Weekly Entertainment Guide – Bastille Day, Blobfest & BalletX

Robin Bloom shares 20 suggestions on what to do this week.

What’s Happening

BalletX Summer Series 2015

BalletX closes out its 9th season with Summer Series 2015, featuring three commissioned works by choreographer Adam Hougland: Risk of Flight (BalletX 2007), Mashup (BalletX 2012) (pictured), and a world premiere featuring live music performed onstage by Philadelphia singer-songwriter Chris Kasper, July 8-12 at the Wilma Theater, 265 South Broad Street, Philadelphia. Catch the X-Process “A Pie, A Pint, & The Process,” an interactive lecture and demonstration, Saturday, July 11, 4pm. Photo by Alexander Iziliaev.

Nightscape: A Light and Sound Experience

Enjoy Nightscape: A Light and Sound Experience, a garden-wide installation of moving imagery and light choreographed to original music and brought to life by the natural canvas of Longwood Garden’s plants, leaves, trees, and lakes, on view through October 31. Created by Klip Collective of Philadelphia, a visual art shop bridging projection lighting, technology and storytelling, the display showcases never-before-seen views of the gardens at night at site-specific locations. Special events include live music each Thursday in the Beer Garden, Soundscapes: Composers for Nightscapes on Friday, July 10, Family Night on July 15, and more. Nightscape begins at 9:30pm in July, 9pm in August, 8:30pm in September and 7:30pm in October, U.S. Route 1 near Kennett Square, PA. Photo courtesy of Longwood Gardens.

Vive la France! Celebrate Bastille Day

Put on your best 18th century French peasant clothes and join the 21st annual Bastille Day Block Party, this Saturday, July 11, beginning at 2pm with a family-friendly pre-party and French-themed entertainment, food and drink specials in the Fairmount Neighborhood of Philadelphia. Eastern State Penitentiary teams up with the experimental cabaret troupe, The Bearded Ladies, once again to present the entire French Revolution in a spectacle of song and dance all culminating in a playful re-enactment of the Storming of the Bastille at the historic prison at 5:30pm. Dozens of French revolutionaries will capture Marie Antoinette and, ignoring her mocking cries of “Let them eat Tastykake!,” will drag her to a real, functioning guillotine as more than 2,000 Tastykakes are flung from the prison’s towers. The performance, as always, is free and open to the public, with exclusive VIP seating available. Then, dancing in the street with the West Philadelphia Orchestra, French-themed entertainment, as well as twilight tours at the penitentiary, 22nd & Fairmount, Philadelphia. Start the party early with the Fairmount French Fling Bar Crawl, Thursday, July 9, 6pm, and French Trivia at the London Grill on Friday, July 10, 7pm. Liberté! Egalité! Fraternité! Photo by Darryl Moran.

Check out the tallest Eiffel Tower sculpture in Pennsylvania at Media’s annual Bastille Day Celebration, Saturday July 11, beginning at 6pm with something for everyone – vendors, dancing in the street, Bob Read’s 26 foot Eiffel Tower sculpture, children’s activities and more, State Street and Veteran’s Square. Admission to Media’s Bastille Day is free of charge.

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, a kitschy, family-friendly event saluting the classic sci-fi movie, filmed in and around the town. This year’s theme is Monster Mash – a salute to Universal Studios monster movies – with special screenings of The Creature from the Black Lagoon and Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, as well as multiple screenings of the original The Blob movie. Friday night, July 10, 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 11, 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 Ricou Browning, who played the underwater Gill Man in The Creature from the Black Lagoon, 227 Bridge Street. Tickets required for movies and street fair is free.

Bucks County Audubon Society’s “Art of the Barn Tour”

The Bucks County Audubon Society’s Art of the Barn Tour is July 10-12, honoring Bucks County and its environmental preservation efforts by taking visitors around the county to the various old barns and green fields that have inspired artists for centuries and featuring a selection of their work. Kicking off Friday evening, tours start 9:30am-4:30pm on Saturday and from 12pm-4pm on Sunday, 2877 Creamery Road, New Hope, PA. Artists featured include Jane Ramsey, Robert Barrett, George Donovan, Nancy Lloyd, Teresa Davis, Harry Boardman, Heather Boardman, Natalie Searl, Louise van der does, Justin Long, Ashara Shapiro, Clint Flack, Loretta Montgomery and Sherri McVickar.

Shakespeare in the Park

Commonwealth Classic Theatre Company continues its Free Theatre in the Parks series with The Tempest by William Shakespeare, directed by Allen Radway. Performances take place Thursday, July 9, 7pm, Kimberton Park, Kimberton; Friday, July 10, 7pm, Everhart Park, West Chester; Saturday, July 11, 7pm, Green Lane Park; Sunday, July 12, 7pm, Auburn Road Vineyard, Pilesgrove, NJ; Tuesday, July 14, 7pm, The Willows Estate, Radnor; Wednesday, July 15, 6:30pm, Morris Arboretum, Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia; Thursday, July 16, McMichael Park, East Falls; Friday, July 17, 7pm, West Pikeland Cultural Center Earthworks; Saturday, July 18, 7pm, West Goshen Community Park, West Goshen; Wednesday, July 22, East Goshen Township Park. Concerts continue through July 25 with rain or shine locations at venues across the region. Photo by Plate 3 Photography.Delaware Shakespeare Festival performs The Taming of the Shrew, July 17 through August 2 at Rockwood Park, 4651 Washington Street Extension, Wilmington, DE. Bring blankets or chairs and picnic and enjoy pre-show entertainment including music, comedy, Shakespeare orientation, children’s activities and more.Head to Cape May for Comedy of Errors on the outdoor stage at the Emlen Physick Estate, 1048 Washington Street, 6pm, July 14-18, and July 21-25. Bring a chair or blanket and enjoy an Elizabethan Faire from 4:30pm-6pm.

The Amazing Acro-Cats

Do you love cats? Don’t miss the Amazing Acro-Cats, a performing house-cat troupe, featured on Animal Planet and National Geographic. They’re coming to Philadelphia to ride skateboards, roll barrels, ring bells, turn on lights, walk tight ropes, and perform as part of the “Rock-Cats” combo, July 9-12 at The Painted Bride Art Center. In addition to providing entertainment and spectacle, the shows, under the direction of trainer Samantha Martin, raise awareness and helps to place cats and kittens looking for human homes, 230 Vine Street, Philadelphia.

Summer Festivals on the Delaware River

The Annual Hispanic Fiesta returns to the Delaware River Waterfront as part of the PECO Multicultural Series, Saturday, July 11, and Sunday, July 12, 2pm-8pm, with music by Cintron Band and India, 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 returns for the 15th year to Wiggins Waterfront Park on Saturday, July 11, 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.

“Bluegrass & Blueberries” Festival at Peddler’s Village

Peddler’s Village hosts its Bluegrass & Blueberries Festival, Saturday and Sunday, July 11-12, beginning at 10am both days with a weekend full of blueberry treats and live bluegrass and country music, children’s activities, and more, Routes 202 & 263, Lahaska, PA. Photo courtesy of Peddler’s Village.

Chestnut Hill Dog Days of Summer

Bring your pooch to the Chestnut Hill Dog Days of Summer for some free canine carousing this Sunday, July 12, 11am-3pm. Events include a pet parade, pet photos, face painting, Paws reader, Pet trainers, food, music, scavenger hunt, arts & crafts activities, and more, Germantown and Southampton Avenues, Chestnut Hill. This event features pet rescue organizations with furry friends to be adopted. #SassySays

Haddonfield Fine Art and Crafts Festival

The 23rd annual Haddonfield Fine Art and Crafts Festival is Saturday July 11, 11am-7pm and Sunday July 12, 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 11, 10am-2pm, welcoming competitors of all ages and abilities, and directed by internationally known sand sculptor Matt Long. Registration is free, begins at 9am, at the Wildwood Crest Beach Pier at Heather Road. Enjoy live music by Twelve:01 and The Mango Men. Rain date is Sunday, July 12, 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 35 years. Register at the South Inlet Day Area (south of the Indian River Inlet Bridge) on Saturday, July 11. The program is free but park entrance fees apply. The hours are 9:30am-2pm in Rehoboth Beach, DE.

Angleasea Blues Festival

Enjoy lip smackin’ barbecue and smokin’ hot blues at the Angleasea Blues Festival, this weekend, July 11-13 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 Bubba Mac Blues Band, Roger Girke Blues Band, Sarah Ayers with the James Supra Blues Band, Sleeping Dogs Lie, 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 10-11, for food, live music, tubing and more river-oriented events. The float begins at 3pm on Saturday (registration at 1pm) 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.

The Oval “Park on the Parkway”

The Oval, the “Park on the Parkway” partnership between the Fairmount Park Conservancy and Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, kicks off another summer of free outdoor fun on July 15. Programming, events, and activities for all ages will be held Wednesdays through Sundays with live musical performances, pop-up beer garden, interactive arts and culture activities, fitness and wellness activities, movie nights, beer gardens, miniature golf, food trucks and more, including an installation by artists Jessie Unterhalter and Katey Truhn, a collaboration with the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program, through August 23, at Eakins Oval in front of the Art Museum stairs, Benjamin Franklin Parkway & 24th Streets, Philadelphia. Photo by Albert Yee.

 

 

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.