To mark the nation’s semiquincentennial, the Penn Museum in partnership with Wharton Community Engagement are hosting Penn & Philly 250: A Celebration of Community, Culture, and Freedom on Saturday, June 13, 2026 from 12 p.m to 6 p.m. Admission is free for everyone.
Combining the Penn Museum’s Juneteenth celebration with Wharton’s Wellness Empowerment Project, this indoor/outdoor festival brings Penn’s schools and centers together with neighbors and local organizations to honor Philadelphia’s rich history while centering vibrant communities whose voices keep its stories and heritage alive.
“The Penn & Philly 250 event reflects a shared commitment to listening, collaborating, and aligning Penn’s resources with the priorities of our Philadelphia neighbors. I am delighted to see the Wellness Empowerment (WE) Project integrated into this effort, underscoring that financial wellness and health are inextricably linked. Wharton’s partnership with Penn Medicine’s Department of Neurology has been critical in advancing this holistic approach and expanding access to meaningful resources for our community,” co-organizer Dr. Renita Miller, Executive Director of Wharton Community Engagement, explains. “At its core, this day is about intentional collaboration that strengthens our community.”
For co-organizer Dr. Tia Jackson-Truitt, Director of Staff and Community Engagement at the Penn Museum, it was essential to include Juneteenth-related components—marking the importance of June 19, 1865, the official emancipation date of enslaved people in Texas, while weaving that story into the country’s semiquincentennial.
“This is a special, collaborative university-wide event to mark the country’s 250th anniversary. With support from most campus centers and departments, it truly embraces Penn’s interdisciplinary approach to community engagement by sharing the resources of the University with our neighbors to address health, financial literacy, education, arts, and culture, but also to have a bit of fun outside. Combining our annual Juneteenth Celebration with the Wellness Empowerment Project will have a broad, long-lasting impact on our communities,” Dr. Jackson-Truitt says. “By working with our many community partners, our goal is to elevate their reach and amplify the stories they want to share.”
This festive community celebration offers cultural performances and activities, access to health and financial literacy resources, conversations with artists and Penn faculty, as well as pop-up community exhibitions, a marketplace, and food trucks.
This free summer festival includes:
The Penn & Philly 250: A Celebration of Community, Culture, and Freedom event also received support from Penn & Philly, the School of Social Policy & Practice, Annenberg School for Communication, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Perelman School of Medicine, Penn Medicine Department of Neurology, Stuart Weitzman School of Design, School of Dental Medicine, School of Nursing, Graduate School of Education, Netter Center for Community Partnerships, School of Arts and Sciences, Penn Libraries, WXPN, and the Office of Social Equity and Community.
Advance registration is required to receive free tickets. Register here.
