Weekly Entertainment Guide – Summer Spectacular

Enjoy theater in the park, build a sand castle, celebrate Latin music and Beware! The Blob!  Robin Bloom offers 18 picks for summer fun this week.

What’s Happening

Summer Spectacular at Longwood Gardens

Longwood Gardens is one of the world’s great horticultural displays, encompassing 1077 acres of gardens, woodlands, meadows, and fountains. Take in the Summer Spectacular with the Waterlily Display featuring more than 100 types of colorful day and night blooming waterlilies, the expansive Meadow Garden (pictured), the shady groves of Peirce’s Woods, the Longwood Beer Garden with live music on Thursday evenings, and more. On August 3, Nightscape: A Light and Sound Experience returns with an innovative display combining light, sound, imagery, and music, U.S. Route 1, near Kennett Square, PA. Pictured: Morning in the Meadow Garden by Colin McCallum-Cook. Photo courtesy of Longwood Gardens.

Commonwealth Classic Theatre Company’s Free Theatre in Parks

Commonwealth Classic Theatre Company continues its Free Theatre in the Parks series with Molière’s comic masterpiece, Tartuffe. Performances take place Thursday, July 7, 7pm, Hoffman Park, Lansdowne, Saturday, July 9, 7pm, West Pikeland Cultural Center, Sunday, July 10, 7pm, Auburn Road Vineyard, Wednesday, July 13, 6:30pm, in the Azalea Meadow at Morris Arboretum (pictured), Thursday, July 14, 7pm, Brookhaven Municipal Park, Friday, July 15, 7pm, Kimberton Park, Saturday, July 16, 7pm, West Goshen Community Park, Tuesday, July 19, 7pm, McMichael Park, East Falls, Wednesday, July 20, 7pm, East Goshen Township Park, Thursday, July 21, 7pm, West Chester Everhart Park, Friday, July 22, 7:30pm, White’s Road Park, Lansdale, Saturday, Saturday, July 23, 7pm, Green Lane Park. Photo by Paul W. Meyer.

Blobfest in Phoenixville

Since its first stage show in 1903, the Colonial Theatre carried on through two World Wars, the Great Depression, and in 1957, was featured in the movie “The Blob,” starring Steve McQueen. Phoenixville, PA celebrates its role in the film with the annual Blobfest, July 8-10, a kitschy, family-friendly event saluting the classic sci-fi movie, filmed in and around the town. This year’s theme is ’60s Sci-Fi – The Vinyl Frontier with special screenings of The Queen of Blood and This Island Earth, as well as multiple screenings of the original The Blob movie. Friday night, July 8, 7pm, is the stage show and Run Out (sold out but you can still watch). The celebration continues with the street fair on Saturday, July 9, 11am, with performances by Dibbs Preston and the Detonators, and more, hosted by Dr. Frank N. Stone, emceed by Mr. Lobo, with special guests including Marta Kristen (pictured), Judy Robinson from TV’s Lost in Space, 227 Bridge Street. Tickets required for movies and access to special guests. Street fair is free.

Summer Festivals on the Delaware River

The 35th annual Hispanic Fiesta returns to the Delaware River Waterfront as part of the PECO Multicultural Series, Saturday, July 9, and Sunday, July 10, 2pm-8pm, with music by Ismael Miranda and Mikey Mikey, plus dance, entertainment, children’s activities, and authentic Latin American cuisine, Great Plaza, Penn’s Landing, Columbus Boulevard and Chestnut Streets, Philadelphia. Free, rain or shine. Photo courtesy of Concilio.The South Jersey Caribbean Festival takes place in Wiggins Waterfront Park on Saturday, July 9, noon-8pm, with the sounds & flavors of the region’s Caribbean community. Enjoy a day of crafts, steel drum music, jerk chicken and fun on the Camden Waterfront, presented by the South Jersey Caribbean Cultural Organization.

Haddonfield Fine Art and Crafts Festival

The 24th annual Haddonfield Fine Art and Crafts Festival is Saturday July 9, 11am-7pm and Sunday July 10, Noon-5pm. Count on local and national artisans showing different styles and artistic techniques, from ceramics, metal, and photography to glass, fiber and wearable art. Also, musical entertainment, outdoor cafés, activities for the kids and more, along Kings Highway between Washington Avenue and Haddon Avenue and along Tanner Street to Euclid Avenue. Free parking and admission. Photo courtesy of the Haddonfield Fine Art and Crafts Festival. #SassySays

Sand Castle contests at the shore!

The Wildwood Crest Sand Sculpting Festival returns this Saturday, July 9, 9am-2pm, welcoming competitors of all ages and abilities, and directed by internationally known sand sculptor Matt Long. Registration is free at the Wildwood Crest Beach Pier at Heather Road. Enjoy live music by The Mango Men, in Wildwood Crest, NJ. Photo courtesy of Wildwood Crest Tourism Development Commission.The annual Sandcastle Contest at Delaware Seashore State Park has been a tradition for 36 years. Register at the South Inlet Day Area (south of the Indian River Inlet Bridge) on Saturday, July 9. The program is free but park entrance fees apply. The hours are 9:30am-2pm in Rehoboth Beach, DE.

Anglesea Blues Festival

Enjoy lip smackin’ barbecue and smokin’ hot blues at the Anglesea Blues Festival, this weekend, July 8-10 in Wildwood, New Jersey. Rows of food vendors, a craft beer station and live cooking demonstrations as well as the New Jersey State Barbeque Championship give the festival a tasty edge and a chance to try ribs, chicken, pork and brisket made by barbeque competitors from across the country. On the outdoor main stage, hear Frank Bey and Swing City Blues Band, Steve Cal’ Band, Blue Jay Slim and the Tone Blasters and more, 2nd and Olde New Jersey Avenues, North Wildwood, NJ.

Nanticoke Riverfest

“Float in” to the Nanticoke Riverfest, Seaford, Delaware’s annual two-day summer celebration, July 8-9, for food, live music, tubing and more river-oriented events. The float begins at 10:30am on Saturday (registration at 8:30am) so bring a tube or buy one on-site (first come, first served) and glide along the water to live music. Visit “Artist Alley” on Pine Street, enter canoe and kayak races, the “Duck Dash,” and much more.

Petapalooza in Chestnut Hill

Bring your pooch to Petapalooza for some free canine carousing this Sunday, July 10, 12pm-3pm. Events include pet photos, paws reader, pet trainers, food, music, arts and crafts activities, and more, Germantown and East Highland Avenues, Chestnut Hill. This event features pet rescue organizations with furry friends to be adopted. #SassySays

Dell Music Center’s free Tuesday Movie Nights

The Dell Music Center continues its free Tuesday Movie Nights with Minions (pictured), July 12, 7pm. Tickets are available at the Dell Box Office, 2400 Strawberry Mansion Drive, Philadelphia. Doors open at 6pm and no outside food is permitted. Upcoming movies include Inside out, July 26, Creed, August 16, and The Good Dinosaur, August 30.

Music

Merryland Music Fest

The organizers of the All Good Festival bring you the inaugural Merryland Music Fest, July 9-10, at the historic Merriweather Post Pavilion, Columbia, Maryland. Artists among the over 21 acts include Ben Harper and The Innocent Criminals, The String Cheese Incident, Grace Potter, Stephen “Ragga” Marley, Greensky Bluegrass, Lotus, Yonder Mountain String Band, and Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, alternating on two stages, along with artisans, crowd performers, and more. Catch the kick-off concerts on Friday, July 8 in Baltimore and Washington D.C. Photo courtesy of Merryland Music Fest.

Nuevofest

Sample a diverse lineup of Latin alternative artists at Nuevofest, a free concert on Sunday, July 10, 6pm-2am, presented by Latin Roots Live! Artists include iLe, vocalist from Puerto Rico’s world renowned alternative/hip-hop/rock group Calle 13, the Chamanas, Cartas a Felice, Quitapenas (pictured), Calma Carmona, Gasolina, and Sexy Zebras, FringeArts, 140 N. Columbus Boulevard at Race Street, Philadelphia. Doors open at 5pm. Free and open to the public but reservations required. Olé! Photo courtesy of Latin Roots Live!

The Band is Bond at AMH

Legendary bassist “Freekbass” brings his music collective The Band is Bond to Ardmore Music Hall, Wednesday, July 13, 8pm (doors open at 7pm). The group, featuring Jennifer Hartswick (Trey Anastasio Band), Freekbass, Razor Sharp Johnson (P-Funk/Bootsy’s Rubberband), Ben Walkenhauer, TSLY (Freekbass), and Jyn Yates offers modern, funky takes of themes from the James Bond films, covering all eras of Bond music with an emphasis on the 60s and 70s soundtracks, 23 East Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore, PA. Photo courtesy of The Band is Bond.

Art Appreciation

Against All Odds: Inspired by the Life of Paul Robeson

Against All Odds: Inspired by the Life of Paul Robeson, an art and history exhibit spotlighting the New Jersey born, Rutgers College “Loyal Son,” scholar, athlete, actor, musician, civil rights and labor activist, opens at the Trenton City Museum, Ellarslie Mansion, July 9. The historic collaboration with the Paul Robeson House of Princeton and the African American Cultural Collaborative of Mercer County provides insights into Robeson’s legacy and achievements and includes works by local and regional artists, many created for the exhibit. Look for archival materials and artifacts loaned and donated by Archives and Special Collections at Alexander Library at Rutgers University and the Julius Lazarus Photo Collection, Moorland-Spingarn Research Center at Howard University, Princeton Public Library, the Paul Robeson House of Princeton, PBS American Masters – Paul Robeson Timeline, through September 11, in Cadwalader Park, Trenton, NJ. An opening reception is July 9, 7pm-9pm. Free and open to the general public. A series of related cultural and educational events accompany the exhibit. Pictured: Robeson’s Rutgers College yearbook photo courtesy of the Trenton City Museum, Ellarslie Mansion.

Philly VOTE

Designed to coincide with the Democratic National Convention, the City of Philadelphia’s Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy presents Art in City Hall’s latest exhibit, Philly VOTE, a nonpartisan display of works by invited small local arts organizations and schools that connect the arts to voting. Organizations include the Center for Emerging Visual Artists (CFEVA), InLiquid Art & Design, Mt. Airy Art Garage, Philadelphia Dumpster Divers, Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education (SCEE), University City Arts League, Pennsylvania School for the Deaf, ArtWell, HMS School for Children with Cerebral Palsy, through July 29 on the second and fourth floors of City Hall, Philadelphia. A reception is scheduled on Thursday, July 7, 5pm-7pm. Pictured: “Dems and Reps,” by Robert Lugo, from InLiquid Art & Design.

Edward Koren: The Capricious Line at Delaware Art Museum

Celebrate the five decade career of renowned cartoonist and long-standing contributor to the New Yorker, Edward Koren: The Capricious Line, in a fun, new exhibition at the Delaware Art Museum that highlights an eclectic set of themes that touch on a diverse set of issues in the illustrator’s non-confrontational tone. Approximately 50 original drawings, many on display for the first time, complement the museum’s extensive holdings of American illustration from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The traveling exhibition is curated by Diane Fane and David Rosand and was developed by the Wallach Art Gallery at Columbia University, on display through September 18, 2301 Kentmere Parkway, Wilmington, DE. Pictured: “24-Hour Banking,” 1990, by Edward Koren (born 1935), Mixed media on BFK Rives paper, Photo courtesy of the artist.

 

 

Look for #SassySays for pet friendly events. Let us know if your event is pet-friendly! Email artscalendar@whyy.org and put #SassySays in the subject line.

 

Each week, the Entertainment Guide spotlights interesting local arts offerings happening now, including music, dance, theater, museums, special exhibitions and other arts events from across the region.

To submit an event to be considered, email Robin Bloom at artscalendar@whyy.org.