Lancaster Avenue Jazz and Arts Festival

The 2025 Lancaster Avenue Jazz & Arts Festival promises to be the best one yet, as it returns to Saunders Park Greene (39^th & Powelton) on Saturday, July 19 from Noon to 7pm. The festival celebrates West Philadelphia and jazz musicians with spectacular live performances, local vendors, fun children’s activities, and delectable treats from food trucks. The event is rain or shine, free, live and family-friendly.

The all-day event is open to the public, organized by HopePHL™ (formerly People’s Emergency Center and Youth Service, Inc.), The Producer’s Guild of Philadelphia, Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, a committee of community members and the Office of PA Senator Vincent Hughes, with technical assistance from Nu Millennium Media Productions.

“We are very excited about this year’s Lancaster Avenue Jazz & Arts Festival,” said Bernadine Hawes, HopePHL Community Development Corporation Acting Board Chair, “it’s guaranteed to be an enjoyable day out for anyone in or near West Philadelphia on July 19.”

This year’s headline act is vibrant and sophisticated vocalist and pianist V. Shayne Frederick. Other performers include audience favorites Ursula Rucker, Nazir Ebo and Chris Oatts and the Pretty Big Band. Updates about the Festival, can be found at hopephl.org/lancaster-avenue-jazz-festival, @hopephlorg on Facebook and @hopephl_cdc on Instagram.

The festival has something for everyone. Seniors enjoy the performance in comfort under a tent with seating. Families visit the Children’s Village, with art activities by Mill Creek Community Partnership, face painting, and a book distribution by the West Philly Reading Captains of Read by 4^th. The Vendor Village features a curated line up of local artisans and boutiques for the discerning shopper. Food vendors offer delectable treats from BBQ and Soul Food menus and refreshing beverages like fresh juices and lemonades. A Resource Village hosts local community groups with information about health, wellness, housing, employment services, resources for families, and more.

“Celebrating the community with this festival is a high point of our calendar every year,” said Kathy Desmond, HopePHL president, “we are grateful to our planning committee, partners, and sponsors for all of their support.”

Sponsors of the Lancaster Avenue Jazz & Arts Festival include Comcast, Jefferson Health Plans, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Independence Blue Cross, Plenary Infrastructure Philadelphia, UnitedHealthcare, American Picture Framing, Aramark, Ballard Spahr LLP, Brown & Brown, Intealth, North American Medical Associates, Penn Live Arts, Penn Medicine, Vicintas, Haverford Lofts, and Mill Creek Community Partnership. The event is supported in part with a grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Tourism Office, housed within the Department of Community and Economic Development.

Additional support for HopePHL’s community programs includes Comcast, Duane Morris, LISC Philadelphia, TD, United Bank and the Philadelphia Division of Housing and Community Development.

Vote for HopePHL and the Lancaster Avenue Jazz & Arts Festival

The Lancaster Avenue Jazz & Arts Festival has been nominated for Metro’s Philly’s Best in the Annual Festival category! Fans can learn more and vote from https://www.hopephl.org/news–publications/metro-phillys-best-contest every day until August 9.