Date/Time
Date(s) - 07/11/2026
11:00 am - 10:00 pm
Location
Miles Mack Playground
Categories
‘Celebrate Mantua Festival’ proves that good can come out bad. Celebrate Mantua is the direct result of the performing arts community organization DANCE IQUAIL!’s “Art Thrives and the Black Lives” rally in 2020 — a protest and performance march in West Philly held after the murder of George Floyd. It brought the community together in a march from the Community Education Center to Miles Mack Playground in a powerful showcase of drill teams, dancers and local performers. Honor the United State’s 250 anniversary with the festival’s theme “250 Black Moves.” Dive into the rich history of the Black movement through dance, rhythm, activism, and advocacy.
Performances will spotlight the creativity and contributions of Black artists. The all-day event will feature a community resource fair, the Morning Workshop Series focusing on wellness, modern Dance, hip-hop, ballet, tap dance, and Zumba. Check out The Kids Fun Zone with inflatables, face painting and a concert of acclaimed dance companies including DANCE IQUAIL!, Philadanco, Jamel Gaines Creative Outlet and Native Nations Dance Theater.
According to the promotional material: “What began as a moment of collective protest and expression has since evolved into an annual celebration that continues to center Black creativity, community resilience and cultural legacy.”
Free, 11 a.m. EST to 10 p.m. EST. Miles Mack Playground, 3601 Aspen St., West Philadelphia. www.danceiquail.org.