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The beginning of September means two things in my book: back to school (though that hasn’t applied to me in quite some time… I should really update my book) and the Live Arts & Philly Fringe Festivals!

Oh, and no more wearing white. But who really cares about that, anyway? Clearly the exciting point here is that the Philadelphia Live Arts Festival is beginning this weekend.

That means that hoards of artists will take over the city for two weeks to perform upwards of 200 original productions that will run the gamut from theater to dance to music, comedy, puppetry, and even visual art installations. The majority of artists are Philly-based, but many hail from across the country and even around the globe.

The Live Arts Festival and Philly Fringe are actually two separate festivals under one big umbrella.

Live Arts is a curated Festival, with high-profile companies specifically chosen to perform their shows. And Philly Fringe is something of a massive free-for-all, in which anyone with a spark of creativity and the passion to produce a show can hop on stage.

Both festivals host groundbreaking, exciting, and often completely unexpected works in venues all around the city.

The official website is a portal to everything you need. Check it out to find great shows — you can search by artist, genre, location, or even use the online matchmaker to find the perfect Live Arts show for you.

You can also get your surprisingly cheap tickets online, which are further discounted for anyone 25 and under (sweet!).

Also, there’s a handy iPhone App.

Oh, and I’d be remiss not to mention the Festival Bar in Northern Liberties, which springs to life on Friday night and will be open for the duration of the festival. This bar is like none other, featuring art installations, cabarets, dance parties, and rock bands along with the DJ’s. (Full Festival Bar schedule here.)

The Festivals comprise some of the most exciting arts events on Philly’s calendar. So get psyched, and stay tuned for some more info about selected shows.

2010 Philadelphia Live Arts and Philly Fringe Festival
September 3rd – 18th
At all times, and all over the city!
www.livearts-fringe.org