Greek Picnic: Difference between revisions
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{{About|the fraternity and sorority event|ethnic Greek events|Greek festival}} |
{{About|the fraternity and sorority event|ethnic Greek events|Greek festival}} |
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{{third-party|date=February 2014}} |
{{third-party|date=February 2014}} |
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{{Unreferenced|find=Greek Picnic|find2=Philadelphia|date=April 2023}} |
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The '''Greek Picnic''' is an annual week-long event during the month of July in [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]]. Originally designed as a reunion celebrating [[African |
The '''Greek Picnic''' is an annual week-long event during the month of July in [[Philadelphia]], [[Pennsylvania]]. Originally designed as a reunion celebrating [[African American]] [[college]] [[fraternities]] and [[sororities]], it later gained popularity among a large population that do not attend college due to its various popular [[social]] activities. "Sister" events also include the Greek Festival in [[Hampton, Virginia]]; [[The Atlanta Greek Picnic]] in [[Atlanta]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]; The [[Charlotte Greek Picnic]] in [[Charlotte, North Carolina]]; the [[Texas Greek Picnic]] in [[Houston]], [[Texas]], [[Nashville Greek Picnic]] in [[Nashville, Tennessee]], the California Greek Picnic in [[Los Angeles, California]] and [[Bikers Week]] in [[Myrtle Beach, South Carolina]]. |
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==History== |
==History== |
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The Philadelphia Greek Picnic |
The Philadelphia Greek Picnic was established in July 1975 at the Belmont Grove in [[Fairmount Park]]. The Philadelphia Greek Picnic continues to be the nation's oldest reunion for members of the historic nine African-American fraternities and sororities and people who appreciate and understand college and African American Greek-lettered life. |
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The Philadelphia Greek Picnic is co-sponsored by the City of Philadelphia, the Office of the Managing Director, the Fairmount Park Commission, the [[Philadelphia Police]] |
The Philadelphia Greek Picnic is co-sponsored by the City of Philadelphia, the Office of the Managing Director, the Fairmount Park Commission, the [[Philadelphia Police Department]] and the [[National Pan-Hellenic Council]] Inc. of Philadelphia. It is managed and coordinated by volunteers of the nine organizations wishing to make the entire week-long experience unforgettable based upon the themes of |
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Scholarship, Fellowship and Respect. |
Scholarship, Fellowship and Respect. |
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No picnic was planned in 2020 because of the [[COVID-19 pandemic]]. They resumed the next year. |
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==Popularity== |
==Popularity== |
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During the early to mid 1990s the picnic grew national notoriety, attracting college students and party-goers from all over the east coast of the [[United States]]. The primary festival held in Fairmount Park frequently registered an attendance of 100,000+ people, with another 100,000-200,000 people scattered across the city in support of the events. Also various [[Hip hop music|hip-hop]] and [[R&B]] celebrities can be seen attending the events. |
During the early to mid 1990s the picnic grew national notoriety, attracting college students and party-goers from all over the east coast of the [[United States]]. The primary festival held in Fairmount Park frequently registered an attendance of 100,000+ people, with another 100,000-200,000 people scattered across the city in support of the events. Also various [[Hip hop music|hip-hop]] and [[R&B]] celebrities can be seen attending the events. |
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During the week the city receives a large economic boost due to [[tourism]]. Hotel and rental-car companies throughout Philadelphia, |
During the week the city receives a large economic boost due to [[tourism]]. Hotel and rental-car companies throughout Philadelphia, [[South Jersey]], and [[Delaware]] are reserved weeks to months in advance and opportunities for [[price gouging]] as the event grows closer are prevalent. |
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==Detractions== |
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From the mid to late 1990s the Greek Picnic regressed into an event spoiled by frequent cases of assault, [[gun]]-related violence, [[car-jacking]], [[sexual harassment]], [[sexual assault]], and other crimes that seem to only happen at this specific event as opposed to other large gatherings within the city of Philadelphia.{{Citation needed|date=September 2009}} |
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Also during the event, [[traffic]] in the Philadelphia Area, particularly in [[West Philadelphia]] and [[South Street (Philadelphia)|South Street]] is at its most congested level for the year.{{Citation needed|date=September 2009}} The Philadelphia Police department often requires significant [[overtime]] of its officers for traffic control as well as crime deterrence.{{Citation needed|date=September 2009}} |
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==Events== |
==Events== |
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*Day 0 Saturday- Books and [[Basketball]] Tournament, Acres of Diamonds |
*Day 0 Saturday- Books and [[Basketball]] Tournament, Acres of Diamonds |
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*Day 1 Sunday- NPHC Worship Service, Cultural [[Arts]] Night |
*Day 1 Sunday- NPHC Worship Service, Cultural [[The arts|Arts]] Night |
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*Day 3 Tuesday- Cultural |
*Day 3 Tuesday- Cultural Arts Night |
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*Day 4 Wednesday- Stop the [[Violence]] Urban [[Dance]] Competition |
*Day 4 Wednesday- Stop the [[Violence]] Urban [[Dance]] Competition |
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*Day 5 Thursday- Comedy Show |
*Day 5 Thursday- Comedy Show |
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*Day 6 Friday- |
*Day 6 Friday- President's Reception |
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*Day 7 Saturday- Stompfest |
*Day 7 Saturday- Stompfest Online's National Stepshow, Fairmount Park Festival |
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*Day 8 Sunday- Hair and Fashion Showcase |
*Day 8 Sunday- Hair and Fashion Showcase |
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*[[Unity Day (Philadelphia)]] |
*[[Unity Day (Philadelphia)]] |
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{{coord|39.988270|-75.188237|type:event_globe:earth_region:US-PA|display=title}} |
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==External links== |
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*[http://www.phillygreek.com Official Webpage]{{Dead link|url=http://www.phillygreek.com/|date=June 2010}} |
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[[Category:African Americans and education]] |
[[Category:African Americans and education]] |
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[[Category:African-American festivals]] |
[[Category:African-American festivals]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Festivals in Philadelphia]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:West Philadelphia]] |
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[[Category:1974 establishments in Pennsylvania]] |
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[[Category:Recurring events established in 1974]] |
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Latest revision as of 23:33, 30 April 2023
 | This article may rely excessively on sources too closely associated with the subject, potentially preventing the article from being verifiable and neutral. (February 2014) |
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The Greek Picnic is an annual week-long event during the month of July in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Originally designed as a reunion celebrating African American college fraternities and sororities, it later gained popularity among a large population that do not attend college due to its various popular social activities. "Sister" events also include the Greek Festival in Hampton, Virginia; The Atlanta Greek Picnic in Atlanta, Georgia; The Charlotte Greek Picnic in Charlotte, North Carolina; the Texas Greek Picnic in Houston, Texas, Nashville Greek Picnic in Nashville, Tennessee, the California Greek Picnic in Los Angeles, California and Bikers Week in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
History
[edit]The Philadelphia Greek Picnic was established in July 1975 at the Belmont Grove in Fairmount Park. The Philadelphia Greek Picnic continues to be the nation's oldest reunion for members of the historic nine African-American fraternities and sororities and people who appreciate and understand college and African American Greek-lettered life.
The Philadelphia Greek Picnic is co-sponsored by the City of Philadelphia, the Office of the Managing Director, the Fairmount Park Commission, the Philadelphia Police Department and the National Pan-Hellenic Council Inc. of Philadelphia. It is managed and coordinated by volunteers of the nine organizations wishing to make the entire week-long experience unforgettable based upon the themes of Scholarship, Fellowship and Respect.
No picnic was planned in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. They resumed the next year.
Popularity
[edit]During the early to mid 1990s the picnic grew national notoriety, attracting college students and party-goers from all over the east coast of the United States. The primary festival held in Fairmount Park frequently registered an attendance of 100,000+ people, with another 100,000-200,000 people scattered across the city in support of the events. Also various hip-hop and R&B celebrities can be seen attending the events.
During the week the city receives a large economic boost due to tourism. Hotel and rental-car companies throughout Philadelphia, South Jersey, and Delaware are reserved weeks to months in advance and opportunities for price gouging as the event grows closer are prevalent.
In recent years, the event has grown smaller, quieter and less troublesome to the police as well as attendants due to restructuring by the event organizers.
Events
[edit]The usual events during the week of the Greek Picnic are as follows:
- Day 0 Saturday- Books and Basketball Tournament, Acres of Diamonds
- Day 1 Sunday- NPHC Worship Service, Cultural Arts Night
- Day 3 Tuesday- Cultural Arts Night
- Day 4 Wednesday- Stop the Violence Urban Dance Competition
- Day 5 Thursday- Comedy Show
- Day 6 Friday- President's Reception
- Day 7 Saturday- Stompfest Online's National Stepshow, Fairmount Park Festival
- Day 8 Sunday- Hair and Fashion Showcase
