The following events are planned for the week ahead throughout the region:
• Metal icons Judas Priest, touring in support of their new album “Invincible Shield,” make a stop at Santander Arena, Reading, on Sunday at 7:30 p.m., with special guest Sabaton. Over the past 50 years, Judas Priest have sold over 50 million albums worldwide and headlined the world’s biggest stages. With their evolving music and live performances also came a powerful unique identity, a look that has both defined the group and influenced future generations of metal bands the world over. With each year, the Judas Priest legend continues to grow; 2022 saw them inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and complete a sold-out rescheduled world tour in support of their 50th Anniversary. As we roll into 2024, Judas Priest continue to retain their crown as one of the biggest and best British bands in the world. The first two singles from “Invincible Shield,” “Panic Attack” and “Trial By Fire,” have streamed over 10 million times since release. Tickets for Sunday’s concert start at $39 at santander-arena.com.
• Jurassic Quest, the largest and most realistic dinosaur exhibit on tour, featuring a 60-foot-long, sky-scraping Spinosaurus, an 80-foot-long Apatosaurus, and a life-size T-Rex, comes to the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center at Oaks from Friday through Sunday. Hours are noon to 8 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. The Jurassic Quest herd of animatronic dinos, from the largest predators to playful baby dinos, are displayed in realistic scenes with some that move and roar, allowing guests to experience them as they were when they roamed the earth billions of years ago. Jurassic Quest works in collaboration with leading paleontologists to ensure each dinosaur is painstakingly replicated in every detail, from coloration to teeth size, to textured skin, fur or feathers, drawing on the latest research about how we understand dinosaurs and ancient giants of the sea looked and moved. For tickets and more information, see phillyexpocenter.com.
• Pottstown Dance Theatre and Melange Contemporary Dance are teaming up to presents “Dance Around the Globe” on Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 3 p.m. at Theatre Horizon, Norristown. The production will feature contemporary ballet, Native American dance, African dance, modern dance, jazz, Irish dance and more. The performance incorporates multimedia projections and interesting lighting effects, and utilizes both professional and student dancers. It is being choreographed by international dance artist Michelle Jones Wurtz, and has work set to Dvorak’s “New World Symphony,” Jefferson Airplane, Lyle Lovett and more. Tickets are available at Pottstown Dance Theatre (72 West Main St., Pottstown), by calling 610-323-2569, online at www.pottstowndance.com or at the Box Office upon arrival. Adult tickets are $21 in advance ($25 at the Box Office); $18 for children and college students (with ID) in advance ($21 at the Box Office), and $18 for seniors that are sixty and over ($21 at the Box Office).
• The Borough of West Chester will celebrate its 225th anniversary with a 225th Birthday Parade to be held on Sunday beginning at 1 p.m. “The entire community is invited to attend this historic event, whether you’re a long-time resident, a newcomer or just passing through,” said Keith Kurowski, director of the borough’s Parks and Recreation, which is organizing the parade. “We can’t wait to honor West Chester’s rich history, vibrant community and bright future together.” The parade will feature a colorful display of floats showcasing the heritage of West Chester, as marching bands fill the streets with spirited melodies. Community groups, local businesses and other organizations will display their West Chester pride with festive decorations, balloons and plenty of birthday cheer. The parade begins at High and Market streets, proceeding down Market Street and left onto Matlack Street, left onto Gay Street, left onto Darlington Street and left onto Market Street. Opening remarks will be at “Old Glory,” at High and Market streets at 12:45 p.m. Rain date is April 28.
• The Broadway on Sixth Street series at the Santander Performing Arts Center, Reading, presents “Menopause the Musical 2” on Thursday at 7 p.m. Set five years after their chance encounter in a department store, the beloved ladies set sail for more high jinks on the high seas, sharing in the joys of menopause and friendship — plus hot flashes, mood swings, memory lapses and more — set to the soundtrack of parodies of hits from the ’70s through ’90s. Tickets start at $29 at santander-arena.com.
• The Miller Center for the Arts at Reading Area Community College presents two Candlelight Concerts on Friday, featuring the music of Coldplay at 6:30 p.m. and Queen and more at 8:30 p.m. Thousands of candles will illuminate the venue, creating a serene atmosphere that will enhance your listening experience as the Listeso String Quartet performs. The concerts last 65 minutes (doors open 45 mins prior to the start time and late entry is not permitted). They are appropriate for ages 8 and older; anyone under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Tickets start at $36 at millercenter.racc.edu.
• The Reading Symphony Orchestra will presents a “Totally ’80s” pops concert on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in the Santander Performing Arts Center, Reading. Relive some of your favorite songs with guest conductor Stuart Chafetz, with guest vocalists Nicole Parker, soprano, and Aaron Finley, tenor. The concert will also feature a full brass and percussion band, creating a fusion of orchestra and rock that will transport you back to the neon-soaked days of the ’80s for songs like “The Final Countdown,” “Ghostbusters” and “Smooth Criminal.” Doors open at 6:30 for a Dance Party with DJ Ricochet and a 1980s costume contest suited for both adults and children. Tickets start at $20 at readingsymphony.org. Following the show, head to the Peanut Bar, 332 Penn St., for an ’80s after-party.
• Pittsburgh-based soulful rocker Bill Toms and his band Hard Rain play Jamey’s House of Music, Lansdowne, on Saturday at 8 p.m. Toms released his latest single, the uplifting “I Fulfilled My Dream,” on April 5 on all digital streaming platforms. Toms once again commissioned legendary producer Rick Witkowski at Studio L in Weirton, W.Va., to record “I Fulfilled My Dream,” and Witkowski lets the beauty of the song come through with a simple yet impactful arrangement, and Toms’ husky vocal and crunching lead guitar taking center stage along with Bill’s long time band, Hard Rain. “‘I Fulfilled My Dream’ is sung with the passion of one who has lived through dark times, survives, and re-emerges with a clear vision of his purpose,” says Toms. “I tried to capture the essence of this cinematic story, with inspiration from Bob Dylan, Paul Simon and Joe Strummer. My favorite line is ‘Time is priceless/Supplies are low.’” Tickets for Saturday’s show cost $25 in advance at jameyshouseofmusic.com or $30 at the door.
• Visitors to the Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center, Philadelphia, will be treated to a fine art exhibition centered on artists’ observations of our region’s watershed, running Saturday through July 27. The curated selection of vintage and contemporary drawings, paintings and photography by local artists captures impressions of our rivers, streams, wildlife and tidal wetlands. The purpose of “WANDERING: Observations of Our Watershed,” is to encourage exploration and discussion of the delicate and crucial balance of an ecosystem in an urban setting. According to Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center Executive Director Karen Young, “The ‘WANDERING’ exhibition asks us to consider how our daily activities impact our watershed, reminding us that we are crucial components of the habitat, challenging its sustainability.” Contributing artists are Nancy Agati, John Carlano, Melvin Chappell, Chris Cox, Antoaneta Denkin, Daniel Flinchbaugh, Michael Frechette, Michael Gallagher, Richard Metz, Kate Kern Mundie, Rebecca Schultz, Ethel Ashton and Seymour Rotman, courtesy of Whitaker and Moore; and Morris Blackburn, courtesy of Michael Gallagher. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays. Admission is free. Donations accepted at visitor’s desk. One-hour tours will be offered at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday plus May 4 and 18, June 1, 15 and 29, and July 13 and 27. For more information, see fairmountwaterworks.org.
• The Manayunk StrEAT Food Festival is set for Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Main Street in Manayunk. Grab everything from savory BBQ to sweet desserts as Philadelphia’s best food trucks and gourmet food vendors line the street. In addition, enjoy festival shopping from a variety of local vendors and Manayunk merchants. The day will also bring live musical performances from six acts on two stages. Scheduled to perform on the Green Lane Stage are Blank Pages, Stella Ruze and The Tisburys. The Shurs Lane Stage will have Henry Golden, Emily Drinker and Maggie Mae. For more information, see manayunk.com.
• The Daniel Boone Homestead Associates will hold a Paws on the Path Monthly Dog Walk on Sunday at 9 a.m. Paws on the Path occurs every third Sunday of the month from April through December. Come explore the homestead with your furry friend. There is no fee. All dogs must be on a leash and well-behaved around other dogs. Walkers without dogs are welcome as well. The homestead is the birthplace of the famed frontiersman, born in 1734. The Boone House, constructed in three stages throughout the 18th century, is a 10-room stone structure fully furnished to the period and situated on 579 acres of rolling countryside.
• St. John’s Lutheran Church, 355 St. John’s Circle, Phoenixville, presents The Providence Chamber Orchestra, its resident ensemble, in concert on Sunday at 4 p.m. The program features Jill Haley, oboist, English horn player, pianist, and soloist in her composition “National Parks Suite No. 2.” The National Parks Suite will be performed with video inspired by the beauty of the Glacier and Badlands National Parks. Haley performs on oboe and English horn in both improvisational and classical settings as well as composing her own music inspired by the beauty of our National Parks. She has been an artist-in-residence at 10 National Parks over the last decade, which has afforded her the opportunity to live in a park while creating music about the park. Haley will be joined by guitarist David Cullen, her husband and recent soloist with the PCO,
performing her compositions “Cerulean Sky” from Zion and Bryce Canyon Soundscapes and “Sunrift Gorge” from National Park Soundscapes and Glacier Soundscapes. Also included in the nature-themed program is the first movement of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6 (Pastoral), Delius’ On hearing the first Cuckoo in Spring, Elgar’s Chanson de Matin (Morning Song), and Frühlingsstimme (Voices of Spring) by Johann Strauss. There is no admission charge but a freewill offering will be received.
• The annual Berks County Earth Day Celebration, a family friendly event with a dedicated mission to educate the community and increase awareness on sustainability and the environment, will be held Saturday from noon to 6 p.m., rain or shine, in Reading’s City Park. There will be entertainment on three stages including drum circles, live music and speakers; an array of food vendors; and dozens of nonprofit and for-profit exhibitors. Bring a nonperishable food item to donate to Helping Harvest or donate $5 to receive a plant seedling. For more information, see https://sites.google.com/view/earthdayberks/home.
• Zach Williams brings his “A Hundred Highways Tour” to the Santander Performing Arts Center, Reading, on Tuesday at 7 p.m. The Nashville-based musician has carved a niche with his singular blend of Southern rock, country and faith-filled songwriting, which earned him his first Grammy Award with his debut album, 2017’s “Chain Breaker.” His second album, “Rescue Story,” includes the single “There Was Jesus,” with Dolly Parton. “A Hundred Highways,” released in 2022, contains the single “Heart of God.” Opening the show will be Riley Clemmons. For tickets and more information, see santander-arena.com.
• Emo Orchestra, on tour with special guests Escape the Fate, play the Keswick Theatre, Glenside, on Tuesday at 8 p.m. Made for emo lovers and orchestra aficionados alike, Emo Orchestra offers a one-of-a-kind live experience, bringing the emo hits back to the stage with a touch of adult elegance. Escape the Fate will be performing their hits plus some of the most beloved emo anthems by My Chemical Romance, New Found Glory, Panic! At The Disco and more. For tickets and more information, see keswicktheatre.com.
• The 2024 Fly Fishing Film Tour comes to the Colonial Theatre, Phoenixville, on Thursday at 7 p.m. Films scheduled to be shown include “Rio de Gigantes,” “Transitions — the bow,” “Visibility,” “Marlin Fly Project,” “Rods, Rolls & Reality on the Soča Trailer,” “Only the Salmon Knows,” “A Line in the Sand, “What Lies Above” and “Triple Trouble.” For tickets and more information, see thecolonialtheatre.com.
• The Penn State Berks Sustainability Council will host an Earth Day celebration on Monday from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. outside the Perkins Student Center on campus. The celebration will include community organizations, fun activities, educational presentations and stations, giveaways, prizes and light refreshments. This event is free and open to the community. Community organizations including Berks Nature, Blue Marsh Lake Recreation Area and Commute PA will have information stations at the event. Several Penn State Berks departments and student clubs will also have stations and volunteer at the celebration. In addition, there will be a planting activity in the campus garden, located outside of Thun Library and William G. Hintz Bookstore. The garden was established in April 2023 and features five different garden beds containing vegetables, herbs and wildflowers. Activities include a plant exchange, plastic bottle crafts, recycled crochet, upcycling art, bracelet making, rock painting, an Earth Day photo booth and much more. There also will be a prize drawing every hour.
• Join Humane Pennsylvania at the Danielle Ruiz-Murphy Dog Park, 503 S. Center Road (Route 82), Birdsboro, on Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. for a “Speakeasy” barhopping experience at the Pop-Up Pints for Pups. Ticket holders will have the chance to sample over 40 varieties of beer, wine and liquor, and select full pours from local and regional breweries and wineries including Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Lucky Leprechaun Vineyard & Winery, Pagoda City Brewing Co., Pour Man’s Brewing Co., ONEHOPE Wine and more! Guests will enjoy live music from Corty Byron and food from the Oomie ZoOmiez food truck. General admission tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for children. VIP tickets are $50. Designated driver tickets are $15. For more information, see humanepa.org.
