The baseball universe is officially ours this week. The 2026 All-Star Game lands at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday, July 14 — the first Midsummer Classic in Philly since 1996, and it's happening the same summer America turns 250. If you believe in signs, that's a pretty loud one.
But here's the thing most out-of-towners don't realize: the All-Star Game is one night. All-Star Village is four days. From Saturday, July 11 through Tuesday, July 14, the Pennsylvania Convention Center turns into the biggest baseball playground in the country — batting cages, legends signing autographs, mascots roaming around, memorabilia you'll never see anywhere else, and enough photo ops to fill your camera roll before the Derby even starts.
We put together the guide we'd actually want: what it costs, what's worth your time, how to do it right, and — because we're Philly Drinkers, not Philly Waiters-In-Line — where to grab a cold one when you're done.
The Basics
Where: Pennsylvania Convention Center, 1101 Arch Street — right in the middle of Center City, next door to Reading Terminal Market and the Chinatown arch.
When:
- Saturday, July 11: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
- Sunday, July 12: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
- Monday, July 13: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
- Tuesday, July 14: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Tickets:
- Adults: $35
- Kids 12 and under: $30
- Seniors (65+) and military: $20
- College students: $15
- Kids under 2: free
- Capital One cardholders: free (yes, actually free — bring your card)
Compare that to what Derby and All-Star Game tickets are going for on the resale market right now and the Village is the best baseball deal in the city this week. Take the whole crew.
Getting there: Do not drive. Seriously. The Convention Center sits on top of Jefferson Station — every Regional Rail line stops there — and the Market–Frankford Line drops you a block away at 11th Street. If you're coming from South Philly or heading to the Bank afterward, the Broad Street Line at Race–Vine is a five-minute walk. This is what SEPTA was built for.
What's Actually Inside
The Village is a full-on baseball theme park stuffed inside the Convention Center — baseball, softball, music, food, shopping, and tech across the exhibit halls. The highlights:
Capital One PLAY BALL PARK. The hands-on heart of the whole thing — batting cages, pitching tunnels, skills challenges. If you've ever wanted proof of your exit velocity (or a reason to stop bragging about it), this is where you get it. Great for kids; even better for the adults pretending it's for the kids.
Legends and All-Stars. Current All-Stars and Hall of Famers make appearances and sign autographs throughout all four days. Appearance schedules drop daily on MLB's site and the MLB Ballpark app — check the morning of and plan around who you actually care about, because the autograph lines for the big names fill up fast.
The memorabilia collections. Historic bats, jerseys, World Series trophies, artifacts from 150 years of baseball. Given it's Philly's year, expect the local stuff to hit different — this is the town of Schmidt, Carlton, Lefty, the Whiz Kids, 1980, 2008. Budget real time here instead of speed-walking past it.
Mascots everywhere. Every MLB mascot shows up during the week. The Phanatic is obviously the undisputed king — the others are welcome to visit his house and pay their respects.
Giveaways, video games, photo ops. Daily giveaways at the door, gaming setups, and roughly one million backdrops. Wear something that photographs well. We can help with that — our baseball collection exists for exactly this moment.
How to Do It Right
Go early or go Tuesday. Saturday and Sunday will be mobbed — Draft weekend plus the first Village days plus every family in the Delaware Valley. If you can swing a weekday, Monday and Tuesday daytime crowds are thinner because everyone's saving their energy for the Derby and the Game.
Two to four hours is the sweet spot. Enough to hit the cages, walk the collections, catch a mascot, and grab an autograph without your feet filing a grievance.
Check the daily schedule before you go. Legend appearances, mascot times, and events shift day to day. Five minutes on the app saves you from missing the one guy you came to see.
Dress for the occasion. It's July in Philly, the Convention Center AC will be working overtime, and you'll be in a thousand photos. A fresh tee from our summer lineup beats a sweat-soaked polyester jersey every time.
Where to Drink Nearby (The Part You Actually Scrolled For)
The Village doesn't exactly encourage lingering over a beer, but you're in Center City — you're a ten-minute walk from some of the best drinking real estate in the city.
McGillin's Olde Ale House (1310 Drury St.) — The oldest continuously operating tavern in Philadelphia, pouring since 1860. That means this bar was serving beer before the National League existed. Thirty taps, heavy local presence, and exactly the kind of place you want to walk into wearing Philly gear when the city's hosting the baseball world. Non-negotiable stop.
Bar-Ly (101 N. 11th St.) — Chinatown's sports bar, literally around the corner from the Convention Center, with a wall of TVs and a deep beer list. Perfect for catching the Futures Game or Derby coverage if you don't have tickets to the Bank.
Fergie's Pub (1214 Sansom St.) — A proper old-school pub five minutes south of the Village. Cash-friendly, no-nonsense, great pour of Guinness, zero corporate anything. Very much our people.
Uptown Beer Garden (1735 Market St.) — If the weather cooperates, this seasonal beer garden in the shadow of the skyscrapers is the summer move. Ten-minute walk west, cold drafts, outdoor seating.
Yards Brewing Company (500 Spring Garden St.) — Worth the fifteen-minute walk north. Philly's flagship brewery, giant taproom, and Philadelphia Pale Ale fresh from the source. If out-of-town friends are visiting for All-Star Week, this is where you take them to explain what Philly beer actually is.
And if you're downtown Tuesday afternoon, the All-Star Red Carpet Show rolls through Independence Mall at 2 p.m. — free to watch, and Independence Beer Garden is right there. Players in tuxedos, you with a draft beer at America's birthplace during its 250th year. That's a core memory.
The Rest of the Week, Real Quick
The Village is the anchor, but the whole week is stacked:
- Sat 7/11: MLB Draft at the Convention Center (1 p.m., free) + Village opens
- Sun 7/12: Futures Game at Citizens Bank Park
- Mon 7/13: T-Mobile Home Run Derby at the Bank, 8 p.m.
- Tue 7/14: Red Carpet Show at Independence Mall (2 p.m.), then the 96th All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park, 8 p.m.
Show Up Dressed Like You Live Here
Half the country is watching Philly this week, and the broadcast cameras will be everywhere. Represent accordingly. Our baseball gear was made by die-hards for exactly this kind of week.
The baseball world came to us. Act like you've been here — because you have.
Ticket prices and schedules per MLB.com as of July 10, 2026 — check mlb.com/all-star for daily schedules and legend appearance times before you go.
