Light Up the Market: Honoring the Workers of 9th Street

On Saturday, November 15 at 4 p.m., join neighbors, artists and Market workers for a vibrant evening of art, storytelling and light at Our Market. This free community celebration will debut a powerful new 30’ tall mural by renowned artist Michelle Angela Ortiz. The mural is in homage to the immigrant worker who continues to shape the South 9th Street Market’s history and culture.

Following the mural dedication, attendees will be among the first to experience new light installations that highlight community stories throughout the Market. Guided tours led by the Our Market team will showcase radiating produce scales, glowing lightboxes, a moveable illuminated push cart, and a large three-wall projection designed to bring the voices, resilience, and traditions of Market workers into the public space.

On Sunday, November 16, the celebration continues with special guided tours highlighting the new lightboxes, murals, and installations that tell the stories of 9th Street’s workers and community. Come be part of this historic moment, where art and light converge to honor the people who keep the Market thriving. Tours depart from 9th & Federal Streets at 5:00PM and 6:00, FREE tours, registration required.

All Our Market Tours operated by Beyond the Bell Tours.

About Our Market Project

Our Market Project is a multi-layered, community-centered public art project that has been evolving since its inception in April 2019. Led by Michelle Angela Ortiz and Fiera Studios, the project is rooted in the heart of Philadelphia’s 9th Street Market. The project focuses on celebrating and supporting the (im)migrant vendors, business owners, and neighbors who have made the market their home for generations. Our Market invests in the 9th Street Market by offering creative strategies that engage the community in addressing the pressing issues of gentrification, racism, displacement and erasure. Key initiatives feature walking tours, murals, lightboxes, and storytelling efforts that reflect the unique heritage of the area’s vendors and residents. By amplifying the contributions of (im)migrant communities, the project aims to strengthen ties within the market and preserve its unique cultural heritage.

Our Market Project Supporters:

Lead support for Our Market is generously provided by the William Penn Foundation, in partnership with Mural Arts Philadelphia. Additional support comes from the National Endowment for the Arts, The Hearthland Foundation, PHILADELPHIA250, Visit Philadelphia, and the Leeway Foundation.