Celebrate with Smith Memorial Playground this weekend

Smith Memorial Playground will be filled this weekend—but with adults instead of kids.

After being on hiatus for the past two years, the local nonprofit, Smith Memorial Playground & Playhouse will host its 14th annual adults-only Party in the Playground benefit on Saturday, May 21 from 5:30 to 9 p.m.—and everyone of age is invited to join the fun.

Located in East Fairmount Park in their historic 16,000-square-foot playhouse and 6.5-acre playground, the event is meant to be a celebration, so, attendees can play while there (think corn hole, a wine bottle ring toss, and carnival-style balloon dart games) among other fun installments.

The evening will also feature additional games, music, dancing, and the unveiling of a new donor wall, all of which is in the spirit of commemorating the first major renovations to the playhouse since 1899. Additionally, this year’s Party in the Playground will present the 2022 Ida Newman Magic of Play Award to former board member and longtime Smith advocate Hanley Bodek, along with Deloitte LLP for their volunteered dedication to Smith.

Bodek, the owner of the Philadelphia Construction Company served on the construction committee for Smith Memorial Playground’s historic Playhouse renovation. Deloitte LLP on the other hand has sent over 100 employees to Smith Memorial Playground to complete volunteer maintenance and landscaping projects.

It’s all for a good cause as well, as Party in the Playground ultimately acts as a fundraiser to support Smith’s work, which includes welcoming over 200,000 visitors annually from every zip code in Philadelphia and providing educational and advocacy programs that harness the power of play to help children, families, and communities thrive, according to a release.

2022’s Party in the Playground will also feature the first live auction and paddle raise, led by local emcee and auctioneer Jeff Hammond. Prize packages up for grabs throughout the event include exclusive travel and excursion experiences, fine dining at award-winning restaurants, game tickets for professional Philly sports teams and gift cards to local businesses.

As the release also states, to date, Smith has raised over $40,000 of its $50,000 goal thanks to contributions from Anna Forrester and Mitchell Young, German Gallagher & Murtagh Pc, Deloitte LLP, and other sponsors.

While at Party in the Playground, Philadelphians can also indulge in food from Monet Anise and Garces Catering along with the popular food trucks Brotherly Grub and Enjoy a Bowl. Drinks and desserts will be provided by Federal Donuts, Denise’s Delicacies, Yards Brewing Company, Moore Brothers Wine Company, and Philadelphia Distilling.

For more information on Party in the Playground and the Smith Memorial Playground, visit smithplayground.org