This Weekend: The 2nd Annual WHYY Connections Festival, A Free 4-Day Arts Event
This weekend brings four free days of arts, music, and community engagement to Penn’s Landing for the 2nd annual Connections Festival.
In partnership with the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation, WHYY is celebrating Philadelphia’s arts and culture scene with a festival from September 6 through 9 at the waterfront.
The WHYY Connections Festival begins Thursday night with their official opening event — the NewsWorks.org Connections Salon. The evening will feature visual art displays and performances from or inspired by NewsWorks.org’s Creative Connectors. Participants representing the nonprofit community will include: The Art Blog, Culture Works, Fringe Festival, Ignite Philly, Leadership Philadelphia, Mural Arts, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and Philadelphia Young Playwrights.
The festival will be celebrating “First Friday” with two free outdoor film screenings. From 7 to 9pm, Guests will have the opportunity to enjoy a live performance at the newly refurbished Race Street Pier from singer/songwriter Andrew Lipke, with a preview of the September episode of WHYY’s Friday Arts to follow.
At 8pm, guests are invited to Penn’s Landing for a free screening of WHYY’s nationally broadcast TV documentary, The Barnes Collection. The film tells the story of Dr. Albert Barnes, the man behind the astounding art collection, and will include a preview of Ken Burns’ latest film, The Dust Bowl.
On Saturday, WHYY and DRWC will host a concert headlined by Yo La Tengo, Frank Turner, Maps & Atlases, The Lawsuits, and Fabian Akilles, with additional performances from First Person Arts.
Throughout the day, WHYY members will have access to the Oasis area, where NPR’s Sound Opinions hosts Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot will be hosting an exclusive discussion.
During the concert, producers of WHYY’s Emmy-Award winning performing arts show, On Canvas, will be on hand to film interviews and performances that will be broadcast as part of the show’s 2013 season.
Kids are welcome too, with costumed characters making their way through the crowd, and crafts organized by the WHYY Y Kids Club. Just a few steps away, The 11th Annual Pennsylvania Coast Day program will be taking place near the Independence Seaport Museum, with displays, exhibits, and experiments from area environmental education groups.
As part of a partnership between WHYY and the DRWC with the Philadelphia Veterans Multi-Service & Education Center, the festivities will come to a close on Sunday with a Doo-Wop Festival at Penn’s Landing. Charlie Gracie’s performance will be filmed as part of a future broadcast, with additional acts to follow.
WHYY Connections Festival
When: Thursday, September 6 through Sunday, September 9
Where: Great Plaza at Penn’s Landing, Chestnut Street and Columbus Boulevard
Cost: Free
More info: www.whyy.org/connectionsfestival
A video from WHYY’s On Canvas, highlighting performances from last year’s headliners, indie-rock band Dr. Dog.