Port Richmond Celebrates 175th Anniversary

The neighborhood of Port Richmond is turning 175 years old! All of Philadelphia is invited to the official celebration. Port Richmond Neighborhood Association will host The Official Port Richmond 175th Anniversary Celebration and Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, March 26th, from 2:00pm to 6:00pm, at Cohocksink Recreation Center. PRNA and community volunteers have been hosting an anniversary celebration for the iconic neighborhood formally since 2020 and informally since 2015. This year, PRNA will host its largest celebration to date with a free outdoor community party that will include a Port Richmond-Opoly Monopoly Tournament, cake ceremony, egg hunt, senior of the year, live music, family fun, vendors, food and more. Special guests and appearances will include Philadelphia School of Circus Arts' Youth Troupe, Easter Bunny, Minnie Mouse, Michael Jackson impersonator, Pawlucy Tae Kwon Do, Polish American String Band, The 501st Legion, and more. The iconic Stocks' Bakery will be making and donating the official 175th Anniversary cake, with a piece of cake for the first 300 people. Councilman Mark Squilla will present PRNA and the neighborhood with a special City Council citation to celebrate the milestone. Lokal Artisan Foods and French Toast Bites will be on hand with Port Richmond-roasted coffee made with Bean 2 Bean. The Easter Egg Hunt kicks things off right at 2:00pm, with the cake and ceremony at 4:00pm. The celebration is free and open to the public. The rain date is set for Sunday, March 27th. Visit "Port Richmond Neighborhood Association" on Facebook for the official event invite and visit @portrichmondneighbor on Instagram for updates. Presented by Port Richmond Neighborhood Association, with support from Aversa PR and Home Brewed Events. Cohocksink Recreation Center is located at 2901 Cedar St, Philadelphia, PA 19134.

"We are thrilled to bring back our official anniversary celebration for this special 175th milestone for one of Philadelphia's greatest neighborhoods," said PRNA President and Event Chair Doris Steegmueller Lynch. "We have been celebrating our neighborhood and its residents for nearly 10 years, and we are presenting our largest celebration to date with a little something for every age and taste. It is the perfect time to celebrate the spring weather and bring our neighborhood and community together - and we are so proud to have the support of so many neighbors, community groups, small businesses and our city officials. Please mark your calendar and we hope to see you there!"

Port Richmond, located in the River Wards section, has been an important part of Philadelphia since 1847. In honor of 175 years, Port Richmond Neighborhood Association, community volunteers, small businesses and city officials have come together for a free outdoor celebration. Festivities are free to attend, with food and drink pay-as-you-go.

The day's festivities will kick-off with the formal debut of Port Richmond Opoly - a special commemorative Monopoly style game created exclusively for the PRNA. Calling all Monopoly, board game AND Port Richmond lovers - this one's for you! Each limited edition game is only $30 and on sale at the celebration, as well as at the Port Richmond Shoprite and other retailers to be announced. Get your game for you or your family, and don't leave without one for your friends and neighbors. All proceeds will benefit and support programs by the PRNA, which recently acquired its 501-C-3 charity status.

In conjunction with the board game sales and the anniversary party, look for a special Port Richmond Monopoly Tournament kicking off at 2:00pm. Registration is now open for those that want to compete for a $500 cash prize. The donation entry fee is only $25 and includes a Port Richmond t-shirt and a game to take home. Up to 12 competitors will have a chance to play Port Richmonds' version of the game, for two hours, with semi-finalists picked at 4:00pm. The four semi-finalists will battle it out with one winner crowned at the end of the event. Sign-ups are available by https://bit.ly/portrichmondopoly or email Aversa PR at Kory at Aversapr dot com.

In addition to the board game sales and game tournament, the celebration will include four hours of vendors, shopping, food, music, entertainment, performances and other surprises, including appearances by the Polish American Stringband, Tommy C, Ms. Susan's Entertainment and Dance, Buddy Katz / Michael Jackson Impersonator, Lead Chambers (Shane Razzi), Easter Bunny, Minnie Mouse, Pawlucy Tae Kwon Do, and more.

Philadelphia School of Circus Arts Youth Troupe is back and back out there in the community - starting with Port Richmonds' big celebration! This collection of young jugglers, unicyclists and acrobats is rolling out a new act for 2022 that will be featured at festivals around the city this spring. The Troupe kids range from age 8-16, and they take classes in all different circus disciplines throughout the year. To learn more, visit www.phillycircus.com

Calling all Star Wars fans! The 501st Legion's local chapter Garrison Carida will be present for meet and greet and photo opportunities. The 501st Legion is the worlds' premiere charity-focused Star Wars costuming organization and will be present to meet and greet attendees. Look for photo opportunities with these fans from a galaxy far, far away.

Festivities will include dozens of vendors that include a mix of makers, artists, small businesses and community organizations that include: Riverfront North, 24th Police District, The Block Church, Port Richmond Savings, Liguori Academy, St John Paul II, VBA, Oak Street Health, NKCDC, Rebuild, Community Ventures, The Block Gives Back and others to be announced.

Family fun will include the egg hunt starting at 2:00pm, children’s games, “Who’s Who” section with surprise neighborhood guests, and a flea market area.

Food vendors will include Lokal Artisan Foods and French Toast Bites (with French Toast Bites Coffee by Port Richmond's Bean2Bean Coffee Company), Krick Wuder Saloon and Restaurant, Dr. Brownies and more.

For the 2022 Port Richmond Senior of the Year, PRNA will honor John Rajca for his superior neighborly ways - the Campbell Square at Belgrade and Allegheny has been titled the gem of the neighborhood. It was this gem of a neighbor who for 14 years was the President of Friends of Campbell Square. He overlooked the grounds, in which they added many things to the park and hosted approximately 10 community events each year. He is also known as John "Lefty" Rajca, he currently volunteers on the air at WRDV-FM 89.3, as well as volunteered his DJ expertise each year since Nativity Place (Senior low income living facility) opened in Port Richmond 2015 and many, many other neighborhood events throughout the years. Prior to these many years of volunteerism, Rajca’s line of work for over 26 years with the City of Philadelphia, was serving the public. The recognition of " Senior Of The Year" is very well deserved, congrats from the neighborhood and PRNA.

For the early schedule for the day, see below with other activities to be added:

2:00pm
Port Richmond Monopoly Tournament Begins
Music by Tommy C
Photo opportunities and appearance by The 501st Legion
Easter Egg Hunt begins - watch on social and day of for age groups

3:00pm
Philadelphia School of Circus Arts Youth Troupe Performance
Ms. Susan's Entertainment and Dance

3:45pm
Appearance by Polish American String Band

4:00pm
Port Richmond Monopoly Tournament Final Round Begins
Community Sings Happy Birthday to Port Richmond
Stocks Bakery Port Richmond 175th Anniversary Cake Cutting Ceremony
Presentation City Council Citation by Councilman Mark Squilla
Presentation for Port Richmond Senior of the Year

4:30pm
Buddy Katz / Michael Jackson Impersonator

4:45pm
Lead Chambers (Shane Razzi)

Through 6:00pm
Vendors
Food
Appearances
Games
Music

5:45pm to 6:00pm
Announcement of Winner Port Richmond Monopoly Tournament
Thanks to Volunteers, Event Close

The Official Port Richmond 175th Anniversary Celebration is presented by Port Richmond Neighborhood Association, with volunteer and in-kind support from Aversa PR and Home Brewed Events. Thank you to the following sponsors, partners, donors and volunteers, including Stocks Bakery, Celtic Shirts, JP Tees, Applebee's, Olde Philly Pharmacy, Wawa, LaVida Discount Pharmacy. Additional donors include East Coast Wings, RED Home Improvement, Boricua Restaurant, Krick Wuder, Anything and Everything, Tacconellis, PJP, Shoprite, Kinship Barber, Port Richmond Savings and others.

PORT RICHMOND NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION

The Port Richmond Neighborhood Association is a group of neighbors and business owners who work together for change and improvements such as neighborhood safety, beautification and social activities. PRNA has roots back to 2015 when neighbors and community volunteers started to organize anniversary celebrations, community meetings and senior of the year. In 2019, the organization officially formed and began to host formal community programs. In 2021, the organization received its formal 501-C-3 status. Now in 2022, the group is back with one of its biggest celebrations to date which will raise funds for community programs to enrich the neighborhood.

Community programs have included adopting Castor Avenue, aiding in implementing long overdue improvements on Castor from Aramingo to Richmond, new community signs, restriping of all lanes including bike lanes with ride legends, lane narrowing, restriping of crosswalks at Gaul and Belgrade streets, restriping of the stop bar on Gaul Street, restriping of No Parking Blocks on Gaul intersection to discourage illegal parking, working with Penndott on future improvements and planning, working with Delaware Estuary to help improve the water system, fire hydrant repairs and replacement, monitoring of collapsed sewers, aid in citation for Port Richmond Day on February 27th 2021, reinstated the 1st townwatch trading in over 15 years for Port Richmond with town watch integrated services, and running a community job page with local employment opportunities. PRNA also has monthly meetings for the neighborhood with representatives from the 24th and the District Attorney's Office.

During the pandemic organized a collection for our neighborhood seniors, who reside in our neighborhood low income living facility to each receive an Echo, to help they stay connected during a time when many were secluded.

Stay tuned for more about programs from the PRNA - as well as a schedule of upcoming programs.