2010 Eighteenth Annual Islamic Heritage Festival & Parade Weekend

The Islamic Heritage Festival is the largest Muslim festival in the country and is one of the largest multi-ethnic festival held at Penn's landing each year.

(Press Release) - The 2010 Eighteenth Annual Islamic Heritage Festival & Parade weekend promises to be larger and more diverse than ever. The festival will be held at Penn's Landing, Delaware Ave & Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA on Saturday, June 19, 2010 from 2pm to 8:00pm. Over 5,000 Muslims are expected to attend and the festival is open to general the public. This weekends program will be web cast live on http://www.livestream.com/.

The prelude to Saturday’s festival begins Friday June 18 at 1:00pm, with Salatul Jumu’ah (the Muslim congregational prayer service) at the noteworthy Independence National Historical Park, located at 5th and Market Streets. Independence National Historical Park is America’s most historic square mile with more than 20 landmarks open to the public. It is the Home of the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall which houses the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, and the National Constitution Center. In Addition, in the very near future, the President’s House will commemorate the lives of nine enslaved Africans who lived and worked in the nation’s first White House.

Our distinguished guest speaker for the prayer service will be Imam Muhammad Abdul-Aleem, a longstanding patron to the Muslim community and the Philadelphia community at large. Imam Abdul-Aleem is a renowned Scholar and Lecturer and the recipient of a Philadelphia Public School Distinguished Educator Award.

Open House: Following the Prayer Service on Friday from 4PM-8PM there will be a Reception and Open House hosted by the Islamic Cultural Preservation and Information Council (ICPIC). The Reception will be held at the New Africa Center/Muslim American Museum & Archive, 4243 Lancaster Avenue, Philadelphia, PA. There will be food, a Power Point Presentation and a Museum Tour. In addition, Steppin'/Line Dance instructions will begin at 6pm by Certified Dance Instructor Haneefah Salim. All activities are included at this reception for a small charitable donation of $10. which will be used to benefit the New Africa Center.

Saturday Festival Highlights

At 1:00 pm the Islamic Heritage Festival and Parade will commence at 5th and Market St at Independence National Park and head to Penn's Landing, Delaware Avenue & Chestnut Street. The Unity in Diversity Juneteen Freedom Community Parade will feature an array of youth groups, drill teams, schools and community organizations from across the city and suburbs.

From 2pm to 8pm the 18th Annual Islamic Heritage Festival will be held at Penn's Landing. The festival admission is free. It will feature games for children, face painting, boat rides, health & wellness fair, free giveaways, entertainment, speakers and open market bazaar with an array of vendors providing international products and services, books, clothing, Islamic arts & crafts, jewelry and foods from around the world.

Health & Wellness pavilion sponsored by Keystone Mercy Health Plan will provide free blood pressure checks, giveaways and health & wellness information. The pavilion will also have special guest speakers Ummil Akbar- Holistic Health & Wellness Consultant; Ethel Wilson- Naturalpathic Doctor & Colon Specialist; El Haghn Gahn - Herbalist, Naturalist & Healer; and Atiyaola Sankofa -Foodologist & Raw Food Specialist.
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PECO Energy is the proud sponsor of the all day main stage entertainment from 2pm to 8pm. The entertainment will be provided by our special guest Hip-hop artist sensation, home grown Cash Money Records recording artist Freeway. Other artist including the sensational World Champion UPK Pasha Generals and the Universal African Dance and Drum Ensemble, the AICP Madiah Islamic chores group, Miss Undastood-female Muslim rap artist, Blessings and Mahogany- female R&B vocalists along with other multicultural performance groups as well as young aspiring music artist all supported by a live band.

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About ICPIC: Now in its 18th year, the Islamic Cultural Preservation and Information Council (ICPIC), is the most progressive African-American Islamic cultural organization in the country. It began and has successfully sponsored this Islamic Heritage Festival for the past 18 years. ICPIC is grateful to all of the following sponsors and partners of this event: Delaware River Waterfront Corporation; PECO Energy; Philadelphia Cultural Fund; Keystone Mercy Health; Muslim Journal; Laborer Union Local 332; Shop Rite Supermarket and Artist United.

For more information about the festival events please contact us at: Phone: 610-352-0424, 215-222-0520, or 443-742-6088 or E-mail: ICPIC@RCN.com and visit our website at http://www.newafricacenter.com.
(To see the Jumu’ah live and the Festival live by web cast, visit
http://www.livestream.com/)