Temple Made Fest drew crowds, with all vendor spots filled by alumni and students
Temple alumni and students sold their wares and promoted their businesses at the university's second annual festival for entrepreneurs.
Hundreds of owls descended on the heart of Temple University’s campus Saturday afternoon for the second annual Temple Made Fest.
Stands with jewelry, art, an array of services, and an abundance of crafts spanned two blocks, welcoming visitors to 13th Street and Polett Walk.
Joyce Drayton, 78, was one of 108 entrepreneurs — all Temple alumni or current students — set up on a warm, sunny afternoon. The 1974 graduate was there to promote the Georgia E. Gregory interdenominational school of music, which she founded to give children access to musical education no matter their financial situation.
“I wish I had something like [Temple Made Fest] 25 years ago,” Drayton said. “It would have helped so much with getting the world out.”
Despite starting as an idea in 2019, the festival didn’t come to be until 2025, partly due to the pandemic, said Eliza Stasi, associate vice president of advancement and engagement and the executive director of the Temple University Alumni Association.
“A lot of our business came from their time at Temple, from their classes, internships, partnerships, and projects that they work on as students,” Stasi said. “It’s leaning into the things that are meaningful to them, and it’s owls supporting owls.”
Lauren Mohr, 26, began her print business Mohr does art in 2023, and was one of the 45 vendors to participate in the first Temple Made Fest last year.
For Saturday’s event, she came back with more prints inspired by her cats and life in Philly —like her “skeptical of your arrival time” print featuring a SEPTA bus.
“It’s been really challenging to have my own business, but I am grateful that I took the chance to do it and that I have a really good support system, including Temple,” Mohr said.
In one year, the festival has more than doubled in size, forcing Stasi’s team to leave some businesses out due to capacity.
“It’s a good enough problem to have,” Staci said. “We are looking at possibly expanding it to twice a year, maybe bringing it back in the fall for homecoming.”
Niya Mack, 34, couldn’t believe she got on the approved list. After all, her business, Petal Office, just turned three months old.
Tired of working as a corporate attorney, Mack was about ready to “sell coconuts on the side of the road,” she said. Instead, the Temple alumna opted for selling fresh flowers from Conshohocken.
“This is our first pop-up, and it has done great; over 40 people have come,” Mack said, an hour into the fest. “Seeing this makes you feel like if there is something you want to do, you should go for it.”
Freshman attendee Cassandra DellaVedova, 19, found a renewed optimism in an era where AI threatens to reduce the number of entry-level job opportunities.
“It’s extremely inspiring because it shows you can still be successful in the job market, create a business, and still keep your joy,” DellaVedova said.
