Get ready, Philly! ODUNDE Festival is celebrating 50 years with an unforgettable street festival like no other.
Events kick off June 1, 2025, and the celebration will culminate on Sunday, June 8, with the festival spanning 16 city blocks in South Philadelphia, featuring two stages of live entertainment, global cuisine, and over 150 vendors from around the world.
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WATCH HEREThe festival’s headliners for 2025 will be legendary American rapper Rakim at 5:30 p.m. and iconic American rapper and record producer Doug E. Fresh at 7 p.m. at 23rd and South streets on Sunday.
Event schedule for ODUNDE Festival
Wawa Welcome America newsletter: your guide to 16 days of free events celebrating freedom and liberty.
SIGN UP ● Sunday, June 1 – ODUNDE365 Yoga: A community yoga session in a Philadelphia park
● Monday, June 2 – Convo with the CEO: The Trailblazer Edition: A powerful panel with radio legends Lady B, Patty Jackson, and Mimi Brown
● Tuesday, June 3 – Learn, Listen, Connect: A networking and mentorship event for rising young professionals
The Scene
● Wednesday, June 4 – Networking Happy Hour: A lively mixer presented by BUMI Productions & Kabila Events
● Thursday, June 5 – ODUNDE in the City: A dynamic African dance performance in Center City
● Friday, June 6 – African and Caribbean Business Roundtables: Two powerhouse sessions featuring ambassadors and dignitaries
● Saturday, June 7 – Lois Lunches: A tribute to founder Lois Fernandez, spotlighting small business innovation
● Sunday, June 8 – The ODUNDE Festival: The grand finale—South Street transformed into a global celebration of Black joy, art, and culture
Visit www.odundefestival.org for the latest updates and information on this year's festivities.
Road closures, parking restrictions and more for ODUNDE Festival
The 2025 ODUNDE Festival is taking place on Sunday, June, at its traditional South Philadelphia location near 23rd and South Street.
The festival itself kicks off with a parade beginning at noon. The parade will start at 2308 Grays Ferry Avenue, proceeding southbound on Grays Ferry Avenue to Bainbridge Street, northbound on 24th Street to South Street, westbound on South Street to the South Street Bridge, and then return eastbound on South Street, ending at 23rd and South Streets.
Road Closures
The following streets will be closed starting at 6 a.m. until approximately 11 p.m. on Sunday, June 8:
1600 – 2400 blocks of South Street, between 16th St. and S. Bambrey St.
500-600 blocks of 23rd Street, between Lombard St. and South St.
500-600 blocks of 22nd Street, between Lombard St. and Bainbridge St.
2200-2500 blocks of Grays Ferry Avenue, between South St. and Carpenter St.
Parking Restrictions
Officials said the above-listed streets will be posted as “Temporary No Parking” zones from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Sunday, June 8.
Motorists must adhere to “Temporary No Parking” signs.
Vehicles parked in these locations during posted hours will be relocated. If you believe your car has been relocated, call the police district of the area where your car was parked.
Public Transportation
SEPTA Bus Routes 7, 12, 17, 40 will be detoured from their normal routes beginning at 5 a.m. on Sunday, June 8 through approximately 12 a.m. on Monday, June 9.
Detours will be posted, and specific route changes are available on the System Status Page at septa.org.
Public Safety Information
Throughout the event, officials said the city will provide law-enforcement support, traffic control, and emergency medical services for the event and in the surrounding vicinity.
Attendees should never leave bags or other items unattended. In the event of an emergency or to report a suspicious person, activity, or item (backpack, package, container, etc.), notify a police officer immediately or call 9-1-1. Do not try to open, move, cover or touch a suspicious item.
The history of ODUNDE
ODUNDE has grown into the Largest African American Street Festival in North America.
It was founded in 1975 by the late Lois Fernandez and Ruth Arthur with just a $100 grant and grassroots community support.
Today, it draws over 500,000 attendees annually, contributing an estimated $30 million to the Pennsylvania economy and $28 million to the City of Philadelphia while serving as a global model for African American festivals.
The ODUNDE Festival continues to thrive under the leadership of Oshunbumi “Bumi” Fernandez-West, the daughter of co-founder Lois Fernandez.
“Fifty years of ODUNDE is not just a milestone—it’s a movement,” said Fernandez-West. “This festival represents the heartbeat of African and African American culture in Philadelphia and beyond. It’s about honoring our ancestors, educating our communities, and creating space for joy, expression, and legacy. We are proud to welcome the world to our streets this June.”
ODUNDE’s roots trace back to the Yoruba people of Nigeria and mark the coming of a new year for people of African descent across the globe.
