{"id":213894,"date":"2026-06-08T19:33:06","date_gmt":"2026-06-08T19:33:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/213894\/"},"modified":"2026-06-08T19:33:06","modified_gmt":"2026-06-08T19:33:06","slug":"brown-penn-and-philly-250-a-free-celebration-of-community-culture-and-freedom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/213894\/","title":{"rendered":"Brown: Penn and Philly 250, A free celebration of community, culture, and freedom"},"content":{"rendered":"

In partnership with Wharton Community Engagement, the Penn Museum will host \u2018Penn and Philly 250: A Celebration of Community, Culture, and Freedom<\/a>\u2018 on Saturday, June 13, from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is free.<\/p>\n

Combining the Penn Museum\u2019s Juneteenth celebration with Wharton\u2019s Wellness Empowerment Project (a collaboration with Penn Medicine), this indoor\/outdoor festival was inspired by Penn & Philly 250\u2019s campus-wide programming throughout 2026.<\/p>\n

Bringing University schools and centers together with neighbors and local organizations, the summer event Penn & Philly 250: Celebration of Community, Culture, and Freedom honors Philadelphia\u2019s rich history while centering vibrant communities whose voices keep its stories and heritage alive.<\/p>\n

This festive community celebration offers a vast range of live cultural performances and activities, access to health and financial literacy resources, conversations with Philadelphia artists and Penn faculty, as well as pop-up community exhibitions, a marketplace, and food trucks:<\/p>\n

Admission to the Penn Museum\u2019s galleries, exhibitions, and historic outdoor gardens
\nHost Starfire returns for the third consecutive year at the Juneteenth Freedom Stage with a DJ, line dancing, African drumming with Karen Smith, and Double Dutch with Philly Girls Jump in Stoner Courtyard. There will be performances from the West Powelton Steppers, Black Boys Making Noise\u00a0storytelling group, and spoken word artists.
\nAll-ages Activity Zone featuring facepainting, henna, hands-on learning, and a sensory friendly space
\nFree on-site health screenings through the Penn Medicine Mobile Mammography Van, and other preventative care focused on wellness, such as blood pressure checks, stroke prevention tips, and nutritional education
\nFree fresh vegetable distribution in partnership with Philabundance
\nChild safety initiatives\u2014helmet giveaways, dental products, and CPR demonstrations
\nFinancial literacy resources and educational workshops led by faculty from the Center for Africana Studies at Penn\u2019s School of Arts and Sciences and the Annenberg School for Communication
\nCommunity Conversations led by artists, authors, and Penn faculty
\nPop-up exhibitions featuring Heritage West: West Philadelphia Community Archaeology Project, The Caroline LeCount story, and the Stuart Weitzman School of Design
\nA marketplace spotlighting Black-owned businesses like Royal Fulani Living,\u00a0BLKFWD\u00a0and the\u00a0Mount Airy Candle Company.
\nLocally owned food trucks offering sweet and savory fare for purchase, plus the Penn Museum Caf\u00e9 is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with themed menu selections.<\/p>\n

Co-organizer Dr. Renita Miller, Executive Director of Wharton Community Engagement enthuses, \u201cThe Penn & Philly 250 event reflects a shared commitment to listening, collaborating, and aligning Penn\u2019s resources with the priorities of our Philadelphia neighbors.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am delighted to see three the Wellness Empowerment (WE) Project integrated into this effort, underscoring that financial wellness and health are inextricably linked.<\/p>\n

\u201cWharton\u2019s partnership with Penn Medicine\u2019s Department of Neurology has been critical in advancing this holistic approach and expanding access to meaningful resources for our community.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt its core, this day is about intentional collaboration that strengthens our community. I am honored to help bring it to our Philadelphia neighbors.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Penn & Philly 250 festival builds on the history of cultivating strong and authentic community partnerships at the Penn Museum.<\/p>\n

For co-organizer Dr. Tia Jackson, Director of Staff and Community Engagement at the Penn Museum, it was essential to include Juneteenth-related components \u2014 marking the importance of June 19, 1865, the official emancipation date of enslaved people in Texas, while weaving that story into the country\u2019s longevity.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a special, collaborative university-wide event to mark the country\u2019s 250th anniversary.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith support from most campus centers and departments, it truly embraces Penn\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis year, we are combining our annual Juneteenth Celebration with the Wellness Empowerment Project to have a broad, long-lasting impact on our communities,\u201d Dr. Jackson says.<\/p>\n

\u201cBy working with our many community partners to host pop-up exhibits, community conversations, and feature dozens of small businesses and community organizations, our goal is to elevate their reach and amplify the stories they want to share.\u201d<\/p>\n

Advance registration is required to receive free tickets to attend the event. Register here.<\/p>\n

Founded in 1887, the Penn Museum has sponsored worldwide scientific explorations which have yielded new knowledge, and continue to do so.<\/p>\n

According to Visit Philadelphia, \u201cMany of the art and artifacts on display come from early expeditions: Sumerian cuneiform clay tablets (with some of the world\u2019s oldest writing), monumental ancient Egyptian statues of pharaohs and officials, Buddhist sculptures from China and Native American regalia.<\/p>\n

\u201cA million objects \u2014 including art and artifacts from around the globe \u2014 are housed at the Penn Museum, one of the world\u2019s finest archaeological and anthropological museums.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom stone tools and household items to architectural monuments and rare art objects, the Museum illustrates the story of humanity\u2019s history and achievements.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith materials from ancient Egypt, Asia, Mesopotamia, the Americas and ancient Greece and Italy, the Penn Museum explores the world \u2014 all under one roof.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn late 2019, the Museum unveiled a major transformation of its Main Entrance Hall and two of its collections \u2014 the Africa Galleries and the Mexico and Central America Gallery.\u201d<\/p>\n

So, with the website as guide, here is what you will find at Penn Museum for the summer of 2026:<\/p>\n

Ancient Egypt: From Discovery to Display<\/p>\n

The Penn Museum is embarking on its largest renovation yet \u2014 transforming the Ancient Egypt and Nubia Galleries<\/a>, which will span the main and upper levels of the building. While the Egypt Galleries are under construction, there are still plenty of Egyptian artifacts on view.<\/p>\n

Opening Dec. 12, 2026<\/p>\n

Egypt Galleries: Life and Afterlife<\/p>\n

For over a century, archaeologists from the Penn Museum have conducted fieldwork in Egypt and Sudan.<\/p>\n

These early excavations played a significant role in establishing the museum\u2019s collection of Egyptian and Nubian artifacts \u2014 one of the largest in the United States.<\/p>\n

Most of the Egyptian collection comprises excavated objects obtained through the partage system wherein foreign archaeological expeditions working in Egypt shared the discoveries made during excavations with Egypt\u2019s Antiquities Service.<\/p>\n

The Egyptian collection spans the entirety of ancient Egypt\u2019s history, ranging from approximately 4,000 BCE to the 7th century CE.<\/p>\n

Explore the extraordinary world of the pharaohs and the timeless cultural legacy of ancient Egypt and Nubia.<\/p>\n

On view is a remarkable collection of statues, reliefs, and intricate artifacts, providing insight into the art, religion, and daily practices of the ancient Egyptians.<\/p>\n

From spectacular statues of powerful pharaohs and goddesses to delicate jewelry and exquisitely decorated coffins, each object reflects this vibrant and complex society that thrived along the Nile River.<\/p>\n

Unravel the mysteries of the afterlife, the significance of hieroglyphs, and the fine craftsmanship of ancient artisans.<\/p>\n

Witness the journey which artifacts take on their way to museum display \u2014 from excavation to conservation, to storage and research.<\/p>\n

Explore themes like kingship, deities, daily life, and the afterlife. See Egyptian artifacts in visible storage, and learn more about ancient Egypt and Penn\u2019s excavations there.<\/p>\n

The Penn Museum has been involved in archaeological research in Egypt for more than a century.<\/p>\n

Most of the material in the collection was excavated by Penn archaeologists, and come from excavation sites such as tombs, temples, and towns throughout Egypt.<\/p>\n

The exhibition highlights not only the history of how these artifacts came to the Museum, but also how the objects are stored, used for research, and the meticulous skill and expertise involved in conserving and preparing them for display.<\/p>\n

Although the Penn Museum houses one of the largest collections of Egyptian material in the U.S., when archaeologists excavate today, everything found must stay in Egypt.<\/p>\n

For example, a \u201cfalse door\u201d is an architectural element in an Egyptian tomb that served as a magical doorway for the ka (or life force) of the deceased. The Egyptians believed that the ka could enter and exit the false door to receive the offerings left in front of it by visitors to the tomb.<\/p>\n

This false door came from the tomb chapel of Irty-Ptah, a priest of Ptah and a \u201cScribe of Divine Offering\u201d in the Temple of Ptah at Memphis. 2350-2170 BCE<\/a>.<\/p>\n

With hundreds of gods, the Egyptians appealed to certain deities for help with deeply personal issues such as healing, fertility, and love.<\/p>\n

Evidence of this widespread devotion can be found in objects like an exhibited faience plaque representing Bes, a popular deity accompanied by lively monkeys.<\/p>\n

Originally, metal rings were attached to the holes at the top of the plaque. When shaken, the object produced a rattling sound believed to ward off malevolent forces that could bring harm to the household. 1075-656 BCE<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Please note that a comprehensive reinstallation of the Egypt Galleries is underway, and the Palace of Merenptah will be the focal element of the Museum\u2019s new upper gallery.<\/p>\n

What does the archaeological evidence tell us about life and death in Song Dynasty China?<\/p>\n

This student-curated exhibition explores the contents of a 12th-century tomb from the Jiangxi region of China and offers a glimpse into elaborate funeral practices from long ago.<\/p>\n

Visitors will be able to see ways that burial dates, tomb locations, and the arrangement of ceramic figurines during a funeral were all informed by patterns observed in the heavens and earth.<\/p>\n

Careful attention to these patterns ensured the deceased would be laid in a secure resting place in the cosmos and that benefits would come to their living descendants.<\/p>\n

Drawing on contemporary texts and modern laboratory techniques, the exhibit delves into the meaning and making of tomb ceramics and reveals the function of complex fengshui tools.<\/p>\n

Learn more in this special opportunity to see selections from one of the largest Song Dynasty tomb assemblages in the United States.<\/p>\n

NOW ON VIEW<\/p>\n

Native North America Gallery<\/p>\n

Developed in partnership with eight Indigenous consulting curators, this gallery explores the political, religious, linguistic, and artistic self-determination of Native peoples across the United States.<\/p>\n

Discover a living tapestry of Nations with distinct histories and unexpected identities, and leave preconceptions behind.<\/p>\n

Created in collaboration with Indigenous Consulting Curators, the gallery spans 13,000 years of Native history across four U.S. regions, highlighting centuries of resilience, artistry, and tradition.<\/p>\n

On June 13, bring the whole family for a festival filled with joyful performance, live DJ sets, captivating storytelling, and hands-on activities for all ages.<\/p>\n

Support a community marketplace or grab a bite from local food trucks.<\/p>\n

Become a Member today for unlimited admission all year. Be among the first to explore the newly reimagined Egypt and Nubia gallery featuring the 4,300-year-old Tomb Chapel of Kaipure, on view for the first time in 30 years.<\/p>\n

These are just glimpses at the exciting and rewarding offerings at Penn Museum \u2013 right in our backyard!<\/p>\n

Mary Brown, President of The Philadelphia Classical Society and a Penn Museum Docent since 2012, teaches Latin at Saint Joseph\u2019s University and is a weekly columnist for Main Line Media News.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"In partnership with Wharton Community Engagement, the Penn Museum will host \u2018Penn and Philly 250: A Celebration of…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":9155,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[182,139,1559,28,69,71,70,199],"class_list":["post-213894","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-philadelphia","tag-local-news","tag-news","tag-opinion","tag-pennsylvania","tag-philadelphia","tag-philadelphia-headlines","tag-philadelphia-news","tag-top-stories-mlt"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/213894","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=213894"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/213894\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9155"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=213894"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=213894"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=213894"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}