Art on the Avenue, Chester County Balloon Fest among weekend highlights [Events roundup] (2024)

The following events are planned for the week ahead throughout the region:

• The 30th annual Art on the Avenue street festival is scheduled for Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., rain or shine, along Penn Avenue in West Reading. The family event will showcase the work of local and regional artists, crafters, vendors and West Reading businesses, and will feature live music on three stages. Scheduled to perform are Shaw Davis & the Black Ties, Therapy Barn, Belle Jailene, Noah Gibney Trio, Violet Coup, Joe Castro & the Gravamen, Ultra-Lite, Punkabillys, Maggie Marre, Soul Miners Union, Echoes Talk Back, Peter Errich Band, Dipped, Jared Templeton, Patrick Donato, Look 10, Joe Tkach, Michael Clipman and more. Admission is free. For more information, see visitwestreading.com.

• The 2024 Chester County Balloon Festival will be held at Willowdale, Kennett Square, from Friday through Sunday. Hours are 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, 2:30 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday and 2:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sunday. The best time to see the balloons in the air is between 6 and 8 a.m. and 5 and 7 p.m. Sometimes pilots will wait for fog to lift or wait until winds calm down. Other activities will include tethered balloon rides, a beer garden, live music by local bands, great Chester County foods, locally made crafts, a kid zone and more. General admission tickets cost $22 for adults and $10 for children at ccballoonfest.com.

• People’s Light, Malvern, presents the world premiere of “Off by One,” a play by Emmy Award-winner Joseph Dougherty, running through July 7. A wrong-number text brings strangers together in a web of curiosity and memory, with magnetic poet Douglas Roote (multi-award winner David Strathairn, “The Cherry Orchard”) at the center. As two women bond over the late writer’s work, this gentle narrative explores questions of fate, coincidence and the profound impact of a seemingly small life. Directed by Abigail Adams and featuring company artists Claire Inie-Richards, Aubie Merrylees and Mary Elizabeth Scallen, “Off by One” grapples with the deeply human impulse to seek meaning and connection in the accidental and unknown. This weekend’s show times are 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. For the complete schedule, tickets and more information, see peopleslight.org.

• The Concerts Under the Stars series at the Upper Merion Township Building Park presents The Lone Bellow on Sunday at 6 p.m. and Kathleen Edwards with opener Ken Yates on Wednesday, June 19, at 7 p.m. Throughout their lifespan as a band, The Lone Bellow have cast an indelible spell with their fine-spun songs of hard truth and unexpected beauty, frequently delivered in hypnotic three-part harmony. On their latest album, “Love Songs for Losers,” the trio dreamed up a singular sound encompassing everything from arena-ready rock anthems to gorgeously sprawling Americana tunes. Edwards is a modern-day cornerstone of North American roots music. Since making her debut with 2002’s “Failer,” she’s spent the 21st century occupying the grey area between genres, swirling together her own mix of alt-country, folk and heartland rock ‘n’ roll. It’s a sound that has earned her more than a half-dozen Juno nominations, shows with icons like Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson, and Top 40 success on both sides of the Canadian-American border. For tickets and more information, see concertsunderthestarskop.com.

• The Bryn Mawr Twilight Concert Series presents a free show by the Merion Concert Band on Thursday at 7 p.m. and folk singer Livingston Taylor with Mark Schultz and the Wayne Rangers on Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Bryn Mawr Gazebo. Taylor picked up his first guitar at age 13, which began a more than 50-year career that has encompassed performance, songwriting and teaching. Born in Boston and raised in North Carolina, he is the fourth child in a very musical family that includes Alex, James, Kate and Hugh. He recorded his first record at 19 and has continued to create beautifully crafted, introspective, original songs as well as sparkling interpretations of the classic songbook that have earned him enthusiastic listeners worldwide. For tickets and more information, see brynmawrtwilightconcerts.com.

• The American Helicopter Museum and Education Center, West Chester, presents “Drones for Adults” on Thursday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The drone workshop is open to ages 21 and older. Whether you are a beginner or have some expertise, this workshop will have something for you. It will include information on the different types of drones and how to choose one that works for you and the science of drone flight, and there will be drones on hand so you learn the basics of flying one. Registration costs $40 at helicoptermuseum.org.

• Media Arts Council presents the Jasper Street Jam, featuring six bands, food vendors and beer, on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Enter on Jasper Street between Front and Monroe, behind the fire company. Schedule to perform are Swift Technique (funkadelic) at 12:50, All Volunteer Army (power pop) at 2:10, Sao Paulo-Philly Connection (Brazilian jazz) at 3 p.m., Emily Drinker (folk) at 4:30, Gringo Motel (spaghetti Western mariachi surf rock) at 5:40 and Beats Walkin’ (Texas swing) at 7. Tickets cost $10 at mediaartscouncil.org/jasper-street-jam.

• The Colonial Theatre, Phoenixville, presents the 50th anniversary tour of Los Lobos with special guest Jim Lauderdale on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. and Manticore –— The Tribute to Emerson Lake & Palmer on Saturday at 7 p.m. Los Lobos’ songs have always glistened with the distillation from their Mexican and Latin American roots — nourished by Norteña and rancheras, buoyed by bolero and cumbias, soaring on the rhythms of son huasteco and son jarocho. Still featuring the five original members, they have garnered five Grammys, an Austin City Limits Hall of Fame induction, the ALMA Richie Valens Pioneer Award, NEA and Hispanic Heritage Foundation Honors, Congressional recognitions, plus countless “Keys to the City” and “Los Lobos Day” celebrations. Manticore will celebrate the 50th anniversary of ELP’s “Brain Salad Surgery,” performing hits from this album and traditional favorites like “Lucky Man,” “Fanfare for the Common Man” and “Tarkus,” as well as some deep tracks. For tickets and more information, see thecolonialtheatre.com.

• Puerto Rican singer Jay Wheeler returns to Santander Arena, Reading, on Saturday at 8 p.m. with a new show based on the concept of his latest production titled “TRAPPii.” In addition to being a musical production that represents an alter-ego for Wheeler, “TRAPPii” includes a 33-minute short film that narrates the story of the leader of a criminal organization dedicated to stealing vehicles, all set to the rhythm of mostly trap songs. In the “TRAPPii” Tour, audiences will enjoy a much bolder and explicit Wheeler, alongside a visual and sensory production completely tied to the concept, accompanied by his band and dancers who will also be dressed and characterized as the band of criminals accompanying him in his short film. For tickets and more information, see santander-arena.com.

• With a community focus aimed at spotlighting Reading firefighting heroes, Reading’s Pagoda City Brewing Co. has teamed up with the Local 1803 Firefighters Union to create Reading’s Bravest Pale Ale, culminating in a celebration at the Carroll Street brewery on Saturday from 2 to 8 p.m. The event will feature the beer, two bands, food and retired fire trucks from across the country. The new beer will be sold at locations across the area, including FirstEnergy Stadium during Reading Fightin Phils games.

• Stahl’s Pottery, Zionsville, will host its 37th annual summer Pottery Festival on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., rain or shine. The event features tours of the site and sales of contemporary pottery and delicious food. Admission is $5, and free for ages 17 and younger. Learn about the production of redware pottery as carried out by Charles Stahl and his descendants, Thomas, Isaac and Russell Stahl. Tour the clay storage room and the workroom where the potters labored from 1934 to 1956. See the round, stone, beehive, wood-fired kiln where pieces were fired. Inside the house museum, discover unique pieces of Stahl’s Pottery as well as family furnishings and traditions. Thirty-two talented potters will present their unique creations to view and purchase. Turning on the wheel and raku firing will be demonstrated throughout the day, and there will be a drawing to win a piece of handmade pottery. For more information, see stahlspottery.org.

• Three generations of African-American music will mark Juneteenth on Wednesday, June 19, at Ardmore Music Hall when New Orleans brass institution The Soul Rebels, world-renowned trombonist and James Brown collaborator Fred Wesley and bass legend Marcus Miller join forces for a one-night-only funk, soul and jazz-influenced collaboration. The Soul Rebels are the torchbearers of New Orleans and contemporary brass music. They honor the tradition and blend funk and soul with elements of hip hop, jazz and rock, all within the style of a modernized brass collective. An essential member of James Brown’s bands in the 1960s and ‘70s, Wesley helped create the foundation of funk on tracks like “Say It Loud — I’m Black and I’m Proud,” “Funky Drummer” and “Hot Pants,” which he co-wrote. Miller has enjoyed an over four-decades-long career playing with many of the best musicians on the planet. His work in the 1980s includes serving as the principal songwriter and producer on multiple Miles Davis albums and collaborating on hits like Luther Vandross’ “I Really Didn’t Mean It” and “Power of Love/Love Power” and Experience Unlimited’s dance floor anthem “Da Butt.” For tickets and more information, see ardmoremusichall.com.

• The Pat Garrett Amphitheater, Strausstown, kicks off its summer season with a concert by Dirty Deeds — The AC/DC Experience on Saturday at 8 p.m. Dirty Deeds celebrates the thunderous energy of the Bon Scott and Brian Johnson era of AC/DC, delivering a power-packed performance that takes the audience on a journey through the story of the band. Channeling the electrifying guitar riffs of Angus and Malcolm Young, Dirty Deeds recreates their chemistry and signature stage moves, paying tribute to the rock ‘n’ roll band that ignited a global musical revolution. Tickets cost $40. Gates and the parking lot open at 6 p.m., and parking costs $10. For more information, see pgamp.com.

• The Keswick Theatre, Glenside, presents the Genesis tribute band The Musical Box on Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. They will be performing the Genesis album “Selling England by the Pound” to commemorate its 50th anniversary. The Musical Box takes fans along for a time-travel ride, offering people a chance to relive the magic of this unique experience. The visual aspect of the shows are based on thousands of photos and many amateur films taken at the Genesis concerts, as well as the original slides used by the group during their shows. The Musical Box is the only group licensed and supported by Genesis and Peter Gabriel and has presented close to 1,000 concerts across the world to more than 1 million spectators. Tickets range from $49.50 to $69.50 at keswicktheatre.com. On Tuesday at 7:15 p.m., the Keswick presents the twin bill of The Church and the Afghan Whigs, and on Wednesday, June 19, it’s the Happy Together Tour, starting at 7:30 p.m. and featuring performances by The Turtles, Jay & The Americans, The Association, Badfinger, The Vogues and The Cowsills.

• The Historic Preservation Trust of Berks County’s Third Saturday Programs will present “The Ten Days That Saved the Revolution: Washington’s Crossing and the Winter of 1776” on Saturday at 11 a.m. at White Horse Inn, Douglassville.In the winter of 1776, Gen. George Washington made a daring decision that would change the course of the American Revolution. Join Doug Miller as he shares the story of Washington’s gamble to turn the tide of a failing revolt. Miller is the former director of Washington Crossing and the current historic site administrator at Pennsbury Manor. Suggested donation is $2. All proceeds benefit the Trust.