America’s favorite hip-hop band brings an exquisite talent lineup (and food menu) to Philly’s Fairmount Park every year
There are few beneficial places to drop a belated outpouring twenty-four hours in Philadelphia than Fairmount Park , a 2,050 - Accho collection of trail , theater of operations , and born admiration bisected by the Schuylkill River . But as Philly hip - record hop giant the Roots asked on their 1995 find album , Do You Want More?!!!??!We ca n’t be sealed that they meant , specifically , “ … from your trip-up to this verdant urban sanctuary ? ” but if the solution is “ yes , ” thenRoots child’s play 2025is quick for you .
Since 2008 , the critically acclaimed house band forThe Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallonhave host the Roots Picnic festival , which fetch together legendary names and up - and - comers alike . With multiple stages pad by dance party , top - notch grub , and daytime activities that include a nigger tournament , Roots Picnic is full of practiced vibes and undefendable - mindedness , staunch from the boniface ’ wide - range enthusiasm for acculturation in general .
Roots Picnic 2025 is a two - Clarence Shepard Day Jr. function headlined by soul adventurer D’Angelo indorse by the Roots , rock lifer Lenny Kravitz , and hometown hip-hop hoagie Meek Mill . Roots drummer Ahmir “ ? uestlove ” Thompson has make himself as a food obsessive over the years , and he and his stripe will have a hand in selecting food marketer from around Philly . Other local clientele and nonprofits will also get a fortune to beam . Read on for a guide to one of hip - hop ’s chancellor summer festivals .
Kenya Vaun at Roots Picnic 2024|Photograph courtesy Frankie Vergara
Where and when is Roots Picnic this year?
base Picnic 2025 goes down Saturday , May 31 , and Sunday , June 1 , at and aroundThe Mann Center for the Performing Artslocated on the west side of Fairmount Park . The Mann is the park ’s crown jewel , with thought of the business district apparent horizon and lots of fleeceable space . root Picnic unfold across multiple stages and field , allowing concertgoers to take in Fairmount ’s beauty and the celebratory spirit kicked up by two days of music and residential district - building .
How’s the Roots Picnic lineup?
The antecedent have become one of coxa - hop ’s foundation since forming in the late ’ 80s , with lead MC Tariq “ Black Thought ” Trotter still making headlines for his intellectual , tightly wound freestyles and drummer ? uestlove know as one of American popular music ’s principal historians . pay their reputation — and the fact that , as the house stripe forThe Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon , they see a lot of creative person at their Clarence Day job , too — they’re able to pull top - level turn from across music ’s spectrum . Reclusive R&B legend D’Angelo is a monumental hooking . He ’s only performed sporadically over the last distich of decade and understand him backed by the Roots — featuring his longtime originative “ Centennial State - pilot ” ? uestlove — will be a treat . Meek Mill ’s Philly bona fides are unimpeachable , and he ’ll in all probability show out at this homecoming show . Lenny Kravitz has been breaking down boundaries with his muscular , psychedelia - tinged rock for more than three X .
The quietus of the circuit board is filled out by some of modern music ’s most compelling artists . Soul alchemist Miguel is a magnetic lively performer who has compile a wide - ranging catalogue since debut in 2010 . Memphis MC GloRilla has had a seismal shock on articulatio coxae - hop in a forgetful time , mix crunk and drill in thrilling fashion . Philly producer and ballad maker Musiq Soulchild will celebrate the 25th anniversary of his fleur-de-lis - plant debut , Aijuswanaseing , while the root themselves will honor the thirtieth anniversary of their breakthrough record album , Do You Want More?!!!??!Local golf club fable Rich Medina will take over the deck for a set celebrating menage euphony have live appearances from iconic prima donna Crystal Waters and CeCe Peniston .
Brooklyn DJ J.PERIOD is also bestow his “ hot Mixtape ” experience back to Roots Picnic . An improvisational band structure like a mixtape — but with every creative determination being made in material prison term — these sets vitrine J.PERIOD ’s mixing skill and the featured Mc ’ ability to think on the tent-fly . This year ’s variation will include Black Thought ( a frequent Live Mixtape guest ) alongside hip-hop luminaries Pusha tonne and 2 Chainz , plus possible surprisal guest .
Courtesy Roots Picnic
See the full batting order here .
How do I get tickets to Roots Picnic?
Tickets for Roots Picnic can be buy atRootsPicnic.com . The general - admission tier , which starts at $ 225 for a two - Clarence Shepard Day Jr. pass , get you into the Mann Center for the weekend . Further up the price range are multiple tiers that extend more access and fringe benefit , including the GA+ Experience , which gives ticketholders memory access to a sofa and individual bar , and the Gold VIP Experience , which include drink tickets , meal vouchers , prime views , and an on - site concierge .
How do I get to Roots Picnic?
settle at 5201 Parkside Avenue in the northwesterly corner of Philadelphia , the Mann Center is accessible via car , bike , public Department of Transportation , or rideshare — or you could even take the air over after visiting other attractions in Fairmount Park , like theShofuso Japanese Cultural Centergarden or the ziplines atTreetop Quest Philly . The Mann offers gratuitous on - site parking but traffic gets heavy near showtimes and the tidy sum meet up rapidly . ( The Mann is a nonprofit , andmembers ’ perks include VIP parking . ) Bike racks are located to the left of the venue ’s South Gates .
Philadelphia ’s SEPTA transportation system internet pop the question theMann Loop coach , but if last twelvemonth ’s schedule is any denotation , it may not be run during Roots Picnic . Other motorbus routes , including the 52 , can get you close enough to The Mann ’s entrance to walk — checkSEPTA ’s Trip Plannerto find exact schedules . Rideshare pick - up and drop - off takes place at the locale ’s North Gate .
Where should I stay?
Philadelphia has tons of lodging options , and SEPTA ’s many itinerary make getting to and from The Mann easy . If you ’d care to keep the Fairmount Park vibraphone last , the adjacentROOST Kelly Drivecombines boutique - hotel chic with homey comforts — although , take note that , due to demand , a stay over Roots Picnic weekend must span at least four dark . For those in the climate to slush out , theFour season Hotel Philadelphia at Comcast Centerhas rooms with panoramic city views , aJean - Georges Vongerichten - helmed restaurant , and an eternity - bound pool with an incredible vantage point of the city . If you contrive to explore when you ’re not rut to the music , Philly ’s manyneighborhoodsare full of delightful attraction andlodging option — you may soak up American history and experience some of the country ’s most innovative dining in Old City , or you may make like Rocky Balboa and take in the bustling food scene at the Italian Market then run up the command step of the Philadelphia Museum of Art .
What should I eat?
Concessions at Roots Picnic have always been on point , thanks to ? uestlove ’s certified food - lover status , which admit a pair of books he authored on the issue — theMixtape Potluckcookbook and his collection of chef interviews , Something to Food About .
This class ’s “ root Picnic Food Festival ” will spotlight some of Philadelphia ’s many Black - owned restaurants , include African - Southern optical fusion outpostAmina , Detroit - style pizza pie jointDown North Pizza , Caribbean - American soul nutrient purveyor Gigi & Big R , and West Philly Taiwanese takeout spot Black Dragon . The full listing of vendors is on theRoots Picnic site .
What should I wear?
Street style that can stay comfortable over the course of a busy daylight outside is the name of the game at Roots Picnic . ( The show ’s Instagram posted asartorial PSAlast year : “ Dos : assume comfortable brake shoe , bring a jacket , be photo quick ; Do n’t : play with it . ” ) Lightweight layers and something rainproof might be wise to account for climatic unpredictability — mid - Atlantic weather in the late outflow can be volatile , and Roots Picnic is a pelting - or - radiance upshot .
What else is there to do at Roots Picnic?
On - website attractions will include : a World Series of Spades tourney where competitors will play the dear card secret plan while engaging in top - flight banter ; Sunday School , the Kirk Franklin - hosted celebration of gospel and hip - hop ; karaoke throwdowns hosted by Trap Karaoke and Girls Love Karaoke ; and the globally apt All Spice World Dance party . suit the residential area vibe , local business organisation and nonprofit will also coiffure up workshop at The Mann .
to boot , Roots Picnic often becomes the centerpiece for events contract situation around Philadelphia celebrating Black culture and the power of euphony . Last twelvemonth ’s Roots Picnic workweek kicked off with the first instalment of a songwriting summer camp shop at by Warner Chappell Music Publishing and curated by ? uestlove and Black Thought , among others . There were also dozens of events and afterparties around Philadelphia — from a kickoff party to get people in fete mode to an LGBTQ+ Pride Party to a rowdy Sunday brunch . Ask around and follow the action .
Should I go to Roots Picnic this year?
utterly . The rootage are an American hoarded wealth and the lineups they put together are entirely unique — full of young discoveries and cherished darling . Also , Philly is a great metropolis , with lots of innovative eatery and welcome neighbourhood . The Mann is just one part of Fairmount Park , a huge municipal park with riverbank views and ton of spots to commune with nature .
If you find yourself feel FOMO on the other side of the land , the Hollywood Bowl is hostingA Roots Picnic Experience : course of ’ 95the following weekend . Celebrating what ? uestlove has called “ the years when the world was our huitre , ” the outcome will sport a continuous stage set from the base endorse a parade of ’ 90s articulatio coxae - hop star — Lil ’ Kim , Redman & Method Man , E-40 , Bone Thugs - N - Harmony , DJ Quik , Raekwon , members of Goodie Mob and Mobb Deep , et al.—flowing into a proper headlining set by Roots Picnic ’s august host themselves .
Courtesy Roots Picnic
Kenya Vaun and Smino at Roots Picnic|Photos courtesy Frankie Vergara
