Organizers of the annual West Holiday Craft Fest, scheduled for this weekend at The Rotunda on Penn’s campus, have moved the event after they say the university demanded that vendors omit some pro-Palestinian art and sign a written agreement.

Penn owns The Rotunda, the 115-year-old distinctive round building on the south side of Walnut Street near 40th. The venue hosts hundreds of events a year mostly focused on the arts.

Some 30 vendors from the Fest will move instead to the Black Hound Clay Studio at 50th and Baltimore on Dec. 14 and 15 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., according to an Instagram post Friday evening detailing the changes (see below).

The conflict began when an individual contacted Penn, West Holiday Craft Fest and management from The Rotunda objecting to politically-themed art and naming pro-Palestinian vendors in particular, according to organizers.

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The Friends of Walnut Street West Library is hosting a Huge Holiday (INFLATION FREE) Book Sale at Walnut West Library on Monday, Dec. 16, noon to 7 p.m., and Tuesday, Dec. 17, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. This is an annual fundraising event and its priced-to-sell policy remains: most books are still $1 and $2.

As usual, the Friends of Walnut West will use the proceeds to support programs, equipment and supplies at this library branch located at 40th and Walnut. For example, their 2022 sale funds went toward purchasing new desk chairs for the library staff, a new beanbag chair in the Teen Corner, and supplies for several children’s programs.

You can find more details about the library, including events, on the Free Library of Philadelphia website, and the Friends’ Facebook page.

If you’d like to join or volunteer with the WWL Friends, leave your name at the checkout table.

For many years, local community organization, Cedar Park Neighbors, in collaboration with area churches and other nonprofit organizations, has been preparing and distributing food baskets for neighbors in need during the holiday season. This holiday season is no exception. As always, to make this great initiative a success, CPN is holding their annual Holiday Basket Drive. Suggested donation this year is $45, which will help feed two families.

Donations are accepted online at: https://donorbox.org/holiday-basket. Payments can also be sent to: Cedar Park Neighbors Holiday Baskets, Calvary Community Center, 4740 Baltimore Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19143.

CPN members and volunteers will be packing and distributing the baskets on Saturday, Dec. 21, from 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. at Renewal Presbyterian Church, located on the corner of 47th and Cedar Avenue. Please feel free to contact the event organizer, Michelle Lewis, at mlewis1071@gmail.com if you would like to volunteer or are interested in donating bulk items. Also, feel free to ask any questions by email.

Swing by uCity Square at 37th and Filbert this Friday, Dec. 6, between 4 to 7 p.m. for the annual uCity Square Holiday Fest! Free family-friendly activities include photos with Santa, live music, ornament decorating, s’mores and firepits, holiday movies, and West Philly’s only tree lighting ceremony at 5:15!

Grab the perfect gift at the West Philly Bizarre vendor marketplace and sip on hot cocoa and cider from Beach Beans Coffee Co. Learn more here: ucitysquare.com/holiday-fest.

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The city’s Office of Multimodal Planning and Councilmember Jamie Gauthier (3rd District) are hosting a public meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 20, to provide information and get feedback on the 47th Street Traffic Safety Project, which aims to improve traffic safety for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers from Chestnut Street to Kingsessing Avenue.

The project was first presented in 2023, along with the 48th Street Traffic Safety Project, but the redesign and repaving phases were put on hold earlier this year since more public input was needed. The initial plan included such changes as conversion of a portion of the street, between Paschall and Market, to one-way vehicle traffic.

Blocks along 47th Street from Chestnut Street to Paschall Avenue is on the City’s Vision Zero High Injury Network (HIN).

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A great West Philly tradition, the Peoplehood Parade & Pageant, is returning on Saturday, Nov. 9. The family-friendly event, featuring giant puppets created by Spiral Q as well as drumlines and banners, will kick off at 1 p.m. at the Paul Robeson House (4951 Walnut St). The line-up begins at 12 p.m.

The parade will proceed to Clark Park at 45th and Kingsessing, where performances will take place, starting approximately at 2:15 p.m.

The annual event, which has been held since the 1990s, promotes diversity, civic engagement and creativity. The longtime organizer is the West Philly-based arts organization, Spiral Q, which works with artists, activists and community members and groups to create the giant puppets and banners for the event.

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