Parking plan for 2026 Roots Picnic includes 6 lots around Philadelphia's Belmont Plateau
Parking for the Roots Picnic in Philadelphia has long been a challenge for festivalgoers driving or using ride-hailing services. After promising a more polished festival experience, organizers are addressing those concerns ahead of this year's event.
Organizers of the two-day festival announced parking plans on social media. The festival will feature six designated parking lots around Fairmount Park: The States Lot, Baseball Lot, Mann Lot 1, Mann Lot 2, Mann Lot 3 and Mann Lot 4.
Drivers are encouraged to arrive early, as parking will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. The designated lots are mostly grass.
Those using ride-hailing services like Uber or Lyft will have a dedicated pickup and drop-off location at the intersection of Wynnefield Avenue and North Georges Hill Drive.
The festival will also have two entrances to help reduce long lines. The Chamounix entrance, located at Belmont Avenue and Belmont Mansion Drive, will be open to all ticket holders, including VIP ticket holders. The Montgomery entrance, located at Belmont Avenue and Montgomery Drive, will be open only to general admission and general admission-plus ticket holders.
Parking is free but limited, the city says.
Roots Picnic performance schedule
This year's picnic is poised to be its biggest yet as it coincides with America's 250th birthday, featuring legendary headliners JAŸ-Z and Erykah Badu.
On Friday, organizers announced the full schedule of performances.
Day 1 on the main stage will feature De La Soul at 5:45 p.m., Brandy at 7:15 p.m., and JAY-Z and The Roots at 9:15 p.m.
Philly natives Bilal and DJ Jazzy Jeff will perform on the Plateau Stage at 4 p.m. and 6:15 p.m., respectively. The stage will cap off its night at 7:45 p.m. with Jermaine Dupri and friends.
Day 2 on the main stage will include Wale and Black Thought's live mixtape performance at 4:15 p.m., Mariah the Scientist at 5:30 p.m., and Kehlani at 7 p.m. The "Folded" singer is set to perform at the festival for the first time in 10 years. The R&B singer posted her set list on social media.
DJ Jazzy Jeff is scheduled for 7:45 p.m., while Atlanta rap icon T.I. is performing on the Plateau Stage.
Headliner Erykah Badu is set to take the stage at 8:30 p.m. The full schedule can be found on the festival's social media pages.
Other Roots Picnic events
Leading up to the festival is a full lineup of events.
On Thursday, a Pride Soirée will celebrate Black and LGBTQ+ artists. Friday features Black Thought's comedy event at Punch Line Philly, along with a celebrity basketball tournament in the city's Nicetown neighborhood hosted by Gillie and Wallo featuring former Philadelphia Eagles Terrell Owens and C. J. Gardner-Johnson, along with other celebrities.
Doors open at 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Tickets for the festival are sold out.
Getting to the Roots Picnic with SEPTA
SEPTA's bus route 38 serves the Belmont Plateau. SEPTA will add extra service around the event, the city says.
Detour information and schedule changes will be published on SEPTA's System Status page in the SEPTA app.
Road closures for Roots Picnic
Several road closures will be in effect for the Roots Picnic.
Belmont Mansion Drive is closed between Chamounix Drive and Montgomery Drive through 6 p.m. on Wednesday.
The following streets will be closed starting at 9 p.m. Friday through 5 a.m. Monday:
- Montgomery Drive, between Martin Luther King Drive and Belmont Avenue
- Ramps from eastbound and westbound I-76 (Schuylkill Expressway) to Montgomery Drive (Exit 341)
Chamounix Drive between Ford Road and Belmont Avenue will be closed Saturday and Sunday. Martin Luther King Drive will be closed to vehicles for recreational activity on Saturday and Sunday.
