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The ACANA Festival brings international flavor to Penn's Landing. (Photo by M. Kennedy for GPTMC)

PECO’s Multicultural Series at Penn’s Landing heats up with The African Cultural Alliance of North America (ACANA)’s annual cultural festival, Saturday, August 6 from 2-8 p.m.

Created with the focus of bridging the gap between the African immigrant community and the African-American community, the festival is a time to celebrate the artistry and vibrancy of both cultures.

Festivalgoers will be delighted by the smooth R&B grooves of Liberian megastar Jodi, and local and international dance troupes Universal Dance Ensemble and Kulu Mele Dance Troup. You can show off your best carnival moves with Trinidadian Soca queen Joan Tigrass Rowley.

Local politicians will even get in on the fun as Councilwoman Penny MacDonald and her jazz band Go For Broke kick off the festival on the main stage.

Just like with all festivals this summer, there will be a plethora of vendors serving up delicious dishes and selling authentic goods to give you the complete cultural experience.

4th Annual ACANA Cultural Festival
When: August 6, 2-8 p.m.
Where: Great Plaza at Penn’s Landing, Columbus Boulevard at Chestnut Street
Cost: Free
More Info: www.delawareriverevents.com

The 6th Annual Car Show & Street Festival returns to East Passyunk this Sunday, July 31. (Photo courtesy EPBID)

While East Passyunk Avenue has always been synonymous with good shopping and even better food, over the past few years it has staked its claim as host to one of the city’s favorite car shows.

On Sunday, July 31, East Passyunk Avenue will come alive with the sights and sounds of a real deal car show. More than 130 different antique, custom, classic cars, trucks and motorcycles will line Passyunk Avenue from Broad to Dickinson streets during the 6th Annual Car Show and Street Festival.

More than 60 trophies are awarded, including Top 50, Best Stock, Best Modified, Car and Motorcycle Best of Show and 10 specialty trophies.

During the Street Festival there will be live music and DJ’s at every corner as well as vendors selling street food. And Avenue businesses will be open for shopping and dining.

In addition to the brick and mortar businesses, Passyunk Avenue will also be hosting the Bang!Boom!Craft! show during the event. There will be 30+ different craft vendors and artists set up at The Singing Fountain at Passyunk & Tasker, selling handmade items like jewelry, clothing and more.

Icing on the cake: the event is free to attend.

6th Annual Car Show and Street Festival
When: Sunday, July 31, noon-5 p.m. (Rain Date: August 7)
Where: East Passyunk Avenue from Broad Street to Dickinson Streets
Cost: Free
More Info: www.visiteastpassyunk.com

Dining Days, University City District’s version of Restaurant Week, comes to an end in just a few short days.

Nearly 30 participating restaurants are offering an array of hot deals on dinner, through this Thursday, July 28. These offers clock in at either $15, $25 or $30 for three courses, so they’re delicious and accessible for everyone.

PLUS: you have just four more days, counting today, to enter our University City restaurant gift certificate giveaway.

We’re offering two readers a chance to win $100 in restaurant gift certificates. You could win either $50 gift certificate to MidAtlantic Restaurant & Taproom and a $50 gift certificate to Rx or $50 gift certificate to White Dog Cafe and a $50 gift certificate to JG Domestic.

A full list of Dining Days participating restaurants, and their menus, is available online.

University City Dining Days
When: July 14-28
Where: Locations vary
Cost: $15, $25 or $30 (does not include tax, alcohol or gratuity)
More info: www.universitycity.org

Madrid and their roster of superstars including Ronaldo will take on the Philadelphia Union in front of a huge crowd tonight at Lincoln Financial Field in South Philadelphia. (Photos courtesy Philadelphia Union and Lincoln Financial Field)

Tonight’s the night.

Real Madrid arrived in Philadelphia last night ahead of their match tonight against the Philadelphia Union at Lincoln Financial Field.

Real Madrid is one of the best teams in Europe and the team’s star-studded roster were welcomed by fans as they arrived at their hotel in Center City.

International superstars Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Xabi Alonso (Spain), Kaká (Brazil), Sergio Ramos (Spain), and Iker Casillas (Spain), are all slated to play.

More than 50,000 tickets have already been sold and additional tickets are still available.

Meanwhile, after beating English Premier League club Everton 1-0 on Wednesday, Real Madrid will be the fifth international match in the Union’s brief history. The MLS Eastern Conference leading Union are 3-1-0 internationally, beating Everton, Celtic FC and Chivas Guadalajara, while losing to Manchester United 1-0 at Lincoln Financial Field last year.

So the Union are coming in hot. And ready to shock the world.

And the Linc is ready for a party.

DOOP!

Philadelphia Union vs. Real Madrid
When: Saturday, July 23 at 9 p.m.
Where: Lincoln Financial Field
More info: www.ticketmaster.com

Right on 'cue: Bebe's is popping up at the Wishing Well this Sunday, July 24. (Photo courtesy Wishing Well)

Sunday, July 24 from 5:30-10 p.m., Mark Coates of Bebe’s BBQ will set up shop in the Wishing Well’s kitchen for a one-night-only pop-up.

Coates and Wishing Well owner Carmen Cappello are collaborating on a BBQ food truck to be called Smoke Truck, Coates’ next venture after temporarily serving his classic Carolina cooking at Fergie’s Pub.

Bebe’s diehards can order the classic Bebe’s Sandwich (fresh pork shoulder hickory smoked for 16 hours, hand pulled and chopped, tossed in Chef Coates’ award-winning West Carolina style BBQ sauce) or Bebe’s Brisket.

Coates will also be dishing up drool-worthy sides like Mac-n-Cheese, cornbread, collard greens, baked beans, hand-cut fries and Secret Recipe Banana Pudding for dessert.

Bebe’s BBQ Sauces & Dry Rubs will also be for sale if you can’t bear the thought of a Bebe’s-free night after this experience. There will be Yards beers on draft to wash it all down.

The evening will be a taste of what’s to come once the Smoke Truck gets rolling. We’re hungry already.

Bebe’s BBQ Pop-Up
When: Sunday, July 24, 5:30-10 p.m.
Where: Wishing Well, 767 S. 9th Street
Cost: Sandwiches will be $8-10; platters with two sides will be $15-17
More info: www.facebook.com

Get your fresh produce from Walnut Hill Community Farm (photo by M. McClellan)

Founded in spring 2010, The Walnut Hill Community Farm is a combination community garden, urban farm, and pocket park that you can find at 4610 Market Street in West Philadelphia (we first told you about it last summer). Managed by Philly Rooted in partnership with The Enterprise Center, it is located on a plot of land that’s owned by Septa but has been utterly transformed over the 18 months.

In their second year, the Youth Growers (students who are learning farming and business skills) at Walnut Hill are making an effort get even more involved with the community. To this end, they’ve opened two farm stands that will operate for the duration of the growing season. You can find the first farm stand on site at the farm on Tuesdays and Fridays from 3 – 6 p.m. A second stand is located on the concourse level of SEPTA’s offices (1234 Market Street) every other Wednesday (next market day is July 27) from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.

For more information on how to eat local, make sure to visit our sister site, Philly Homegrown. You’ll find information about farmers’ markets, restaurants, chefs and even recipes. We’re planning on blending up a batch of their Watermelon Agua Fresca as soon as the work day is over to help beat the heat!

Walnut Hill Community Farm Stands
When: Tuesdays and Fridays, 3 – 6 p.m., alternate Wednesdays, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Where: 4610 Market Street, 1234 Market Street
Cost: pay as you go
More info: www.phillyrooted.com

With great food, an amazing view and the Riversharks on the field, it's set to be a great summer night at Campbell's Field on the Camden waterfront. (Photo courtesy Camden Riversharks)

The Camden Riversharks, Camden’s professional team in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, invite Philadelphians across the bridge for a special Philadelphia Night on Thursday, August 11 at 7:05 p.m.

The Riversharks will be celebrating all things Philly with trivia, movie and sports clips from Philly favorites, and music.

Get in the game with Baseball Bingo, or indulge in a two hour all-you-can-eat wings picnic special for $22 with $1 beers. Plenty of other delicious food will be on hand as well, including barbeque from Famous Dave’s. Purchase a voucher in advance for $8.50, for your choice of a jumbo hot dog or chicken fingers with fries and a soda.

Watch the Riversharks take on the York Revolution with tickets in advance starting at just $6 with the code “philadelphia”.

Campbell’s Field park has 6,425 seats, all of which look out over the Delaware River toward the magnificent Benjamin Franklin Bridge into Philadelphia.

Bring the family for an exciting, yet affordable night of baseball at a fraction of the cost of major league teams. Let’s go Riversharks!

Philadelphia Night with the Camden Riversharks
When: Thursday, August 11, 7:05 p.m.
Where: Campbell’s Field, 401 N. Delaware Avenue, Camden
Cost: Tickets start at $6
More info: www.riversharks.com

Staying cool is the name of the game this weekend: Xponential Music Festival on the waterfront, Union vs. Real Madrid, swimming in Fairmount Park are a few places to start... (Credits from top: courtesy XPN, courtesy Philadelphia Union, R. Kennedy for GPTMC)

With temperatures in the triple digits for much of the weekend, staying cool is a high priority.

Luckily the region is buzzing with events to assist you in beating the heat, including waterfront music festivals, indoor (and air-conditioned) exhibitions, and just plain ol’ fun activities to take your mind off of the weather.

Below, check out our top picks for this weekend.

Friday, July 22

Top Picks for Ways to Stay Cool

2011 XPoNential Music Festival (Fri, Sat, Sun)

Adventure Aquarium now open until 8 p.m. for summer weekends (Fri, Sat, Sun)

Sixpoint Brewery Tap Takeover Happy Hour at Johnny Brenda’s

Alison Krauss & Union Station at the Academy of Music

“Score” at City Hall

Ballet X Summer Series at the Wilma Theater (Fri, Sat, Sun)

University City Dining Days (Fri, Sat, Sun)

Shakespeare in Clark Park (Fri, Sat, Sun)

The Patio At Thirteen happy hour

Meritage Restaurant & Wine Bar Farmhouse Feast

Martinis On The Portico at the Philadelphia Museum of Art

Friday Night Lights at Marathon

Gallery 339 Presents About Face — Opening Night!

Commonwealth Classic Theatre’s The Tragedy Of King Richard III (Fri, Sat)

Saturday, July 23

Philadelphia Union vs. Real Madrid at Lincoln Financial Field

40th Street Summer Series outdoor concert

National Hot Dog Day at Silicon in Old City: Free hot dogs in exchange for children’s clothes donations

Summer Ale Festival at the Philadelphia Zoo

Seaport Antique and Classic Boat Show at the Independence Seaport Museum (Sat, Sun)

The Male Intellect: An Oxymoron? at Act II Playhouse

Urbanism: Reimagining the Lived Environment at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts

Mummies of the World at the The Franklin Institute

The President’s House: Their Untold Stories in Quilts at the National Constitution Center

The Charming Little Bunny: Collecting Beatrix Potter at the Free Library of Philadelphia

BYOB (Bring Your Own Bag) exhibition at Moore

Sunday, July 24

Discover the Real George Washington: New Views from Mount Vernon at the National Constitution Center

Beer Garden BBQ at City Tap House

The Awesome Fest at the Piazza at Schmidts

Christmas in July at Mamma Maria’s

Sangria Sunday at Chaddsford Winery

Imperfect Union: A Re-Illustration of the Civil War at Art in the Age

Miss Saigon at the Walnut Street Theatre — Closing Day!

Alternate Universe at Space 1026

South Street is a hot bed of local creativity, showcased at exhibitions like this one. (Photo courtesy Aktion Gallery)

The Aktion Gallery on South Street’s second exhibition, entitled Process, opens tonight, Friday, July 22 with an opening reception beginning at 6 p.m.

The showcase focuses on artists that push the boundaries of their mediums and delve into alternative culture. Process is a look at this exploration of culture, ranging from the simplistic beauty of found art to the gritty feel of an alternative process photograph.

Featured work includes dark, experimental pieces by John Santerineross and David Aronson as well as mixed media pieces by Jim Ulrich and a selection of work by Alisandra Wederich, and more.

The eight piece string ensemble The Divine Hand will be performing for opening night along with sideshow performances by Lenore Lovelace of Outlaw Circus. Plus, the Aktion Gallery’s Thérèse Lavery will be hosting the first of many artist games, The Exquisite Corpse, based on the Surrealist and Dada movements.

The Aktion Gallery is a part of the Arts on South program, which loans unrented retail stores to local groups to showcase their artwork and invigorate the community.

Process opening night
Where: The Aktion Gallery, 535 South Street
When: Friday, July 22, 6-10 p.m.
Cost: Free
More info: www.facebook.com

After almost a two-week break that included the All Star break and then a two-city road trip, the Phillies finally return home to Citizens Bank Park tonight for the first game of a 10 game home-stand.

And not only are the Phillies back in town, but this also means that the new With Love 3-D Art will be back in full effect at Citizens Bank Park.

The new interactive 3-D Art installation is conveniently located just inside the Left Field Gate right at the beginning of Ashburn Alley, where fans attending the game will have the opportunity to take their photo with the 3-D Art as they enter the stadium or as they’re walking around during the game.

A professional photographer is on hand each home game to take a free photograph of any fan and have it posted on the Visit Philly Facebook page. Seriously, it’s a lot of fun: check out the fan photo galleries from opening weekend.

Above, check out a time-lapse video of the 3-D art being installed at Citizens Bank Park and a few of the first fans to strike a pose for the cameras once the art was in place. Look out for a cameo of the Phanatic himself…

Then check out the full galleries of With Love 3-D Art fan photos on Visit Philly’s Facebook page.

And, as always, Go Phillies!

With Love 3-D Art at Citizens Bank Park [Visit Philly]