Overview

• The Midtown Village Merchants Association said the event will take a year off, citing rising city-service costs and a drop in corporate sponsorships announced in a public post.
• Organizers report carrying debt to the city, including more than $22,000 from the 2024 festival, after a sponsor covered about $12,000 owed from 2023.
• Philadelphia police staffing gaps mean special-event patrols are handled as voluntary overtime, which the department says increases bills for labor, equipment, and fuel.
• A lower-cost, Open Streets-style alternative coordinated with the Center City District fell through when available dates did not align.
• City Councilmember Mark Squilla’s office assisted with logistics but could not reduce fees, and other neighborhood events have faced similar pressures, including a Northern Liberties night market cancellation.