Philly Music Fest, Fashion Week, Cider in Fairmount Park’s Historic Houses, and more events this week

Philly Music Fest
September 27-30
Johnny Brenda’s, World Cafe Live, and Milkboy
Tickets: ranging from $15 per show to $50 for a two-day pass

Homegrown talent is on the menu this week and the selections are particularly tasty. The 2018 Philly Music Fest, taking place at three Philadelphia venues, curates an eclectic list of bands who got their start or honed their craft in the Philly region.

In the line up are DJ Rich Medina – if his comprehensive resume can be reduced down to just spinning; Alabama-born but Philly-made band Waxahatchee, the folksy collective led by musician Katie Crutchfield; longtime Roots’ keyboardist James Poyser playing with jazz drummer Justin Faulkner; Camden’s own Kingsley Ibeneche, a rising star who sings and dances; and kinetic rockers Low Cut Connie. All proof that Philly’s contemporary music scene can’t be distilled down to just one sound.

As Philly Music Fest is a non-profit, all proceeds from the event will benefit local music education.

Philadelphia Fashion Week Trend Show On Dilworth Park 
September 28, doors at 5 p.m., show starts at 5:30
Dilworth Park, 1 S 15th St, Philadelphia
Free with RSVP

Philly is not yet known as a fashion mecca. But our own Fashion Week is beginning to change that. Co-founder Kevin Parker (not to be confused with the owner of soul food staple Miss Tootsie’s) has orchestrated this sartorial celebration of Philly designers for the last 13 years. Fashion maven Fern Mallis, who created New York Fashion Week, has become a champion of and mentor to the event.

But Philly, as always, has its own style. Parker hopes that the broad range of creators, including plus-size and children’s designers, will set a tone for diversity that global fashion weeks in New York, Milan and Paris can replicate. Friday night’s show at Dilworth Park — focused on fall trends and local designers — is free, one of a number of affordably priced shows that make Philly Fashion Week more accessible as well. Other shows running through Sunday range from $35 to $100 per ticket.

Glassboro Craft Beer Festival
September 29, 12 p.m – 5 p.m.
Rowan Boulevard, Glassboro N.J.
Tickets: $40, $50 for VIP, $5 for a non-drinking pass

Growing up, I thought beer options were limited to one of several iconic American brands, one Mexican brand, one German brand and one Irish one. Now that I’ve matured, so has the array of beers available to consumers with the explosion of craft brewing. The Glassboro Beer Fest, now in its 6th year, takes hops hyperlocal, with over 100 beers from over 50 breweries in New Jersey and the tri-state area.

Leslie Odom, Jr. at the Kimmel Center
September 28 – 30
Verizon Hall, Kimmel Center, 300 S Broad St, Philadelphia
Tickets: $35-$105

The singer and actor Leslie Odom, Jr. wasn’t born in Philly, but he did grow up in the city’s East Oak Lane section and attended both Masterman and CAPA, the city’s performing arts high school. Though he debuted in Rent on Broadway at 17, has two solo jazz albums, and wrote the memoir Falling Up, he’s best known for his Tony-award-winning turn as Aaron Burr in the smash hit musical Hamilton, one of Broadway’s biggest sensations of the last decade. Odom Jr. will kick off the POPS 40th anniversary celebration by singing contemporary interpretations of American classics, including some of the songs he made memorable from Hamilton.

CiderFest at the Historic Houses of Fairmount Park
September 29, 12 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Various historic houses, including Cedar Grove, Laurel Hill, Lemon Hill, Mount Pleasant, Strawberry Mansion, and Woodford Mansion
Tickets: $45, $65 for VIP

Hot cider is among my favorite fall treats, along with sitting by a fire, adding boots and jackets to my daily wardrobe, and curling up with a blanket and a book. Hard ciders of all kinds will make for a cozy day at this Saturday’s CiderFest, with eight Pennsylvania cideries sampling their wares in some of Fairmount Park’s historic houses. And not just your classic apple cider — though those will be on offer. Guests can try ciders with notes of grapefruit, cherry, even sour watermelon.

Each ticket includes a souvenir glass, unlimited cider samples, entrance to up to six historic houses, and a self-guided tour. VIP tickets add special perks including a membership to the Fairmont Conservatory and limited-edition cider pours. Food trucks from Philly vendors including Little Trent’s Grill, Happy Hour Dive Cart and more will be on site, but general admission guests can enjoy free food samples as well.

Ardmore Commercial District Walking Tour

September 29, 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
39 Station Avenue, Ardmore, Pa.
Tickets: $20, $15 for members of Lower Merion Conservancy, Young Friends of the Preservation Alliance, or Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia

Like many parts of the Philadelphia region, so rich with history, Ardmore is always trying to balance its historic downtown core with new development. This Saturday, Greg Prichard, Lower Merion’s historic preservation planner, is offering a glimpse into the history and future of the town’s commercial district with a walking tour. Though Ardmore is known for its majestic family homes and upscale private schools, it’s also got a vibrant commercial district featuring Suburban Square, one of the nation’s oldest open-air markets. Tickets include a drink ticket for one beer at Tired Hands Fermentaria, and an invitation to keep the conversation going over a pint.

GO WEST! Craft Fest
September 29, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
The Woodlands, 4000 Woodland Ave., West Philadelphia
Free

The Woodlands Cemetery is one of the city’ most peaceful urban spaces, so long as you don’t mind sharing it with its permanent residents. This weekend, the GO WEST! Craft Fest takes over the Woodlands for the eight year. Artisans of all stripes will be selling their wares, including jewelry, clothing and the usual collection of vendor-friendly items that range from the prosaic to the truly unique. Live music, food trucks and kids’ activities will be part of the day as well. And if the food trucks don’t satisfy your hunger, head across the street to the newly opened Trolley Car Diner.

Puerto Rican Day Parade
September 30, 12 p.m. – 2 p.m.
24th and Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Free

The city’s annual Puerto Rican Day Parade takes on special meaning this year with its theme, “The Rebirth of Puerto Rico.” When Hurricane Maria hit on September 6, 2017, it challenged the citizens of the island nation in ways that they are still recovering from. The parade will celebrate Puerto Rico’s vibrant culture and music as it always does, but organizers expect that it will also highlight the community’s optimism and resilience in the aftermath of one of the most tragic events in its storied history.