POINT BREEZE (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia wants to bring the celebration of America’s 250th birthday to neighborhoods across the city, and is doing so with a slate of nearly two dozen events through the end of 2026.
The “Ring It On!” initiative, as it’s known, kicked off at the Point Breeze Market Festival on Thursday afternoon, and is the first of 20 events highlighted over the last eight months of the year.
Mayor Cherelle Parker said she wants the semiquincentennial to reach residents who might not get out to big events in the historic district or down at the sports complex. She said that was a flaw of the 1976 bicentennial:
“I don’t remember seeing anything at 19th and Cheltenham, or on Ogontz Avenue, or on Stenton Avenue,” she said.
Thursday’s kick-off in Point Breeze featured local craft vendors, food trucks, a live DJ, and a family zone with a bouncy house. The tents piqued Shannon Ledbetter’s interest.
“I’m really kind of excited to try some of the local honey. The myth is that it’s supposed to help your allergies,” she said.
Point Breeze resident Kevin Lieber was enjoying himself.
“It’s just nice to feel like you’re getting things that are from the area,” he said. “You get to be outside, see people that you know.”
The initiative also focuses on beautification. In Point Breeze’s case, there were benches and planters added to a sidewalk on the block. Ledbetter was a big fan.
“Just nice to see that reinvestment back into the neighborhoods that you live in,” she said.
Vienna Dinorscio just moved to Point Breeze and said events like the market festival are great for helping her get to know her new community:
“This is everything. This is why I moved to Philly. I used to joke, I used to call it ‘Punk Rock Disneyworld,’ because you walk around and everything’s, like, cool. This is the spirit of the city, so it’s cool to do stuff like this,” she said.
The next Ring It On! event is Mt. Airy Day on May 2 on Germantown Avenue near Johnson Street.
A list of all the events is below:
5/2 - 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. - Mt. Airy Day - 6400 Germantown Ave.
5/9 - 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. - Roxborough Springfest - 6100-6400 Ridge Ave.
5/16 - 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. - Lancaster Ave. A Taste of Philly Food Truck Fest - 3400-3700 Lancaster Ave.
6/26 - 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. - North Broad Music & Morsels Fest - 500-900 N. Broad Street
6/27 - 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. - Wadsworth Day Festival - 1500-1700 Wadsworth Ave.
6/27 - 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. - Harrowgate Summerfest - Harrowgate Park
6/28 - 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. - Africatown Diaspora Village Festival - 5900-6500 Woodland Ave.
7/25 - 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. - Jazzing on Ridge Ave Festival - 2200 Ridge Ave.
8/15 - 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. - Overbrook Park Community Day - Rose Playground
8/23 - 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. - Urban Arts Fest 52 - 200 S. 52nd Street
9/10 - 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. - Uptown Rhythm Festival - 7100 Ogontz Ave.
9/13 - 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. - El Centro de Oro Feria del Barrio - 2600 N. 5th Street
9/26 - 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. - Germantown Arts District Festival - 100 W. Chelten Ave.
9/27 - 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. - Mayfair NPDC Moon Festival - 7000 Frankford Ave.
10/8 - 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. - Chinatown YeShi Night Market - 900-1000 Race Street and 100-200 N. 10th Street
10/17 - 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. - Northeast Cultural Day Festival - TBD
10/24 - 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. - Tacony Fall Festival - 6700 Torresdale Ave.
11/1 - 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. - South Philadelphia Dia de los Muertos - 800 to 1100 S. 9th Street
12/5 - 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. - Fox Chase Tree Lighting Festival - 7900 Oxford Ave.
The initiative kicked off at the Point Breeze Market Festival.
The initiative kicked off at the Point Breeze Market Festival.
