The annual Lancaster Avenue Jazz & Arts Festival promises to be the best one yet, as it returns to Saunders Park Greene (39th & Powelton) on Saturday, July 15 from Noon to 7 p.m. 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 all-day event is free and 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, and a committee of community members, with technical assistance from Nu Millennium Media Productions. The Festival is a “rain or shine” event.

“We are very excited about this year’s Lancaster Avenue Jazz & Arts Festival,” said Bernadine Hawes, HopePHL Community Development Corporation Board Chair, “It’s guaranteed to be an enjoyable day out for anyone in or near Philadelphia on July 15.”

This year’s event features performances by Glenn Bryan and Friends, Lynn Riley & The World Mix, Dr. E. Diane Lyle-Smith & Friends, MJS Trio, and the Brent White Ensemble. The headline act is Spontaneous Creativity, led by Duane Eubanks.

“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.”

New festival season – new activities!

Special features at this year’s festival include the Comcast Vendor Village, hosting 30 specially selected artisans, vendors, food trucks, and resources. Independence Blue Cross is sponsoring a volunteer and performer tent which will feature refreshments from Lancaster Avenue eateries. Penn Museum is hosting the Children’s Village and activities, including instrument making with Museum staff, the Fine Art Through Our Eyes bus, bounce houses and a face painter.

Visitors will pass through a gallery of jazz themed artwork from children at Morton McMichael and Martha Washington Elementary Schools, and residents of HopePHL housing. Penn Medicine Penn Presbyterian Medical Center is highlighting health and wellness at the Festival with staff educating visitors about strokes, demonstrating CPR methods, and training them about emergency first aid.

Lancaster Avenue Jazz & Arts Festival sponsors include TD Bank, Xfinity, Independence Blue Cross, Penn Museum, Jefferson Health Plans, Iron-Stone Real Estate Partners, Penn Live Arts, Brandywine Realty Trust, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Penn Medicine, Philadelphia Department of Public Health, and many more.

The Lancaster Avenue Jazz & Arts Festival was voted Metro Philly’s Best Annual Festival in 2022 and has been nominated again for the event this year! HopePHL has also been nominated in Best Non-Profit category. Readers are encouraged to vote once a day in any category every day until August 7. Find out more here.

Find updates about the Lancaster Avenue Jazz Festival and the Community Pop-Ups leading up to it at www.bit.ly/LancAveJazz, or follow @HopePHLorg on Facebook or @HopePHL_cdc on Instagram.