
White streamed lights show the entrance of the bridge at the dance.
A woman in a ball gown enjoys the view.
A woman in a ball gown enjoys the view.
The line wrapped down the block, even at 9 p.m. with people eagerly awaiting to enter.
The line wrapped down the block, even at 9 p.m. with people eagerly awaiting to enter.
Looking back to the line (get will call, it's shorter!)
Looking back to the line (get will call, it’s shorter!)
People await getting inside the Dance on the East Falls bridge.
People await getting inside the Dance on the East Falls bridge.
A lit-up sign signifies you are at the right location.
A lit-up sign signifies you are at the right location.
Looking down the bridge, it looks like it goes on for forever.
Looking down the bridge, it looks unlike a bridge.
With no flash, this is what it is like looking down the bridge, it looks like it goes on for forever.
With no flash, this is what it is like looking down the bridge, it looks like it goes on for forever.
Reanimator coffee greets guests to get them energized on a warm September night.
Reanimator coffee greets guests to get them energized on a warm September night.
Tables available for VIP guests are up front.
Tables available for VIP guests are up front.
The Tater Tot food truck offers carb-loading options.
The Tater Tot food truck offers carb-loading options.
Bartenders fill multiple glasses of red wine for guests to kick the night off.
Bartenders fill multiple glasses of red wine for guests to kick the night off.
Smart people fill up on food first and avoid the lines at the end of the bridge in what we called food truck land.
Smart people fill up on food first and avoid the lines at the end of the bridge in what we called food truck land.
Philly fry offered huge, ridiculous servings of greasy fries!
Philly Fry offered huge, ridiculous servings of greasy fries!
Featured on The Food Network, this truck had cheesesteaks and fish tacos!
Featured on The Food Network, this truck had cheese steaks and fish tacos!
The sweeter side of things flanked the bridge on the left side.
The sweeter side of things flanked the bridge on the left side.
Ice cream is always available by the scoop at BLH BLAH.
Ice cream is always available by the scoop at Curbside Creamery.
Our new train and dance friend Cara and her friends were awesome!
Our new train and yoga friend Cara and her friends were awesome!
Getting their photo booth fun on at Poser, this was a hit of the night.
Getting their photo booth fun on at Poser, this was a hit of the night.
A couple waits in line for more food, starting with dessert first.
A couple waits in line for more food, starting with dessert first.
The guy with the sparkly blue eyes at Blah Blah.
The guy with the sparkly blue eyes at Philly’s Finest Sambonis.
Fish tacos with cole slaw were inhaled almost immediately.
Fish tacos with cole slaw were inhaled almost immediately.
Cheesesteak french fries are a new Philly favorite.
Cheese steak french fries are a new Philly favorite.
Lots of photo fun continues for the rest of the night.
Lots of photo fun continues for the rest of the night.
Taking photos of the photographer is always fun!
Taking photos of the photographer is always fun!
It's photo booth fun time!
It’s photo booth fun time!
This crew was so adorable!
This crew was so adorable!

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People eagerly await the band to start playing and in the meantime enjoy the techno beat.
People eagerly await the band to start playing and in the meantime, enjoy the techno beats.

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We really loved this man's tropical shirt.
We really loved this man’s tropical shirt.
As soon as the 10-piece band begins playing, people starting grooving.
As soon as the 10-piece band began playing, people starting grooving.
A ripple of excitement moves through the air with the sound of music.
A ripple of excitement moves through the air with the sound of music.
A trombone is always an impressive instrument.
A trombone is always an impressive instrument.
A sea of people dancing.
A sea of people dancing.
The lights all lit up are a beautiful background.
The lights all lit up are a beautiful background.
People start cutting a rug.
People start cutting a rug.
A happy customer gives the bartender a good pat on the back.
A happy customer gives the bartender a good pat on the back.
No one wants to sit down when the band is playing.
No one wants to sit down when the band is playing.

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And near the stroke of midnight, the sparklers came out!
And near the stroke of midnight, the sparklers came out!
Everybody loved the idea of waving sparklers around.
Everybody loved the idea of waving sparklers around.
A fuzzy, blurry sparkler photo to end the night seemed appropriate.
A fuzzy, blurry sparkler photo to end the night seemed appropriate.

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