Weekly Entertainment Guide – Philly Folk Fest, Podcast Fest & WetLand
WetLand, a world premiere, floating, interactive art installation moored on the Delaware River. (Emma Lee/for NewsWorks)
Pick your festival – head to Night Market, the Caribbean, India Fest, Folk Fest, Podcast Fest, Rockabilly Fest, Craft Fest, Starfest & more! Find your fun on this week’s Guide.
What’s Happening
Night Market returns to West Philly
Check out Night Market Lancaster Avenue, Thursday, August 14, 6pm-10pm, featuring the best ethnic and regional restaurants and food trucks and a chance to explore the West Philly neighborhoods of Mantua, Powelton Village and University City. The roving street festival puts a spotlight on a unique, diverse, vibrant and up & coming neighborhood and celebrates the city’s diverse food scene with over 80 vendors and entertainers including live music by West Philly hip-hop artist Chill Moody. Presented by the Food Trust in partnership with the People’s Emergency Center from 35th to 39th on Lancaster Avenue.
Delaware River Waterfront Events
Enjoy festive and free summer fun on the riverfront: Screenings Under the Stars: The Hobbit – The Desolation of Smaug, Thursday, August 14, beginning at dusk. Smooth Jazz Summer Nights concert with Next Generation, Friday, August 15, 7:30pm. On Saturday, August 16 is the 21st annual Festival of India, 1pm-7pm, celebrating India’s Independence Day and the Greater Philadelphia region’s vibrant Indian community, with music, food, art, vendors and more. Transport yourself to the islands with the 28th annual Caribbean Festival, Sunday, August 17, 12pm-8pm. All events at Great Plaza, 101 S. Columbus Boulevard at Market Street, Philadelphia.
Philadelphia Folk Festival
The Philadelphia Folk Festival is back for the 53rd year August 15-17 in Upper Salford Township near Schwenksville, PA. Featured performers include Jason Isbell, Janis Ian, Loudon Wainwright III, Sturgill Simpson, Shemekia Copeland, Tommy Emmanuel, John Flynn, Rebirth Brass Band, Ben Kessler, and many more, hosted by Gene Shay, with lots to do for families, including crafts, puppeteers, jugglers, storytellers, kid-oriented musicians, food and more.
WetLand
FringeArts presents the world premiere of WetLand, a floating public art installation on the Delaware River. The artistic and aquatic habitat is designed by Brooklyn-based installation artist Mary Mattingly, who will be living on the adapted 1971 Rockwell Whitcraft houseboat for six weeks, offering tours, performances, workshops, skills shares, and gatherings to engage the public in ecological and artistic exploration. Six other artists will rotate residency through September 21. Twenty seats are available on a first-come, first-serve basis for food events, performances, environmental and DIY workshops. The structure is surrounded by floating docks with edible plants, a bee hive and chicken coop, moored at the dock at Independence Seaport Museum on Penn’s Landing, 211 S. Christopher Columbus Boulevard, Philadelphia. WetLand is a self-sustaining, self-contained system with solar power, its own drinking water with a system built with the Philadelphia Workshop School and supplies donated by RAIR (Recycled Artist in Residency) and The Resource Exchange. Opening reception is Friday, August 15, 5pm-7pm with locally grown food and pop-up wine bar by Penns Woods Vineyard, free and open to the public.
Pirate Day
Fort Mifflin brings the colorful history of piracy on the Delaware River to life with Pirate Day, Saturday, August 16, 10am-4pm. Explore 18th century history and interact with pirates and soldiers. Battles take place at 11am and 3pm along with a scavenger hunt, guided tours, treasure dig, drills with wooden muskets, live parrots and live music. Dress as a pirate (circa 1772) and get a prize, Fort Mifflin & Hog Island Roads, Philadelphia.
Starfest
The Chesmont Astronomical Society hosts their annual Starfest, Saturday, August 16. Gates open at 5:30pm for telescope setup, with children’s activities, guest astronomy speakers, door prizes and the opportunity to view the night sky through a variety of telescopes at Hopewell Furnace National Historical Site, 2 Mark Bird Lane, Elverson, PA. Rain date August 17. Bring a lawn chair, blanket and picnic dinner! Admission and parking is free.
Philly Podcast Festival
Learn all about podcasting at the Philadelphia Podcast Festival, back for a second year, August 20-24, showcasing nineteen Philadelphia podcasts during five days of live episode recordings, designed to entertain and educate through the digital medium. Podcast participants include Storyshuffle, Action Phase (featuring WHYY’s Maiken Scott!), The Pincushion, Rep Radio, Comedy Food Sports, and more. Take part in the “meetup” with an opportunity to mingle, chat, and get face time with the podcasters. Hosted by Philadelphia Podcasting Society in partnership with Tattooed Mom. All shows at Tattooed Mom are free and just $5 at Philly Improv Theater.
Music
Five Dollar Festival
Hard Rock Café offers the Five Dollar Festival, Saturday, August 16, 2pm. Enjoy four bands performing throughout the day including Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad with psychedelic roots reggae and the Manhattan Project electronic duo (pictured). Also, Fear Nuttin Band combines metal with the rhythm of Jamaican dance and hip hop and local reggae-funk-jam fusion band the Underwater Sounds, all day for just $5 at 1131 Market Street, Philadelphia.
Rockabilly Rumble
The Rockabilly Rumble returns to World Café Live at the Queen for a second year, Sunday, August 17. Doors open at noon for the indoor/outdoor music festival and show starts at 1pm with family fun including food trucks, BBQ, local clothing, vinyl and antiques vendors, beer garden, and more. Artists include Tommy Conwell (pictured), Daniele Stallone and His Loud-Roll Shuffle, Citizen’s Band Radio, the Bullets, Clear Plastic Masks, and Red Hill Ramblers, Market Street, downtown Wilmington, DE. Rain or shine. Kids under 12 free.
George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic
Catch George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic at Ardmore Music Hall, Wednesday, August 20, doors open at 7pm and show is at 8pm. Johnny Showcase opens for the legendary funk innovator, 23 East Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore, PA.
Onstage
BrainSpunk Theater’s “Crazyface”
BrainSpunk Theater presents the Philadelphia premiere of the dark satirical comedy Crazyface by English author Clive Barker, creator of the Hellraiser and Candyman series. Directed by BrainSpunk’s Artistic Director Christopher King and starring Eric Scott Evans, Joel Dickerson, and Nancy Segal through August 24 at Christ Church Neighborhood House, 20 N. American Street, Old City, Philadelphia.
Commonwealth Classic Theatre Company’s “The Glass Menagerie”
Commonwealth Classic Theatre Company’s Cool Classics production of The Glass Menagerie can be seen now through August 24. Tennessee Williams’ powerful masterpiece that explores the waste of life lived on memories and dreams is directed by Joshua Browns and stars E. Ashley Izard, Allen Radway, Isa St. Clair, and Jamison Foreman at Off Broad Street Theater, 1636 Sansom Street, Philadelphia.
Sassy Says…
Sassy offers the following recommendations for fun dog-friendly events this week!
Wildwoods Dog Beach Art Unveiling
Wildwood unveils a new art piece at the Wildwoods Dog Beach, Friday, August 15, 11am. The 25 feet tall, 5000 pound fire-engine red hydrant art display is a gift to the city from Morey’s Piers, built with recycled parts from old amusement rides, to celebrate the recent opening of Wildwoods’ first ever dog-dedicated beach. Bring your pooch along for the fun which includes customized souvenir Frisbees and free dog biscuits, costume contest and more on the beach between Poplar Avenue and Magnolia Avenue, Wildwood, NJ. Water and clean up stations on site.
Collingswood Crafts and Fine Arts Festival
The 9th annual Collingswood Crafts and Fine Arts Festival is Saturday, August 16 and Sunday August 17, 10am-5pm, with over 150 craft and fine artists from all over the country presenting contemporary works in wood, clay, glass, metal, fiber and more, along with food, entertainment, family activities, silent auction and more, along downtown Haddon Avenue, Collingswood, NJ. Free.
To submit an event to be considered for the Weekly Entertainment Guide email Robin Bloom at artscalendar@whyy.org.
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