About the 2009 Festival:
Festival History

It all started several years ago when Friends of OARC, a group of passionate and dedicated volunteers, organized the first Super Saturday Street Fair to encourage shoppers to return to the 7100 block of Ogontz Avenue and to foster community pride.  The festival, held every June, featured rides and games for children, live music, vendors, and arts & crafts. It was a good start.

In 2003, Jack Kitchen, then Executive Director of OARC, recognized both the need and opportunity to introduce a broader audience to the resources available in West Oak Lane and along the Ogontz Avenue commercial corridor.  Mr. Kitchen realized that OARC could accomplish both goals by building on the success of Super Saturday, and transformed what had been a community street festival into a major regional event called the West Oak Lane Jazz and Arts Festival.  “What began five years ago as a means of marketing and showcasing the West Oak Lane community to the region, the Festival has since grown into an international event, attracting visitors and performers from around the globe,” commented Mr. Kitchen.

Last year, our 2008 Festival recorded the highest attendance ever, with more than 525,000 visitors from around the U.S.  But we aren’t resting on our laurels.  We have lots more surprises in store. Check this site frequently to see how we're going to outdo ourselves this year.  Save the date for 2009!