African American Calendar of Events

African American Calendar of Events

2006 Festivals, Exhibitions And Events In The Greater Philadelphia Region

PHILADELPHIA, June 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Art lovers, history buffs, theater goers, music mavens and sports fans will find a year packed beginning to end with festivals, sporting events, art shows and cultural events in Philadelphia. Highlights for 2006 include the 30th anniversary of the African American Museum in Philadelphia, the Odunde Afrikan-American Street Festival and the Rhythm and Blues Foundation's Pioneer Awards, being held in the city for the first time. The Calendar of Events is organized as follows:

JUNE 2006

Through June 2006

FRIDAY NIGHT GOSPEL CELEBRATION. Every Friday night in June, traditional and contemporary gospel music fills the air at Penn's Landing during this exciting new series. (215) 922-2FUN, http://www.pennslandingcorp.com/

June 8 - September 10, 2006

DISNEY'S "THE LION KING." Philadelphia's most eagerly awaited stage production, "The Lion King" is a visually stunning, technically astounding show running at the Academy of Music all summer long. (215) 893-1955, http://www.kimmelcenter.org/broadway

June 10 - September 10, 2006

PECO MULTICULTURAL FESTIVAL. These fun, family-friendly festivals celebrate the diverse ethnic heritage that makes Philadelphia unique. Weekend- long events focus on the food, music and culture of Ireland, Poland and the Caribbean, among other countries. (215) 922-2FUN, http://www.pennslandingcorp.com/

June 15-30, 2006

DANCEBOOM. The Wilma Theater's annual dance festival features two weeks of performances by local artists and companies. (215) 546-STAGE, http://www.wilmatheater.org/

June 16, 2006

DRUMMING UP THE SPIRIT. This historic walking tour begins at Columbus Boulevard and Chestnut Street and takes visitors to sites related to early African American history. At Washington Square, participants see drumming, dancing and historical re-enactments. (215) 222-8882, http://www.pennsylvaniajuneteenth.com/

June 16-19, 2006

IN THE SUN AND SNOW. The Pinnacle Performance Group travels to various venues throughout the city to perform a 10-minute play based on the diaries of two teenage girls of different races who lived in Philadelphia during the Civil War. http://www.wstonline.org/

June 17, 2006

TOUR OF THE UNION LEAGUE OF PHILADELPHIA. This 60-minute tour of the Union League concentrates on the League's Civil War history, its role in Philadelphia and its position as a supporter of African American civil rights during the 1860s and 1870s. (215) 563-6500

June 17, 2006

U.S. COLORED TROOP RE-ENACTMENT. The Johnson House Historic Site hosts an encampment of the Third United States Colored Troops, who will demonstrate how they recruited and trained new soldiers to fight for the Union cause. Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass re-enactors will also be on hand. (215) 438- 1768, http://www.johnsonhouse.org/

June 18, 2006

FREEDOM CELEBRATION PARADE AND FAMILY FESTIVAL. This annual parade begins at the All Wars Memorial at 20th & the Parkway and ends at the Lincoln Statue in Fairmount Park. Following the parade there will be art activities, music, dancing, poetry readings, food vendors and more. (215) 222-8882, www.pennsylvaniajuneteenth.com

June 19, 2006

INSIDE THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF PENNSYLVANIA (HSP). This event celebrates Philadelphia's African American past with a look at rarely seen items from the HSP collections, including the Emancipation Proclamation, William Still's original Underground Railroad diary and selections from the Pennsylvania Abolition Society papers. (215) 732-6200, http://www.hsp.org/

June 19, 2006

JUNETEENTH COMMEMORATION. The African American Museum in Philadelphia's Juneteenth commemoration includes a reading of the Emancipation Proclamation by children from the Freedom Theater, historical re-enactments and a military honor guard. (215) 574-0380, http://www.aampmuseum.org/

June 23-25, 2006

WEST OAK LANE JAZZ AND ARTS FESTIVAL. Fine art, food and more than 65 bands are the hallmarks of this three-day festival on Ogontz Avenue. (215) 549-9462, http://www.westoaklanefestival.com/

June 27-July 4, 2006

SUNOCO WELCOME AMERICA!. Celebrating the nation's birthday, Sunoco Welcome America! is a weeklong party with free events for all ages throughout the city. This year's theme is Rhythm and Blues. (215) 683-2200, http://www.americasbirthday.com/

ONGOING ACTIVITIES

Every Friday

Art After 5. Friday evenings are something to talk about at the Philadelphia Museum of Art with this weekly evening series showcasing an eclectic mix of world and jazz music. (215) 763-8100, http://www.philamuseum.org/

First Friday Each Month

FIRST FRIDAY. In Old City, dozens of the city's premier galleries keep their doors open late and provide free refreshments. http://www.oldcityarts.org/

First Friday Each Month

MT. AIRY FIRST FRIDAY. Participating businesses stay open past sunset for visitors strolling Germantown Avenue to shop and enjoy music, art and free refreshments. http://www.mtairyfirstfriday.com/

Second and Third Friday Each Month

PANORAMIC POETRY. The October Lounge presents the area's artists, poets, vocalists and musicians for a night of art, music and spoken word performances. (215) 629-3939, ext. 13, http://www.octobergallery.com/

Saturdays June 24-August 5, 2006

JAZZ CRUISE. Noted Philadelphian musicians bring their talents on board for a two-hour, sunset river tour. (215) 985-9393, http://www.schuylkillbanks.org/

Saturdays May-October 2006

PHILADELPHIA NEIGHBORHOOD TOURS. Experience Philadelphia's most diverse neighborhoods, including Northern Liberties, University City, Chinatown, Germantown, Mt. Airy and the Schuylkill Banks during these three-hour interactive tours. (215) 389-TOUR, http://www.gophila.com/neighborhoodtours

The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) makes Philadelphia and The Countryside(TM) a premier destination through marketing and image building that increases business and promotes the region's vitality. For more information about travel to Philadelphia, visit http://www.gophila.com/ or call the Independence Visitor Center, located in Independence National Historical Park, at (800) 537-7676.

Note to Editors: For high-resolution photos of Greater Philadelphia, visit the photo gallery of http://www.gophila.com/pressroom. On the pressroom, you can also subscribe to RSS feeds to receive updates on topics that are specifically of interest to you: What's New, Dining, Events, Seasonal Travel, Hotel Packages and Tourism Research.

Source: Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation

CONTACT: Rosalyn McPherson, +1-215-563-6042, mcphersonroz@aol.com, or
Jeff Guaracino of Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation,
+1-215-599-2290, jeff@gptmc.com

Web site: http://www.gophila.com/
http://www.pennsylvaniajuneteenth.com/

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