Kwanzaa 2025 in Philly: 16 Ways to Celebrate

December 13 – 29, 2025 (select dates)

Public libraries across the city celebrate Kwanzaa with crafts, storytelling and music (no library card required):

• Pre-Kwanzaa Concert with Karen Smith! at Parkway Central Library: Start celebrating Kwanzaa a little early at this pre-Kwanzaa afternoon concert. Join PEW fellow Karen Smith and her drum ensemble to learn songs, movement and the seven principles of the holiday (Saturday, December 13, 2025 at 2 p.m.).

• December Holidays Around the World at Wyoming Library: Bring the littles to the library to learn about December holidays celebrated around the globe. Through magic, puppetry, music and dance, participants learn about how different cultures celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa (Monday, December 15, 2025 at 3:30 p.m.).

• Learn About Kwanzaa with Mama Carla at Joseph E. Coleman Northwest Regional Library: Stop by the library after school for oral storyteller Mama Carla Wiley’s program about the history and traditions of Kwanzaa during this Kwanzaa-themed event in Germantown (Tuesday, December 23, 2025 at 3:30 p.m.).

• Kwanzaa Celebration for All Ages! at Parkway Central Library: Multicultural groups from around Philadelphia gather at the Philadelphia Free Library’s main branch for two days of dancing, music and history, plus lunch and take-home goodies for kids and teens under the age of 18 (December 26 & 27, 2025).

• Honoring the Seven Principles: A Kwanzaa Celebration at Parkway Central Library: Learn about Nguzo Saba (the seven principles of Kwanzaa) through the lens of empowerment and Black heritage at this afternoon program at the library’s main branch. The program highlights how Kwanzaa unites and heals in the Black community and includes an introduction to Black American Sign Language (Saturday, December 27, 2025 at 2 p.m.).

• Kwanzaa Story and Kinara Coloring at Northeast Regional Library: Hear Kawnaa stories and then pick out a kinara to color at this event in Northeast Philadelphia. The kinara is the seven-branched candleholder used in Kwanzaa celebrations, representing the seven principles of the holiday (Monday, December 29, 2025 at 2:30 p.m.).

The City of Philadelphia kicks off Kwanzaa during a special program in the Mayor’s Reception Room 202 in City Hall.

Creative Philadelphia partners with the Kwanzaa Cooperative to host the event featuring singing, a performance from the Tyehimba African Drum and Dance Ensemble, and the ceremonial lighting of the umoja (unity) candle.

Following the event, the large kinara outside the south side of City Hall (facing South Broad Street) will have one candle lit each of the seven days of Kwanzaa, each representing a different principle of the holiday.

The African American Museum in Philadelphia celebrates Kwanzaa with a mix of free in-person and virtual events:

• Umoja – Opening Unity Celebration at the African American Museum in Philadelphia: Things kick off with a showcase celebrating the principle of umoja (unity) at the museum featuring music, food, live performances and hands-on cultural activities (Friday, December 26, 2025).

• Kujichagulia – Self-Determination Culinary Experience at the Culinary Literacy Center at the Free Library of Philadelphia: Tap into the principle of kujichagulia (self-determination) by joining in culinary community with a guest chef who leads a cooking demonstration followed by a conversation and communal meal celebrating African American culinary traditions (Saturday, December 27, 2025).

• Ujima – Collective Work & Responsibility Open Mic Night at the African American Museum in Philadelphia: This third-night-of-Kwanzaa event focuses on the principle of ujima (building community) by gathering together to problem solve and support one another through music, poetry and community (Sunday, December 28, 2025).

• Celebrating Ujamaa – Cooperative Economics Evening Bazaar & Quizzo at Franklin Square: Celebrate the principle of ujamaa (cooperative economics) under the lights at Franklin Square at this event featuring a vendor marketplace and Kwanzaa-themed Quizzo (Monday, December 29, 2025).

• Virtual Events: Artmaking, Dance and Mindfulness: The week-long celebration wraps up with three virtual events:
  • The Purpose of Virtual Artmaking Workshop focuses on the principle of nia (purpose) (Tuesday, December 30, 2025).
  • Creativity Virtual Dance Experience honors the principle of kuumba (creativity) (Wednesday, December 31, 2025);
  • Ring in the new year with the Faith Virtual Mindfulness Experience, highlighting the principle of imani (faith) (Thursday, January, 1, 2026).

Celebrate Kwanzaa with Sesame Street friends each night of the holiday with storytelling and a kinara lighting at Bucks County’s Sesame Place.

Gather together in Abby’s Paradise Theater each night for a kinara lighting ceremony with Elmo, Cookie Monster and others to learn and sing songs about Kwanzaa. Then head to Sesame Studio for a Kwanzaa-themed storytime with a surprise friend. (Stay afterward for hugs and photos.)

Check Sesame Place’s daily schedule for event times. Space is limited and access to the events is free with regular admission.

Bucks County pulls out all the stops with this interactive Kwanzaa celebration at the Mercer Museum. On the docket: live music, vendors, kid-friendly activities, family programming and a special presentation by cultural educator Dr. Wanda Lewis-Campbell.

Mark the first day of Kwanzaa at the Mercer with free admission to both the annual Kwanzaa celebration and the museum’s collections.

The 2025 Kwanzaa Village brings delicious pay-as-you-go food, live music, drum performances, local vendors and family-friendly activities to historic Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church — the oldest piece of land in the United States continuously owned by African-Americans (since 1787!).

Over two days of celebration and connection, attendees can learn about and share in the spirit of Kwanzaa together, all while celebrating culture, community and local businesses.

Dig into the vibrant traditions and principles of Kwanzaa with a full day of fun at West Philadelphia’s Please Touch Museum. The schedule features interactive storytime about the principles of Kwanzaa along with live music, crafts and interactive activities like a Kwanzaa table-painting workshop.

Children have the opportunity to learn about and play hand-crafted West African hand drums like a djembe or shekere during and after Mister Boom Boom’s African drum circle performance. Admission to the Kwanzaa festivities comes with regular museum admission.

Come together and celebrate the holiday with a day of family-friendly festivities at the annual Kwanzaa Celebration at West Philly’s Penn Museum.

Enjoy performances from Karen Smith Drumming and violinist Owen Valentine, and learn about the principles of Kwanzaa through hands-on workshops hosted by Kwanzaa for Me & You. Storytelling, music, dance and handmade Zawadi gifts round out the day-long celebration.

2025 marks the third year the museum has partnered with the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Africana Studies to curate the event. Timed tickets are available for free by reservation and include admission to the museum.

Kwanzaa wouldn’t be Kwanzaa without gifts, or zawadi in Swahili, so why not find the perfect gift while supporting local entrepreneurs this holiday season?

Dozens of brick-and-mortar and online Black-owned businesses call Philly home, spanning bookstores, apparel shops, spas, farms and so much more. This directory from The African American Chamber of Commerce of PA, NJ and DE offers additional opportunities to support Black-owned businesses in the region.