Philadelphia Zoo is turning Impala Plaza into a family-friendly extension of Philadelphia’s biggest African American cultural tradition this Saturday, with Odunde365 bringing dance, music, crafts and hands-on activities to West Philly. The afternoon is designed to give kids plenty to do beyond watching the animals, including art projects, henna and a drum class.
The African Culture Fest runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., according to the Philadelphia Zoo. Admission to the festival is included with regular Zoo admission or membership, so guests can fold the cultural programming into a full day on the 42-acre campus.
The partnership also brings Odunde365’s year-round mission into a new setting. The organization says its programming extends the spirit of the annual South Philly festival through cultural education, community events and wellness-focused activities, rather than letting the celebration disappear once festival season ends, according to ODUNDE365.
A Packed Afternoon Of Crafts, Dance And Drums
The schedule starts with a live DJ and book giveaways from the West Philly Reading Captains, alongside African bracelet and mask making from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. A painting class begins at noon, while African henna will be available through 2 p.m., according to 95.7 BEN FM.
The kid-focused portion takes center stage at 12:45 p.m. with a children’s African dance performance, followed by an African drum class from 1:30 to 2:15 p.m. The event closes with an Odunde365 finale on Impala Plaza, giving the afternoon a proper sendoff instead of simply scattering everyone toward the giraffes.
Saturday’s Event Extends A Major Philly Tradition
The Zoo event echoes the annual ODUNDE Festival held in South Philadelphia, a tradition that began in 1975 and returned for its 51st year this summer. The City of Philadelphia describes the main festival as the largest African American street festival in the nation, with vendors, African and Caribbean food, live music and dancing.
For the Zoo, the collaboration adds cultural programming to an attraction that already serves as one of the city’s largest family destinations. The Zoo identifies itself as America’s first zoo and says it is home to more than 1,900 rare and endangered animals, according to its visitor information.
Guests planning to attend should reserve general-admission tickets in advance, as the Zoo says online reservations are required during its summer season. The festival itself carries no separate charge for members or visitors with regular admission, making Saturday’s itinerary a rare two-for-one: African cultural programming up front, endangered animals waiting just around the corner.
