What To Do: First Friday fun for everyone

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times

If it’s a Friday and the date is 7 or below, you know what that means. It means that it is First Friday

The first Friday of the month is a good time to spend an evening in Kennett Square, West Chester or Lancaster – a time to enjoy special First Friday activities.

Kennett Square will celebrate First Friday with its First Friday Flea Market (downtown Kennett Square, http://historickennettsquare.com) from 6-9 p.m. on August 2.

Historic Kennett Square is hosting a Flea & Artisan Market featuring vintage collectors selling clothing, housewares, paper products & more.  It will also showcase a selection of artists and crafters who create handmade, original work.

Many of the town’s businesses and galleries will stay open late for First Friday.

Kennett Square will also celebrate First Friday with a Murder Mystery Art Stroll in downtown Kennett Square featuring the Brandywine Valley’s favorite murder mystery – “The Mystery of Snow White’s family Reunion.”

Participants will meet the detective at the scene of the crime in Sycamore Alley to gather clues, question murder suspects in participating downtown locations, and attempt to identify the murderer and solve the mystery.

Suspects, denoted by costumes and potential murder weapons, will be stationed at various participating locations in downtown Kennett Square. Additional suspicious characters will walk around town with clues available for purchase (proceeds benefit Kennett Amateur Theatrical Society).

Winners will be randomly selected and awarded prizes at the end of the evening. Participants do not have to be present at the 6:45 p.m. improvisation to participate in the mystery. Participation is free, and all ages are welcome.

Also, on Friday evening, West Chester hosts its version of First Friday (downtown West Chester, http://www.downtownwestchester.com). The First Friday event for this month will be held in downtown West Chester on August 2.

First Friday activities, which are held on the inaugural Friday each month, feature great shopping opportunities and delicious food offerings. Stores are open late and many of them feature free refreshments and shopping specials.

Some of the First Friday participants are The G Spot Thrift, The 5 Senses, Compendium Boutique, Old Soul Décor, Malena’s Vintage Boutique and Blink.

As an added attraction, there will be free on-street parking after 5 p.m.

Phoenixville First Fridays (http://www.phoenixvillefirst.org/firstfridays ) are an exhilarating celebration.

Every month Phoenixville First showcases the eclectic feel of Phoenixville with live music, theatrical performances, local artists, and fun surprises.

On August 2, visitors will be able to walk around and explore some of Phoenixville’s arts venues, small shops , unique boutiques and outstanding restaurants.

The free family event in downtown Phoenixville will run from 6-10 p.m.

Lancaster also has a lively First Friday celebration very month. This month’s edition of First Friday Lancaster (https://visitlancastercity.com/first-friday) will run from 5-9 p.m. on August 2 in downtown Lancaster.

The event will feature attractive exhibitions at art galleries, artisan studios and museums. There will also be live performances presented in a variety of genres — professional theater, symphony orchestra and performing groups.

On August 3, the Second Annual Connective Music & Art Festival (www.connectivefestival.org) will be held in downtown Oxford starting at 10 a.m.

The Main Stage line-up features Trout Fishing in America, Ali Awan, The National Reserve, Swift Technique and Blind Melon.

Awan has been involved in music most of his life.

“I always loved music,” said Awan, during a recent phone interview from his home in Abington.

“My mom always listened to good music classic divas like Aretha Franklin and Beyonce and good rock-and-roll like early Aerosmith. When I got a little older, I was exposed to other music by my uncle Mahmut, who was a Deadhead and a fan of Lou Reed.

“We had a guitar at the house, and it had a little amp. I took guitar lessons for a couple years. After that, I was just learning songs off of records and watching live footage. I started taking seriously when I was 16 and started a punk band called Ballistik.

Things kept progressing at a steady rate.

“I was always writing songs,” said Awan, an Abington High grad who is now 26. “I decided to get my own band and be the main songwriter about eight years ago. I had been writing songs and didn’t want to be just a guitar player in a band. Over the last two years, I’ve been writing music under my own name.”

On 2017, Awan, whose family’s roots are in Turkey, released his first two singles – “Citadel Blues” and “Last Resort.” He followed with another pair of singles in 2018 – “Beyond the Valley” and “Be a Light.” Awan released “Butterfly” on February 22.  The seven songs on the EP were written and produced by Awan (who also plays guitar).

Trout Fishing in America is a duo — Keith Grimwood (upright bass, Clevinger bass, bass guitar, vocals) and Ezra Idlet (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, banjo, vocals) – that has been around since 1979 and is known for performing folk rock and children’s music.

The Northwest Arkansas duo has received four Grammy Nominations and a host of other national music awards. They have also been called “the Lennon and McCartney of kids’ music.” The two musicians took their name from the novel “Trout Fishing in America” by Richard Brautigan.

In 2017, Trout Fishing in America released its most recent studio “The Strangest Times” – the latest in a catalog that spans more than four decades and 25 albums. The new disc features 11 brand-new original songs played as a duo and a cover version of BW Stevenson’s “On My Own.”

Trout Fishing in America was in the first wave of artist owned labels (Trout Records) to successfully record and market its own music. In 2008, Performing Songwriter Magazine chose Trout as one of the top 100 most influential independent artists in the past 15 years.

The band’s recordings have garnered three National Indie Awards, multiple Parents Choice and NAPPA Gold awards, the American Library Award, as well as four Grammy nominations.

“We never got picked up by a major record company, so Ezra and I decided to form our own company,” said Grimwood. “We started our own label and learned how to record at the same time.

“We started playing together in 1976 as members of St. Elmo’s Fire (a Houston-based eclectic folk/rock band). After a while, we left the band and moved to Santa Cruz, California where we worked as a duo. We told people the name was Trout Fishing in America as early as 1977.”

The roster for the World Stage includes Poor Man’s Gambit, Eva Salina and Peter Stan, PhillyBloco, David Wax Museum (Duo) and Jah People.

Acts slated to play on the Americana Stage are Morgan Pinkstone, Colebrook Road, Rylan Brooks, Gooch and the Motion and David Wax Museum (Duo).

Connective Festival First Friday Opener on August 2 will be a Battle of the Bands on the Main Stage from 4-7 p.m. followewd by performances by Blues Reincarnation Project, Rick Waterhouse and Derrick Noel.

Time is running out, but you still have a chance to check out the annual Goshen Country Fair (Goshen Fairgrounds, Park Avenue, East Goshen, 610- 430-1554,www.goshencountryfair.org). Be advised – you need to hurry. August 3 is the last day.

The free family-oriented event is held each year as a benefit for the Goshen Fire Company. It will open at 6 p.m. Friday and at 5 p.m. on Saturday.

This is an authentic down-home country fair with all the agricultural events found at most traditional country fairs, including competitions each night at 6 p.m. – cattle on August 2 and sheep on August 3.

The fair will also feature competitions for pies, vegetables, jams and jellies, specimen flowers, bread, cookies, flowering houseplants, cakes, flower arrangements, and candy. Nightly attractions include live music performances, tug-of-war competitions and pie-eating contests.

The schedule for live music Chester County Lawmen Band on August 2 and Southern Edge Band on August 3.

The 165th edition of the Reading Fair (1216 Hilltop Rd, Leesport, 610 372-2649, http://www.thereadingfair.org) will open on August 6 and continue through August 9.

The Midway will feature “The Fearless Flores Thrill Show.”

Traditional festival activities include a “Corn Cobb Toss,” a “Pie Eating Contest,” “Raw Egg Toss,” “Hay Bale Throwing,” a “Round Ball Bale Contest,” a “Water Balloon Toss” and a “Pedal Power Tractor Pull.”

There will also be the always-popular Beer Garden from 5-10 p.m. each night.

General admission is $5 — $4 for senior citizens and military.

Chaddsford Winery (Route 1, Chadds Ford, 610-388-6221, www.chaddsford.com) will present “Wine Slushie Weekend” on August 3 and 4.

The event’s live music schedule will feature Matt Spitko from 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and Sam and Bruce from 3:30-6:30 p.m. on August 3 and Hake and Jarema from 2:30-5:30 p.m. on August 4.

The special weekend activity, which will run from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on Sunday, will showcase a variety of “Chaddsford Wine Slushies” – four unique frozen libations made with delicious seasonal ingredients and Chaddsford wines.

Featured Slushie flavors are Dreamcicle with Chaddsford White, Blushing Berry with Sunset Blush, Cherry Bomb with Chaddsford Red and Strawberry Mojito Spring Wine Popsicle.

The “Wine Slushie Weekend” will have Barkley’ BBQ Food Truck + Mama Mia Continental Fusion as its featured food trucks both days.

This event is rain or shine. Slushies will be available while supplies last. Admission for children is free if accompanied by an adult (21 or over). Chaddsford Winery reserves the right to refuse entry to any individual not accompanied by an adult.

Seating at the Winery is available on a first-come, first-served basis.  Guests are encouraged to bring blankets or folding chairs to guarantee comfortable seating on the grounds. No outside alcohol permitted.

Admission to “Wine Slushie Weekend” is free and all wine and food purchases are pay-as-you-go.

If you want to laugh uncontrollably at one of Mel Brooks’ all-time classic comedies, plan on visiting Longwood Gardens (Route 1, Kennett Square, 610-388-1000,www.longwoodgardens.org) this weekend or next weekend because Brandywiners, Ltd. is performing the award-winning musical “The Producers” in Longwood’s beautiful Open Air Theatre.

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.

This summer, the Brandywiners, Ltd. present the Tony award-winning musical “The Producers,” the humorous tale of Max Bialystock’s failure at being a failure.

“The Producers” is a musical adapted by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan from Brooks’ 1967 film of the same name, with lyrics written by Brooks and music composed by Brooks and arranged by Glen Kelly and Doug Besterman. As in the film, the story concerns two theatrical producers who scheme to get rich by overselling interests in a Broadway flop. Complications arise when the show unexpectedly turns out to be successful. The humor of the show draws on ridiculous accents, caricatures, and many show business in-jokes.

After 33 previews, the original Broadway production opened at the St. James Theatre on April 19, 2001, starring Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick, and ran for 2,502 performances, winning a record-breaking 12 Tony Awards. It spawned a successful London production running for just over two years, national tours in the US and UK, many productions worldwide and a 2005 film version.

Performances at Longwood Gardens are set for July 25-27 and August 1-3.

Tickets for the Brandywiners, Ltd. production include admission to Longwood Gardens beginning at 9 a.m. on the day of performance as well as a spectacular fountain display immediately following the show. Tickets are $35 for adults, $30 for students (ages 13-21) and $18 for children (ages 12 and under).

The biggest attraction at Longwood right now is the Festival of Fountains, which is running now through September 30.

With fountains that jet as high as 175 feet, gardens filled with colorful summer blooms, shade-friendly trees, exotic day and night blooming waterlilies, and live music outdoors, Longwood gardens has something for everyone.

The fountain project took two years and $90 million in renovations. The fountain features more than 1,300 jets and streams, a similar number of LEDs, a variety of flame features and a wide array of plants from around the world.

Longwood’s popular Main Fountain Garden has returned for a second season after attracting more than 600,000 guests last year with its 1,719 jets twirling and dancing to music. At night, Illuminated Fountain Performances return featuring a selection of dynamic new shows and past favorites.

In addition to the Main Fountain Garden, Longwood is also home to a collection of other fountain gardens, including the enchanting Italian Water Garden and Open Air Theatre fountains, which also perform daily.

The ultra-popular Festival of Fountains features the gardens in their summer splendor. Flowering annuals and perennials abound, as well as the breathtaking Waterlily Display that showcases aquatic plants from all over the world.

Admission to Longwood Gardens is $23 for adults, $20 for seniors and $12 for youth (ages 5-18).

The West Chester Railroad (Market Street Station, West Chester, 610-430-2233, www.westchesterrr.net) is running its special “Summer Picnic Special” trains every Sunday now through September 22.

The round-trip train ride travels to the village of Glen Mills and back and lasts for 90 minutes. During the brief layover in Glen Mills, riders can explore the historic Pennsylvania Railroad station and have a snack in the railroad’s picnic grove along the Chester Creek.

Riders can order a boxed lunch when they purchase their tickets online. Sandwich choices are ham and cheese hoagies, turkey and cheese hoagies, and PB&J. All lunches, which are made fresh, come with chips, fruit, drink and cookies.

Additionally, the lunches are packed in a special reusable lunch bag emblazoned with the WCRR logo. Tickets for the train rides are $15 for adults, $13 for children ages 2-12 and free for kids under two.

On August 3, Linvilla Orchards (137 W. Knowlton Road, Media, 610-876-7116, www.linvilla.com) will host its annual Peach Festival from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Live entertainment will be provided by Silly Joe, Silly Goose & Val and three bands from Rockdale Music School — Crimson Sun, Spectrum and wwwdot. The Juggling Jester of Justice will be strolling between noon and 4 p.m.

The festival’s “Costumed Characters” this year will be Handyman Rob, Little Yellow One-Eyed Dude and Bouncing Tiger.

Additionally, Roasty Toasty will be doing his thing from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. – serving up fresh-roasted corn on the cob brushed with butter and sprinkled with your choice of seven different seasonings.

The schedule features a full slate of family-oriented activities throughout the day including appearances by costumed characters, pony rides, face painting and a crafts area. And, visitors can pick their own peaches starting at 8 a.m.

Time travel can be easy – if you make a short drive to Lebanon County.

If you want to take a trip deep in the past and travel back centuries, there is the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire (Mount Hope Estate and Winery grounds, Route 72, Cornwall, 717-665-7021, www.parenfaire.com).

This year’s 39th annual staging of the event, which bills itself as “the most wondrous event in all the Knowne World”, runs from August 3 through October 27.

The festive annual event features authentic Elizabethan food and drink, traditional crafts from the guildsmen of yore and old-time games of skill — and a cast of hundreds of colorfully costumed re-enactors.

Every summer, the Faire, which takes place at Mount Hope Estate and Winery’s authentic 35-acre recreation of a 16th-century village in Olde England, features a new story from a different year of England’s past.

This year’s Faire will take you back in time to the year 1558 and tell this story – “Queen Mary I of England has died, and while the people celebrate the end to her long reign of terror, the kingdom is left in a precarious state. A people torn apart by religious conflict. A royal treasury practically empty. And the ever-present threat of France and Spain across the channel, hoping to take advantage of an England left defenseless. The nation now looks to a young woman of barely 25 years for its salvation: Princess Elizabeth Tudor, who travels now to our own Shire of Mt. Hope for her Coronation.

Needless to say, the good people of the Shire are thrilled to welcome their aspiring monarch and are pulling out all the stops for her arrival. Mt. Hope’s brewers prepare their finest ales, the vintners select their choicest grapes, and even the lowly apprentice glovemaker, William Shakespeare, has submitted a play to be performed in the new queen’s honor. What’s more, Lord Robert Dudley, close companion to Elizabeth, has contributed a large sum to Mt. Hope’s Coronation Festival. Of course, our good Lady Mayor Pemburthy has wasted not a penny, scouring the land for the best food, best vendors, and best entertainment that England has to offer.

But not all are eager to see Elizabeth take the throne. There are many who worry that Elizabeth lacks the experience necessary to rule. Even members of her own family, such as her cousin Henry Carey, have expressed doubts about whether she possesses a monarch’s temperament. And while Elizabeth does not shrink from the task set before her, even she wonders if she is up to the challenges that await.

But no worries will dampen the spirits of the Shire folk for long, not when there is such revelry to be had on their Festival day! There will be feasting and carousing with jolly companions, entrancing entertainment to delight all ages, and, as always, jousting galore. The merriment will culminate at day’s end upon the Globe Stage, where all of Mt. Hope will bear witness as a valiant young princess sits herself upon the throne of England.

Indeed, a Princess will sit…and a Queen will rise.”

More than 70 shows are scheduled throughout each day on the Faire’s numerous stages.

Without a doubt, the most popular attraction is the Jousting Arena. Visitors to the Faire flock to Bosworth Field whenever it’s time for the Ultimate Joust. Peasants lead cheers for their favorite knights while musicians pound out a heart-thumping beat. The Master of the List announces the combatants and soon an encounter of royal proportions ensues.

The Faire offers a wide variety of activities for visitors, including listening to bagpipe music, checking out handsome Lords in their colorful silks, watching a jester’s acrobatics, learning how to juggle, being the recipient of a gypsy woman’s flirtations and watching the march of Beefeater Guards.

Guildsmen’s Way is the area that features a large variety of merchants and artisans, including jewelers, candle makers, potters, herbalists, leather smiths, clothiers, and pewter makers — all offering for sale and demonstrating their ancient wares.

And, there are more than 20 Royal Kitchens located around the faire with menus featuring a wide variety of food and beverage.

Single-day tickets are available at the gate for $31.95 but can be purchased in advance online for $27.95. For children (age 5-11) single-day tickets are available at the gate and online for $12.95. Season Passes are also available at $125 for adult and $45 for children.

Another trip back in time this weekend is being presented by Pennypacker Mills (5 Haldeman Road, Schwenksville, 610-287-9349,http://www.montcopa.org/pennypackermills).

“In the Good Old Summertime” will be held on August 3 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at the historic site in Montgomery County.

Visitors to the event will be treated to an afternoon of vintage music on the porch, lawn games and a vintage car show.

A highlight of the event will be demonstrations of antique bicycles by the Pennsylvania Wheelmen. This organization promotes the restoration and riding of early cycles and will offer demonstrations during the day wearing vintage clothing of the time period. The Wheelmen focus on all aspects of cycle history, including high wheelers, tricycles, and other early 1900s cycles as part of our American heritage.

Other activities include tour through interactive exhibits in the History Center, tour the air-conditioned mansion, Victorian dress-up for photos, garden tours and hands-on fun in the 1900’s History Center.

Admission is free with a suggested donation of $2 per person.

There will be another Montgomery County Park with a special event this weekend — Pottsgrove Manor (100 West King Street, Pottstown, 610-326-4014,http://montcopa.org/index.aspx?nid=930). “Living History Sundays” will be presented on August 4 from 1-4 p.m.

Pottsgrove Manor’s staff and living history volunteers will demonstrate 18th-century trades, crafts, and pastimes. Many of the audience-friendly events are interactive.

This event also features free admission with a suggested donation of $2 per person.

You can also take a trip back in time by attending Das Awkscht Fescht (Macungie Memorial Park, Main Street, Macungie, 610-967-2317, www.awkscht.com).

Das Awkscht Fescht, which is celebrating its 56th anniversary this year, runs from August 2-4 in Macungie, a small town just south of Allentown.

The event is billed as one of the largest antique and classic car shows in the country with more than 3,500 cars on display.

The popular annual event takes its name from “Der Augscht”, which is the Pennsylvania Dutch word for “August.”

Das Awkscht Fescht, which is held the first weekend of August each year, is a traditional summer festival with a full roster of family fun events.

There is a completely different car show each day – the Variety Show with thousands of pre-1991 automobile models along with a variety of classic tractors, trucks and motorcycles; the Antique and Classic Car Show with over 1,200 antique cars, classic automobiles and sports cars; and the Special Interest Car Show featuring more than 30 car clubs with over 1,000 vintage autos.

Every year, the primary focus of the automobile side of Das Awkscht Fescht is on the impressive display of vintage autos — especially the featured car. This year’s featured car area will showcase Chryslers, Dodges, Plymouths and DeSotos from the 20s through the 80s.

There will be a variety of kids’ shows and activities including jugglers, magicians, ventriloquists, clowns and a special creative activity and display center.

Kids of all ages will enjoy the Antique Toy Show, which is held at Eyer Middle School, and Toy Town, which is staged outdoors.

Other attractions include daily bingo sessions, picnics in the park, a playground, a huge public swimming pool, an arts and crafts show featuring more than 120 artisans and an “Antique Auto Flea Market.”

Admission to the festival is $9 for adults and free for children (15 and under).

On August 4, the Great Plaza at Penn’s Landing (201 South Columbus Boulevard, Philadelphia,

www.delawareriverwaterfront.com) will be the site of the African Cultural Alliance of North America Inc. (ACANA) African Festival.

The annual outdoor concert brings artists, groups, and dance troupes from around the African continent to perform in a free event.

The festival provides a wide range of African entertainment, from traditional dance performances to modern Afropop and reggae musical performances.

The family-oriented event also features African food vendors, as well as sales booths with traditional and modern clothing, arts and crafts.

Sunday’s event, which is part of the PECO Multicultural Series, is scheduled to run from noon-8 p.m.

On August 2, the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation’s series of free jazz concerts kicks off at Great Plaza at Penn’s Landing.

“Smooth Jazz Summer Nights Series,” which is the longest-running free event produced by the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation, is back for its 23rd season at the Great Plaza.

Every Friday in August, there will be performances by nationally renowned jazz and blues talent. Attendees are requested to arrive by 7 p.m. because the concerts start promptly at 7:30 p.m.

The series will begin with a concert by Bilal on August 3. The series line-up also includes Vivian Green on August 9, Jessy J on August 16: Michael Manson’s “George Duke Tribute” on August 23, and Damien Escobar on August 30.

On August 2, Bartram’s Garden (5400 Lindbergh Boulevard , Philadelphia, www.bartramsgarden.org) will host a special event called “Lighthouse Parade & Glow Party.

Visitors are encouraged to dress in neon or white attire for this kid-friendly, black light community party. The party gets underway at 7 p.m. with a promenade through the garden.

The West Powelton Steppers & Drum Line along with Moko.Motion stilt walkers will lead a procession through the neighborhood and into the garden for an evening of dancing and glow-in-the-dark fun.

There will be face painting, giveaways, activities, and the opportunity to observe some nighttime pollinators for National Moth Night.

The event will feature complimentary refreshments while supplies last and the Jerk Chicken Man will be on site with delicious Jamaican food available for purchase.

India will be celebrated at a special festival on August 3 — “India Fest 2019” (Father Tucker Memorial Park, Ninth and Lincoln streets, Wilmington, Delaware, 302-494-1255, www.iaadelaware.org). The festive annual event is scheduled to run from noon until 8 p.m.

It will feature classical and modern Indian dance performances, cultural exhibitions, vendors with a large array of Indian items and mouth-watering Indian food items such as tandoori chicken, nan (bread) and an assortment of curry dishes.

Special workshops will be presented throughout the day featuring a variety of topics. Other activities include a beauty pageant, karaoke singing, a special evening cultural program, demonstrations on the use of spices, and live music throughout the day.

Admission to the festival, which is presented by the Indo American Association of Delaware, is $5 with children (6 and under) admitted free.

On August 3, the Delaware Art Museum (2301 Kentmere Parkway, Wilmington, Delaware, www.delart.org) is hosting an “African and Caribbean Festival.”

The event, which will run from 2-10 p.m., will celebrate African and Caribbean culture through music, food, fashion, and art in the Copeland Sculpture Garden.

Visitors can also head inside for a tour of the museum’s new Caribbean-themed exhibition.

Another interesting event in Delaware this weekend is “Steamin’ Days” on August 4 at Auburn Heights Preserve (3000 Creek Road, Yorklyn, Delaware, 302-239-2385, http://auburnheights.org).

“Steamin’ Days,” which is held on the first Sunday of the month through November, focuses on steam power. During “Steamin’ Days at Auburn Heights,” the site is bustling with activity.

Visitors are encouraged to climb into an antique automobile or board one of the trains and experience what it was like to travel at the turn of the 20th century. They can also tour the magnificent 1897 mansion that was home to three generations of the Marshall family.

Also included is entry to the Marshall Steam Museum, which features the world’s largest operating collection of Stanley steam cars along with a 1930s working Lionel electric train display, a hands-on engine display, kids’ activities and exhibits and the Museum Gift Shop.

Activities run from 12:30-4:30 p.m. each time. Combo Tickets, which cover all rides and building tours, are $19 (13 and older) and $16 (age 12 and under).

Bethlehem’s Musikfest (downtown Bethlehem, 610-332-1300, www.musikfest.org) is a special event — an event that is more than just another popular summertime festival in the Lehigh Valley.

Over the years, Musikfest has established itself as one of America’s top annual music festivals an event that offers big name headliners as well as a wide variety of folk, rock, pop and ethnic music acts.

It also sports some impressive numbers.

The festival, which is celebrating its 34th anniversary this year, features free music performances on most of its indoor and outdoor stages.

Musikfest, which is running now through August11, presents more than 300 live musical performances and draws over one million people to the Lehigh Valley every August.

The main concert stage at Musikfest is the Wind Creek Steel Stage which features national touring acts with tickets are required for all shows.

The following is this year’s main stage schedule: Aug. 2: The Chainsmokers; Aug. 3: Steve Miller Band + Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives; Aug. 4: Lady Antebellum; Aug. 5: Weezer; Aug. 6: Train & The Goo Goo Dolls; Aug. 7: Incubus; Aug. 8: The Revivalists; Aug. 9: Godsmack; Aug. 10: Phillip Phillips; and Aug. 11: Brad Paisley.

There will also be a multitude of free concerts with acts such as Steal Your Peach, Ruby Dear, Red Baraat, MIPSO, Kate Mills, Fusion Jazz Trio and Brianna Nelson.

Musikfest is much more than just festival offering a wealth of music. It also features interactive arts and theater activities for children along with a large number of concessions offering a wide array of food and beverage treats.