The Philadelphia Orchestra and Ensemble Arts present Party on the Plaza, a day of free festival-style activities with a patriotic concert by the Philadelphia Orchestra at the Kimmel Center in Center City on June 21st. It will be part of the Wawa Welcome America’ festival’s Avenue of the Arts Block Party. Photo courtesy of ensembleartsphilly.org
“I’ll tell you what freedom is to me: no fear.”
— Singer & civil rights activist Nina Simone
(1933-2003)
They say all things seem possible in May. That just May be true. Now that Memorial Day, the unofficial kickoff of summer, is behind us, there’s much more that seems possible in the way of events ahead. Let’s make some hay in May. Explore these entertaining activities dominated by art and the arts. And don’t forget: When event-going, consider taking precautions, especially when among groups and while indoors, with the risk of COVID-19 variants and other infectious health concerns.
Get A Seat At The World Affairs Table
Thursday, May 29, 2025. Find out about the launch of new direct Philadelphia airline flights to Mexico at the World Affairs Table Mexico reception. The flights are scheduled to begin Thursday, June 5th. Engage in in-depth conversations with international diplomats. Experience the vibrant traditions and food of Mexico at this information-sharing and networking event. H.E. Carlos Obrador, Consul General for Mexico in Philadelphia, and Lauren Swartz, President and CEO of the World Affairs Council, will discuss the project. Free but pre-register. 5:30 p.m. EST to 8:30 EST. A quorum at the University City Science Center, 3675 Market St. 267-802-1243 or https://wacphila.org/event/world-affairs-table-mexico/
HBCU Students: This Is For You…
Friday, May 30 & Saturday, May 31, 2025. HBCU students, graduates, and Black student union alumni, this late-night shindig might catch your eye: Party hardy at Welcome to Philadelphia HBCU Night on the Water organized by Mike Jackson and Jade Events. The event will feature DJ Flow and DJ Neaux (NO). Pre-register; individual tickets: $28.11; 10 p.m. EST. to 2 a.m. EST. Moshulu, 401 S. Christopher Columbus Blvd. eventbrite.com
Under the Bridge exhibit. Photo courtesy of Photography Without Borders.
Emerging Artists Are Camera-ready
Friday, May 30 & Saturday, May 31, 2025. Check out the opening receptions of Photography Without Borders’ “Under the Bridge” exhibition featuring photographs by residents from North Philadelphia and Kensington at The Bridge Studio, a new outdoor gallery under SEPTA’s Market Frankford El. The exhibit will feature works by students, ages 14 to 22, in the studio’s after-school photography programs at Kensington Health and Sciences Academy and Taller Puertorriqueño Bridge Studio Gallery.
Free but pre-registered; the students’ works will be for sale. Friday, May 30: 3 p.m. EST to 7 p.m. EST. and Saturday, May 31: 11 p.m. EST to 2 p.m. EST. Taller Puertorriqueño Bridge Studio Gallery, 2550 Kensington Ave. Please click here to RSVP your free registration or https://photographywithoutborders.org/events/
My City, My Story exhibit. Photos courtesy of Photography Without Borders: https://photographywithoutborders.org/events/
Their Lens Captures City Pride
Through Friday, July 25, 2025. Creative Philadelphia’s Art In City Hall exhibition program is presenting My City, My Story: Local Identity and Community, a cool student exhibition by Photography Without Borders. The show celebrates the nonprofit’s 15th year. It features the works of 29 talented elementary and middle school students from Eugenio Maria de Hostos Charter School and Antonia Pantoja Charter School. Most of the students live in North Philly, Hunting Park, and Kensington. Urban Puerto Rican life comes alive on canvas and through the lens of photography. The mission of Photography Without Borders’ art program is to nurture the creative talent of photography students. The promotional material explains: “Students express their personal stories and perspectives offering a powerful reflection of local identity and the vibrant spirit of their neighborhoods.” Free, Mondays to Fridays, 10 a.m. EST to 4 p.m. EST. Philadelphia City Hall / northeast corner (4th-floor corner hallway) & the Creative Philadelphia Office (Rm. 116), Broad and Market Sts. 215-686-8446 or https://photographywithoutborders.org/
Self-portrait, circa 1978, by photographer Samuel Fosso, Cameroon.
The Art Of Storytelling
Through Sunday, June 29, 2025. Portrait-style photography is a true art form confined to a tight space. But the truth-bearing lens does not lie in Staged: Studio Photographs from the Collection. This collection of riveting images, both in black-and-white as well as color, from the 19th century to the present catches the eye. Each tells many stories through studio portraits, advertising, and editorial photography, still life images, and images of scientific experimentation by Mickalene Thomas, Samuel Fosso, Berenice Abbott, Rachel Stern, Irving Penn, Cindy Sherman, and other artists. Individual tickets: $30 (adults); $28 (seniors), students ($14), free for kids 18 and under; pay what you wish on the first Sunday in June, the show’s finale. Open Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays, 10 a.m. EST to 5 p.m. EST. Philadelphia Museum of Art Main Building / Honickman (Galleries 156-157), 2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy. 215-763-8100 or https://philamuseum.org/calendar/exhibition/staged-studio-photographs
Photo courtesy of the ODUNDE Festival
ODUNDE’s Looking Nifty At 50!
Sunday, June 1 to Sunday, June 8, 2205. The annual ODUNDE Festival will kick off in South Philadelphia, but this year is different. North America’s largest African-American festival will turn 50. And headliners Doug E. Fresh and Rakim will be there at the festival finale to mark the occasion. Legendary rapper Rakim will rake the stage at 5:30 p.m. EST and iconic rapper-record producer Doug E. Fresh at 7 p.m. EST. ODUNDE 50’s week-long events will “rap up” on June 8th with a kick-butt street festival covering 16 blocks with two stages of live entertainment, global cuisine, and more than 150 vendors hawking authentic clothing, jewelry, art, crafts, and more. Founded in 1975 by the late Lois Fernandez and Ruth Arthur with just a $100 grant, ODUNDE has emerged as an internationally acclaimed cultural institution. About 500,000 folks are expected, creating $28 Million in economic impact to Philadelphia, says the festival’s CEO Oshunbumi “Bumi” Fernandez-West, the daughter of co-founder Fernandez. “Fifty years of ODUNDE is not just a milestone — it’s a movement,” she says. “This festival represents the heartbeat of African and African American culture in Philadelphia and beyond. It’s about honoring our ancestors, educating our communities, and creating space for joy, expression, and legacy.” The legacy is bridging to a third generation, as Bumi’s son Adeniyi Ogundana is involved in the festival. In the kickoff, get back to nature at ODUNDE365 Yoga at a local Philadelphia park (Sunday, June 1). The next day, check out Convo with the CEO: The Trailblazer Edition featuring radio legends Lady B, Patty Jackson, and Mimi Brown. Also on tap is Learn, Listen, Connect, a mentoring event for rising young professionals, followed by a Networking Happy Hour mixer. The ODUNDE in the City brings to life traditional African dance performances in the Center City. Connect at African and Caribbean Business Roundtables, two insightful workshops featuring local and international dignitaries. Catch a tribute to festival founder Fernandez spotlighting small-business innovation. Free entry to most events; event times vary. Email: odundefestival@gmail.com, 267-324-9932 or www.odundefestival.org
The road is yellow but never mellow. Photo courtesy of ensembleartsphilly.org
Ease, Ease, Ease on Down the Road…
Tuesday, June 3 to Sunday, June 15, 2025. From Broadway to Broad Street, it will be well worth it to catch the reimagined production of THE WIZ. From the start, the soul, gospel, and 70s funk mixed with upbeat ballet jazz and modern pop dancing will grab you. Dorothy is not playing’ — as she navigates the perils, potholes, and detours along the yellow-brick road in this action-packed modern take. The show is in the hands of director Schele Williams, with lively choreography by JaQuel Knight and additional material by Tony-nominated and Emmy-nominated writer Amber Ruffin. Individual tickets: $34.00 to $161.68; show times vary. Academy of Music. 240 S. Broad St. 215-893-1999 or ensembleartsphilly.org/
Bringing Back The Funk
Wednesday, June 4, 2025. Who’s got the funk? Enjoy a film, live music, and terrace vibes at the Parkway Central Library’s Indie Lens Pop-Up and WHYY’s screening of the PBS Independent Lens documentary, “WE WANT THE FUNK.” Celebrate Black Music Month in style. The movie will tell the story of funk music — from African, soul, and early jazz roots up to its rise into the mainstream. Dress fly in your best funky-fabulous party threads (Don’t say that three times). Following the screening, enjoy refreshments and live funk music under the stars on the rooftop courtesy of Mister Mann’s Jam Band. The event is sponsored in part by the Miriam Spector Endowment for the Humanities. Free but pre-register; 6 p.m. EST to 9 p.m. EST (doors open at 5:30 p.m. EST). Parkway Central Library (Skyline Room & Terrace), 1901 Vine St. 215-351-1200 or whyy.org/events
Control Your Destiny At ‘Vibrant Vibes’ Women’s Empowerment Brunch
Saturday, June 7, 2025. Get ready for a life-changer. Get ready for Vibrant Vibes: Where Bold Moves Meet Clarity, a dynamic brunch designed to empower and inspire women. It will be the perfect opportunity for female professionals and entrepreneurs who are prepared to “level up.” It will be ideal for individuals seeking clarity and confidence in their journey, as well as creatives, leaders, and visionaries eager to make bold moves. A licensed mental health professional and a women’s empowerment and trauma recovery coach will lead this engaging transformative storytelling event. Participate in sessions featuring strategies to develop or reclaim your confidence. Engage in exercises designed to help make strides to meet your goals and purpose. Learn from inspiring women who have transformed their lives, which may motivate you to embrace your own power. Build meaningful relationships by networking with inspiring high-level professional women. Gain clarity about your goals to take steps to achieve your dreams and purpose. Amplify your voice. Find out how to effectively own your story, and share it unapologetically. Be part of a thriving supportive community of women. The event is presented by Say Something Good LLC and Speak Life Transformation. Individual tickets: $92.55; 11 a.m. EST to 2 p.m. EST. Clique Socially, 30 Crown Point Rd. #8, in West Deptford, NJ. Pre-register at the Eventbrite Ticket Link
