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Summer Solstice @ the Kimmel Center, Photo courtesy the Kimmel

This weekend marks the return of the Summer Solstice celebration at the Kimmel Center. Launched a few years ago, it has since blossomed into a 15 hour party sprawling across the entire venue. Anywhere you look, something will be going on.

The all-Philly line up kicks off at 3pm Saturday, June 19th. The day has a broad variety of family friendly activities, including the Zoo on Wheels, the Please Touch Museum’s “Play Patrol”, an animated version of The Nutcracker Orchestra, the Hoppin’ John Orchestra, and the Universal African Dance and Drum Ensemble.

The later evening session is a different kind of party. The music will be a little louder (maybe a lot louder). Whether you are a drum fan, ska lover, fan of hip-hop, club, rock, electronic pop, playwrights and/or singer/songwriters, there will be at least one act for you to enjoy—if not more. As the evening wears on, tattoo designs, tarot card readers, and chair massages will appear in Commonweatlh Plaza.

Some of the acts appearing on the various stages will be Philly Bloco (Brazilian percussion), Miro Mash-Ups from the Miro Dance Theater, the Enon Baptist Tabernacle Choir, a dating improv show, the Jolly Rotten Skeletons, and the Philadelphia Ukelele Orchestra amongst many others. The post-club hours of the overnight will see DJ Rashan spinning.

Also returning this year will be Bob and Barbara’s Drag Show, guaranteed to fill the Plaza by 10:30 pm or so. In the same space about 6 or 7 hours later will be the Sunrise Drum Circle, greeting the morning sun with powerful percussion.

Admission is $10 per person. The Summer Solstice runs from 3pm Saturday June 19th until sunrise, Sunday morning June 20th at the Kimmel Center. Rain or shine.

Kimmel Center
260 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA
(215) 893-1999
www.kimmelcenter.org