Senator Williams Unites Community with 19th Annual N2N Street Festival
Legendary songstress Chaka Khan to headline concert stage during all-day free family Labor Day event on Baltimore Avenue.
PHILADELPHIA, August 18, 2008 – Squeals of delight. Painted faces. Succulent dishes. Line dancing seniors. A sea of smiles. And Chaka Khan – live.
That will be the scene come Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 1, along Baltimore Avenue as state Sen. Anthony H. Williams and the West Philadelphia Coalition of Neighborhoods and Businesses hold the 19th Annual Neighborhood-to-Neighborhood Street Festival.
The hub of activity, 50th Street and Baltimore Avenue in Philadelphia, will begin to buzz after the 12:30 p.m. opening ceremony. Festivities will continue until 7 p.m., culminating with a concert by music legend Chaka Khan.
“It’s going to be an incredible day,” Williams said. “From the rides and fun things for kids to showcasing homegrown talent on the stage and in the streets, we will party all day.”
The daylong affair will feature delights for the entire family – including a youth station with games and rides; a seniors’ pavilion with activities; food and merchandise vendors; resource tables and giveaways.
“I always make sure to come back for the Neighborhood-to-Neighborhood festival because this is my community,” long-time food vendor Aquil Lawson said. “I saw how the festival brought people together, and I wanted to be a part of it.”
The entertainment stage is also a major attraction, where the high-flying steps of the Universal African Drum Ensemble will mesh with sultry sounds from jazz singer Denise King, neo-soul artist Bilal and spoken word impresario Black Ice, among others.
But the jewel in the crown will be 10-time Grammy-Award winner Khan. Williams started grinning the moment he heard he had landed her.
“Bringing in mega artists like Chaka Khan means something special for the community,” Williams said. “A person’s neighborhood or budget should not limit his or her exposure to music and culture.
“I mean, this is Chaka Khan,” he said. “This is the voice from the Rufus days, with hits like ‘Tell Me Something Good’ and ‘Sweet Thing’ – the real one, no offense to Mary J. Blige—and now, ‘One for All Time.’ And she’s going to be on Baltimore Avenue.”
What started out as a small gathering of staff and supporters has grown into a major event for the region. More than 6,000 people attend the annual affair and enjoy the festivities, providing the opportunity for Williams’ diverse constituents – spanning from Ridley Park to University City to Grays Ferry – to interact together.
“The festival is always the perfect end to the summer,” Williams said. “It gives the local students from Sharon Hill Elementary or Bartram High School that one last big party before they head back to school. And families can get needed information and services, as well as do some shopping, in a relaxed atmosphere.”
For the past five years, the West Philadelphia Coalition has served as the event’s co-sponsor because the resident-focused day “is one of the best ways to contact the community in a beneficial way,” WPCNB’s President Lee Tolbert said.
“It’s great to have the Senator’s leadership for event,” Tolbert added. “The festival showcases various agencies that address the needs of the public and provides people with true access to information. That’s why as the coalition we are proud to support this event.”
Keeping the action on stage flowing this year will be the homegrown comedic talents of TuRae as the festival emcee. The Philadelphia native has cracked wise everywhere from HBO’s Def Comedy Jam to the Laff Factory in New York to BET’s Comicview to the Improv to local radio.
Patty Jackson of WDAS-FM is scheduled to broadcast live from the venue.
Major sponsors Independence Blue Cross, PECO, Keystone Mercy, SUNOCO and ShopRite help make the event possible. And it will be a success, rain or shine, Williams said.
“At a time when alienation and violence too often plague us, this event reminds everyone the power, and joy, of civic unity and celebration. I am privileged to deliver this kind of activity to the constituents in the 8th Senatorial District and beyond, for free. It is a special honor.”
Event details for the 19th Annual Neighborhood-to-Neighborhood Street Festival
WHERE: 50th Street and Baltimore Avenue
WHEN: Noon to 7 p.m.
WHY: A day to take out the kids, the parents, yourself, to play, eat, shop and gather information through demonstrations and giveaways. Music and entertainment throughout the day. Headliner concert by Chaka Khan. Free.
DETAILS: Call (215) 492-2980 or visit www.n2nfestival.com.
Release Date: Wednesday, August 20th 2008
