Philly Festivals Mixer: Celebrating Philly’s Creative Economy & Community Influencers

Join DiasporaDNA Story Center in partnership with the Arts Administrators of Color Network and The Department of Commerce City of Philadelphia for The Philly Festivals Mixer – a dynamic networking event celebrating the creative forces behind Philly’s most exciting festivals. This event is dedicated to elevating and amplifying global majority festival producers.

Date/Time: Friday, March 28th, 2025 from 5:30pm - 8:30pm ET

Location: Culture Works of Greater Philadelphia  

Who Should Attend?

We’re bringing together festival producers, top talent, unique vendors, and local audiences —all the key players who make Philly’s festival scene thrive. Whether you're an:

• Aspiring event producer looking to break into the festival scene

• Seasoned organizer seeking fresh inspiration

• Local block captain interested in community engagement

• Creative visionary passionate about bringing big ideas to life

• Festival Go-ers interested in connecting and learning about upcoming events

This is your chance to connect, collaborate, and get inspired as we elevate and amplify global majority festival producers

What to Expect

Access essential resources to help plan your parade, block party, or street festival in the lead-up to Philadelphia’s 250th celebration.

• Discover Upcoming Festivals – Get the inside scoop on the latest events in Philly.

• Hear from Industry Insiders – Learn from festival producers and community leaders.

• Play Philly Festival Trivia – Test your knowledge and celebrate local culture.

• Take a Trip Down Memory Lane – Enjoy vibrant visuals of past festivals.

• Eat, Drink & Network – Enjoy heavy hors d'oeuvres and beverages (alcoholic & non-alcoholic) while connecting with Philly’s creative community.

Hear from Guest Speakers including: 

And More Soon to be announced Festival Producers In Philadelphia spanning Food, Film, Music, Youth, Heritage and Block Parties. 

Registration is FREE thanks to our incredible partners. Special thanks to Culture Works of Greater Philadelphia for the beautiful venue. 

Please email Monica@diasporadna.org  with any questions or accommodation requests.

• Creative Economy & Arts in Education Month: This March 2025, during this month, the City of Philadelphia Department of Commerce, Creative Philadelphia, and the Mayor's Office of Education, will shine a spotlight on the vibrant creative economy of Philadelphia, sharing and spreading awareness of the importance of artists and creators in the area. 
• DiasporaDNA Story Center: DiasporaDNA Story Center explores origin stories and collective memories from the art, history and lives of the global majority.
  Festivals. Art Therapy. Exhibits. Archives. Events. Ancestry. Storytelling. Advocacy. | www.diasporadna.org 
• Arts Administrators of Color Network: A national support network that harnesses the power of artists, arts administrators, and organizations of people of the global majority to connect and expand BIPOC leadership across the U.S. creative sector. | Learn about our work.
• City of Philadelphia, Department of Commerce: Commerce connects creatives with business-related workshops, networking sessions, resources, creative dialogue, and arts education webinars held by partner organizations. Their goal is to support Philadelphia creatives with entrepreneurial education while promoting Philadelphia's growth-filled arts, culture, and creative industries. 
• The Women’s Coalition for Empowerment, Inc: a 501(c)(3) BIPOC-Women-led art-centric micro-nonprofit organization dedicated to educating, uniting, and empowering creatives through the use of initiatives that promote creative expression, self-sufficiency, multiculturalism, self-esteem, and collective growth. | Learn more at www.TheWCE.org and learn about the Founder at www.ShekhinahB.org
• 5 Shorts Project Annual Red Carpet Film Festival: a premier event celebrating the creativity and impact of independent filmmakers in Philadelphia. This highly anticipated festival showcases short films produced through our signature filmmaking program, highlighting diverse voices and compelling stories. Held in a glamorous red carpet setting, the festival brings together filmmakers, cast, crew, and the community for an unforgettable evening of screenings, networking, and artistic recognition. Attendees experience the magic of storytelling on the big screen, followed by engaging discussions with the creators. | Learn more at 5shorts.org or follow on Instagram @5shortsproject.
• Elements Of Hip Hop Festival: Elements Of Hip Hop (EOHH) community festival is a free performance arts showcase of the best hip hop artists, battle style or competition DJ’s, break dancers and graffiti/abstract artists in the world. In addition to providing entertainment appropriate for all ages, we have served as a support center for urban communities in the Philadelphia tristate area since our inception in 2014. Learn more at https://eohhphilly.com/
• Learn Hip-Hop moves made easy in a one-of-a-kind demonstration and workshop session with master Hip-Hop instructor and director of Education for the International Museum of Dance.

By registering, I acknowledge that I will enter the space with good vibes, positivity, and support for all members of the AAC community. Discrimination, harassment, or behavior that undermines the safety and integrity of our community will not be tolerated.