The Inaugural Germantown Arts District Festival is Taking Place With 50+ Vendors, Live Music and More
Last April The Germantown Arts District was launched and for the last year it has worked to make Germantown a destination for arts and culture. In celebration of their one year anniversary as well as celebrate the community and residents of Germantown, GAD will be hosting their inaugural Germantown Arts District Festival on Saturday April 20th from 11 am to 6 pm along Germantown Ave.
(between Coulter and Armat Streets ).
Attendees can expect a day long festival filled with vendors, live music, art, workshops, panels and plenty of activities for all ages.
“Expect a festival landscape that lets you spend time with the things that interest you. We have 5 Zones for folks to explore. Expect workshops and panels and activities as main attractions. Expect to SHARE YOUR heART. Expect to build community – to walk away with ideas and having created dope at a festival on a Saturday in Germantown,” states GAD Founder & Executive Director Kristen Clark.
The GAD Festival’s activations will include:
A Youth Zone – unlike other Youth Zones that I’ve seen. We asked a community partner to curate and facilitate the area to ensure a specific tone for the event. Natural Creativity is a Self-Directed Education community here in Germantown. Their campus is EXQUISITE and ideal for discovery. Having worked with them in the past I know how they love young people and facilitate a space that encourages the exact tone I want to amplify through the festival so I’m so happy they get to host the young people of Germantown.
A HBCU Zone curated by the AUC Philly Club and the Kappa’s-A Zone for teens to explore, build community, ask questions, dance, hear some dope panelists and witness the official trailer from AUC Philly Club of the Philly High School Tour Documentary complete with a DJ Deck keeping the vibes going.
A Creator Zone for the Creative in you-An open mic, jazz lounge, photography exhibition – pop ups, an upcycling station,
An Experience Zone- Art from Imperfect Gallery, local artists, artisans and vendors. The idea is to give you a space to absorb works and engage the artists in this zone.
Live Music on the Main Stage will Include:
Musiqology Music Group – led by Dr. Guthrie Ramsey,
Tonya Lennette & Khadijah Renee
Joshua Mitchell
Candice Murray
Wissahickon Dance
Jenks Diamonds
The Bul Bey
Central High Pep Squad
Simone x Monet
Hudson River
Kinesics Dance Dynamics
Stroll Off (NPHC D9 Orgs)
Batala Philly
Amari Rebel and the Movement
Rooftop Sounds
Bluu Boi
Tuck Ryan
and more
Workshops & Interactive Activities:
Making Informed Decisions About Drugs & Alcohol (Teens) – Natural Creativity & Prevention Ed
Master Your Settings – CJ Wolfe & Immortal Vision Studio
GADFEST Photo Scavenger Hunt – Immortal Vision
Drop In Tap Class – Kinesics Dance Dynamics (All Ages)
Drop In Stretch & Conditioning Class – Kinesics Dance Dynamics (All ages)
The festival looks to shine a light on the talent, creatives, artisans, businesses and people of Germantown. “This moment is so much bigger than one person and one organization – so this childhood dream is only the beginning. We are very grateful to have the support of the community who single-handedly raised the money for this festival, thus proving our theory. Art has been in the heart of Germantown; we just need the infrastructure to support and nurture it,” Kristen added.
So what can you expect from GAD after this festival? Well Kristen stated that folks should look for a number of events in the near future.
“Fourth Fridays are returning. We’re collaborating with Friends of Wissahickon and Iron Peony for their 100th anniversary. April 28th will mark our 1 year of activity and we want to make our second year about refining what Fourth Fridays look like and building in more community partnerships. This is only the beginning for GAD. The festival will be annual. We’re excited for our 5 year plan and we are hopeful for a creative future for Germantown. We know so much now that we’ve jumped in – we can only get better from here,” she added.
