13 homegrown DNC events to get you hype for democracy

T minus six days ’til the DNC. Are you ready?
If not, planning to attend these events next week will prep you for four days of straight-up civic engagement. As Young Involved Philadelphia President Nick Marzano put it at our recent democracy-themed meetup: “Come celebrate with local people who give a shit about democracy.” Cheers to that.
FRIDAY, JULY 22
- DNC Host Committee’s PoliticalFest — Seven major cultural institutions, including the National Constitution Center, the National Liberty Museum and the Philadelphia History Museum, are collab’ing on this nonpartisan festival of events, exhibits and political games (“Celebrity PoliticalFeud”?!). Various sites, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., through Wednesday, July 27, $15.
SUNDAY, JULY 24
- Comittee of Seventy’s Girls and Boys on the Bus — This candid conversation will go behind the scenes of campaign reporting with journalists from Time, NPR, Real Clear Politics, CNN and Washington Post. Pipeline at the Graham Building, 6 p.m., $15.
- Urban Philly Professional Network’s AfroLatinX: An Art, Music and Culture Mixer — This party serves a dual purpose: to kick off the DNC, and to celebrate the African American Museum of Philadelphia’s 40th anniversary. Guests can view the museum’s current exhibition on the prison complex, “Arresting Patterns: Perspectives on race, criminal justice, artistic expression and community.” African American Museum in Philadelphia, 4 to 7 p.m., free.
MONDAY, JULY 25
- Poor People’s Economic Human Rights Campaign’s March for Our Lives — Cheri Honkala’s PPEHRC is planning of ton of protest events for the DNC, including the construction of a “Clintonville” shanty town and the “world’s largest ‘fart-in'” (seriously). They have a real cause, though: fighting systems that allow poverty, homelessness, hunger and recidivism to prosper. Beginning at the south side of City Hall marching south on Broad Street, 3 p.m., free.
- Committee of Seventy-commissioned “Voices of Voting” — Created specially for the city’s youth, this play “ties the personal struggles and political courage of the 1960’s campaign to secure the vote to the present-day challenge of engaging young people in our electoral process.” Science Leadership Academy, various times, through Wednesday, July 27, free.
- American Experiments — What will be the next big thing in civic tech? Sixteen orgs — including Philly-based Azavea, Code for Philly and Leverage — will demo their ideas for making voting and political participation more accessible. Microsoft Innovation Center and Quorum, 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., free.
- The Food Trust’s Philly Feast: United We Eat — Think Night Market, but with a patriotic focus and held during the day. (Day Market?) This is Philly’s chance to show off what our food scene is all about. Third and Arch streets, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., free.
TUESDAY, JULY 26
- Mighty Writers’ world record breaking — The nonprofit that fosters writing skills in Philly youths and teens has the goal of breaking the Guinness World Record for the most kids age 7 to 17 writing essays at the same time and place. Appropriately, the kids will be following the writing prompt, “If I were president …” Philadelphia Museum of Art, 10 a.m. to noon, free.
- Philadelphia Urban Creators’ Youth Action Assembly — This results-focused series, organized by the North Philly group behind Life Do Grow Urban Farm, aims to support the voices of youth in sculpting the nation’s political agenda. Various sites, various times, through Thursday, July 28, free.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 27
- Young Involved Philadelphia’s StorySlam: Inside the Political Machine — Have a great story about a political mishap? Or perhaps about the moment you realized you’d make an awesome politician? Or about a time you found yourself front and center with your political idol? Share it at this storytelling event, where former major John Street will supposedly be telling his own tale. Johnny Brenda’s, 6:30 p.m., $18.
- Ride DNC — Celebrate the political process with this slow-moving, nonpartisan ride down Broad Street, ending with a party outside the Wells Fargo Center. Beginning at Broad Street and Cheltenham Avenue, 7:30 p.m., free.
- Make Art Philly — With a ton of community partners in tow, the Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy is hosting this voting-themed art-making event featuring a variety of media. Collaging with the Dumpster Divers of Philadelphia stands out, because it is both extremely exciting and disorienting that Philly has a group for dumpster diving enthusiasts. The center courtyard of City Hall, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., free.
THURSDAY, JULY 28 (a late addition to this list)
- The Philadelphia Citizen’s Innovation and Local Government panel — Hear from four mayors — including former wannabe-state senator John Fetterman — on how they’re disrupting the status quo of local government. Follow it up with a watch party of HC’s acceptance speech. Barnes Foundation, 6 to 10 p.m., $5.
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