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Mondays: 10:00- 18:00
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Tuesdays: 10:00- 18:00
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Wednesdays: 10:00- 18:00
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Thursdays: 10:00- 18:00
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Fridays: 10:00- 18:00
The Dell Music Center, located in scenic East Fairmount Park, is Philadelphia’s premier outdoor entertainment and education venue. This open-air amphitheater, managed by the City of Philadelphia’s Parks and Recreation Department. It offers the very best in family entertainment and stimulates creative learning through educational opportunities in the performing arts. Formerly the Robin Hood Dell East, the Dell was originally built in 1929 as the summer home of the Philadelphia Orchestra. The Dell is the fourth largest performance venue in Philadelphia, following the Wachovia Center, the Liacouras Center and the Mann Music Center. The amphitheater has approximately 5,300 reserved seats and an additional 600 people can be accommodated in the lawn seating area.
During the summer months, the Dell is a primary center for family entertainment. The spectacular summer concert series known as ‘Essence of Entertainment’ has been presented by the Department of Recreation since 1972. The series is primarily funded through ticket sales and is subsidized and operated by the City of Philadelphia. This subsidy provides the opportunity for high quality, reasonably priced entertainment for the community. Through the years, the Dell has hosted many of the music industry’s most prolific entertainers including legendary jazz artists such as Dizzy Gillespie, Sarah Vaughn, Ella Fitzgerald and Nancy Wilson; comedians such as Bill Cosby and David Brenner; R&B/Soul singers like Ashford & Simpson, The Ojay’s, Natalie Cole, The Whispers, and Teena Marie; along with gospel artists such as Commissioned, Shirley Caesar, Marvin Sapp and The Winans.
With an average audience of 6,000 patrons per event, the Dell is an appealing venue for companies and institutions seeking to market products to diverse consumers. Additionally, the Dell is available for rent to professional promoters and non-profit organizations seeking to offer quality entertainment opportunities for private ventures.