Saturday, 4/27 Street Fair: Dinosaurs, Jazz, Tacos and Talking Robots -- Finale to Phila Biennial Arts Fest
Filling Six Blocks Along Philadelphia's Avenue of the Arts with Activities, Vendors, Day-long Entertainment for PIFA 2013 FINALE
PHILADELPHIA, April 25, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The culminating event of the spectacular 31-day Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts, the PIFA STREET FAIR once again takes over the heart of the city on April 27th, 2013, from 11am to 7pm. The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts (festival producing organization) will close Broad Street, Philadelphia's Avenue of the Arts , for six blocks from Chestnut Street to South Street for an all-out extravaganza, capturing the magic and mystery of this year's festival theme, "If you had a Time Machine…."
The PIFA Street Fair spotlights Philadelphia's vibrant arts scene, bringing artistry and family fun together, in the day-long outdoor experience that recalls the traditional street fair atmosphere -- with interactive family fun festivities, fantastical and unique street performers, visual surprises, attractions and music for all ages with no gate charge. More than 60 vendors will be providing a variety of food -- from Garces' Guapos Tacos, Anthony's Italian Ice, French bistro Parc and the Surf and Turf Truck and of course, popcorn, cotton candy, ice cream and hot dogs – to artisans' work and exhibits, including Zo Prod Konstructors, a collective of performers, musicians, visual artists, welders, metal manufacturers, and decorative artisans from Poitiers, France who use found objects and industrial and construction materials to create new works, who will be constructing works right in front of the live audience.
Joining street performers from Bagpipers, Monks and Knights to Give and Take Jugglers and Post-Apocalyptic Stilt-Walkers, the wandering entertainment includes CIRIKLI STILT BIRDS walking puppets; FOUNTAIN LADY; fantastical, woven, magical, bugs and birds; marching bands, bluegrass, jazz and Brazilian music; soaring Jabali African Acrobats full of contorting, tumbling, human pyramids, and chair balancing skill of these performers turns to dance, and more. Highlights include a Dinosaur Petting Zoo in front of the Kimmel Center, with animatronic and puppet dinos (truly past to future!) and a LIFE-SIZED T-Rex, to an elevated Kid's Obstacle Course AND 2 adult/ family Obstacle Courses; TWO grass parks – Clock Park and Compass Park, a Giant Ferris Wheel, a huge swinging Galleon AND Interactive and Talking Robots, as well as a series of tribute concerts to Philadelphia-born icon, Marian Anderson.
Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts 2013 (PIFA – March 28 to April 27) is a month-long city-wide arts festival produced by the Kimmel Center that celebrates innovation, collaboration and creativity with over 50 arts and cultural organizations presenting multi-disciplinary artistic interpretations of new works, classical performances and exhibits. The 2013 thematic focus, If You Had a Time Machine…. Takes audiences on a journey through time to experience the convergence of art, culture and history in artistic interpretations of great, defining moments that continue to influence society today. The inaugural 2011 PIFA, which paid homage to the artistic energy of Paris 1910-1920, attracted over 404,600 visitors to the festival's core 135 events, in addition to 196,000 visitors experiencing the culminating Street Fair event, and generated a total economic impact of $55.74 million and an additional $5 million in state and local taxes within the Philadelphia region. PIFA 2013 Street Fair is made possible through the generous support of Wells Fargo Bank, lead sponsor, as well as The City of Philadelphia, Thomas Jefferson University and Hospitals, and Endo Health Solutions. For more information on PIFA 2013 and the Street Fair, please visit www.pifa.org.
SOURCE Kimmel Center
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