Party like there IS a Tomorrow!

Sunday September 12, 2010 11am-6pm
2nd & South Streets

Save the Planet. Save Money. Save the Date.

How We Got Here

Urban Green Partnership is Founded

In early 2006 a group of people sitting in a row home in South Philly were trying to figure out how to help the people of Philadelphia start to make their lives a little bit greener. They were looking for a way to make the environment something everyone in Philadelphia could connect to no matter what their opinions of the environment. “We need to meet people where they are” was the idea the Urban Green Partnership kept coming back to as it searched for ways to educate as many people as possible about the environmental issues facing the city and the Delaware valley. Early in 2006 the idea of hosting a green street party was hatched and in September of that year, the South Street Green Festival was held. 40 vendors and over 6,500 visitors showed up just to see what the crazy bunch of South Philly folks were up to.

Michael Nutter, Babette Josephs, Alen Butkovits, and Maurice Sampson were just a few of the speakers that turned out in the first year to show their support for the environment and their passion for making Philadelphia the next great city. Working with Recycle Now the festival helped collect over 2000 signatures in support of increasing the city wide incentivized recycling program. The 1 day long festival went so well that the Urban Green Partnership decided to host a second festival in 2007.

What a jump, in 2007 the festival grew to 4 blocks, 130 vendors and was attended by over 14,000 people. Again the Urban Green Partnership teamed up with another local organization, the Delaware Valley Green Building Council to highlight the need for more green building and how to help Philly move in a greener direction. The festival was also able to work with the city and become part of Green Plan Philadelphia.

2008's festival found itself in a new home at 2nd and South Streets. Over 200 exhibitors and nearly 25,000 visitors came to share the day themed around water. DVGBC, ECA, and the Philadelphia Water Department, and The Partnernership for the Delaware Estuary were only a few of the organizations who joined us for our Water Quality Symposium.

Returning to 2nd and South Streets in 2009, the 4th annual festival was themed around sustainable food. Nearly 20,000 visitors and 150 exhibitors joined GreenFest Philly its fourth year. A host of eco-conscious food vendors joined the festival, along with speakers and a screening of the film FOOD, INC.

At 2nd and South Streets for the third year in a row, GreenFest Philly 2010's theme is centered around Fashion. The GreenFest Team is hard at work to make a wonderful festival focused on how easy it is to be eco-conscious with your wardrobe. As always, the Urban Green Partnership is reaching out to teach the community how easy helping the environment is, and letting everyone in the city know that we're here to help in any way we can.

See everyone in September!

top of page