A beloved summer neighborhood tradition lives on! Cedar Park Friday Night Jazz, which celebrated its 25th anniversary last year, is returning this week. The free shows run at 49th and Baltimore every Friday, from 6-8 p.m., in June and July (in fair weather only) and feature Philadelphia’s finest jazz musicians and bands.

The popular jazz series kicks off this Friday with a performance by a well-known West Philly musician, Gretchen Elise.

Please see the attached flyer for the full 2025 schedule.

Guests are welcome to bring chairs, blankets and picnics.

The event is organized by Cedar Park Neighbors with the help from neighborhood businesses. This year’s sponsors are PFCU, Mariposa, VIX, Hellcat Studio, Carbon Copy, and Cleo’s Bagels. If you’d like to support Cedar Park Jazz, please go here.

For updates, visit CPN’s Facebook page.

West Philly Porchfest, the annual DIY music festival, is returning this Saturday, May 31. Dozens of free shows featuring a variety of music genres will take place from Noon-6 p.m. The festival keeps growing and adding new porches every year since it started in 2016.

You can check out the interactive map and list of the performers here and follow @westphillyporchfest on Instagram for updates.

Film still from Rashaad Newsome’s Assembly, the Closing Night feature film of Under the Stars 2025. Courtesy of The Film Collaborative.

UPDATE: The opening night has been postponed to Saturday, May 24 and changed location. It will take place indoors at the Calvary Center for Culture and Community (801 S. 48th St), beginning at 6:30 p.m. Follow cinéSPEAK on Instagram for updates.

The 5th annual independent film festival, Under the Stars at Clark Park, is returning to 43rd and Chester this Friday, May 23. Every Friday through June 13, cinéSPEAK will present city premieres of independent films from around the world, live music from local artists, viral food pop-ups (including Manna Bakery and Darnel’s Cakes), and more.

This year’s program includes six Philadelphia premieres and a special repertory screening of legendary Palestinian filmmaker Elia Suleiman’s It Must Be Heaven, which makes one of its first U.S. appearances since its festival tour in 2019, and live musical performances in honor of West Philly Porchfest 2025. This year’s themes include Palestinian cultural preservation, Indigeneity and environmental stewardship, and Black and queer liberatory futures.

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The University City District (UCD) has recently announced the dates for its popular summer events, from the Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll to Movies in Clark Park. Each summer, UCD partners with local businesses, restaurants, arts and culture organizations and performers to bring these fun events to community members. So mark your calendar with these dates and stay tuned for more details.

• The Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll will return on Thursday, June 5 and Thursday, Sept. 4 from 5 to 8 p.m. During this unique event, Baltimore Avenue businesses and community vendors offer $1, $3, and $5 bargains between 40th and 51st Streets.

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Pop-Ups at the Portal returns to Trolley Portal Gardens at 40th and Baltimore on Thursday, May 8. University City District (UCD) is teaming up with local performer and curator Gretchen Elise to present five weeks of free, interactive, all-ages entertainment. Pop-ups will run every Thursday from May 8 through June 5, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and are fair-weather only.

“Our goal with Trolley Portal Gardens is to bring programming for the neighbors, parents, and commuters who use the space every day,” said Margaret Starke, UCD’s Senior Manager of Events and Community Partnerships.

Denise King, an international jazz vocalist and recording artist, launches the series on May 8.

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West Philly Bizarre, a non-profit vendor market organizer known for its Clark Park People’s Market, has opened a pop-up shop in an empty storefront 0n the 40th Street commercial corridor.

The store, located at 22 S. 40th Street (between Market and Chestnut Streets), had its soft opening today and will be open Thursdays-Saturdays 12-8 p.m. and Sundays 12-6 p.m. during the month of May. The programming will include a regularly changing roster of West Philly Bizarre curated vendors.

The space is provided by University City District (UCD) and was activated by Meantime, a Philadelphia-based non-profit working to turn empty, street-facing spaces into opportunities for creativity, connection, and local economic growth.

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