Mother’s Day fun, VinylCon! and Lakecia Benjamin, in this week’s ‘Things To Do’
May 8 - May 11: Almost Unknown in Del., Wall Ball in Philly, and MMRBQ in South Jersey are among weekend event highlights.
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Yui Mizuno, from left, Rob Halford, Suzuka Nakamoto, and Moa Kikuchi of BABYMETAL perform at the 2016 Journeys AP Music Awards at Value City Arena at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on Monday, July 18, 2016, in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP)
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This weekend, things get underway a bit early, with Paul Simon’s “A Quiet Conversation” show at the Academy of Music at 8 p.m., blending storytelling and song. On Friday, the musical momentum builds with Gospel on Independence at 7 p.m., featuring Marvin Sapp, followed by the U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own” lighting up the RiverRink stage Saturday at 8 p.m., ending with fireworks. Both concerts are free, part of the Wawa Welcome America celebration. On Saturday, the Sweet Juice Fest brings queer-and people-of-color-centered creativity to the Awbury Arboretum, starting at 1:30 p.m. The Bucks-Mont Pride Festival starts at noon Sunday in Jenkintown or you can head to the Dell later that afternoon for the Celebration of Black Music, with performances by Musiq Soulchild and Kindred the Family Soul. The B[l]ok Party and From Our Hands Food Festival round out the weekend’s events with community, creativity and culture.
Delaware | New Jersey | Special Events | Arts & Culture | Food & Drink | Music
Florida-based brothers Malcolm, 23, and Umoja, 20, honed their musical talents in a performing arts high school. Now they’re a professional duo who combine their talents on violin with a drummer and DJ to play reggae, pop and original compositions with their own dynamic flair. Their stage presence earned them the Emerging Artist under 21 award at the International Reggae & World Music Awards. The duo’s latest single, “Vivaldi Rock,” is out now. The event is pay what you will, with proceeds going to the Black Violin Foundation. The duo heads to Delaware for a free show in the outdoor amphitheater.
More than 25 choreographers will bring a diverse lineup of dance styles, from ballet to jazz, contemporary and hip-hop, to the fifth annual showcase. Individual and group performances from all age groups are a highlight of the celebration, with the tagline of “create, connect, inspire.” After the show, a party with a DJ, photo booth and cash bar extends the event and the tribute to choreographers and dancers.
If you love gospel music, you already know Marvin Sapp, the Grammy-nominated gospel powerhouse whose franchise hit, “Never Would’ve Made It,” has gone through many life challenges. Even if you don’t, here’s your free chance to find out why he’s a stalwart on many playlists, gospel or otherwise. He’s the headliner at this year’s Wawa Welcome America gospel concert, along with several local choirs, so bring your lawn chair — just don’t expect to spend much time actually sitting in it.
El Concilio’s annual celebration moves to Love Park after years at the Great Plaza on Penn’s Landing, which is now closed due to construction. It’s appropriate for the 2025 theme of kinship, which recognizes the intersectionalities among people of color in the region. The event honors diverse roots with the Parade of Hispanic Flags, performances by Bonilla Baile Folklòrico and reggaeton superstar Ivy Queen, along with a lineup of food trucks and artisans showcasing Latino-owned businesses. Families can enjoy the PECO Kids Zone with book giveaways, while adults can browse a beer garden. All proceeds support El Concilio’s Scholarship Fund, which helps empower first-generation students and local families.
The U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own,” founded on Jan. 25, 1922, takes its name from Gen. John J. Pershing. It remains the U.S. Army’s premier ensemble, performing at events ranging from presidential inaugurations and state funerals, including JFK’s in 1963, to national and global tours and Wawa’s Welcome America. One of the U.S. Army’s seven ensembles, its repertoire includes patriotic staples, “The Army Goes Rolling Along,” “The Liberty Bell March” and “Stars & Stripes Forever,” as well as a contemporary favorite in the “Firework” medley, based on Katy Perry’s hit song. The post-performance fireworks start approximately at 9:30 p.m.
Hosted by the Fairmount Sports Association, in partnership with the We Are One Foundation, the inaugural charity event supports inclusive programming for individuals with special needs. The event features mixed‑ability kickball teams with neurotypical and neurodivergent players across three fields, alongside kid-friendly attractions like a sensory/cool-down zone, arts and crafts, face painting, temporary tattoos and a soccer zone. Local vendors and sponsors will be on-site, and food and drinks will be available throughout the day.
The repurposed Bok Building is an example of what can happen when city resources are reimagined for the benefit of the community. Once a vocational high school, the Bok Building now houses more than 150 artists and small businesses, a restaurant and a rooftop bar. The ninth annual b[l]ok party celebrates the achievement with local dance groups, live performances from artists including Batala Philly, and Nuuxakun and family-friendly bouncy house, arts and crafts and a fire-truck demo. Vendors drawn from the Bok Building community will join popular local food trucks, including Babalouie BBQ and Pink’s Cold Treats, at the event.
If you can’t make a trip to France this summer, the Barnes is helping France come to you. This new exhibit showcases how the diverse landscapes of Paris, Normandy, Brittany and the South of France inspired the works of late 19th- and early 20th-century masters. The exhibit is composed of 50 works by artists, including Monet, Renoir, Manet, Van Gogh, Cézanne, Modigliani, Soutine, de Chirico and Miró. Barnes founder Albert C. Barnes is credited with popularizing the work of impressionist and post-impressionist artists in the U.S., acquiring many of their most important works. On Sunday at 1 p.m., join curator Cindy Kang for a virtual and in-person discussion about how she juxtaposed certain pieces so observers can view them through a fresh lens.
It started as an indie movie in 1960, notable mostly because of an appearance by a young Jack Nicholson. But it morphed into a musical in 1982, with book and lyrics by Howard Ashman and a Grammy Award–winning score by Alan Menken, the duo behind Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” and “Beauty and the Beast.” A movie adaptation with Steve Martin followed in 1986. The dark comedy tells the story of Seymour, a florist whose life changes after he cultivates a singing plant with an appetite for blood. Under the direction of Molly Rosa Houlahan, this summer-long run on the Haas Stage promises a fresh take on the cult favorite, complete with themed preview nights, including Pride Night, Ladies’ Night and post-show talkbacks.
On Saturday, the arboretum will become a safe space for a one-day immersive arts and music gathering, where artists and performers who are queer, trans and people of color provide interactive art installations, tarot and astrology “witching” corners, line‑dancing lessons, a DIY fashion station and more creative projects. Co-founders Mel Harris, Katie Hackett and Shona Carr got together to create an inclusive festival rooted in creative expression, not commercial gain. Speedy Ortiz, Shy Godwin and Fist City are scheduled to perform, among others. This year’s theme is Quantum Contact, acknowledging the totality of a universe we don’t know everything about.
Pride Month is winding down, but it’s not over yet. At this festival, two suburban counties come together to celebrate their LGBTQ+ communities. Hosted by The Welcome Project PA!, this free, rain‑or‑shine event incorporates Bucks and Montgomery counties under one inclusive roof. DJ Triiish is spinning all the uplifting anthems along with performances from headliner Jakeya Limitless, Yari, the Positive Movement Drumline and Philly Cheer Elite. Yoga sessions by Invert Your World are on the schedule to encourage wellness and stillness. Food vendors, artisan booths, family-friendly activities and community organizations are part of the day as well. But smoking is not, as the event is entirely tobacco-free.
Flavorful and festive are the relevant adjectives for the latest Night Market, which brings together food trucks, local vendors, live performances and fun activities for all ages in the Northeast. Like all Night Market events, food is the focus, but this one is part of the Welcome America event series leading up to the Fourth of July. You can enter to win free tickets for front row seats to the concert on the Parkway as well. Pitman, New Jersey native and LGBTQ+ advocate, Laura Cheadle + The Girls will perform.
You know the song “Under the Boardwalk,” by The Drifters, which celebrates summer fun down the shore, but here in Philly, we can party under the el tracks. On Saturday, North Front Street transforms into a pedestrian-only hub for the day, featuring local vendors offering handmade goods, upcycled fashion and wellness products, alongside pop-up performances, face painting, balloon art and kid-friendly fun. Local eateries LMNO, Percy Street Barbecue, The International Bar and Evil Genius Beer Co. bring outdoor seating and special menus, in an event celebrating both Fishtown and Pride Month.
Fleisher Art Memorial is the venue for a free, rain‑or‑shine festival spotlighting Philly’s local Asian and Asian‑American restaurants, chefs, food artisans and cultural creators. Hosted by Roots to Table, the Asian Food Collective and AAWPI, the event aims to uplift Asian food stories and build community around them. A diverse group of local vendors includes those selling food, crafts and handmade items, while Asian-led nonprofits and artists will also be on hand. Journey to the West is also hosting a panel discussion with some of the city’s notable Asian chefs, community organizers and small business owners. Live performances will end the day.
Paul Simon
Legendary singer‑songwriter Paul Simon thought he might have to retire from performing after experiencing hearing loss. But he’s back with “A Quiet Celebration,” an intimate concert series that blends live performance with storytelling. The 16‑time Grammy winner — including three for Album of the Year — and a member of both the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, this is his first tour since 2018. It serves not just as a revue of his greatest hits, but the onstage debut of tracks from his 2023 album “Seven Psalms.”
Who would have thought that J-pop and heavy metal could mix? BABYMETAL, that’s who. The Japanese all-girl band was formed in 2010, and they are considered the pioneers of so-called “kawaii metal.” Now made up of the trio SU-METAL, MOAMETAL, and newcomer MOMOMETAL, the band has earned a global following with over a million fans on each major social media platform. They’re known for their theatrical live performances, elaborate visuals and co-signs from metal icons like Metallica and Rob Zombie. They’re in town in support of their latest release, “METAL FORTH,” released in April.
The National Marian Anderson Museum & Historical Society hosts a concert featuring African American classical musicians at the historic Mother Bethel AME Church. It’s part of their ongoing mission to preserve the legacy of Marian Anderson, the native Philadelphian who was a groundbreaking figure in civil rights and classical music. The musicians and vocalists include Jillian Patricia Pirtle, Terrence Hart, Laurice S. Kennel, Marcus Simmons and Kynoebi Simpson. They will perform patriotic standards from Black composers Eubie Blake, Florence Price, Scott Joplin and others, in conjunction with the Independence Day holiday.
This free event celebrating Black Music Month ends with fireworks, but not before the musical firepower happens on stage. Curated by Black music historian Dyana Williams and co-hosted by Laiya St. Clair, there will be performances by Philly talents Kindred the Family Soul, Musiq Soulchild, Freeway, and DJ Aktive. Beyond the music, attendees can enjoy activities including roller-skating with Great on Skates, line dance lessons with Kenny “Kenny J” Johnson, Double Dutch with Philly Girls Jump and soulful yoga with Karen Taylor Bass. Free tickets are available at the Dell box office, with limited day-of tickets offered on a first-come, first-served basis.