How to Conquer the Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll

UCD presents the Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll twice each summer as a bookend to our signature event season. Below, read tips on how to make the most of one of our most popular annual events.

Two visitors examine a Dollar Stroll map.

University City District (UCD) holds two editions of the Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll each year as part of our signature series of summer events. Since its debut in 2010, the Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll has grown into a hugely popular event. Neighbors and Philadelphians from around the city convene on Baltimore Avenue to enjoy deals from local businesses, plus live music, free activities for kids, and a chance to experience one of our favorite commercial corridors in West Philadelphia. Visit our Dollar Stroll page for updates on this year’s event. Interested in participating as a business, vendor, or sponsor? Visit this page for more information.

Because of its popularity, the Dollar Stroll will often get crowded, leading to lines for the $1, $3, and $5 food and merchandise options from neighborhood businesses and community vendors. Below, read our tips for making the most out of your visit to the Dollar Stroll!

University City District Folks in the Street Eating

Be Ready for the Weather!

If temperatures are in the 80s or higher, plan to wear cool clothes and to hydrate before and after the event. We recommend bringing a refillable water bottle so you can hydrate on the go! Our event is rain or shine, so if the forecast calls for precipitation, bring an umbrella or poncho to help with keeping dry.

People dancing at a Dollar Stroll

Arrive Early

The Dollar Stroll officially runs from 5:00-8:00 pm, with the largest crowds gathering in the 6:30 – 7:30 window. If you want to get first crack at the more popular spots, attempt to arrive close to 5:00 before the crowds get too large. Whether you arrive early or late, we recommend you…

A large crowd on Baltimore Avenue during the Dollar Stroll.

Plan Your Evening

To get the most out of your evening, study the Dollar Stroll map (see below) and make a plan for what you want to buy (available online soon or at the UCD tents at each end of the event). Vendors like Manzanita, the Baltimore Pet Shoppe, VIX Emporium, or the collection of community merchandise vendors –  who sell merchandise instead of food or drinks – tend to have shorter lines, while restaurants with $1, $3, and $5 bites tend to get crowded. One way to ensure you get to sample everything you want is to…

Dollar Stroll attendees purchase $1 tickets to Curio Theatre during the Dollar Stroll.

Bring Plenty of Cash, Especially Singles and $5 Bills

The Dollar Stroll is a cash-only event for the items being sold for $1, $3, and $5. Make life easier for yourself and for the official businesses participating by arriving at the event with a stack of $1 and $5 bills.

A guest visits a vendor at the Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll

Look for the Official Vendors

Want to make sure you’re getting quality products? Only businesses or vendors listed on the maps are official Dollar Stroll participants, meaning they are an approved business located on Baltimore Avenue or a licensed and permitted community vendor approved by both the Health Department and UCD to safely prepare and sell food. Support the official Dollar Stroll businesses along your way as you…

A lively crowd lines up outside a local business during the Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll, showcasing the energy of this popular community event.

Divide and Conquer

Most businesses do not limit how many items you can purchase. If you’re going with a group, consider splitting up and buying multiples from each business and then meeting up to share. That way, you can enjoy a variety of items in the same time as it would take for the whole group to each buy the same item together. Another way to make sure to keep lines moving is to…

Visitors enjoying the Dollar Stroll in June of 2024.

Be Ready to Walk

It’s called the Stroll for a reason! The Stroll stretches from Trolley Portal Gardens at 40th and Baltimore to 51st and Baltimore, a total distance of 0.9 miles. We recommend wearing comfortable shoes, being patient while navigating lines and crowds, and bringing supplies like water, sunscreen, or umbrellas depending on the weather report. And while you’re walking around…

Dollar Stroll Attendees purchase samosas

Try Something New

Part of what makes Baltimore Avenue, University City, and West Philly so great is the diversity of cultures that co-exist. During the Dollar Stroll you can enjoy food from Thailand, Ethiopia, India, China, and the Mediterranean to name a few, plus a variety of healthy and more indulgent treats. You just might decide you have a new favorite and that you need to…

A SEPTA trolley passes through Clark Park in West Philadelphia

Return to Baltimore Avenue!

Yes, the Dollar Stroll’s deals are awesome, but this a great neighborhood to visit throughout the year! Whether you’re trying restaurants for University City Dining Days, grabbing a cold treat, or doing some shopping, Baltimore Avenue is an awesome location throughout the year.