Summer Nights

Free admission for Eastern State members! Join now.

Saturday evenings June 20 to August 1, except July 4. 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM, last entry 8:00 PM. $10. Pay-What-You-Wish Night June 27.

Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site opens its gates this summer for Summer Nights! With a different theme each week, Summer Nights provide a fun and meaningful night out—combining history, culture, and entertainment in a one-of-a-kind setting. Enjoy immersive experiences, interactive events, and exclusive behind-the-scenes access to one of Philadelphia’s most unique landmarks.

Take a curated, self-guided audio tour by scanning QR codes throughout the historic site. Engage with exhibits, art installations, and pop-up talks highlighting the history of Eastern State Penitentiary and the impact of the criminal justice system today. Relax, reflect, and connect in The Fair Chance Beer Garden while you make your own s’mores, sip on a small-batch craft beer from Triple Bottom Brewing, and enjoy summer cookout staples like hot dogs, hamburgers, and pulled pork (plus veggie options!) by The Hart of Catering— available for purchase.

• July 11 — Music & Open Mic Night: At the heart of our historic site, local musicians, spoken word artists, and storytellers will take the stage to weave narratives of justice, freedom, and the enduring power of resilience.
• July 18 — On the Big Screen Night: Join us at one of Philadelphia’s most historical landmarks for a special screening of Becoming American: Philadelphia’s Story.
• July 25 — Adult Field Day & Sports Night: Join us at Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site to learn more about the power of sports in fostering a sense of belonging throughout ESP's history and in correctional facilities today.
• August 1 — Art & Resistance Night: Eastern State invites visitors to explore powerful stories of resilience, creativity, and resistance within one of America’s most influential prisons, and to reflect on what those stories mean for our communities today.

Past events:

• June 20 — Pride Night: Eastern State invites visitors to explore powerful, but often overlooked, stories of the LGBTQ+ folks that served time at America’s most influential prisons, and to reflect on what those stories mean for our communities today.
• June 27 — Pay-What-You-Wish Night: Justice & Journalism, part of Wawa Welcome America: Enjoy Pay-What-You-Wish pricing as part of Wawa Welcome America. A $1 service fee applies to each Pay-What-You-Wish Ticket. Uncover the role of investigative journalism in shaping our understanding of the criminal justice system.

Please note: Although Eastern State will be open on July 4th, Summer Nights will not run on this evening. This program is part of A Time for Liberty: Our Shared History, Our Shared Future, a yearlong slate of free, inclusive programs exploring the evolving meanings of liberty and justice in America. A Time for Liberty is made possible with support from civic and cultural partners including the City of Philadelphia, America250PA, Campus250, the Philadelphia Funder Collaborative for the Semiquincentennial, the Philadelphia City Fund’s 2026 Milestone Grant Fund, supported by PECO, the National Trust Preservation Fund of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this program series, do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.