African Ambassador's Conference and Reception, Fri., June 9, noon-7 p.m., $100, The DoubleTree Hotel, 237 S. Broad St.; Drop Everything and Dance workshops, Sat., June 10, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., $40-$70, 2308 Grays Ferry Ave.; Odunde Festival, Sun., June 11, 10 a.m.-8 p.m., free, 23rd and South sts., 215-732-8510, www.odundeinc.org

An open road with vendor stands selling artifacts from Nigeria, Zimbabwe and The Ivory Coast. A faint rhythm from pounding drums. Thousands of people dressed in traditional African clothing. This scene is not found on another continent, but right in your own backyard.

The 31st annual Odunde (pronounced oh-dune-day) Festival is a celebration of traditional African-American culture, and this year, executive director Oshunbumi Fernandez-Ogundana says the festival has expanded from a one-day street market to a three-day series of events.

"There's nothing like it in the city … [Odunde is] an icon, a tradition," says Joel Avery, a media consultant for Odunde. "It grew out of South Philly; it's still in South Philly."

Last year, Odunde greeted more than 300,000 attendees and generated more than $2 million for the city, according to the organizers. This year, there will be a meet-and-greet with African ambassadors and multiple "Drop Everything and Dance" workshops. The festival culminates with a live performance by Floetry and a 10-block market where attendees can taste African cooking and try on tribal garb and jewelry made of ivory and copper.

"Odunde is more than a festival," says Avery. "It's a unique opportunity to engage in the authenticity of Africa without going to the continent."