Philadelphia parks are the perfect place to host a picnic, family gathering, or party. If you want to use a pavilion or designated picnic site in a park, you need a reservation. This is called a picnic permit. Parks & Rec’s Special Events Office issues picnic permits for designated picnic sites and pavilions, and Belmont Grove. Picnic permits are issued from April through October. 

Parks & Rec offers a wide variety of sites for picnics. 

  • Picnic sites serve up to 50 people. 
  • Pavilions can hold up to 150 people. 
  • Larger pavilions at Belmont Grove can each hold up to 250 people. 

How to reserve your picnic site 

1. Review site information: 

  • Read Park Rules. 
  • Locate a park using our Finder app. 
  • Reserve your picnic site. [Please note: Parks & Rec’s online event permitting system is no longer available.] 

2. Go to Parks & Rec’s Get a picnic permit webpage. 

3. Read and complete the application.  

  • Write your initials after each X to verify you read the information.  
  • All requests must include a contact name, address, telephone number, and signature to be processed.
  • Double check to make sure all information is correct.
  • Once a permit has been issued it is FINAL.

4. Pay your fee with a check or money order payable to Fairmount Park.

See more information about permit fees below:

  • All pavilion sites except Belmont Grove cost $140.  
  • All picnic sites except Belmont Grove cost $35.  
  • Belmont Grove site fees vary from $350 to $550 for a family/community event. 
  • The fee at Belmont Grove for a nonprofit/corporate event range from $650 to $1,050.   
  • A $250 refundable deposit is required for the Belmont Grove site. It must be submitted with the Belmont Grove pavilion fee. 

5. Mail or drop off your application with a check or money order to: 

Parks & Rec Special Events Office
Winter Street Building-Rear Entrance
2130 Winter Street
Philadelphia, PA, 19103 

Please note:

The office is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The entrance is off of a small parking lot in the rear of the building (north side of Spring Street).
Use this address to find walking, biking, or driving directions online: 233 N. 22nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103.

6. Wait for Notification

  • Please allow 10 business days for processing.
  • Checks returned for insufficient funds will incur additional charges.

After your application is approved you will receive an email containing your permit.  

7. Download your approved picnic permit from your email account.  

Other important information: 

  • Only one picnic site is reserved per site, per day. 
  • Failure to obtain the appropriate permit or a violation of park rules can result in a cancellation of the permit and/or a fine.  

 

Read more about how to get a picnic permit.