Every year, Eakins Oval comes alive with different events and activations for the summer, and 2025 is no different.
Beginning this week, locals can head to the annual family-friendly pop-up to check out a custom summer food and drink menu, plus, a themed mini golf course, with the latter starting operations in early July. The efforts come from a partnership with Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, the Parkway Council, and Libertee Grounds—a locally-owned sports bar and restaurant with their own 18-hole indoor mini golf course.
Libertee Grounds was created by co-owners and long-time friends, Priyank Rambhia, Kanay Patel, and Sanil Shah. The homebase concept, located in Fairmount, ties in to the Philly community specifically, with nods and odes to the skate ramps at FDR Park, the El-Train, fans climbing poles after an Eagles win, local breweries, and even an obstacle-ridden road, complete with traffic cones, ATVs, and a sinkhole. The venue also features a state-of-the-art golf simulator, multiple bars, lounge areas for guests to relax while playing mini-golf, and a private event space for gatherings.
Libertee’s menu boasts a hyper-local beer/cocktail list and pan-Asian fare, which Philadelphians will be able to check out at this outdoor experience as well. The brick-and-mortar serves up bites like a shishito popper burger, spicy cucumbers, lettuce wraps and mango ice cream, and some of the fan favorites—like a Korean smash burger—will make it to the offerings at the Oval this summer.
Otherwise, the concept will also be imagining up new seasonal menu items for the pop-up venue (think chicken sandwiches, wraps, a strawberry matcha milkshake and more) plus, a full bar offering house-made drafts, frozen cocktails, hyperlocal beers and N/A beverages.
“Eakins Oval is a great summer destination in Philadelphia, and we’re grateful to serve the community again this summer,” says Libertee Grounds co-founder Priyank Rambhia. “Partnering with Philly Parks & Recreation and the Parkway Council has been an amazing experience, and the ability to provide the city with another outdoor activation and attraction to tourists and locals alike is one we’re grateful for.”
The food and drinks at the beer garden will open to the public on June 18, and remain open throughout the July 4 holiday. After that, locals can suit up for the nine-hole mini golf course, which will officially debut on Wednesday, July 9. Rambhia, Shah, and Patel worked closely with Axe Builders to bring the beer garden and venue to life this year.
There’s a bonus if you play with Libertee in 2025 as well. According to a release, Libertee Grounds is running a special throughout the summer for guests who visit the Eakins Oval pop-up: Golfers can bring their scorecard to the Libertee location Fairmount to receive a free round of mini golf on either the new Uptown or original Downtown course.
The Oval will also feature some stand-alone events this sunny season. Free outdoor performances will be sprinkled throughout the summer (with acts like Parkway Presents and the fan-favorite Philly band, SNACKTIME.) The outdoor venue will also host weekend marketplaces and festivals on select Saturdays and Sundays. Thursdays will feature free yoga organized/run by Yoga Habit, and Sundays will be dubbed Family Fun Days with Quizzo, while Fridays will include movie nights (8 p.m.) throughout the summer. A full schedule will continuously be updated online.
The Oval (2601 Benjamin Franklin Parkway) will remain open through Sept. 14. The pop-up and mini golf course will be open Wednesdays from 4 to 9 p.m., Thursdays from 4 to 9 p.m., Fridays from 4 to 11 p.m., Saturdays from noon to 11 p.m., and Sundays from noon to 9 p.m. Tickets for the mini golf course are available on-site and cost $10 for adults and teens, and free for children under 12. To find out more information, visit parkwaytoparkfestival.org/oval
