PHOENIXVILLE, PA — From ABBA and Beethoven to haunted hometown tales and an all-night horror marathon, Phoenixville’s Colonial Theatre is filling its fall calendar with plenty of reasons to head downtown.
The historic Bridge Street theater has lined up nearly three months of concerts, independent cinema, comedy, cultural programming and seasonal events running from September through November. October brings an especially heavy dose of Halloween programming, with horror classics, family favorites and live events spread throughout the month.
“This fall really showcases how many different ways there are to experience the Colonial,” Interim Executive Director Drew Boardman said. “On any given week, audiences can come through our doors for a concert, discover an independent film, learn something new, laugh with friends, or revisit a movie they love on the big screen.”
Boardman added that the variety is part of the theater’s identity and gives the community opportunities to spend time together throughout the season.
The season gets underway Sept. 11 with Mamma Mania! The American Tribute to ABBA, followed Sept. 12 by the Back to the Basics Comedy Show featuring local comedians. An Introduction to Screenwriting program on Sept. 16 will give aspiring writers an opportunity to explore the fundamentals of writing for the screen.
Independent film takes over beginning Sept. 17 with the fourth annual Phoenixville Film Festival. The four-day festival will feature more than 60 films, including four world premieres and 23 Pennsylvania premieres, along with filmmaker panels, workshops, special events and new 90-minute master classes led by working industry professionals.
Music returns Sept. 18 with Pet Sounds Live!, celebrating The Beach Boys’ landmark album and music. Then, on Sept. 22, the inaugural Phoenix Chamber Concert launches with “Beethoven & Beyond: A Bicentennial Celebration,” the beginning of a new series leading toward the 200th anniversary of Beethoven’s death in 1827.
Violinist Jennifer Frautschi, cellist Sarah Ghandour and pianist Nhi Huynh will perform during the intimate concert exploring Beethoven’s musical influence.
The Colonial will also mark Hispanic Heritage Month with three films centered on Latino stories, culture and creativity. Alfonso Cuarón’s “Roma” screens Sept. 20, followed by the animated musical adventure “Vivo” on Sept. 26 and Disney and Pixar’s “Coco” on Oct. 3.
Event Details
- What: Colonial Theatre Fall 2026 Programming
- When: Sept. 11 through Nov. 14, 2026; dates and times vary by event
- Where: The Colonial Theatre, 227 Bridge Street, Phoenixville, PA 19460
- Cost/Tickets: Admission and ticket prices vary by event
- More Info: thecolonialtheatre.com
October opens with something different: Super Art Fight on Oct. 3, a live competition in which artists create designs on giant canvases while battling for audience approval. On Oct. 7, the Buena Vista Orchestra will bring Cuban music to Phoenixville with musicians connected to the legacy of the Buena Vista Social Club.
The borough’s own spooky history gets its turn Oct. 8 during History on the Rocks: Haunted Phoenixville, an evening devoted to eerie tales, local legends and stories associated with Phoenixville’s past.
Halloween Takes Over the Big Screen
For movie fans, October becomes a monthlong countdown to Halloween.
The schedule begins Oct. 7 with George A. Romero’s “Night of the Living Dead,” followed by “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” on Oct. 8 and a “Rosemary’s Baby” and “Carrie” double feature Oct. 9.
The lineup continues with “The Haunting” on Oct. 11, “The Love Witch” on Oct. 15, “Hocus Pocus” on Oct. 16, “Practical Magic” on Oct. 21, “Halloween” on Oct. 23 and “The Nightmare Before Christmas” on Oct. 24.
The silent horror classic “Nosferatu” follows Oct. 25, with “Pet Sematary” on Oct. 29 before “The Exorcist” closes out the month on Halloween night.
Those looking for considerably more than one scary movie can settle in for Exhumed Films’ 24-Hour Horror-thon on Oct. 17, a day-and-night marathon featuring horror favorites, cult curiosities and other selections.
Local creativity joins the Halloween lineup Oct. 28 with the Parlour Reading Series: Haunted Halloween Shorts, featuring locally written short plays populated by ghosts, goblins and other seasonal frights.
The fall calendar carries into November with RAEL – A Genesis and Peter Gabriel Experience on Nov. 6. The New York and Northern New Jersey-based tribute band recreates the progressive rock sound and theatrical style associated with the early years of Genesis and Peter Gabriel.
Then, on Nov. 14, HUSH will transform the Colonial into an immersive, Prohibition-era speakeasy experience built around the glamour, intrigue and clandestine atmosphere of the 1920s.
The Colonial Theatre, founded in 1902, operates three venues and multiple event spaces in adjoining historic buildings in downtown Phoenixville. The nonprofit arts organization draws more than 70,000 patrons annually for movies, live music, comedy and community events.
Tickets and additional information about the fall schedule are available at thecolonialtheatre.com.
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