Summer Starts with Us

If you can’t stand the heat, you’re missing all the fun. Don’t sweat it, let’s go.

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed by the news lately, you’re not alone. Every day brings another reminder of how divided the world can be. But in Philly? We’re flipping the script. We’re coming together. We’re pulling up. And we’re doing it with music, movement, and community.

This summer’s got hands — and they’re reaching out with love! 

I spent another month bouncing around the city, soaking up the energy at some of the most vibrant, joyful events I’ve ever attended. And the message was loud and clear: this is how we do summer here. Whether you’re queer, straight, young, grown, local, new to town, introverted, extroverted — there’s a space for you. And these spaces are being made with love.

Here’s how we kicked off the season — Philly style:

💖 Black Girl Joy at the CareFree Black Girl Cookout

One Art Community Center was glowing. The courtyard was buzzing with music, color, and laughter as Black women and femmes danced, sold their art, performed poetry, and just existed — fully and freely. This wasn’t a party thrown for us. It was one made by us.

Chioke’s set had me shook. I’d just been chatting with her — soft-spoken, cool as ice. But once she hit the stage? Rockstar mode. Big vocals, big energy, big presence. It was magic. Same with the poets, the dancers, the crowd full of folks lifting each other up.

What moved me most, though, was the feeling. Black men showed up too — not to take over, but to cheer us on. It was safe. It was joyful. It was us, being soft, being powerful, being together. That’s the kind of summer I want to live in. Follow @oneartcommunitycenter for great ways to engage all season long.

🎶 Soul Sessions Upstairs at Girls NEED RNB

I didn’t expect to get emotional in a room full of strangers on a Wednesday night, but Girls NEED RNB at Bourbon and Branch changed that. Tucked into an upstairs room with velvet lighting and the smell of soul food wafting in, this event felt like a secret you wanted to keep — but also shout from the rooftops.

She Rise sang like she had wings. Janel made a comeback after two years off the mic, and you’d never know it — the room sang along like she was headlining a stadium. And Aurum? Her voice floated, dipped, and danced like silk on speakers.

It wasn’t just the music. It was the way people leaned in. The way folks clapped before the last note faded. The way eye contact made you feel like you were part of something. Much more than just a concert — it was a love language. A reminder that tenderness is strength. This’d be a great summer date night.

I came out on a whim, but I walked off already thinking about the next one. Stay tuned via the production team @sessionno.1

🎉 50 Years of ODUNDE and Still Going Strong

You could feel ODUNDE before you even got there. Drums down the street. The smell of jerk chicken in the air. Bright fabrics moving like flags in the breeze. It was alive.

South Street was packed with generations of Black joy. Babies in strollers, aunties in headwraps, teens in custom fits, and sightseers taking it all in. I saw a little girl dancing in front of a drum circle while her grandma clapped along. I saw an artist painting live portraits. I saw strangers hugging like family.

Then came The Side Jawn, ODUNDE’s unofficial-but-very-official afterparty — pure chaos and community in the best way. Music blasting, people dancing like they’d trained all year for this one night. It felt like freedom.

What a lot of people don’t realize is that ODUNDE isn’t just a festival — it’s a full nonprofit dedicated to uplifting the African Diaspora through education, tradition, and joy. All year long, the folks at odunde365.org offer programs in African cooking, dance, martial arts, and more — even virtual classes and a children’s book to keep the celebration going beyond June.

If there were a crown for culture in Philly, ODUNDE would wear it. After 50 years, it’s still growing, still glowing, still reminding us where we come from — and how powerful it is when we come together.

Can’t wait to see what year 51 brings. Until then, Odunde — ashe! 🖤 

🌈 Freedom and Fire on the Delaware River

SWEAT Juneteenth at Cavanaugh’s Riverdeck? Whew. Philly showed out.

The DJs — Deluxx the OG, Harley Beretta, and Killa Court — spun nothing but bangers. The crowd was a sea of glitter, mesh, grills, locs, lashes, lace fronts, leather, and love. Everyone was serving. Everyone was seen.

Mike the Qreator worked the mic like a preacher and a party host rolled into one. Paris Buford hypnotized the crowd with a performance that felt like a spell. And Sexiii Tia? She didn’t walk through the crowd — she floated.

I’ve never been in a space that celebrated Black and queer joy so completely. Nobody was pretending. Nobody was “performing.” Just people being exactly who they are. Loud. Beautiful. And unapologetically real.

Founded in 2018 as a one-time summer fling, SWEAT has grown into the largest QPOC party in the tri-state area. Every June and July, it turns up on the riverfront — open-gender, open-hearted, and full of joy that spans generations. The vibe is wild, welcoming, and real: from 21 to 65+, everyone shows up, turns out, and dances like they own the place.

After six incredible years, SWEAT has cemented itself as more than a party — it’s a movement. And if this year’s Juneteenth celebration was any clue, July’s mega fest is going to be legendary.

📅 Mark your calendar: The whole month of July is stacked with some of the most iconic local summer events. Make time to come out and be a part of the excitement. Come see what love and liberty feels like in action!

SWEAT “Hotter Than July”
SAT July 12 (3PM-8PM) 21+ |
Cavanaugh’s Riverdeck (Delaware Ave)
Psst: the theme for this mega-party “sun-kissed and dripping.” ☀️💋💦👀‼️@We.Make.You.Sweat is presented by @TheMainEventPhilly.

Watermelon Glow
SAT July 12 (5PM – 11PM)
Pentridge Station (West Philly)
Your favorite outdoor sunset party and a full-on cultural experience. Live dj’s spinning Afrobeats, Amapiano, Hip-Hop & House. Food & beverages for sale, plus vendors market. FREE watermelonglow.splashthat.com | pentridgestation.com

Culture Fest
SUN July 13 (3PM – 8PM)
Liberty Point at Penns Landing
Curated food & cocktails, Music lounge, Black-centered vendors, Culture-themed installations, Interactive game station, Art installations and activations, Multiple djs and live entertainment all day. Theme: Elevated street style. Tix from $15 | @culturefestphl

All Love Block Party
SAT July 26 (1PM – 9PM) 21+
West Philly Container Village
Since 2011: All live. All local. All Love. Art, vendors, food trucks, performances, immersive garden experiences, interactive photo booths. This legendary community celebration is presented by @BlackSoulSummer and @AlmostFamous.us. ❤️🖤💚☀️  Tix from $10 |  AllLoveBlockParty.com | @westphillycv

✊🏽 Why It Matters

Look — the world is heavy right now. Division is being sold like candy, and people in power are working overtime to make us scared of each other. But every event I went to this month told a different story: that joy is still here. That community is still possible. That love — real, grounded, everyday love — is alive and well in this city.

Safe spaces don’t just appear. They’re made. And they don’t have to be perfect. They just have to be intentional.

So this summer, I hope you’ll get outside. Pull up to an event. Say hi to your neighbor. Hype up a stranger. Buy from a local vendor. Share your joy. That’s how we build the kind of community we all deserve.

Philly’s got the culture. Philly’s got the people. Philly’s got the heart.

And if you’re looking for where to start? The block is hot, and we’re waiting for you.

What do you think? Click the links for more info, and please leave your questions and comments below. If you enjoyed reading this, please check out my last Local feature on the importance of showing up to neighborhood events. 

👉🏽 This feature has been adapted from Kennedie Scurry’s original event recaps, published on her blog, TheKenloShow.com.