40,000 attend NoLibs 2d Street Festival

Almost 40,000 festivalgoers came out Sunday to celebrate the seventh-annual Northern Liberties Second Street Festival on North Second and Green Streets and Germantown Avenue.

The festival began in 2008 after local property owners Owen Kamihira, of Bar Ferdinand and El Camino Real; Oron Daskal, of North Bowl pub; and William Reed, owner of the Standard Tap and Johnny Brenda's, came together to celebrate their neighborhood.

The festival has grown in popularity every year since, gaining about 5,000 festivalgoers each time it is held.

Its mission?

To promote Northern Liberties and help cultivate its potential by steering it toward art and cultural institutions, Reed said.

"There's a lot that could happen on Second Street, and I wanted to be a part of that process, and not just watch it develop to whoever happens to be the highest bidder," Reed said. "The Second Street Festival is our chance to show each year how fun the street can be."

The festival costs $100,000 to run each year. About $60,000 goes toward the city and operational costs, and the remaining $40,000 goes to the Liberty Lands Park and festival partner Northern Liberties Neighbors Association.

"They really support the neighborhood and engage the neighborhood in a very positive way," said Don Phillips, 68, a board member of the Northern Liberties Neighbors Association and coordinator of the event.

Reed and Phillips say the ultimate goal of the festival is to raise enough money for a year-round business-improvement coordinator who could help improve lighting, sanitation, and safety in the neighborhood.

As the festival got underway Sunday, thousands of young and old shuffled past each other, stopping at the many food trucks and the densely packed pop-up beer gardens. As live music filtered through the crowd, groups sporting colorful sleeveless tops, maxi dresses, and flip-flops navigated the baking pavement in 90-degree weather.

One of the more popular areas was the Art Star Pop-up Market on Second Street, where almost 40 vendors stretched nearly to Green Street. Sitting in a tent adorned with hand-printed, silk-screened artwork on Madero beach covers was Massachusetts-based independent artist Aaron Powers, 32, of New Antlers.

Powers said it was his first time at the Second Street Festival; he joined after participating in the Spring Art Star Craft Bazaar at Penn's Landing in May.

"I would encourage anyone to apply," Powers said of the festival, "It's worth meeting the other artists." Powers says he paid $125 to be a vendor; $100 goes directly to the neighborhood.

Megan Brewster, 37, co-owner of Art Star on Second Street, says it's the shop's first year bringing the pop-up market to the festival.

Brewster said the festival shows the value of the Northern Liberties area outside of its well-known staple, The Piazza. "It shows we've got really great small businesses, really eclectic shops, and awesome small restaurants. Everything's mom-and-pop."

More than 100 local businesses participated in the festival. Yuengling, Slyfox, Barefoot Wine & Bubbly, Glaceu Vitamin Water, Zipcar, iradiophilly.com, and TriState Indie were among the sponsors for this year's event.

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