A great West Philly tradition is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. The 25th Annual Peoplehood Parade & Pageant, Spiral Q’s hand-made people-powered celebration of solidarity, creativity, and courage, is on Saturday, Nov. 8. It’s a day of participatory theater, live music, giant puppets, and a celebration that reminds us of our collective power and the importance of joining together.

Peoplehood starts with a parade that marches from the Paul Robeson House to Clark Park where the day culminates in a Pageant performance that celebrates the city’s vibrant communities, and collective vision for a more just and joyful Philadelphia. Peoplehood isn’t just a single Parade day, but a month-long art-making and community building process that takes hundreds of artists, organizers, families and students to create.

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Photo by Rebecca Gudelunas Photography

Just in time for the spooky season, Curio Theatre Company is kicking off its 21st season in West Philadelphia with a “Bram-new” production. From October 15 through November 1, the theatre company located at 48th and Baltimore will present “Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors.” The new show is a 90-minute, gender-bending, quick-changing, laugh-out-loud reimagining of the timeless gothic classic.

The show is filled with clever wordplay and unexpected pop culture references and features.

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Mural Arts Philadelphia, in partnership with the Office of Council Member Curtis Jones, Jr., has unveiled a new mural, titled Legacy of Leadership, at 110 N. 63rd Street, just north of Market. The huge mural, which is visible from 63rd Street, is designed by prominent Philadelphia-based artist Gabe Tiberino and dedicated to the “Fathers of West Philadelphia.” It features portraits of men who have made a lasting impact on the community – community organizers, public servants, and leaders:

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The West Philly-based Black theatre company, Theatre in the X, is returning to Malcolm X Park with its summer production of Fraternity, a thought-provoking drama by acclaimed playwright Jeff Stetson.

With performances running August 21 – 24, Fraternity brings together a dynamic cast featuring titans of Philadelphia stage and screen, including Brian Anthony Wilson, and rising young talent. The show examines urgent questions about power, legacy, and what it means to be a Black man in America.

“At a time when divisions seem sharper than ever, Fraternity challenges us to confront the tensions within our own communities — and to imagine what real unity might require,” said director and Theatre in the X leader Eric Carter. “Theatre in the X is proud to bring this urgent, thought-provoking work to life in the heart of West Philly, where Black stories deserve to be seen, heard, and wrestled with in public space.”
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It’s hard to believe it but Movies in Clark Park, one of the most popular summer neighborhood events, is turning 10 this year. The event debuted in 2015 and since then has welcomed thousands of neighbors who enjoyed free screenings of family favorites, cult classics, and blockbuster hits under the stars at Clark Park’s “Bowl”.

The event is returning this Friday, Aug. 1 with a special 10th anniversary program featuring popular movies released in 1985, 1995, 2005. and 2015. The event kicks off with a screening of The Goonies (1985). Here’s the full program:

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The popular local theatre company, Shakespeare in Clark Park, is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year and inviting West Philly residents and guests to the park’s “Bowl” July 23-27 for the world premiere of “A Bottom’s Dream,” a “bold and joyful” musical interpretation of the classic “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

The new show is a queer pop disco adaptation of the play starring Philly drag icon Lili St. Queer. It also features a Barrymore-studded cast (see below) and a Youth Ensemble of local performers. “A Bottom Dream” features original music blending Chappell Roan, Donna Summer, and Daft Punk vibes.

The adaptation is created by Richard Rodgers Award winner Jay Eddy, a composer, writer, performer, and sound artist, and directed by Shamus. Music direction is by Beatrice Quinn and choreography is by Jessy Gruver.

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