Roots Picnic Draws 80,000 to Fairmount Park With Jay-Z, Erykah Badu
Updated
Updated · FOX 29 Philadelphia · May 31
Roots Picnic Draws 80,000 to Fairmount Park With Jay-Z, Erykah Badu
3 articles · Updated · FOX 29 Philadelphia · May 31
An expected 80,000 fans are filling Fairmount Park for the sold-out two-day Roots Picnic, with hundreds arriving early Saturday to secure spots for Jay-Z's headlining set.
Belmont Plateau is hosting the festival for the first time, giving organizers more green space and skyline views for crowds spread across two main stages and the smaller Music Den.
Jay-Z tops Saturday's bill and Erykah Badu headlines Sunday, while dozens of artists and DJs round out a weekend that also features food vendors, brand activations and fashion-heavy festival culture.
Philadelphia's long-running hip-hop and R&B festival continues to pull visitors from cities including Washington, Baltimore and Detroit, reinforcing its role as a national draw as well as a local staple.
How will the successful move to a culturally significant venue influence the Roots Picnic's future lineups and artistic direction?
With its venue problems solved, what new challenges did the 80,000-person festival face at its iconic new home?