Port Richmond celebrated its 179th anniversary at Campbell Square Park on Saturday, with food, live music and neighborhood traditions drawing families and reflecting the community's diversity.
Melissa Michalczyk, the event organizer and owner of State Street Events, said her goal each year is to recreate the feel of a traditional Port Richmond block party.
“When you think of old-school block parties, you think of people outside grilling, all different types of food. Your Spanish neighbor cooking, or your Polish neighbor cooking, and you smell it in the air,” she said. “You hear music from the DJ in the band down the street, and then they have weird little vendors set up for block parties. This is what I'm trying to recreate every year.”
Now in its seventh year, the festival also coincided with celebrations tied to the nation’s 250th anniversary, adding broader significance to the event.
A lifelong Port Richmond resident, Michalczyk said organizing the event is one way she gives back to the neighborhood. Proceeds support Campbell Square Park.
Vendors filled the park with food trucks and businesses showcasing the neighborhood’s cultural diversity. Mexican, Puerto Rican, Italian and African cuisines were among the highlights. Local businesses also displayed art and products, turning the festival into both a celebration and a showcase of what the neighborhood has to offer.
The Polish American String Band, local to Port Richmond, set up a tent to connect with residents and visitors. The group’s clubhouse has been a neighborhood fixture for many years.
“We like to offer our services and give back to the community that’s so generous to us throughout the year,” said Joe Casee, a member of the band.
The band performed later in the day and quickly became a crowd favorite, drawing an audience that gathered near the stage to dance and clap along.
Michalczyk said events like the festival help strengthen the community by encouraging neighbors to connect.
“I want the community to come out and meet their neighbors. So if you're standing next to someone, you meet someone, you have something in common with someone,” she said.
Port Richmond resident Victoria Otto shared that feeling, describing the neighborhood as welcoming and close-knit.
“This is a very family-oriented area. Everybody takes care of each other, even when you're new,” Otto said. “I was new on my block, and right away they treated me like family seven years ago, and we do the same thing as soon as somebody new moves in.”
Vendors also emphasized the importance of connecting with the community to grow their businesses.
Carmen Anuzzi, whose daughter owns From Mine, To Yours, an antique and vintage business, said he enjoys taking part in events like this because they help expand their reach. This was his second year at the festival, and he said it has been a positive experience.
“We do really well here. We sell a lot of stuff because there are a lot of young people in this area,” Anuzzi said.
The festival also drew visitors from outside the neighborhood. Hannah Lake, a student at Thomas Jefferson University, said she decided to attend because the event reminded her of home.
“The flyer reminded me of a festival we had back home. And so, I wanted to come and see how Philly did it,” Lake said. “It's very community based, which is kind of how it is where I'm from. So that's nice.“
The festival was Port Richmond’s first large event of the year and also served as a kickoff for local celebrations tied to the nation’s 250th anniversary. Vendors and organizations from a range of backgrounds helped reflect both the spirit of the neighborhood and the country.
“I want to do everything that supports this neighborhood, because it's so diverse,” Michalczyk said. “Diversity is important to me, especially for this event, ‘cause it celebrates everybody. We're celebrating the 250th of America, too, because it's the first kickoff to the year.”
