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\n\tRoots Picnic 2025 brought tens of thousands of hip-hop and R&B lovers to Philadelphia\u2019s Fairmount Park for a two-day celebration of music and culture. Held at the Mann Center, this year\u2019s festival boasted a star-studded lineup featuring hometown hero Meek Mill, the legendary Lenny Kravitz, neo-soul icon Maxwell, GloRilla, Miguel and Tems. From longtime Roots Picnic attendees to first-time festivalgoers, fans came ready to celebrate Black music and community in one of the city\u2019s most iconic outdoor venues.<\/p>\n
\n\tBut what started as a promising weekend quickly turned into a test of patience for many attendees. Originally slated to open at 1:00 p.m. on May 31, the festival was delayed due to heavy storms in the area. Doors didn\u2019t open until around 3:30 p.m., and because of the sheer volume of attendees, some guests didn\u2019t make it inside until nearly 7 p.m. \u2014 missing entire sets in the process. Organizers extended the hours to squeeze in every act, but set times remained a mystery. Fans were left in the dark, forced to make tough decisions: Do you wait at one stage hoping your favorite artist shows up, or move and risk missing them altogether?<\/p>\n
\n\tI personally waited nearly two hours for Latto to perform \u2014 time I could\u2019ve spent watching Miguel or Tems \u2014 if only there had been clearer communication. Day two saw smoother entry, but the disorganized schedule continued to cause confusion. Still, through muddy conditions, long lines, and plenty of frustration, the energy never dipped.<\/p>\n
\n\tShoutout to Questlove, because the Roots Picnic made it clear that even when things don\u2019t go as planned, the show must go on. Here are Billboard<\/em>\u2019s picks for the seven best moments from the 2025 fest.<\/p>\n