Upcoming Events
Join our Waitlist and be the first to know when the Save Philly Festivals™ Tour launches!
Missed out our August 2 Bus Tour? Don't worry!
Our next Save Philly Festivals Bus Tour is happening on Saturday, September 12, and seats are limited.
👇Reserve your seat today before it's sold out!
September 12, 2026 | 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Cherry Street Pier Philadelphia, PA
Save Philly Festivals Bus Tour: CREATIVE WELLNES!
Missed out our August 2 Bus Tour? Don't worry!
Our next Save Philly Festivals Bus Tour is happening on Saturday, September 12, and seats are limited.
👇Reserve your seat today before it's sold out!
Hop aboard for our joy ride for a soul-nourishing day exploring the creative and healing heart of Philadelphia! Our Save Philly Festivals Tour celebrates the vibrant, community-powered festivals that keep our city’s spirit alive—while supporting the small events that need us most. Enjoy a bespoke experience like no other!
Ride with us as we move between University City and Germantown, soaking up the vibes, supporting local makers and artists, and helping preserve the festivals that make Philly uniquely magical.
See. Support. Save Philly Festivals.
August 15, 2026 | 3:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Cecil B. Moore Avenue Philadelphia, PA
Festival Lovers - Jazz on the Ave
Attend Jazz on the Ave with us to experience a full day of live music, food, family fun, and community celebration.
Experience Philadelphia's vibrant festivals through our Festival Lovers Club!
Jazz on the Ave is a lively community festival in North Philadelphia hosted by Beech Community Services that brings people together along the iconic Cecil B. Moore Avenue between Broad Street and 17th Street.
Attendees can expect:
Exciting performances
Local vendors
Community resources
Kids zone
Activities for all ages
We will text you a meetup location on the day of the event so that you can hang with us and experience Jazz on the Ave.
Festival Lovers Club is a membership club run by DiasporaDNA Story Center. Visit diasporanda.org/memberships to learn more.
CLICK HERE to Reserve Your Spot Today!!!
August 22, 2026 | 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM
South 52nd Street Philadelphia, PA
Festival Lovers - Urban Arts 52 Fest
Attend Urban Arts 52 Fest with DiasporaDNA for an evening of creativity, connection, and culture.
Experience Philadelphia's vibrant festivals through our Festival Lovers Club!
Urban Arts 52 Fest is a free yearly festival by the Urban Art Gallery on 52nd Street in West Philly.
Attendees can expect:
Live music performances
Local art exhibitions
Free food
Fun neighborhood vibes
We will text you a meetup location on the day of the event so that you can hang with us and experience Urban Arts 52 fest.
Festival Lovers Club is a membership club run by DiasporaDNA Story Center. Visit diasporanda.org/memberships to learn more.
CLICK HERE to Reserve Your Spot Today!
September 13,2026 | 12:00PM - 5:00PM
Taller Puertorriqueño, IncPhiladelphia, PA
Festival Lovers - Feria Del Barrio Festival
Join us for a vibrant, hyperlocal block party feel that captures the heart of Philly’s Puerto Rican and Latinx communities. Bring your dancing shoes and come ready to show up and show out at this family-friendly outdoor celebration!
Feria del Barrio Festival is an annual block party hosted by the Latinx arts and cultural organization Taller Puertorriqueño in North Philly.
Attendees can expect:
Live music
Latin cuisine
Community vibes
We will text you a meetup location on the day of the event so that you can hang with us and experience the Feria Del Barrio block part!
Festival Lovers Club is a membership club run by DiasporaDNA Story Center. Visit diasporanda.org/memberships to learn more.
September 19,2026 • 12:00PM - 9:00PM
Cherry Street Pier Philadelphia, PA
Festival Lovers - We are the Seeds PowWow
Join us in attending We are the Seeds - an indigenous arts and culture festival & powwow
We are the Seeds is running it's 7th annual Indigenous arts and culture festival on Cherry Street Pier. Experience this vibrant festival through our Festival Lovers Club!
Participants can expect:
Live performances
Live painting
Panel discussions
Art marketplace
Hands-on activities
We will text you a meetup location on the day of the event so that you can hang with us and experience this festival.
Festival Lovers Club is a membership club run by DiasporaDNA Story Center. Visit diasporanda.org/memberships to learn more.
September 27, 2026 • 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Cherry Street Pier Philadelphia, PA
Festival of Festivals: A Celebration of Philadelphia’s Cultural Spirit
Food. Festivals. Culture. Community. Connection.
DiasporaDNA Story Center proudly presents Festival of Festivals, a season-closing celebration bringing together the people, traditions, and experiences that make Philadelphia one of the world’s most vibrant cultural cities.
As Philadelphia celebrates its 250th anniversary, we honor the festivals, block parties, markets, neighborhood celebrations, and cultural gatherings that have shaped the city’s identity for generations. Festival of Festivals is a place where communities come together to share their stories, showcase their traditions, and celebrate the creativity, resilience, and cultural pride that make Philadelphia unique.
And that’s why we invite vendors and community partners to be part of this historic celebration.
Are you a maker, artist, food vendor, cultural organization, nonprofit, festival producer, or community businesslooking for an opportunity to share your work with thousands of festival lovers?
Festival of Festivals is more than a marketplace—it is a gathering place for the people and organizations that create the cultural heartbeat of Philadelphia. Vendors will have the opportunity to connect with new audiences, showcase their products and services, and join a citywide celebration honoring Philadelphia’s diverse communities.
👉 Apply today to become a Festival of Festivals vendor!
👉 Reserve your tickets today and join us at Festival of Festivals!
Past Events
August 7, 2026 | 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
At Our Headquarters
Cherry Street Pier Suite #13
City Scholar Talks: Gatekeeping in Afro-Cuba
City Scholar Talks — Where sharp minds and good vibes collide! Converse with scholars and storytellers as we explore the rich, layered histories of cities and culture. Dive in to public memory, through the lens of identities and diasporas. Flex your cultural curiosity & swap stories. Learn, create, connect and socialize in a space that's for us and by us, immersed in our archive. Free and open to the public First Fridays at Cherry Street Pier.
As part of First Fridays at Cherry Street Pier, we are excited to announce a free City Scholar Talk by DiasporaDNA Team Member, Jordan Davidson. During this event, we will discuss the singer Merceditas Valdés and the duo IBEYI through the lens of gatekeeping black culture and dissect the question: When is it important to let people in and when is it important to keep people out?
Reserve Your Spot Today! CLICK HERE!
August 2, 2026 | 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Cherry Street Pier Philadelphia, PA
Save Philly Festivals Bus Tour: The Ultimate Festival Hopping Joy Ride
A Joy Ride Through Philly's Festivals & History
Climb aboard for an unforgettable journey through Philadelphia's vibrant festival scene! The Save Philly Festivals Bus Tour takes you beyond the typical sightseeing experience, connecting you with the neighborhoods, people, and traditions that make Philly's cultural celebrations so unique.
Explore iconic festival communities, discover the stories behind each neighborhood, enjoy live performances, meet local artists and vendors, and experience the flavors that keep Philadelphia's culture thriving.
Whether you're a lifelong Philadelphian or visiting for the first time, this tour is your chance to celebrate the city's rich heritage while supporting the movement to preserve its beloved festivals.
🎟️ Reserve Your Seat Today! CLICK HERE!
📱 Your tour is powered by the Let's Rallie app, available on mobile and web. Follow the route, access your ticket, receive real-time updates, and explore the stories behind each stop with interactive maps and cultural insights.
August 1, 2026 | 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM At Our Headquarters
Cherry Street Pier Suite #13
Mandela Day Art'Ventures is HERE and it's giving purpose, paint, and a playlist.
The United Nations officially declared July 18th Mandela Day, calling on people everywhere to dedicate 67 minutes of service and intention to their communities - one minute for each of the 67 years Mandela devoted his life to the freedom of others.
Join DiasporaDNA Story Center on Saturday, August 1st from 6–9PM for an evening that celebrates one of history's greatest freedom fighters through art therapy, aromatherapy, South African bites & sips, Mandela trivia, and an Afrobeats & Amapiano soundtrack that'll have you moving between rounds.
Craft your own scented aromatherapy spray, test your Black history and Mandela knowledge, snap a moment at our Nelson Mandela Artwork Photobooth, and eat, sip, and vibe your way through the night.
This is a vibe. This is a movement. This is 67 minutes of Mandela magic stretched into three full hours.
CLICK HERE to reserve your spot!
April 25, 2026 | 12:00 – 5:00 p.m.
DiasporaDNA HQ @ Cherry Street Pier
Join DiasporaDNA Story Center for a transformative journey where literary, cultural, and spiritual wisdom from the past meets mindfulness practices for today.
Explore the Montgomery Collection enjoy a gentle Waterfront Walk, and engage in mindful journaling, affirmations, collage, and “Sorrow to Strength” rituals.
Part of the Being Human Festival (US), running April 17–May 3, “Ancestral Wisdom for A Weary World” is one of 23 community events across the country supported by the National Humanities Center. This festival celebrates the humanities’ power to add depth and meaning to our lives, help us understand ourselves and one another, and provide context for the complex world around us.
Click here to register for free!
March 13, 2026 | 2:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Virtual
Join DiasporaDNA for the Save Philly Festivals Think Tank™: a virtual gathering where Philadelphia's festival producers come together to figure out real ways to land better sponsorships and keep their events growing strong. It's all about swapping practical ideas that keep the focus on making festivals more financially solid while giving a real boost to the local creative economy: supporting artists, food vendors, performers, and small businesses that make every event feel alive and uniquely Philly.
October 24, 2025 | 9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. Philadelphia, PA
Join DiasporaDNA for the launch of the Philly Festivals Network (Planning Session)™, a new initiative uniting Philadelphia’s festival producers, cultural programmers, and community partners to Save Philly Festivals.
As rising costs and resource challenges impact beloved celebrations like the Midtown Village Fall Festival and Northern Liberties Night Market, this convening brings together local leaders to share stories, exchange solutions, and imagine a more sustainable future for our city’s festivals.
The half-day session includes networking, collaborative artmaking, and group discussions. Participants are invited to share reflections on film for The Montgomery Collection Archive™, documenting this historic moment in Philadelphia’s cultural landscape.
Save Philly Festivals™. Share Your Story.
Festivals preserve cultural memory, highlight local history, and celebrate neighbor nostalgia through a creative network of talent, producers, and audiences. Together, we’re building a powerhouse platform of storytelling and support for local festivals.
RSVP through this Google Form. Location will be revealed upon RSVP.
October 5, 2025 | 2:30–3:30 p.m. Brandywine Museum of Art
Join us for an afternoon of Community Conversations: at the Brandywine Museum of Art, where we’ll come together to share perspectives, exchange stories, and connect through the themes of art and the world around us.
Dive into lively discussions with fellow attendees, exploring thought-provoking questions like, “What Black history are we witnessing daily?” in a warm, engaging environment.
Facilitated by doctoral researcher, Monica O. Montgomery, MA, this free program, produced in partnership with DiasporaDNA™, invites you to reflect and engage with others. Before or after the event, we encourage you to visit the special exhibition, Jerrell Gibbs: No Solace in the Shade, on the third floor for inspiration. Pre-registration is encouraged for this vibrant, participatory experience!
This program is free but pre-registration is encouraged. Click here to register.