WEST CHESTER, PA — West Chester’s popular community music festival Porchfest returns on May 18. Seventy-four bands have signed up to perform so far. “Green” porches will offer native plants and tips on creating your own native wildflower gardens. Chris Pugliese, landscape architect and WC Green Team vice president, will host an information porch on Barnard St with a “green wagon” of plants to share.
Pugliese states, “The goal with the plant wagons is to educate our neighbors in West Chester area communities about the value of native gardens and landscapes and to share resources that will inspire and facilitate pesticide-free/herbicide-free native gardening/landscaping in yards. We’re all in this together to create a welcoming environment and more ecologically friendly places in the world.”
Jean Gross, well-known local real estate agent returns as a block organizer on Dean Street and will feature a porch of vintage clothing. The Green Team’s vintage clothing swaps were begun by Aiden McFadden, East Bradford’s soccer hero, who continues his work recycling clothing in Atlanta this spring.
Porchfest drew 6,000 visitors last May and many attendees were children. From face painting to Native American Lenape crafts to Taylor’s Music’s “zoo” of musical instruments, children could choose from a variety of activities in addition to listening to music. Because of the high demand for children’s activities last year, Porchfest is doubling its children’s offerings from 5 to 10 options.
A returning activity is the Lenape craft of journey stick-making. Thirty-five children created this craft with artist and WC Playschool co-founder Catherine Bosna. Bosna returns to offer her workshop again this year on Union Street. “The process of making journey sticks helps children recall their own journeys and become active learners and caretakers of the natural world,” Bosna says.
A first-time presenter is children’s author, Sally Coveleskie who wrote the “Henry, the Steinway” series of books. Coveleskie will read and sign copies of her books on Dean Street. She comments, “As a children’s author, I’m delighted to be part of Porchfest, where the magic of storytelling meets the joy of community. ‘Henry the Steinway and the Piano Recital’ will bring the happiness of making music to children as they visit from porch to porch.”
Another new activity, “Celebration of Japan” with origami paper crafts and Japanese snacks, kimono dressing opportunities and Japanese folk songs will come to Miner Street. Professors Fumiyo Kobayashi Batta of Widener University and Reiko Yoshida from Temple University will lead the activities.
Yoshida comments, “We are offering Japanese activities for the happiness of children. Folding origami frogs is fun and so is eating Japanese snacks. Porchfest is about building community and appreciating our diversity and having a great time in the process.”
At Everhart Park, Diane Matthews School of Dance Arts will offer a class called “Jazz – Hip Hop Dance Fusion” with all ages welcome. Matthews returns with her students who are performing for the third year.
She states, “West Chester Dance Works/Diane Matthews School of Dance Arts will encourage and entertain audience members with performances from our five company groups representing approximately thirty dancers aged 9-70! This year’s presentation will include styles ranging from Lyrical to Hip Hop and will include an invitation to the audience to “join in” an open dance class/routine.”
This is the first time that Matthews will offer a dance class to the community at Porchfest.
A directory of all Porchfest activities will be available online by May 11 and at two locations on the day. All are welcome to this free community event sponsored by the West Chester Green Team. For more information, please go to westchesterporchfest.com.
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