NORTH PHILADELPHIA HISTORY FESTIVAL July 24-27, 2025

From July 24–27, Scribe Video Center’s  North Philadelphia History Festival takes over Ridge Ave, North Broad Street, and beyond — transforming the neighborhood into a celebration of African American and Puerto Rican heritage through art, music, film, history, and culture. 

✨ Featuring installations, performances, walking tours, and events by Friends of the Tanner House, Pepón Osorio, muthi reed, Malkia Lydia & Ryan Saunders, and more!

WHAT:
A four-day celebration of Black and Puerto Rican history and culture featuring photo exhibitions, visual installations, film screenings, panel discussions, a walking tour, and live performances. All events are free and open to the public.
WHEN:
July 24–27, 2025

WHERE:
Across public and private sites in North Philadelphia, with activations along Ridge Avenue, North Broad Street, and throughout North Philly West

WHY:
To uplift the rich history of North Philadelphia’s Black and Puerto Rican communities throughout the 20th century via place-based programming

📅 Festival Dates: July 24–27, 2025
🌐 Website: scribe.org/NPHF
🎨 Tagline: Arts. Culture. Music. History.
🎯 Hashtags: #NorthPhillyHistoryFestival #NPHF2025
📸 Tag Us: Instagram/Facebook: @scribevideocenter @sifmedia215

FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS

Multi-Day Installations and Exhibitions

it be your own people by muthi reed
Video Installation
Sorellina at the Divine Lorraine, 699 N. Broad St
Daily, Thursday, July 24th – Sunday, August 3rd
A cinematic exploration of Black North Philadelphia and those who migrated from the American South.

The Pyramid Club: Black Leisure and Cultural Empowerment by Leslie Willis-Lowry and Dr. William Dodd
Photography Exhibition
1517 W Girard Avenue
Exhibition Hours: Thursday, July 24th – Friday, July 25th 4:00–8:00PM; Saturday, July 26th-Sunday, July 27th 12:00–5:00PM
See legendary figures like Duke Ellington, Josephine Baker, and Marian Anderson as captured by John W. Mosley, the Pyramid Club’s official photographer, alongside works by Selma Burke, Romare Bearden, Beauford Delaney, Dox Thrash, and Laura Wheeler Waring.

Tenants of Lenapehocking in the Age of Magnets by Louis Massiah, Scribe Video Center
Video Installation/Oral History
Uptown Theater, 2240 N. Broad Street
Daily, 8:45PM-9:45PM, Thursday, July 24th to Sunday, July 27th
An outdoor video installation composed of oral histories of North Philadelphia residents combined with photos from the Charles L. Blockson Afro-American Collection. Oral history narrators include: Rae Alexander-Minter, Cecily Moore Banks, Elaine Brown, John Elliot Churchville, David Litofsky, Chief Bob Redhawk Ruth, Jamaaladeen Tacuma, Rev. Frank Tyson, Karen Warrington and Rev. Joe Williams, 

Jacob (Video Detail of the Installation reForm) by Pepón Osorio

Video (Detail of Installation)

Cicala at the Divine Lorraine, 699 N. Broad St

Daily, Thursday July 24th – Sunday, August 3rd

In this short video, a student reflects on the after-effects of the closing of Fairhill Elementary School and Philadelphia’s educational epidemic.

(Return Home) Installation by Friends of the Tanner House 

Visual Installation

2908 W Diamond Street

Daily, Thursday July 24th – Sunday July 27th

An outdoor gallery featuring images of the Tanner Family House’s past, present, and future.

 

Old School Philly: Reminiscing with Dottie Smith Gayle’s Jazz Community by Malkia Lydia and Ryan Saunders

Video Installation

New Barber’s Hall, 1402 W Oxford Street

Daily, 4:00PM-12:00AM – Thursday, July 24th to Sunday, July 27th

Hear from elder jazz musicians as they recount stories of Philly’s legendary postwar jazz scene.