If there’s only one awesome thing about Philadelphia, it is the extensive park system that balances the concrete jungle. Most notably, Fairmount Park which consists of 63 parks, with 9,200 acres, all overseen by the Philadelphia Department of Parks and Recreation, successor to the Fairmount Park Commission in 2010.
The Fairmount Park Conservancy kicked off their 4th annual event to showcase Philly’s amazing parks and build the next generation of park champions at GLOW in the Park. On an almost picture perfect fall night, the weather decided to wait one more day to dip down into freezing digits.
The glorious architectural landmark and gateway to West Fairmount Park, Smith Memorial Arch (right off Martin Luther King Jr. Drive), was the perfect location to begin glowing in the dark and hosting fellow park lovers for a night of music, food, drinks and special surprises!
As usual, Uber was there touting their free $20 ride if you’re a newbie, there was a group biking option as well as valet bike parking (so green!) or for the driving a car crowd, parking at the Please Touch Museum.
For Fairmount Park Conservancy members, $45 included drinks, food truck noshes and entertainment. For non-members, $75 includes food, open bar, entertainment and included a $35-level membership to the Fairmount Park Conservancy. (Tickets at the door were $100 per ticket!)
Smith Memorial Arch silhouette looks majestic at sunset.Hues of pinks and blues during sunset at Smith Memorial Arch, just in time for the beginning of GLOW in the Park.A drone flies above, capturing the event from a bird’s eye view at sunset.Checking people in was a breeze with guests on lists and online printed passes.The smell of burning wood was music to our noses and oh so cozy for fall.No camp fire is complete without smores!It was just warm enough for ice cream, sweet potato being our favorite.Guests line up for Poi Dog food truck, one of the only vendors with meat options.Bartenders mix up some fall cocktails and offer a nice array of craft beer.There’s always time for wine, especially with tasting and unlimited pours.Anyone curious about going green could get information here.WhistlePig Rye Whiskey tastings and cocktails pleased the crowd.Bonjour Creperie food truck was like a magnet for us!Sweet and savory crepe options… we chose both!A real band with instruments, now that’s classy – and lovely to the ears.Savory crepe with tomato, pesto, mozzarella and tomatoes.Sweet crepe with bananas and Nutella really hit the spot.Did we mention there was a lot of wine?This is a wine lovers dream right here.No event is complete without a photo booth… or in this case a photo sidewalk.Maglio’s food truck made an appearance and got everyone excited for sausage.The Cow & The Curd reminded us how much we love cheese.A table full of pies! Chocolate pudding pie anyone?And on the other side of the pie table, pumpkin, apple and coconunt.Jackie’s kept that table full to the edges all night long.Maglio’s soups we enjoyed were Italian wedding and the stick-to-your-ribs butternut squash.The Cow and The Curd mozzarella sticks dipped in smoky ketchup was delish.While waiting in line for more food, these glowing ladies appeared.We are seriously going to follow Poi Dog.This pineapple salsa pork taco was tasty and bite-sized and left us craving more.Suddenly the glowing ladies shed their shells and begin climbing and doing acrobatics in the air.Suddenly the glowing ladies shed their shells and begin climbing and doing acrobatics in the air.
Doing a full split mid-air is quite impressive. But video does this lady more justice!The sun has set, the place is packed and spirits are high (and a little tipsy) toward the end of the night. People were glowing, indeed!
