Weekly Entertainment Guide – Classical Mystery Tour, ‘Herringbone’ & Summer Festivals!

21 things to do this week in the Philly region. Robin Bloom offers her picks.

Festivals, Food & Fun

Park on the Parkway is back

The Oval, the “Park on the Parkway” kicks off a second summer of free outdoor fun. The space has been transformed by artist Candy Coated with the theme “Magic Carpet” and 3-D illusion art, colourful sandboxes, and more. Programming, events, and activities for all ages will be held Wednesdays through Sundays with live musical performances, interactive arts and culture activities, fitness and wellness activities, movie nights, beer gardens, miniature golf, food trucks and more through August 17, at Eakins Oval in front of the Art Museum stairs, Benjamin Franklin Parkway & 24th Streets, Philadelphia. This Friday, July 18, 7pm, Macaulay Culkin’s comedy rock band the Pizza Underground (pictured) performs a free outdoor concert with a pizza party, followed by an outdoor screening of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles with beer garden – part of the Awesome Fest.Reading Terminal Market’s Sidewalk Sizzle & Ice Cream Freeze

Reading Terminal Market’s Sidewalk Sizzle & Ice Cream Freeze returns Saturday, July 19, 10am-4pm, offering special foods from a selection of market merchants including kabobs, grilled shrimp tacos, ribs, bratwurst, Cajun burgers, turkey legs, grilled gelato sandwiches, grilled fruit sundaes, ice cream eating contest (pictured) along with live music, arts and crafts for the kids, games, and more, outside the market on Filbert Street. The historic market first opened its doors in 1892 on the site of what had been an open air market from the late 17th century.

Crabulous Crab Weekend at the Jersey Shore!

Crabulous Crab Day is Friday, July 18 at the Wetlands Institute, 9:30am-3pm. Learn about crabs with crabbing at the dock, tips and tricks, crab cake cook-off and cooking lessons, teaching tank, photos, scavenger hunt, crab races, games and more, 1075 Stone Harbor Boulevard, Stone Harbor, NJ.The NJ Crab Festival is Saturday, July 19, 11am-10pm, with blue claw crabs, beer garden, vendors, children’s activities, and more including live entertainment by Parrotbeach at 7pm (Jimmy Buffett tribute band), along Park Boulevard (in front of the Ice House Restaurant), Wildwood, NJ.

Franklin Flea

Franklin Flea is back Saturday, July 19, 10am-5pm in the McCall schoolyard, 7th & Delancey Streets, Society Hill (between Spruce & Pine Streets), Philadelphia. The open air curated market features top vendors of antique, vintage and up-cycled furniture, clothing, collectibles, and antiques, along with jewelry, art, and handmade goods by local artisans and designers. Also, fresh cooked and small batch pre-packaged food and live music.

Saturday in the Park at Liberty Lands

Spend Saturday in the park with an outdoor concert, Saturday, July 19 beginning at 2:30pm featuring Swift Technique, T.J. Kong and the Atomic Bomb, PhillyBloco, and Splintered Sunlight (pictured). Organized by the staff of the former Blockley, the event features local craft vendors, food trucks, and a beer truck. Bring blankets and chairs, Liberty Lands Park, 926 N. American Street, Philadelphia. Entry fee.

Shady Grove Music Fest

The Shady Grove Music Fest is this Saturday, July 19, 12pm, with 8 bands including Brixton Saint, the Lawsuits, Stallions, St. James and the Apostles, Apex Watson, Scrantron, Fiance, and Kind of Creatures, in the grove behind Gild Hall, at 2126 The Highway, Arden, DE. Bring a lawn chair or blanket, food and beverage available for purchase, no outside food or beverage permitted. Children 12 and under free. In the event of rain, performances move to Gild Hall.

Atlantic City Carnivals

The Tri-State Caribbean Cultural Foundation hosts the 4th annual Atlantic City Caribbean Carnival Weekend, July 18-20, celebrating Caribbean tra¬di¬tions with ticketed events including the Miss Caribbean pageant, parties, fashion show and more. The free costumed parade takes place on Saturday, July 19, 12pm-4pm on the boardwalk starting at Rhode Island and Atlantic Avenue in front of Revel Casino. Enjoy the sounds of Soca, Tassa, Calypso, Reggae and steel drums with the backdrop of the Atlantic Ocean.While in AC, celebrate Lucy the Elephant’s 133rd birthday with Lucy’s Carnival, Saturday, July 19, 10am-8pm and carnival games, rides, activities, food, and more, 9200 Atlantic Avenue, Margate, NJ.

Tree House Festival at Tyler Arboretum

Explore one of Tyler Arboretum’s ten “Totally Terrific Treehouses” with the annual Tree House Festival, Sunday, July 20, 10am-2pm. Celebrate trees and the wildlife that call trees home with a bird show featuring hawks, falcons, and other birds of prey, tree-climbing activities, learn how to build a tree house with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s Woodmobile, crafting and learning stations, and more. Explore Tyler’s 650 acres of meadows, wetlands and unbroken forest with over 17 miles of hiking trails, 515 Painter Road, Media, PA. Open to the public with cost of admission, rain or shine.

Dance

PHILADANCO at the Dell

Enjoy PHILADANCO under the stars in Fairmount Park at the Dell Music Center, Friday, July 18, 7:30pm. The affordable multi-cultural dance concert offers audiences a diverse program including Otis Redding’s “Suite Otis” music for the ballet by George Faison and features guest artists from The Pure Project, Fuego Dance Theater, Just Sole: Street Dance Theater, Iquail & Company and more. The performance is the 3rd annual Founder’s Day tribute to Joan Myers Brown, Ridge Avenue & Huntingdon Drive (near Strawberry Mansion Drive, Philadelphia.

Koresh Dance Company’s “Come Together”

Koresh Dance Company and PNC Arts Alive unites Philadelphia’s dance community with the 2nd Come Together Festival, five performances July 23-27 at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre. 24 regional dance companies that represent numerous unique dance styles ranging from modern dance, tap, contemporary ballet, hip hop, acrobatic physical theatre and more. Companies include Rennie Harris Puremovement, Brian Sanders’ JUNK, Balletfleming, Kun-Yang Lin/Dancers, the Lady Hoofers and hip hop artist, photographer and filmmaker Raphael Xavier, Broad Street at Lombard, Philadelphia.

Puppets!

ComedySportz: Puppets vs. People

ComedySportz, known for perfecting the sport of competitive improvisation, hosts weekly comedy battles based on audience suggestions with referee-run matches. This weekend, the comedy show offers a double header and throws puppets into the mix with ComedySportz: Puppets vs. People, Saturday, July 19, 7:30pm and 10pm. See players and puppeteers Dave Jadico (only Philadelphia actor to win a Barrymore Award for his puppetry skills) and Joe Sabatino (from the Jim Henson Company) in nonstop fast, smart and funny improvisation with classic favorites and new games as well at the Playground at the Adrienne, 2030 Sansom Street, Philadelphia.

Aesop’s Fables at Rutgers

Rutgers-Camden Center for the Arts hosts their Stage Adventures Performance Series and Aesop’s Fables by Jim West Puppets, Thursday, July 24, 10am. The Stag at the Pool, The Tortoise and the Hare, The Fox and the Grapes, The Wind and the Sun, and The Lion and the Mouse come to life through the large and colorful puppets of nationally acclaimed puppeteer and storyteller, Jim West. Free admission, reservations required, Gordon Theater, 3rd & Pearl Streets, Camden, NJ.

Onstage

Flashpoint Theatre Company’s “Herringbone”

Flashpoint Theatre Company closes its 10th season with their first musical, the Philadelphia premiere of Tom Cone, Skip Kennon, and Ellen Fitzhugh’s Herringbone. Philadelphia favorite Ben Dibble plays 10 characters in the quirky one man musical ghost story about a Vaudeville star. Inspiration for the show comes from Artistic Director Thom Weaver’s family – his great grandparents toured the country as Vaudeville performers – and the set and lighting designer used family archives and old photos as research. Directed by Bill Fennelly, Assistant Professor of Theater at Drexel University’s Westphal College of Media Arts and Design, through July 27 at Off-Broad Street Theatre, First Baptist Church, 1636 Sansom Street, Philadelphia.

Mazeppa Productions’ “Xanadu”

Xanadu‘s neon lights will shine with Mazeppa Productions’ Philadelphia premiere of the musical comedy loosely based on the cult-classic film starring Olivia Newton-John. Expect unique staging on a 360 degree set complete with roller skating, disco dancing choreography by Robert Harris, and funky musical direction by Ryan Touhey. Rob Henry directs through July 26 at Christ Church Neighborhood House, 20 North American Street off 2nd Street between Market and Arch Streets in Old City, Philadelphia. Thursday, July 17 is LGBT Night and Monday, July 21 is Industry Night.

Classical Mystery Tour joins the Philadelphia Orchestra

The Philadelphia Orchestra celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Beatles arrival in America with Classical Mystery Tour: A Tribute to the Beatles, orchestrations of more than two dozen Fab Four songs performed as they were originally recorded. Martin Herman, who transcribed the music note-for-note, makes his Philadelphia Orchestra debut as conductor, Wednesday, July 23, 8pm and Thursday, July 24, 8pm in the Kimmel Center’s Verizon Hall. CMT is Jim Owen (John Lennon) on rhythm guitar, piano, and vocals, Tony Kishman (Paul McCartney) on bass guitar, piano, and vocals, David John (George Harrison) on lead guitar and vocals, and Chris Camilleri (Ringo Starr) on drums and vocals.

Sassy Says…

Sassy offers the following recommendations for fun dog-friendly events this week!

 

 

Lancaster Avenue Jazz Festival

Azar Lawrence headlines the 8th Annual Lancaster Avenue Jazz & Arts Festival, Saturday, July 19. The internationally-renowned jazz saxophonist and John Coltrane disciple (pictured) has performed with Miles Davis, Ike & Tina Turner, Roberta Flack, and Earth, Wind & Fire and is joined by a line-up that includes Philadelphia musicians and vocalists Josh Lawrence, Glenn Bryan & Friends, the Charlene Holloway Band, Shakera Jones Quartet, Nasir Dickerson and Renaissance Messengers, and RK$TDY. Also, youth performers from Play On, Philly! and Women’s Sekere Ensemble and West Powelton Drummers. The free jazz and arts celebration kicks off at 9am with a family fitness challenge at Saunders Park, 39th & Powelton, and performances begin at noon with food trucks, vendors, and family friendly activities. Pets welcome but must be on leash. With hundreds of people expected plus hot temperatures, use your best judgment concerning your pet’s temperament and comfort. Hosted by the People’s Emergency Center, whose mission is to nurture and strengthen families and neighborhoods in West Philadelphia. Azar Lawrence is offering a master class for local children on Friday, July 18.

Celebrate the Hot Dog

In celebration of National Hot Dog Month (July), the South Street Head House District hosts the 3rd annual The Dog Days of Summer Cook-Off, Saturday, July 19, 1pm-4pm, featuring a hot dog and sausages cook-off competition by 20 favorite restaurants, a panel of celebrity judges, as well as an amateur toppings contest with Philly themes, and much more including cold brews and live music at the Historic Headhouse Shambles, 400 block of South 2nd Street between Lombard and Pine, Philadelphia. In conjunction with Hot Diggity!

Tie-Dye Music Festival

The 2nd annual Tie-Dye Music Festival returns to the Community Arts Center in Wallingford, PA, uniting art, music and the community with a free, family event, Saturday, July 19, 2pm-7pm. The afternoon features five local bands including Jimmy Shoe & the Shine, Manatawny Creek Ramblers, Herb Mondros, Last Chance and SwUKEstra (Swarthmore Ukulele Orchestra), vendors, raffles, and tie-dye activities! Bring your own items to tie-dye (up to 2) for $5 or buy t-shirts, onesies and aprons on site with the help of tie-dye guru Bob Deane. Food and beverages available for purchase or bring your own and set up chairs and blankets on the side lawn of the Center. The event is rain or shine and will be moved inside if it rains. If outdoors, leashed pets are welcome. Parking provided, 414 Plush Mill Road. Sponsored by Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union.

New Jersey Peach Festival & Gloucester County 4-H Fair

Enjoy some down home fun at the annual New Jersey Peach Festival and Gloucester County 4-H Fair, Thursday, July 24 through Sunday, July 27, 4 days of activities for all ages including equestrian contests, livestock shows, animal costume contests, Peach Queen Contest, birdhouse decorating contest, car show, craft fair, NJ’s largest peach cake, live music, carnival rides and more including fresh peaches and peach products.  Proceeds support 4-H, the youth development program of Rutgers Cooperative Extension. Visit the many barns filled with animals that 4-H students have learned to care for through the program. The fair is dog-friendly and offers many events for your furry friends (who are well behaved and leashed), including Survivor Dog, Seeing Eye Games, Mr. & Mrs. Peach Pooch Fashion Show, dog grooming, training, K9 demonstrations, and much more at the 4-H Fairgrounds south of Mullica Hill, on Route 77, Bridgeton Pike. Parking donation of $10 good for all four days.

 

 

To submit an event to be considered for the Weekly Entertainment Guide email Robin Bloom at artscalendar@whyy.org.