Odunde Festival 50th Anniversary Celebration in Philadelphia: Crucial Information You Should Know
Every year in June, the vibrant city of Philadelphia hosts the longest-running African American cultural heritage event – the Odunde Festival. Established in the early 1970s, it celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2025. The event takes place on the second Sunday of the month, with festivities beginning 10 a.m. on June 8, along South Street, primarily centered around 23rd and South streets.
The festival starts with a ceremony honoring the Yoruba deity, Oshun. A procession from 23rd and South streets makes its way to the Schuylkill River, where offerings of fruits and flowers are thrown into the river as a gesture of respect. The term "Odunde" holds significance, translating to "Happy New Year" in Nigerian language.
The Odunde Festival attracts approximately 500,000 visitors annually, generating an estimated economic impact of $28 million in Philadelphia. It encompasses various activities, including a Yoruba ceremony, street festival, dancing, food stalls, vendors, yoga sessions, business panels, and networking opportunities.
This Anniversary year, the festival extends beyond the hour to a weeklong celebration, starting from June 1. The activities include cultural programming, music performances, networking opportunities, and events curated specifically for the younger generation. Odunde365, the cultural programming arm of the organization founded by Lois Fernandez-West, initiates the week's schedule with a free yoga class in LOVE Park on June 1.
Other events between June 2 and June 7 encompass a CEO panel discussion, young professionals' networking event, and business roundtables with African and Caribbean leaders. A new addition to the festival lineup this year is Odunde Sports, a sports lounge offering soccer games during the festival and year-round programming like camps and tournaments in preparation for the FIFA World Cup in 2026.
In light of the festivities, SEPTA has announced bus detours for routes 7, 12, 17, and 40, beginning at 5 a.m. on June 8 and ending at midnight. Visitors are encouraged to use subway, trolley, and Regional Rail lines, with available exits at Lombard-South, City Hall, or Suburban stations.
Road closures will be implemented on various streets in the festival area, including South Street from 15th to 25th streets, 23rd Street from Lombard Street to Grays Ferry Avenue, 22nd Street from Lombard to Bainbridge streets, and Grays Ferry Avenue from South to Fitzwater streets, from 8 a.m. on June 8 until 1 a.m. on June 9. Motorists should anticipate no parking availability on the streets closed for the festival activities.
- Visitors to the Odunde Festival, celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2025, can expect a weeklong celebration from June 1, featuring activities such as cultural programming, music performances, and events catering to the younger generation.
- Odunde Sports, a new addition to the festival lineup this year, offers soccer games during the festival and year-round programming like camps and tournaments in preparation for the FIFA World Cup in 2026.
- For pet lovers, the festival also includes fashion-and-beauty, home-and-garden, and shopping segments, offering an array of products that could enhance their lifestyle and home.
- After a day of enjoying food-and-drink stalls, travelers can make the most of their trip by exploring Philadelphia's vibrant neighborhoods, famous landmarks, or even lifestyle-focused attractions like automobile museums, as the city offers much more than just the annual Odunde Festival.
