Bartram’s Garden (54th St and Lindbergh Blvd) is inviting community members, especially families, on Sunday, June 22, to spend a day filled with activities on the banks of the Schuylkill River. The Bartram’s Garden Community River Fest will offer activities both on water and land and absolutely free! Activities are scheduled throughout the day – from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.!

Photo courtesy of Bartram’s Garden.

On the river: there will be free kayak and rowboat rentals, free ferry boat rides and kid-friendly water activities. The highlight of the event, the Tidal Schuylkill Boat Parade, will begin at noon, amping up the party vibe with “gussied up sailors, tricked out skiff masons, heavily adorned floaters and bedizen paddlers,” according to Danielle Redden, boat parade organizer. Now in its third year, the parade is a nautical costume party on homemade river crafts, accompanied by a floating brass band. Community members are invited to come in costume and take part in the parade.

On land: Throughout the day, there will be nature scavenger hunts, a petting zoo with alpacas, donkeys, sheep, goats and Indian fantails and pony rides. The Philadelphia Zoo on Wheels will showcase a variety of wetland creatures, including owls, hawks and turtles. A mega farmers’ market will also be offering a beautiful array of locally-grown produce for sale, the majority of which was grown on site at the Community Farm and Food Resource Center at Bartram’s Garden. Finally, there will be cool treats served up by Little Baby’s Ice Cream (checkout their brand new Oyster Ice Cream), and free hot dogs and refreshments provided by Philadelphia Energy Solutions (while supplies last).

The Community River Fest will kick off a new series of river-focused programming at Bartram’s Garden. Check out its website for more information: http://www.bartramsgarden.org/.