The Ultimate List of Reasons to Visit Philadelphia in 2020
There’s always something happening in Philadelphia, from art exhibitions to parades to festivals, and 2020 is no exception. In fact, we think this year will go down as the most exciting and eventful in the city’s twenty-first-century history. Check out our top reasons to kick off the new decade in the City of Brotherly Love.
Wells Fargo Center Is Getting a Brand-New Look.
As part of a $250-million initiative dubbed “Transformation 2020,” the Wells Fargo Center, home of four beloved Philly sports teams — the Philadelphia Flyers, 76ers, Soul, and Wings — is getting a massive makeover. Expect 8,000 brand-new seats, a concierge-style box office, a dedicated standing-room area, and a cutting-edge LED screen known as the “Kinetic Scoreboard.” New food-and-drink programs and art installations will be unveiled, as well.
A Buzzy Restaurant Is Coming to LOVE Park
Philly’s most famous landmark will be joined by a bar and restaurant known as Loveluck, under veteran restaurateurs Marcie Turney and Valerie Safran. Diners will be treated to not just the same delicious cuisine they’ll find at existing Safran Turney ventures, like Barbuzzo and Bud & Marilyn’s, but 360-degree views of the park and the namesake sculpture through gleaming glass imported from France.
Center City’s Skyline Is Modernizing
Slick new skyscrapers are coming to the ever-changing Center City, in the form of multiple commercial and residential buildings and hotels — among them, a tower by Cope Linder Architects and two by the firm DAS. Plus, the new 65,000-square-foot Giant supermarket flagship will feature a striking glass lobby that livens up the neighborhood’s Riverwalk, which is undergoing re-development itself.
The Philadelphia Museum of Art Is Expanding
The Philadelphia Museum of Art’s Core Project will see the museum staff and starchitect Frank Gehry designing 90,000 square feet of new public space, as well as 23,000 square feet of new gallery space. The West Entrance, Lenfest Hall, Forum, and Balcony Shop and Café will be getting a total refresh, and there will be 61% more space for American art and 37% more space for modern art — all of which you can enjoy during extended museum hours.
Iconic Music-and-Dance Shows Are Getting Reimagined
To celebrate its 25th anniversary, iconic Irish-dance show “Riverdance” will be bringing a brand-new production to the Kimmel Center’s Merriam Theater, featuring music by composer Bill Whelan paired with updated lighting, staging, costume design, and projections. Just up the block, the Academy of Music will mark the 250th birthday of Beethoven with the highly anticipated BEETHOVENNOW, while the Annenberg Center will present some of Philip Glass’s greatest works in the new three-week festival #GLASSFEST.