Weekend marks inaugural commemoration of North Philadelphia's historical milestones
The North Philadelphia History Festival, set to take place from July 24th to 27th, 2025, promises a four-day immersion into the rich history and culture of North Philadelphia's Black and Puerto Rican communities. Organised by the Scribe Video Center, the festival will span across multiple public and private sites in North Philadelphia, including Ridge Avenue, North Broad Street, and North Philly West [1][2][3].
The festival offers a diverse range of activities, including photo exhibitions, visual installations, film screenings, panel discussions, walking tours, oral-history listening rooms, and live performances by local artists and historians [1][2][3]. Its primary aim is to uplift the 20th-century heritage of these communities through an immersive and place-based celebration [1][3].
One of the festival's highlights is the legacy and multigenerational stories of North Philadelphia’s African American and Puerto Rican populations. Significant historic sites, such as the Uptown Theater on North Broad Street, will serve as a backdrop for oral histories to engage the public [5]. Another unique feature is the SlowDrag musical procession, where approximately three dozen classic cars will cruise a route from the Dell Music Center to Girard College, passing the John Coltrane House and the former Pearl Theatre jazz club, creating a live communal experience that intertwines music and history [5].
The festival also spotlights lesser-known historical events and locations, such as the fact that more runaway slaves were hidden in houses on Pascal Alley in Northern Liberties than in any other area in Philadelphia [4]. Villa Africána Colobó, a community garden built by Puerto Rican immigrants, and the Tanner House in Strawberry Mansion, where Henry Ossawa Tanner lived while attending the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, are also featured [4].
The 1838 Black Metropolis project will offer a walking tour specifically around Wallace Street in Northern Liberties, shedding light on the area's role as a sanctuary for people escaping enslavement [4]. Additionally, Northern Liberties, being one of the first red-light districts of colonial America, and the first suburb of Philadelphia due to the limited city acreage, are also important historical aspects that the festival aims to highlight [4].
The festival is free and open to the public, aiming to connect artists, historians, youth, and elders through storytelling and place-based programs [1][2][5]. For a comprehensive map and schedule of events, visit the festival's official website.
References: [1] North Philadelphia History Festival, (2025). Retrieved from https://northphilahistoryfest.org/ [2] Scribe Video Center, (2025). Retrieved from https://www.scribevideo.org/ [3] Philadelphia Inquirer, (2025). Retrieved from https://www.inquirer.com/ [4] Greg Wright, former board chair of Norris Square Neighborhood Project, shares his connection to Villa Africána Colobó and its educational value. [5] The history festival includes a procession of classic automobiles from local car clubs, called SlowDrag, cruising a route from the Dell Music Center to Girard College.
At the North Philadelphia History Festival, participants can delve into a home-and-garden exhibit showcasing Villa Africána Colobó, a community garden built by Puerto Rican immigrants, and the Tanner House in Strawberry Mansion, as part of their broader immersion into the rich history and culture of North Philadelphia's Black and Puerto Rican communities. Alongside this, festival attendees can observe a diverse range of activities, including a demonstration of the lifestyle and multigenerational stories represented in the home-and-garden settings of these communities.
