The African American Cultural Alliance is inviting everyone to come to Coatesville this weekend.
Now through July 30, the group is presenting the Second Annual African American Cultural Fair of Coatesville.
The Fair features a series of cultural events and activities that highlight some of the favorite features of African American Cultural, including African American music, food, dance, visual artists, children’s activities, and fashion.
There will also be a full midway of carnival rides and fair food.
The African American Cultural Alliance will be presenting a similar event in Lancaster in Early September.
The “African American Cultural Fair-Lancaster” will be held from September 6-10 at Reservoir Park, which is located at 832 East Orange Street in Lancaster.
Longwood Gardens (Route 1, Kennett Square, www.longwoodgardens.org) is always a special place to visit – especially during the run of its annual “Festival of Fountains.”
Over the next few days, Longwood will be an extra-special place to visit with three live performances on the schedule of events.
Longwood Gardens will present a very impressive musical event on August 3 when it hosts a concert by Angelique Kidjo.
Kidjo, a native of Benin, is one of Africa’s premier world music superstars.
In 1991, Kidjo released her Island Records debut album, “Logozo,” which included the world music hits “We We” and “Batonga.” She made her first area appearance that year at the long-since-closed Equator Club in Olde City Philadelphia.
Since then, she has released more than 20 albums, the most recent of which is “Mother Nature,” which was released a year ago.
On “Mother Nature,” Kidjo joins forces with many of her musical progeny, including some of the most captivating young creators of West African music, Afrobeat, Afro-pop, dancehall, hip-hop, and alt-R&B.
With her most recent work, including 2018’s “Remain in Light” (her highly acclaimed track-by-track reimagining of Talking Heads’ landmark 1980 album), Kidjo has collaborated with the likes of Philip Glass, Alicia Keys, Bono, and Carlos Santana and performed with a host of international orchestras and symphonies.
Kidjo, whose full name is Angélique Kpasseloko Hinto Hounsinou Kandjo Manta Zogbin Kidjo, was described as “Africa’s premier diva” by Time magazine and “the undisputed queen of African music” by the London Telegraph.
The show at Longwood Gardens’ Open Air Theatre will start at 7:30 om August 3.
Ticket prices range from $38-$58 for reserved seating and include all-day Gardens Admission.
If you visit Longwood Gardens this weekend, you can be “off to see exhibits” or you can be “off to see the Wizard.”
On July 29 and 30, Brandywiners, Ltd. is performing the award-winning show, “The Wizard of Oz” in Longwood’s beautiful Open Air Theatre.
Frank Baum’s classic novel comes to life in “The Wizard of Oz.” This engaging and fun summer production, presented by The Brandywiners Ltd., features all the most beloved songs and moments from the 1939 classic film, brought to life onstage.
Young Dorothy Gale is swept away by a tornado from her Kansas farm to the magical land of Oz. There, she encounters a host of whimsical characters: good witches, bad witches, animals that talk, scarecrows that walk, and things magical to behold.
To find her way home, she must journey along the Yellow Brick Road to see the mysterious and all-powerful Wizard of Oz in Emerald City. Along the way, she makes new friends, but must also brave many dangers, including the Wicked Witch of the West, who will stop at nothing to get her hands on Dorothy’s magical ruby slippers.
To make it home safely, Dorothy must learn an important lesson — there’s no place like home.
For Brandywiners Ltd., there’s no place like home – as long as home is Longwood Gardens.
Every summer, the company presents a large-scale musical production at Longwood Gardens and contributes the proceeds to cultural, educational and civic causes throughout the Delaware Valley.
Performances at Longwood Gardens are set for July 29 and 30 at 8 p.m. each night.
Tickets are $33 for general admission and include all-day Gardens Admission.
The 2022 “Festival of Fountains” opened in May and is running through September 26.
This summer is even more special because of light. More specifically because of “Light: Installations by Bruce Munro,” which is artist Bruce Munro’s illuminating new installation at Longwood Gardens.
The exhibit had its debut two weeks ago and will be on view Thursday through Sunday evenings until October 30.
“Light” is an extravagant exhibit that includes eight installations comprising more than 18,000 glowing lightbulbs across Longwood’s outdoor areas and indoor conservatory.
From the luminous “Field of Light” stretching across the Large and Small Lake landscape … to a flamboyance of 1,000 flamingoes wading near the Chimes Tower … to an immersive sensory environment inspired by the Waterlily Display in the Exhibition Hall, the exhibit showcases eight installations spanning Longwood Gardens’ indoor spaces and outdoor vistas.
Daily performances in the Main Fountain Garden will feature more than 1,700 spinning jets that spin dance to various music programs. These are no little jets as some shoot up as high as 175 feet in the air.
The 30-minute show is slated for Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 9:15 p.m.
The Main Fountain Garden Show fountain performance that begins with a touch of narrated history and concludes with dynamic choreography marrying music and the site’s newest fountain features.
These displays will be presented daily at 1:15 a.m., 1:15, 3:15 p.m. and 5:15. There will also be performances on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 6:15, 7:15 and 8:15 p.m.
The “Illuminated Fountain Performance” will be staged Thursdays through Sundays at 9:15 p.m.
Live music can be heard in the Beer Garden, where live instrumental music from traditional Celtic tunes to Caribbean steel pan grooves sets the tone Thursday through Saturday evenings.
Beer Garden performances are scheduled through August 28 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. They will also be held in September from 5-8 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.
As always, admission by “Timed Ticket” — tickets issued for specific dates and times. Timed ticketing limits the number of people in the Gardens at any given time and allows guests to enjoy minimal lines and a better viewing experience.
You may enter the Gardens up to 30 minutes prior and 30 minutes after your designated time. Make every effort to arrive at your designated reservation time. Earlier or later arrivals may not be accommodated.
Video link for “Festival of Fountains” — https://youtu.be/AHsC2YuFerY.
Admission to Longwood Gardens is $35 for adults, $32 for seniors (ages 62 and older) and college students, $27 for active military and veterans and $19 for youth (ages 5-18).
This is the time of the year for outdoors festivals such as country fairs, festivals honoring a particular fruit or vegetable and outdoor concerts.
