News

Our 15-year celebration has been postponed due to wildfire smoke/climate change.

Yes, we see the irony.

Due to “very unhealthy” air quality from wildfires in Canada, we have made the difficult decision to postpone our 15-year Soirée which was scheduled for tonight. With red or purple air quality alerts peaking this evening, the Philadelphia Health Department recommends that people avoid going outdoors as much as possible, which was a slight hurdle with our plans for an outdoor celebration. The safety and well-being of our attendees, staff, and community members have always been our utmost priority.

We are working with our partners at Laurel Hill on a new date for the celebration and will send that out soon.

Wildfires are a frequent problem for the Western United States, but we have escaped most risk on the East Coast.

However, climate change is worsening wildfires across the United States and Canada, which puts more people at risk. Wildfire seasons are lengthening and intensifying. New Climate Central analysis shows that fire weather is happening more frequently in areas across the U.S.

The irony is not lost on us: the increasingly severe impacts of climate change are here, and becoming more evident each day. The air quality alerts and disruptions to our lives are stark reminders of the urgent need for collective action to combat climate change.

We look forward to celebrating with you in the future.

Photo: https://twitter.com/CryptoCarpente7


Julie Hancher

Julie Hancher is the co-founder and Executive Director of Green Philly, an independent media organization making sustainability accessible, affordable and actionable. Since launching Green Philly in 2008, she has grown it from a passion project into a leading voice for local climate storytelling, pairing impactful journalism with community events and experiences. Julie is a frequent speaker on climate, media innovation and the future of local journalism, and is the creator of SustainPHL and EcoFair. Outside of Green Philly, you can find her hiking, biking, traveling, or exploring Philadelphia.

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