On CWTAP’s and Make Music’s Facebook page – the Jim and Jason Ritter Funday Monday night show, with recordings and video from Make Music Upper Perk 2022! There will be additional shows with more music and performances from MMUP 2022 in the future on CWTAP – watch on cable tv or online at their website or on Facebook.
Month: September 2022
Did you hear about the Arts Fairs? What about the live music all around the area this weekend?
In the first post of September this year, hopefully you read about tonight’s Only An Hour Variety Hour at Wunderbarn (2979 Kutztown Road, East Greenville, PA). While this was the last scheduled Variety Hour for 2022, Wunderbarn has one more event planned for this fall before hibernating through the winter – Fall Arts Festival & Fireside Soundbath on Saturday, November 5th, 2022, from 1 p.m. – 6 p.m. Local and regional artists will be displaying – and selling – their work, and apple cider donuts, among other treats will also be available for sale.
But you don’t have to wait until November to see and purchase original art by local artisans – Saturday, September 17th is Art in the Park 2022 at West Park, 16th and West Turner, Allentown, PA, from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Check out the video to see some of the art and meet some artists that have been part of this event over the years; this event has been held for over 45 years!
Dozens of artists exhibit and sell original ceramics, drawings, glass, jewelry, paintings, photography, sculpture, weaving, and art made from recycled or re-purposed materials. Local high school and college student artists also participate.
Artist demonstrations, food and drink from various vendors, and live performances in the bandshell are offered throughout the day.
West Park Civic Association
Pennypacker Mills in Schwenksville is also hosting a Craft Marketplace on Saturday, September 17th; entry to the site and parking are free. The event is scheduled for 9:30 a.m – 3 p.m. and will be held on the grounds of the Mills located at 5 Haldeman Road in Schwenksville, PA. 80 or more crafters are expected to be setting up booths.
Bally Community Park(Melcher Park, near the corner of Creamery Lane and Dogwood Street, Bally, PA) is the site for Music in the Park tomorrow (so much happening this Saturday!), from 2 p.m. – 7p.m. ; Join us for a fun afternoon of music, vendors and food! All proceeds benefit Boyertown Multi-Service. The schedule of live music includes the familiar faces of local musicians, many of whom have performed at Make Music Upper Perk!
1:45-2:20 Cliff Stackonis & Nick Peetros, Country Stylings and Original Music
2:25-2:55 Alejandro Martinez, Indie/Pop
3:10-3:30 Sharon Moyer, Ragtime, Classic Pop, Jazz Keyboard
3:35-4:00 “Pocket Joys” Kid friendly Phila based Indie-Folk Duo
4:10-4:35 “Think of 3” James Harvey, Christian Pop/Rock
4:40-5:10 Mike Holliday, Singer/Songwriter 5:15-5:45 Gareth Irons, Christian Acoustic Rock
6-7:00 Bally Mennonite Church and Butter Valley Community Church combined worship team.
sponsored by Bally Mennonite Church
You might also take a drive down to Green Lane on Saturday, September 17th for a Community Fair hosted by St. John’s Lutheran Church (Main Street aka Rt 63, Green Lane, PA) from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. This free family event will have games, pony rides, face painting, food, and more. Live music will be provided by Chris Simmer at 1 p.m., Mike Yager at 2 p.m, and the Red Hill Band at 3 p.m.
The Berks Fiddle Fest is back at Bear Creek Mountain Resort, for the second year in a row, on Sunday, September 18, 2022. In addition to the fiddle competition, there are professional fiddlers and bluegrass groups taking the stage, impromptu fiddle jams under the ski lifts, an open mic, crafters, and food trucks and stands. Admission tickets are $8 for ages 13+ / $5 for ages 6-12, FREE for children 5 and under; Tickets will be available at the door on the event day.
A few more options for the weekend
Last week’s post lists many concerts and fairs taking place this month – but not everything!
In addition to East Greenville and Pennsburg Community Day, scheduled for tomorrow, Saturday, September 10th (more details posted earlier), Doylestown Arts Festival, with live music and over 150 artists, is this weekend, September 10th and 11th. Free to attend, this event is held on multiple streets in downtown Doylestown (a large part of which will be closed to traffic) from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Visitors are advised to check out parking options in advance. There will also be a free shuttle from several parking locations.
Last night was opening night at Montgomery Theater in Souderton for The Understudy. The play runs through October 2nd.
September Music (and pumpkin lattes!)
September has arrived, bringing with it cooler nights and mornings, pumpkin spice lattes, marching bands on football fields, and an abundance of multiple styles of music in the park, in the street, and on the ski slopes! And if you are in the mood for sunflowers – and who isn’t – Merrymead Farm is hosting Shine Like a Sunflower!; $5 admission to walk around sunflower fields, take photos and cut your own if so inclined (bring your own scissors/cutters/shears – $3 a stem or all you can fit in container $25-$30), Saturday, September 3-5 from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. They may hold this again the following weekend, but no guarantees! Merrymead Farm is at 2222 S. Valley Forge Road Lansdale, PA, and is also known for 32 flavors of delicious ice cream at their dairy store on site.
The 99th Annual Allentown Band Concert and Park Picnic at New Goshenhoppen Park (618 Third Street, East Greenville, PA), free and open to the public, is today, Saturday, September 3, 2022. The music starts at 3 p.m. with Piano in the Park, featuring Grace Notes Piano Studio students of instructor, Susan Royer. Between 4 p.m and 7 p.m. you may enjoy the park, the playground, and a picnic – food will be for sale a la carte; Hamburgers, Hot Dogs, Turkey BBQ, Baked Beans, Pickled Cabbage, French Fries, Tomato Salad, Applesauce, Homemade Desserts, Ice Cream & Beverages. The Allentown Band takes the stage at the bandshell at 5 p.m. for a one hour concert. There is free seating at the park.
Tuesday Noon Recitals by American Guild of Organists Philadelphia Chapter are set to start on Tuesday, September 6th at Church of the Holy Spirit (2871 Barndt Road, Harleysville, PA). Four free noon time concerts will be held in the month of September.
Next weekend it will seem like the entire community will be on Main Street in East Greenville and Pennsburg for Community Day – Saturday, September 10th (rain date is Sunday, September 11th). Local musicians will be at various spots between the Pennsburg Square (663 and Main Street aka Rt 29) and Bank Street, East Greenville – these blocks of Main Street will be closed off from approximately 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. The 2022-2023 UPHS Marching Band will also make an appearance and play some tunes from this year’s field show. Local crafters, community organizations, and non-profits will be setting up stands and providing information (and funnel cakes, among other things!). Among the musical acts will be the Classic Soul Band, Expressions Sax Quartet, Gabe Delp, Barefoot Bobby and the Breakers, and Phil Stahl Open Mic and Karaoke. For times, check out the East Greenville Borough and Pennsburg Borough pages.
Sitting out under the trees by the barn, enjoying homemade brownies, biscottis, or doughnuts while watching talented folks and neighbors take the stage to make music, read poetry, juggle, dance, or do something else creative and unexpected, is a wonderful way to spend an evening and end the week. So why not stop by the Only An Hour Variety Hour at Wunderbarn (2979 Kutztown Road, East Greenville, PA) on Friday evening, September 16th, 2022. Get there before the 6:30 p.m. start time to find a chair – or set up your own lawn chair – and look over the baked goods for sale. Purchases are not required and there is no admission fee (but it is hard to resist all those tasty treats).
Take a drive down to Green Lane on Saturday, September 17th for a Community Fair hosted by St. John’s Lutheran Church (Main Street aka Rt 63, Green Lane, PA) from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. This free family event will have games, pony rides, face painting, food, and more. Live music will be provided by Chris Simmer at 1 p.m., Mike Yager at 2 p.m, and the Red Hill Band at 3 p.m.
The Berks Fiddle Fest is back at Bear Creek Mountain Resort, for the second year in a row, on Sunday, September 18, 2022. In addition to the fiddle competition, there are professional fiddlers and bluegrass groups taking the stage, impromptu fiddle jams under the ski lifts, an open mic, crafters, and food trucks and stands.
Organist Vince Ryan will play with flautist Melissa Freilich on Saturday, September 24th at 7 p.m. at the Church of the Holy Spirit (2871 Barndt Road, Harleysville, PA) Suggested donation for this concert is $20.
If for whatever reason you can’t go out and about, or are looking for some good music to watch from home on the days between local events, In the Mix Light and Sound has posted videos on YouTube from this year’s Make Music Upper Perk, taken at Mario’s on June 21, 2022.
Valley Art Scene 