Everyone loves some good, blood-pumping live music. They especially love it when it’s free. As May fades into summer, Northeast Philadelphians can look forward to just that.
The Pennypack Park Festival, sponsored by Friends of Pennypack Park, presents free music on Wednesday nights throughout the summer. The performanaces take place in the band shell at the Rolland and Rhawn Street entrance of the park. The series started about 30 years ago, with a spike in popularity over the past few years. Board members attribute this to the revisions made to the program four years ago. This includes a revamped stage area and newer and more exciting musical acts.
The most notable aspect of the festival, though, lies in the sense of community that is found at all of the concerts. The park is covered with Philadelphians of all shapes and sizes: young families, teenagers and even old fogies can be found busting a move or simply chilling out on the lawn area. While there, attendants are encouraged to give donations that are used to help beautify the park, which stands as a historic landmark of Northeast Philly. Friends of Pennypack also gives donations to the music programs of area high schools. The first concert of the summer served this purpose, when Father Judge’s band and Nazareth Academy’s choir performed a free concert. They were then presented with $500. This will occur again during the summer for the local George Washington and Northeast high schools. The concerts give people a reason to experience the joys of nature on a Wednesday night while also giving to a good cause.
The tentative 2008 summer schedule can be found at Pennypack Park’s official Web site. It features such exciting acts as cover bands performing songs by Jimi Hendrix, Billy Joel and Elton John. One of the Park’s most popular events, Irish Fest, will include local favorites The Hooligans.
More information on the festival and its contributions to the community can be found in a local write-up in the Northeast Times, as well as on the festival’s official site.
—Mandy Bee.
