The Fair Chance Beer Garden featuring Triple Bottom Brewing Company is located outside on Eastern State Penitentiary's historic baseball field. In addition to Triple Bottom beer and soft drinks, the beer garden features a rotating selection of interactive programming like guide-led tours, pop-up talks, and maker space activities.
Established in 2021, both The Fair Chance Beer Garden and its name were born out of a shared commitment to fair chance hiring practices. As fair chance employers, Eastern State and Triple Bottom actively seek to hire people who may otherwise be excluded from the mainstream economy — including people who have experienced homelessness or incarceration — and strive to assess all qualified job candidates fairly, regardless of their background.
Keep reading to learn more about current Night Tours programming in The Fair Chance Beer Garden and other locations on site!
June's theme is Liberation. Throughout the first month of Night Tours, you can participate in the following activities:
Musical Performance: EL BENTLY 448
Friday, June 30, 2023, 8:30 pm
In partnership with Die Jim Crow, Eastern State hosts EL BENTLY 448 (aka Leon Benson) for a special musical performance. EL BENTLY 448 is a rapper and hip hop artist who was exonerated on March 8, 2023 after serving 25 years in prison. His debut EP INNOCENT BORN GUILTY drops June 26 on Die Jim Crow. Learn more.
Hands-On History: Pride and Protest
In celebration of Pride Month, we invite visitors to consider Philadelphia’s complicated legacy as a hub of LGBTQIA+ liberation. Join an Eastern State educator on a short 15-20 minute guide-led tour and discussion. You'll hear stories of LGBTQIA+ individuals at Eastern State Penitentiary, learn more about Philadelphia's place within the history of Pride, and discuss the power of identity, representation, protest and resiliency.
Walls for Justice
In collaboration with Walls for Justice, we're asking visitors "What does justice mean to you?” Stop by our maker space to make and submit a creative work (poetry, drawing, etc.) that responds to this question. Plus, every Sunday in June, join Walls for Justice staff for an interactive workshop, and get support from a teaching artist as you craft your piece of art. Select entries will be chosen for potential use in the next edition of Collide Magazine.
Community Night
Monday, July 3, 2023
Wawa Welcome America: Free Museum Night
In addition to exploring Eastern State Penitentiary, you'll have the chance to connect with representatives from some of our local partner organizations including Why Not Prosper, the Paul Robeson House & Museum, Philadelphia Lawyers for Social Equity, and FAMM. Learn more and reserve free tickets.
Plus, enjoy these special programs all summer long:
Purpose Postcards
Write a postcard and connect with someone currently incarcerated in Pennsylvania. Learn more.
Liberation Library
Browse and enjoy a carefully curated collection of books in our Liberation Library. The library features books written by formerly incarcerated authors and leaders who have contributed to the struggle for liberation of all people. You’ll also find books about the history of Juneteenth.
Inside Wire: Colorado Prison Radio
Inside Wire is a program of the University of Denver Prison Arts Initiative, in collaboration with the Colorado Department of Corrections. It's the first statewide prison radio station in U.S. history featuring programs created by incarcerated media producers for incarcerated listeners. Inside Wire is broadcast live every evening in The Fair Chance Beer Garden. Learn more and listen any time.
Philadelphia Fair Chance Employers
Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site and Triple Bottom Brewing Company are committed to fair chance hiring practices. We believe that everyone, regardless of their background, should be fairly assessed for a job they are qualified to do. Want to support a local fair chance employer? Click here for a list of Philadelphia-based fair chance employers.
