A Free Hip-Hop Festival on the Parkway, Roach Races, and Five Hours of Pierogi

Graffiti writers are coming in from Philly, New York and Florida to paint Eakins Oval wall to wall on Saturday, and you can stand there and watch it happen. That is the free festival anchoring this week. It is 90-plus all three days, so a couple of these are indoors on purpose. Friday night carries the best chance of a storm, so check the organizer before you load the car for the movie.

Big energy

Hip-Hop In The Park at The Oval

Saturday · Noon-9 PM

Eakins Oval · Fairmount · · All ages

🟡Free, and they ask you to RSVP · Eakins Oval has almost no shade, so go earlier, bring water and hats

The Oval Minifest opens with the 6th annual Hip-Hop In The Park, free and open to anyone, at the foot of the Art Museum steps. Janet Jackson's touring DJ headlines, a Philly native who goes by DJ AKTIVE, with Craig G of the Juice Crew and Truck North of the Roots also on the bill. Graffiti writers come in from Philly, New York and Florida and paint the Oval wall to wall over the course of the day, which is the part kids tend to lock onto. There are breaking exhibitions, a dance showcase, a three-point contest and a vendor marketplace. It runs to 9, but the afternoon is the family stretch. Later on the beer and liquor garden crowd takes over.

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Two more free Oval Saturdays follow: a vintage marketplace on August 15 and a Family Fun Day on August 22.

Special event