Odunde Festival

The ODUNDE festival attracts up to 500,000 people annually and is the largest African American street festival held in the country.

ODUNDE was created in 1975 by Lois Fernandez and Ruth Arthur. The festival, whose concept originates from the Yoruba people of Nigeria, West Africa, celebrates the coming of another year for  African Americans and Africanized people around the world.  It is an  occasion highlighted by a colorful procession from  23rd and South Streets to the Schuylkill River where an offering of  fruit and flowers is made to Oshun, the Yoruba goddess of the river.   ODUNDE is also known for its authentic African  marketplace featuring vendors from around the  world selling merchandise  from many African nations, the Caribbean and Brazil. 

Each year, the second Sunday  in June, ODUNDE takes place covering 12 city blocks.  ODUNDE will be celebrating its 39TH year in the  traditional south Philadelphia location near 23rd and South streets. The festival started in  1975 with a $100.00 grant and neighbors from Fernandez's south  Philadelphia community.  In just  two years the ODUNDE Festival exploded.  The eclectic mix of vendors, entertainment and music started to draw people from around and beyond the region and  each year continues to be no different.  

ODUNDE IS FOR EVERYONE, WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AND YOUR FAMILY THIS YEAR!!!