Kensington Derby and Arts Festival Brings Back Mud, Live Music, Food Trucks and Vendors

Fishtown District announces the return of the Philadelphia Federal Credit Union Kensington Derby and Arts Festival on Saturday, May 14, 2022, from 12:00pm to 6:00pm. One of Philadelphia's largest spring festivals is back after a pandemic break and ready to take over Trenton Avenue from Norris Street to Frankford Avenue. The fourteenth year for this event will feature over 100+ local vendors, artists, musicians, food and drink, performers - and a parade of homemade vehicles. Derby competitors are encouraged to wear costumes and make it to the finish line in their human-powered vehicles and floats. Over 15,000 people are expected to come out and cheer them on along the three mile obstacle course that stretches through East Kensington and Fishtown. Mud, bubbles and other obstacles along the route will be presented by some of the District's biggest names, including Johnny Brenda's, Philadelphia Brewing Co., and Kensington Community Food Co-Op. Winners will be crowned in categories that have ranged over the years like Best Art, Best Costume, Best Engineering, Best Breakdown, Media Choice and, of course, the highly coveted Judge's Choice Award. Registration is now open for contestants and vendors. Thanks to generous support from Penn Treaty Special Services District, there is no fee to participate in the Derby parade this year.

“Fishtown District is excited to partner with title sponsor Philadelphia Federal Credit Union to bring back and continue this long-standing neighborhood tradition,” said Fishtown District Director of Operations Kae Anderson. “For the first time ever, Fishtown District will help support our local civic associations by taking the organizing reins for 2022. We plan to bring a renewed hyperlocal feel to the event with a focus on cultivating local business participation and showcasing the creativity you can only find here in Kensington and Fishtown. We can't wait to get back outside. The mud is ready to fly once again on Trenton Avenue!"

“As we transition to normalcy, we’re excited to engage with the Fishtown and Kensington community once again as the title sponsor of the 14th Philadelphia Federal Credit Union Kensington Derby and Arts Festival," said PFCU Communications Specialist Karen Eavis. “PFCU is a staple in this community, and we look forward to enhancing elements of one of the city’s most beloved events.”

Now in its 14th year, the Kensington Derby and Arts Festival returns after a two-year break. The event is widely known as one of the largest spring festivals in the tri-state region - and it has a reputation as being one of the city's most memorable and unique events that goes beyond just food, drink and vendors. The event brings vendors, performers, musicians, food trucks, local businesses and neighbors together in a way that is as unique as the two prominent and fast-growing neighborhoods it takes place in.

HISTORY

New Kensington Community Development Corporation (NKCDC) started the Kensington Kinetic Sculpture Derby in 2007 as an economic development initiative to promote local artists, neighborhood businesses, and the area’s commercial corridors. The Derby was held in conjunction with the Trenton Avenue Arts Festival, started by East Kensington Neighbors Association (EKNA) the year before. The two groups joined forces for a combined festival beginning in 2015, when Philadelphia Federal Credit Union also came on as the title sponsor.

For 2022, former organizers turned over the reins to Fishtown District to bring the event back after a two-year break. While the organizing organization has evolved, this event has grown into and will still continue to be an annual fundraising effort for East Kensington Neighbors Association and supports their ongoing mini-grant program, which gives back to local nonprofits and businesses in the East Kensington neighborhood.

“With the flourishing of small businesses and the vibrant arts scene across East Kensington and Fishtown, and the creation of the Fishtown Kensington Area Business Improvement District last year, we believe this is a great time to hand management of the festival off to Fishtown District and local leaders,” states NKCDC Executive Director Bill McKinney. “We will continue to enthusiastically promote the festival and help with the huge team effort on festival day. We look forward to the Philadelphia Federal Credit Union Kensington Derby and Arts Festival celebrating creativity, ingenuity and the local community for many years to come!”

The last event was held in 2019, and annually drew crowds up to 15,000 to 20,000 people.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Philadelphia Federal Credit Union Kensington Derby and Arts Festival brings together the combined best of two mini-festivals into one giant all day celebration. The whimsical event will draw thousands of people outside for the derby competition and parade that will feature over 100 local arts and food truck vendors, live art demonstrations, music performances, street art and so much more.

DERBY

Registration is now open for competitors! Thanks to generous support from Penn Treaty Special Services District, there is no fee to participate in the Derby parade this year.

This year’s derby route will start at Trenton and Dauphin. From there, teams will make their way through the course, hitting obstacles sponsored by various local small businesses.

Derby Route:
Start at Trenton and Dauphin, going toward Frankford Ave
Turn right onto Frankford Ave
Turn left onto Shackamaxon St
Turn right onto Girard Ave
Turn right onto Front St
Turn right onto Emerald St
Turn right onto Lehigh Ave
Turn right onto Frankford Ave
Go around the roundabout
End at Frankford & Dauphin, outside Philadelphia Federal Credit Union

Derby Judges:
Philadelphia Federal Credit Union
Councilman Mark Squilla, 1st District City Council
Marc Collazzo, Fishtown District
Emily Costa Dones, Rivers Casino
Adam Piazza, Franklin Institute
Caroline Jones, Miss Pennsylvania Volunteer
More to be announced!

Derby Prize Categories:
Bob Phillips Memorial “Best Small Team” Award
Charlie Walton Memorial “Best Large Team” Award
East Kensington Neighbors Association's "People’s Choice" Award
Fishtown District's "Judges’ Choice" Award
Other categories to be announced!

Derby Obstacles:
Philadelphia Federal Credit Union Orange Zone
Johnny Brenda's Bubble Trouble
Kensington Community Food Co-op - specific theme is TBD
Philadelphia Brewing Co - specific theme is TBD
Mud Pit

ARTS AND FOOD FESTIVAL

Over 100+ vendors will include nearly two dozen food trucks, a half dozen beverage vendors, and 75+ makers, artists and community organizations. Early participants include the below.

Food Trucks:
Bake n' Bacon
Byz Empire Food Truck
Calle del Sabor
Chank's Grab-Go
Cotton's Place
Cousins Maine Lobster
Dr Wutzit's Wonder Balls
El Rancho Viejo
Mom-Mom's Polish Food Cart
Mr Softee Ice Cream Truck
Phil's Finest
Pink's Cold Treats
Pound Cake Heaven
The Chilly Banana
The Little Sicilian

Beverage Vendors:
East Kensington Neighbors Association serving Philadelphia Brewing Company and Commonwealth Ciders
Evil Genius Beer Company
Interstate Drafthouse serving Fishtown Iced Teas
Stateside Vodka
Loco Pez serving margaritas

Artists, Makers and Merchants:
1505 Design Studio
5one7 Designs
A cut above all else
A New Day Office Bakery Cafe
After Oak
ArtByAlicia
Astro Vinyl Art
AURA ARTisan SOAP
Balto Farms LLC
Beekman's COPA Soaps
Bhava Tie Dye
Birdie Jewelry/Maeve Amelia Art
Broadbent Pottery
Bucks County Flowers + Things
Catalyst Accessories
chopshopstore.com
Chris Dowling Draws
Contemporary Works
Craft Foundry
Cusp By Cassie
Cynful Bliss: Alcohol Infused Desserts
Designs By Monet
Dog Treats
Elements of Aura
Feast Jewelry
Fishtown Signs
Gaia Darling
Golden Key Prints
Gracious Rebel Designs
Halligan and Emily
Jt's Shirts
Keene Pottery
Knot-It Macrame
Laura k Murdoch and as the crow flies and co
Lightbox Cafe
Lily Lough Jewelry
Louis Organics
Maker Missya
Many Friends
Meg Potoma Studios
MESC Designs
Modern hex
New + Wesley
Paparazzi Jewelry
PAUL CARPENTER ART
Philly Nuts
Piggyback Treats Company
Piquant
PROPERgoods
Purrfect Handcrafted Soaps, LLC
Randi's Relics
ResinAlchemyDesign
Salmagundi Trading Company
Sarah Draws Things and Charlotte's Web
Sevenbound Handmade
Shady Sunglass Deals
Shemesh Shop
Shop Luniverse
SiO S2DIO
Skullduggery Studios
Snug Baby
Spaghetti Kiss
Spring Honeybees
Stone Cooper
Taina Sisters
Terraintextures
The 50/50 Company
The Ash of All Trades
The Tin Goat
Tiger Snake Vintage
Token of Affection
Towners
TurnstyleART
Twelve Kandles
Wire People Here
Wrong World Ceramics
Yardsale Press

Community Groups, Sponsors and Others:
Free Library of Philadelphia
Houwzer
IDEATE
Indivisible Philadelphia
Papermill Food Hub
Renewal by Andersen
Resources for Human Development
Stem Prep Academy
Sundance Vacations
The Fab Lab
The Rounds

MUSIC AND STAGE PROGRAM

Get ready to rock in the streets once again with a line-up that reads like a who's who of the local music scene, including:

Main Stage:
12:00pm - New Groove Studio
1:15pm - Iffusion 35
2:00pm - Gringo Motel
2:45pm - Bazmati Vice
3:45pm - The Spots Rock Band
4:30pm - The Towering Pines
5:00pm - American Dinosaur

Mud Pit Stage:
12:00pm - DJ presented by PhillyCAM
1:00pm - Derby kick-off
1:30pm - DJ presented by PhillyCAM
3:00pm - Mud Pit and Derby Awards Ceremony
4:00pm - Mudpit mixtape live showcase hosted by sippinwitsammie music by DJ Nate

While the Derby teams are parading through Fishtown, Tall Bike jousters presented by Stuart Leon Bike Crash Law will be dueling it out around the Mud Pit.

For those wanting even more access, PhillyCAM will be live streaming the Mud Pit to their website, their FB page, and the Derby's FB page.

CONTACT

More information about the festival, with registration for art vendors and derby teams, can be found at www.kensingtonkineticarts.org. Stay up-to-date with festival news on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

ABOUT FISHTOWN DISTRICT

Founded in 2020, the Fishtown District comprises the newly formed Fishtown Kensington Area Business Improvement District as well as the long-standing neighborhood business association Fishtown Co. Our mission is to improve conditions and quality of life for businesses and property owners in the district, attract new commerce to the area, and work to amplify Fishtown’s long-term economic development by creating a thriving retail corridor that attracts both residents and visitors to its vast array of services, shops, and dining while preserving Fishtown’s rich history and diverse creative and innovative character, visit www.fishtowndistrict.com

ABOUT PHILADELPHIA FEDERAL CREDIT UNION

Founded in 1951, Philadelphia Federal Credit Union is a member-owned, not-for-profit financial institution serving Philadelphia and Columbia County, PA. Philadelphia Federal Credit Union is among the top five credit unions in the Greater Philadelphia area, with 11 branch locations, more than $1 billion in assets, over 120,000 members, and more than 400 Partner Groups. Philadelphia Federal Credit Union returns its profits to members in the form of higher dividend rates, lower loan rates, better services, and investment in the community. For more information, visit www.pfcu.com and connect with PFCU on Facebook and Twitter.

ABOUT NEW KENSINGTON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

NKCDC advances social equity and economic empowerment by nurturing and creating opportunities for residents to live in, and actively shape, their neighborhoods of choice. For more information, visit www.nkcdc.org.

ABOUT EAST KENSINGTON NEIGHBORS ASSOCIATION

EKNA was founded in 2004 with help from the community organizing arm of NKCDC. EKNA’s mission is to organize the voice, concerns, and actions of East Kensington residents. Geographically, East Kensington is bounded by Norris Street to the south, Frankford and Trenton Avenues to the east, Lehigh Avenue to the north, and Front Street and Kensington Avenue to the west. For more information, visit www.ekna.org.