News Summary
Philadelphia is set to celebrate its third annual Kwanzaa Celebration at the Penn Museum, inviting the community to engage in cultural activities and honor African heritage. Scheduled for December 28, the event features live performances, educational workshops, and a marketplace showcasing local artisans. With activities for all ages, the celebration aims to promote unity and the rich traditions of Kwanzaa, making it a festive day for families and community members alike.
Philadelphia Readies for Third Annual Kwanzaa Celebration at Penn Museum
Philadelphia is set to host its 3rd annual Kwanzaa Celebration: Free Community Day at the Penn Museum on Sunday, December 28, 2025. This significant event, co-sponsored by the University of Pennsylvania Center for Africana Studies, extends an open invitation to the entire community for a joyous celebration honoring African heritage and community unity. The day promises a rich tapestry of cultural enrichment and family-friendly activities, embodying the spirit of Kwanzaa.
The celebration is scheduled to run from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm ET and is entirely free and open to the public. While admission is free, securing advance tickets is highly recommended to ensure entry to the museum’s galleries and the day’s festivities.
A Day of Vibrant Traditions and Engagement
Attendees can anticipate a diverse array of engaging activities designed to captivate all ages. The event will feature captivating performances, including lively drumming by Karen Smith Drums, soulful violin melodies from Owen Valentine, and a dynamic dance workshop led by Raphael Xavier. The Universal African Dance and Drum Ensemble is also scheduled to deliver inspiring performances, showcasing the rich artistic traditions of African and African-American culture.
Educational components are central to the celebration, with hands-on workshops hosted by Kwanzaa for Me & You. These workshops will delve into the Kwanzaa principles such as unity, self-determination, and creativity, offering practical ways for participants to understand and integrate these values. Further enriching the experience will be a community conversation titled “Kwanzaa: History, Roots, and the Spirit of Cultural Renewal,” presented by Dr. Kelly Harris from the Center for Africana Studies.
Beyond performances and discussions, the event encourages active participation with drop-in activities available in the Asia Galleries. These include opportunities for creating vision boards, enjoying face painting and henna art, and engaging in various games. For younger attendees, handmade Zawadi gifts will be distributed while supplies last. A special marketplace will also be featured, highlighting local artisans and Black-owned businesses, providing an opportunity to support cooperative economics. The Museum Café will offer a special themed menu, with attendees receiving a 10% discount on purchases.
Understanding Kwanzaa: Principles and Purpose
This community day at the Penn Museum coincides with the fourth day of Kwanzaa, an annual celebration spanning seven days from December 26 to January 1. Kwanzaa is a cultural and ethnic holiday created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga. It serves as a dedicated time for millions of people to honor and celebrate African-American culture, heritage, family, and community.
The core of Kwanzaa is rooted in seven foundational principles, known as the Nguzo Saba, all expressed in Swahili. Each day of the celebration is dedicated to one of these principles, fostering reflection and community engagement:
- Umoja (Unity): To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race.
- Kujichagulia (Self-Determination): To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves, and speak for ourselves.
- Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility): To build and maintain our community together and make our brothers’ and sisters’ problems our problems, and to solve them together.
- Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics): To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses, and to profit from them together.
- Nia (Purpose): To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.
- Kuumba (Creativity): To do always as much as we can to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.
- Imani (Faith): To believe with all our hearts in our people, and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.
The Penn Museum’s Kwanzaa Celebration offers a unique opportunity for attendees to engage with these principles through vibrant cultural expressions and shared experiences, reinforcing the holiday’s message of community strength, cultural pride, and collective renewal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the Kwanzaa Celebration: Free Community Day?
A: The Kwanzaa Celebration: Free Community Day is the 3rd annual event hosted by the Penn Museum, co-sponsored by the University of Pennsylvania Center for Africana Studies, inviting the community to a day of cultural enrichment and family-friendly activities, celebrating African heritage and unity.
Q: When and where will the celebration take place?
A: The celebration will take place at the Penn Museum, located in Philadelphia, on Sunday, December 28, 2025, from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm ET.
Q: What activities are planned for the event?
A: The event will feature captivating performances by Karen Smith Drumming, violinist Owen Valentine, Raphael Xavier, and the Universal African Dance and Drum Ensemble. It will also include hands-on workshops by Kwanzaa for Me & You, a community conversation with Dr. Kelly Harris, vision boards, face painting, henna art, games, a marketplace with local artisans and Black-owned businesses, and handmade Zawadi gifts for youth (while supplies last).
Q: Is there an admission fee for the Kwanzaa Celebration?
A: No, the event is free and open to the public. However, securing advance tickets is recommended.
Q: What is Kwanzaa?
A: Kwanzaa is an annual cultural and ethnic celebration of African-American culture, observed from December 26 to January 1, created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga to honor African heritage, family, and community.
Q: What are the Seven Principles of Kwanzaa (Nguzo Saba)?
A: The Seven Principles of Kwanzaa, or Nguzo Saba, are Umoja (Unity), Kujichagulia (Self-Determination), Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility), Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics), Nia (Purpose), Kuumba (Creativity), and Imani (Faith).
Key Features of the Kwanzaa Celebration: Free Community Day
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Date and Time | Sunday, December 28, 2025, from 11:00 am – 4:00 pm ET |
| Location | Penn Museum, Philadelphia |
| Admission | Free and open to the public; advance tickets recommended. |
| Hosts/Sponsors | Penn Museum and University of Pennsylvania Center for Africana Studies. |
| Performances | Karen Smith Drumming, Owen Valentine (violinist), Raphael Xavier (dance workshop), Universal African Dance and Drum Ensemble. |
| Workshops & Discussions | Hands-on Kwanzaa principles workshops by Kwanzaa for Me & You, community conversation with Dr. Kelly Harris on Kwanzaa’s history, vision boards, face painting, henna, and games. |
| Marketplace | Features local artisans and Black-owned businesses. |
| Gifts | Handmade Zawadi gifts for youth (while supplies last). |
| Kwanzaa Principle Highlighted | Event occurs on the fourth day of Kwanzaa, embodying its principles. |
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
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Kwanzaa Celebrations in Philadelphia: Unity and Cultural Events
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Author: STAFF HERE PHILADELPHIA WRITER
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