FunTimes Fun: Events Education, & Entertainment!
Fun Fact: In any given year, no month ever begins or ends on the same day of the week as May does.
As May closes, kiss the month goodbye in style. The whispering call of summer awaits. Get outdoor-sy and immerse yourself in the final days of May — through neighborhood music festivals, concerts, workshops, movies and more on Memorial Day weekend and beyond. But before venturing out, please check with the event organizers to confirm event hours and inquire about their updated COVID-19 safety protocols regarding mask-wearing and proof of vaccination.
Identify mushroom varieties on walk in Morris Park
May 28, 2022. Mushrooms are a super food. So, it will not hurt to learn more about mushrooms and fungi. Go foraging and find out about which ones are edible? Join the Philadelphia Mycology Club to explore the fungi of Morris Park. Free. 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., 66th St. and Sherwood Ave. near the guardhouse. For information, check the event Facebook page.
Run, bike in the park but don’t trail…
May 28, 2022. “Neighbor up” for the fun and health of it! Enjoy the fitness runs or biking on the Tacony Creek Park Trail, part of the Circuit Trails Network. The 3.2-mile paved trail can be accessed at Ramona Avenue and I Street in the Juanita Park neighborhood, and runs to north of Adams Avenue near Cheltenham Avenue in the East Oak Lane section. Free, 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. Also, experience the Family Trail Time and Kids Run: Saturdays, 4 p.m. RSVP for locations and information for both activities at: 215-744-1853, or email to: tcptrotters@gmail.com. Tacony Creek Park, 215-683-3600, parksandrecreation@phila.gov or Traillink.com
Ella Gahnt
Get singing tips from local pros
May 29, 2022. Are you a singer or musician trying to hone your craft? Well, the Vocalists Workshop: Get Your Questions Answered & Sing may be music to your ears! It’s an interactive, educational vocal workshop organized by The Women’s Coalition for Empowerment, Inc, and moderated by “Philly’s Class Act” Ella Gahntand her Trio. Gahnt is a mainstay on the local jazz-pop scene who has received acclaim in East Coast clubs and on local radio. You can pick songs, perform with a live professional band and get feedback on your performance. Register online, free, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., The Rotunda, 4014 Walnut St., 708-792-3462, email: Info@TheWCE.org, www.TheWCE.org
Flaco Navaja
Flaco Navaja & Razor Blade’s on the cutting-edge
May 30, 2022. Flaco Navaja & The Razor Blades is a name that gets your attention. Navaja’s authentic Spanish-English sound blends poetry with singing, beat-boxing and the spoken word. Like his name, it is contemporary and super unique. He performs as part of the Nightlife at the Kimmel series, free, 8 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., 300 S. Broad St., Kimmel Cultural Campus , Commonwealth Plaza, 215-790-5800, kimmelculturalcampus.org
A safe place to learn and heal
May 26, 2022.Creating Survivor Sanctuary: For Our Present and Future, hosted by metoo International, is an evening of healing for African Americans during Mental Awareness Month. The 90-minute workshop offers Survivor Sanctuary, a self-guided healing platform and safe place of discussion for survivors of sexual assault. The support session focuses on tools to assist survivors. AAMP Museum, 25-guest capacity, $35, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. www.metoomvmt.org
Prince in the park at movie night
Friday, May 27, 2022.Grab a blanket, a beach chair and your main squeeze for this outdoor movie screening of one hour and 25 minutes that doubles as a posthumous Prince concert, Sign O’ the Times. It‘s a fusion of movies and music in the 1987 documentary concert film of 13 live numbers from His Royal Badness. In between song vignettes of street life abound. Sheila E, Boni Boyer and Cat provide rhythmic, vocal and physical pyrotechnics. Sheena Easton appears in a film within a film, in her rock video ‘U Got the Look.’ Local food trucks. West Philly-based independent cinema organization cinéSPEAK curates this independent movie series, “cinéSPEAK Under the Stars at Clark Park.” Free (donations accepted, though), and registration is encouraged. Film starts at 9 p.m., but arrive earlier. 7:30 p.m. is recommended The Bowl at Clark Park, 4300 Chester Avenue friendsofclarkpark.org
Photo by J. Fusco, Visit Philadelphia
Philly picnic is their Roots
June 4-5, 2022. The annual music festival, The Roots Picnic, curated by Philly hip-hop band The Roots, boasts an all-star R&B-fused-hip-hop lineup of Mary J. Blige (with The Roots!), Summer Walker, Wizkid, Strawberry Mansion’s Jazmine Sullivan, Kamasi Washington, Kirk Franklin and Tierra Whack, plus a live podcast stage featuring Questlove Supreme, Million Dollaz Worth of Game, Rory & Mal, Earn Your Leisure and Love + Grit., “The Philly Stage showcases up-and coming local performers. Inquire about ticket prices. Spaces filling up. Mann Center on several stages, West Fairmount Park, 5201 Parkside Ave.rootspicnic.com
Sistah Soul Series sings
June 18, 2022. Join the Sistah Soul Series, presented by the Women’s Coalition for Empowerment, Inc. for a monthly live musical program featuring Soul Series 2022, showcasing BIPOC creatives in Greater Philadelphia, through August., free, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., LOVE Park., 15th St. and JFK Blvd., 708-792-3462 or www.TheWCE.org
Concerts under the stars
June through August. Mann Music Center Summer Concerts is a laid-back venue in Fairmount Park offering cheap lawn seats for performances by the Philadelphia Orchestra and Philly Pops. Plus, check out the national funk, pop, folk, classical, rock, and dance acts. Bring a picnic basket and enjoy music under the stars. For an event schedule:manncenter.org or 215-546-7900
