Date
Wednesday, September 9
Time
5:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Location
Mount Pleasant Mansion
3800 Mt Pleasant Drive
Philadelphia PA 19121
This event has been rescheduled from its original date of August 27.
Join John Sigmund, Fairmount Park Conservancy’s Director of Sponsorships and Partnerships, for a 2.5-mile hiking tour to explore the history of brewing and beer gardens around East Fairmount Park. Naturally, we’ll end the hike at a modern-day watering hole – The Bishop’s Collar!
As the name of the Brewerytown neighborhood that borders East Park indicates, Philadelphia was a beer-brewing town. In fact, in the late 19th century, with over 30 breweries, we were the brewing capital of America! Before the city created the park, the banks of the Schuylkill River were valuable to emerging breweries for the harvesting and storage of ice and for the cold storage of lager beer in underground vaults. Also, after acquiring several historic houses with the establishment of Fairmount Park, the city sought ways to re-adapt them and the properties were leased as beer gardens enjoyed by a growing German population. The hike will discuss this and many other intoxicating aspects of beer history in Fairmount Park.
Please note, this is NOT a loop hike! It’s a one-way hike beginning at Mount Pleasant Mansion and ending at The Bishop’s Collar. We strongly suggest using Uber/Lyft, public transit, or Indego bike share to arrive at the starting point so you do not have to return for your vehicle/bike.
- Starting Location for September 9: Mount Pleasant Mansion (3800 Mt Pleasant Drive, Philadelphia PA 19121)
- Ending location for September 9: The Bishop’s Collar (2349 Fairmount Avenue, Philadelphia PA 19130)
INSTRUCTOR BIO: John Sigmund is a multidisciplinary artist, history lover, and urban park enthusiast with years of experience as a nonprofit manager and arts educator. Born and raised in Philadelphia, he spent a decade living in Austin, San Antonio, and New York City, but made a happy homecoming to go back to school at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. John has the proud distinction of actually living in Fairmount Park– he and his partner Jaime are resident caretakers at Lemon Hill Mansion. And although Lemon Hill is his home base, John is an enthusiastic advocate for all of the historic houses in the park system.
TICKET PRICE: $10
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:
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The hike is roughly 2.5 miles over a combination of open parkland and hilly trails (moderate exertion).
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Drinks at The Bishop’s Collar are not part of the ticket cost.
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Please dress according to weather conditions and wear good hiking shoes (boots/sneakers).
- We are often hiking along single-track, narrow trails and suggest wearing long pants and socks/sneakers to protect from any overgrowth.
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There are bathrooms at the end location but not at the start or along the route so please plan accordingly.
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Bring your own water and snack (drinking water is not available in the park).
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We recommend wearing and/or bringing sunscreen and bug spray.
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Important pre-event information and any event updates are sent out via email. Please make sure the email address entered is correct and that you check it before coming out to the event.
PARKING/GETTING THERE: There is plenty of free parking available in the park. As always, never leave valuables in your car! If traveling by public transit, the nearest stop is at 33rd and Oxford – about a half-mile walk from the start. The nearest Indego bike station is also at 33rd and Reservoir Drive.
QUESTIONS? Please reach out to programs@myphillypark.org.
Enjoy our programs? Play it forward for Philly parks! Fairmount Park Conservancy’s Fair Play Campaign is creating healthy park infrastructure, expanding people-centered programs, and preparing our organization for the future. Learn more and get involved at fairplayphilly.org.
This event will take place in light rain. In the event of heavy rain or other severe conditions, the event will be canceled and attendees are eligible for a full refund.