“Thunder Over the Waves” military air show streamed through the sunny skies in Wildwood, New Jersey, on September 6.
Photo by Domenic Giancaterino, Jr.
FunTimes Magazine: ‘Culture & Entertainment’ column, week of September 8, 2025
“Ah, September! You are the doorway to the season that awakens my soul.
– American journalist Peggy Toney Horton
As summer prepares to exit kicking and screaming (technically, it ends September 22nd), the cool of autumn takes its natural place in the seasonal sun. From murals to music, here are a few free or low-cost activities that will ease the fresh passing of summer when, as lyricist George Gershwin once explained, “the living is easy.”
Art Celebration Of Mural, Mural On The Wall…
Saturday, September 13, 2025. Mural Arts Philadelphia is known for its creativity. So, it promises to be a great day of art, music, and other fun activities at Mural Arts Fest 2025 at The Oval previewing October’s Mural Arts Month 2025. The theme is VOICES OF PHILLY, which will be carried over to Mural Arts Month, to highlight the brilliant voices that shape Philadelphia’s identity and imagination. Go wild with a live DJ, performances by Interna$hional Bounce, Plantain Party, and Tameartz, ThursdayNightGroove. Revel with food and toast to the end of the summer in the beer garden by Libertee Grounds. Kids and adults alike can partake in airbrushing, printmaking, button-making, coloring, bounce basketball, live painting, an artist market, and exercise with Lululemon. Eakins Oval, 24th Street, and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Free, 2 p.m. EST. to 7 p.m. EST. Email: info@muralarts.org, 215-685-0750, or https://muralarts.org/mural-arts-month-2025/
A Great Time To Wine
Saturday, September 13, 2025. Sip and savor seems to be the activity of choice at Philly’s 3rd Annual Black Wine & Spirits Fest. And the event proves annually that color comes in many rich shades. Enjoy some of the finest flavors, aromas, and bouquets created and curated by Black entrepreneurs in the wine and spirits industry at this “lifestyle event. Presented by Kabila Events, The Philly Black Wine & Spirits Fest highlights the contributions of Black-owned and diverse brands. ”The theme is “Rosé Renaissance,” featuring samplings from local and national brands, live DJs and performances, art, interactive photo installations, local food vendors, and pop-ups by local entrepreneurs. Also, enjoy a VIP SIPS Lounge with exclusive tastings with sommeliers and wine educators. $44.52, per ticket, plus additional 30-minute Tasting Sessions: $30. “Day Sips” session: 1 p.m. EST to 4 p.m. EST (VIP entry at noon) and “Evening Sips” session: 7 p.m. EST to 10 p.m. EST (VIP entry at 6 p.m. EST): Billy Penn Studios, 1516 N. 5th St. https://www.eventbrite.com
Photo courtesy of ensembleartsphilly.org
Enjoy A Showcase Of Cultural Performances
Saturday, September 13, 2025. Check out the Philadelphia Fall Arts Fest Experience, a series of live performances and engaging activities showcasing local Philadelphia-area arts and cultural groups. Take tours of various show venues along the Avenue of the Arts, and get a sample of entertainment from the Ensemble Arts Philly Broadway season, the Philadelphia Orchestra Quartet, Philadelphia Ballet, Opera Philadelphia, BalletX, Philadanco!, The Independence Awards, Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, and The Philly Pops.. Explore activities and demonstrations highlighting tap dance, jazz, Broadway, classical, opera, and ballet. See performances from upcoming shows including Tony-winning Best Musical Kimberly Akimbo and The Sound of Music on The Kimmel Center’s Commonwealth Plaza stage. Check out performances by high school students from the Philadelphia Independence Awards; a quartet of Philadelphia Orchestra musicians; The Philly Pops; Opera Philadelphia, Esperanza Arts Center; and Project 440. The Kimmel Center’s Perelman Theater stage will be filled with entertainment by Philadelphia Ballet; Née Danse/Theatre; Chocolate Ballerina Company; SHARP Dance Company; BalletX; Carne Viva Dance Theatre; Living Arts Dance; International Ballet Exchange; and PHILADANCO! Get half-off discounted tickets. Free, 11 a.m. EST to 3 p.m. EST. Kimmel Center, 300 S. Broad St., 215-893-1999 or www.ensembleartsphilly.org
Feel The Reggae Rhythm
Saturday, September 13 & Sunday, September 14, 2025. Get your reggae on at Socafro Carnival Philadelphia. Dance the night – and early morning – away to the electric beats of soca, Afrobeats, reggae, and dancehall vibes. For ages 21+. $17.85 per ticket ($30 for two tickets if bought at once); 10 p.m. EST to September 14, 2 a.m. EST. NOTO Philadelphia, 1209 Vine St. Text 760-472-3109 or visit https://www.eventbrite.com
Bringing The Open-mic Fire
Sunday, September 14, 2025. Check out City Winery Philly Presents! Poetry After Dark-Quarterly Poetry Open Mic! in partnership with By Poetry vs. Hip-Hop Live x Productions, LLC. Enjoy an insane evening of spoken-word poets, rappers, singers, comedians, or according to the promotional material, performances by “cousins who think they’re funny.” Two-time Grammy-nominated Queen Sheba will play unreleased tracks from her album, “A HURRICANE IN HEELS: Healed People Don’t Act Like That!” Feedback is welcome. Enjoy the Lady Syren, King QuinC, Classique, master violinist, and Sounds by DJ Queen Yaszy of Radio One Philly. Pre-register, $25 to $40 per ticket; 6 p.m. EST to 10 p.m. EST. The Loft at City Winery Philadelphia, 990 Filbert St. 267-479-7373 or https://citywinery.com
Music journalist and radio host Dyana Williams
Williams Carries The Musical Beat
Wednesday, September 17, 2025. Black Music As History with Dyana Williams will be an engaging chat about the power and influence of Black Music. Break bread with legendary radio host, journalist, and cultural advocate Dyana Williams for either an in-person or virtual conversation about Black music as a vital instrument in history for memory and identity. As a co-founder of Black Music Month and champion for artists’ rights and cultural preservation, Williams will bring a keen perspective to the roles of music and activism. She will trace the origins of Black Music Month observed in the United States annually in June. She will highlight the power of music in preserving African-American stories over the generations and examine the value of archiving these cultural expressions. The program will take a deep dive into music as a responsible catalyst for community advocacy and social change. Pre-register: $11.19 to $21.39; 6:30 p.m. EST to 7:30 p.m. EST. Historical Society of Pennsylvania, 1300 Locust St. 215-732-6200 or https://globalphiladelphia.org/events/black-music-history-dyana-williams or
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/black-music-as-history-with-dyana-williams-tickets…
Grand Marshal Blackwell Leads Hero Thrill Show
Saturday, September 20, 2025. Former longtime Philadelphia City Council member Jannie Blackwell will serve as the grand marshal at the 70th Annual Hero Thrill Show. Blackwell, a Co-Chair of the Mayor’s Commission on African and Caribbean Affairs, will lead a day of fun, tribute, and tradition in South Philadelphia. Enjoy boardwalk-style food, fire truck rides, daredevil, police motorcycle stunts, K-9 unit dogs on rescue attacks, fire-rescue exercises 40 feet in the air, and more. The event will kick off with a grand entrance led by a motorcade of police, fire, and Hero Thrill Show vehicles followed by a program of formal speeches by City of Philadelphia dignitaries. The carnival-style fundraiser supports the college education of children of Philadelphia police officers and firefighters who died in the line of duty. Families of the fallen heroes will be on hand. Tickets are available online and at the event: $15 for individuals; $35 for families up to five people; noon (kickoff ceremony) to 4:30 p.m. EST. Xfinity Mobile Arena Parking Lot (formerly the Wells Fargo Center), 3601 S. Broad St. (free parking). 215-275-3000 or eventbrite.com or www.herothrillshow.org
