South Philadelphia’s annual celebration of thrift shopping, live music and community giving will return Sept. 26, when Philly AIDS Thrift hosts its 21st Anniversary Block Party.
The free, family- and dog-friendly event will run from noon to 6 p.m. outside the iconic store on the 700 blocks of S. 5th St. and East Passyunk Avenue, between Bainbridge and Monroe streets. The streets will be closed to traffic for the celebration, which will feature live performances, food trucks, more than 30 local artists and vendors, games, a pie-eating contest and the popular celebrity dunk tank.
WXPN host and producer DJ Robert Drake will serve as emcee and spin tunes throughout the day. Other performers include Philly Elmo & PME Drumline, funk-and-soul artist Killeé and UgLi, a queer- and trans-fronted Philadelphia punk and alternative band.
The dunk tank will feature several familiar South Philadelphia faces, including James Beard Award-winning chef and Mawn and Sao co-owner Phila Lorn, Juana Tamale owner Jen Zavala and Crash Bang Boom co-owner Stef Jolles. WXPN host Eric Schuman and longtime Philly AIDS Thrift manager Adam Proctor also will take turns in the tank.
“We’re so excited to celebrate 21 years of Philly AIDS Thrift with the community that has made all of this possible,” said Executive Director and co-founder Christina Kallas-Saritsoglou. “The Block Party brings together so much of what we love about Philadelphia: the music, food, local artists and businesses, and people coming together.”
The event also highlights the thrift store’s role in supporting HIV/AIDS services throughout the region. Since its founding in 2005, Philly AIDS Thrift has donated more than $5.7 million to community organizations. This year, it awarded more than $400,000 in grants to 33 local organizations, including Bebashi – Transition to Hope, The Attic Youth Center and the William Way LGBT Community Center.
“What started 21 years ago with a small group of longtime AIDS activists and lovers of junk, a tiny storefront with no heat, and donations collected directly from our friends’ apartments has grown into something sustained by our shoppers, donors, volunteers, staff and friends,” Kallas-Saritsoglou said. “We are incredibly grateful that people continue to show up for us year after year, and we can’t wait to celebrate with everyone outside our store on Sept. 26.”
Board President Michael Byrne said the block party represents the organization’s community-centered mission.
“It really is community supporting community while having a great time,” Byrne said. “The Block Party gives us a chance to celebrate everything this community has helped build, thank the people who continue to make our work possible and simply enjoy an incredible day together.”
The event will include the sixth annual pie-eating contest, emceed by former CBS3 anchor Jim Donovan, with pies provided by MANNA through its annual Pie in the Sky fundraiser. The contest is open to everyone, with limited spots available for day-of registration.
The block party also serves as the unofficial kickoff to Halloween season at Philly AIDS Thrift, traditionally the store’s busiest time of year for costumes, decorations and accessories. ••
