Philly AIDS Thrift’s 19th Anniversary Block Party Will Have Music, Circus Performers, a Dog-Kissing Booth, Pie Eating Contest, & More
Philly AIDS Thrift is closing out September the right way. On Saturday, September 28th Philly AIDS Thrift will be hosting their 19th Annual Block Party on the 700 block of S. 5th Street from 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm. In addition to commemorating nineteen successful years, the block party kicks off the Halloween season, which is the busiest time for the non-profit organization that has become known as one of the largest retail stores for costumes, accessories, and decorations during the spooky season each and every year.
The celebration will include music, circus performers, food and drinks, a celebrity dunk tank, games, a caricature artist, a dog-kissing booth, stilt walkers, craft/vintage vendors, a pie-eating contest, double dutch, and dancing in the street.
WXPN’s own DJ Robert Drake will be emceeing and spinning tunes all day for everyone dancing in the streets. Philly AIDS Thrift will also be hosting its 4th Annual Pie Eating Contest, emceed by CBS 3’s news anchor, Jim Donovan. The contest is open to everyone to sign up on the day of. However, spots are limited. In partnership with MANNA, the wonderful organization will graciously provide the blueberry pies, which are gluten-free this year, in correlation to their annual fundraiser, Pie In The Sky, which begins in October.
For the first time this year, we have a dog-kissing booth, Smooch-A-Pooch, with Street Tails Animal Rescue. Street Tails Animal Rescue (STAR) is a non-profit organization based in Northern Liberties, Philadelphia, dedicated to rescuing and rehoming abandoned and unwanted dogs. Their mission is to provide each dog with the care and love they need to find a forever home, promoting a community of compassion and responsible pet ownership.
This is Philly AIDS Thrift’s tenth year hosting this block party. In previous years, over 1000 people passed through. We are expecting even more of a turnout this year.
“We are so excited for our annual outdoor block party for 2024,” said Philly AIDS Thrift’s Co-Founder/Executive Director Christina Kallas-Saritsoglou. “Whether it’s to Smooch-A-Pooch, watch people shove pie into their faces as fast as humanly possible, dare to Double Dutch, or simply dance in the middle of the street, everyone who stops by helps us raise even more money for local HIV/AIDS service organizations, including the William Way LGBT Community Center, Bebashi – Transition to Hope, and many more.
She added, ” I am so proud of the relationships that we have built with our amazing shoppers, the wonderful donors, our irreplaceable volunteers, and the crucial service-providing organizations. I am simply filled with gratitude. We look forward to the years to come supporting local HIV/AIDS organizations and serving the community by selling interesting and affordable items through our fabulous thrift stores.”
Philly AIDS Thrift Board President Michael Byrne exclaimed, “We all have days we look forward to every year, and our Block Party is one of mine. Embracing all that makes us great, staff, volunteers, donors, but mostly community. Community supporting community while having a really great time. Thanks for supporting us for 19 years,”
Entertainers:
Double Dutch Meetup is an inclusive, safe space that aims to empower community building and promote fitness. Show off your skills, learn some new ones, and get to know your community when the Double Dutch Meetup shows up. All are welcome to join, and ropes are provided.
Joining us in our Celebrity Dunk Tank include Stefanie Jolles from Philly’s Premier Punk Rock N Roll Shop, Crash Bang Boom. You will also have the chance to dunk the fabulous staff and volunteers of Philly AIDS Thrift.
Reverend MacKenzie Moltov, the sword-swallowing clownbabe, is sure to amaze with a thrilling performance. She is also the Founding Member of The Squidling Brothers Circus Sideshow Act,
Reese “Stoop Kid” Crawley is a fire and flow arts performer and founder of Stoop Kid Studios. He has been a part of the flow arts community since 2014. From volunteering with SpinCo to performing with the Philadelphia Conclave at Burning Man’s Conclave and many other places in between, Reese looks forward to bringing that same energy to you.
Vendors:
There will also be over 30 craft and vintage vendors, some including:
South Street Art Mart: (@southstreetartmart): artist-run retail shop home to the works of over 180 Philly-area artists and makers.
Crash Bang Boom: (@crashbangboomphilly): Philadelphia’s premier “Punk Rock N Roll” shop featuring apparel for punks, goths, metalheads, and rockers.
Imogen X Liu-Johnston: Artist and Engineer creating dark, surrealist, fine art pieces with sustainability and resourcefulness using thrifted, lost, and discarded materials
Love City Brewing: Delicious local craft beers.
