Philadelphia has a strong and active literary scene. The city has established a publishing house, a print press and a network of modern bookstores. Literary readings are held on a regular basis here, drawing writers and readers alike. In Philadelphia, there are also poetry festivals, conferences and seminars on many literary topics. Learn more at philadelphiaski.com.
One of the most significant events is the 215 Festival, which brings together local and national authors and introduces readers to the most recent news in the book market. The festival was organized to bring together and enrich the present literary community via the exchange of experiences. We will tell you more about the event’s history and current activities.
What is the 215 Festival?
The 215 Festival, founded and held in Philadelphia every October, celebrates literary art and the work of local and national writers. The festival‘s main events include prose and poetry readings, literary shows and performances. They last several days and are held in different locations, including university classrooms, theaters, museums and cafes.
Over the years, the festival has also held author readings, film screenings, dance parties and musical events themed around literature, book fairs and panel discussions. Every year, the organizers plan an entertaining program that is free to attend. Venues for the events included Jim’s Steaks on South Street, Urban Jungle garden center and the Philadelphia Art Alliance, among many more.
Everyone is welcome to attend any of the events. Furthermore, the event attracts volunteers to assist with its organization and execution and invites you to make donations in support of the organization.
History of the festival’s foundation and development
The event was initially organized in 2001. Then there was a two-day display of works by contemporary writers. It was called the McSweeney’s Festival and was hosted at the city’s free library. Its main organizer was Neil Pollack, who held positions at McSweeney’s Books, the Free Library of Philadelphia and the Rosenbach Museum & Library.
Over the course of two days, literary readings, musical performances and fascinating literary excursions took place. The events drew around 1,000 guests. It was a huge success, and it inspired the organizers to turn the event into an annual literary creativity festival for the entire city.
Since then, the event has been named “215 Festival” and runs for three to five days every year in October. The number of venues and visitors is continually increasing. Twenty years after its inception, the event has attracted 2,500 guests and continues to grow.
Over the years, the festival has featured participants such as:
- writers David Foster Wallace, Sarah Vowell, Harvey Pekar, Dave Eggers, Jonathan Lethem and Patti Smith
- musicians One Ring Zero and They Might Be Giants
- Philadelphia-based performers Thaddeus Phillip’s Lucidity Suitcase, Headlong Dance Theater, as well as EDO and Wayward Wind bands.
In this way, the festival helps discover and promote local talent while also introducing Philadelphia residents to authors and performers from all around the United States. Here, you can meet well-known artists and discover fresh talents and voices.
Modern vision and mission of the festival
The festival’s current mission is to demonstrate the power of the literary genre by transporting books from shelves to various incredible places and discussing and reading them in person. This brings the literary world closer to everyday life and encourages the spread of love for books.
The event is organized to celebrate the diverse literary community of Philadelphia and the United States. Local and national writers, well-known authors, aspiring artists, musical performers and artists all gather at its venues. Literary discussions and talks, readings and social events, as well as press and literary group fairs, are held in front of the festival’s guests. Writers communicate with both readers and publishers.
The festival became the sponsor and founder of the project LiteraryPhilly.org. This online calendar contains all of the city’s literary events. Furthermore, the organizers have created a database of literary resources in Philadelphia to assist authors and readers in learning about and utilizing available options for their development.
Thus, the 215 Festival in Philadelphia serves as a hub for literary talent synergy and collaboration. It brings together all artists who communicate and implement their ideas primarily through written, printed, spoken and musical language. The festival values collaboration between the literary world and other types and forms of art, emphasizing the universality of word-creation. Visual, tactile, performative and textual art interconnect across several days, resulting in a unique mosaic and an atmosphere of free and lively creativity.