Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board is pleased to announce additional venues, attractions, and events for their first-ever Arts Montco Week. 

The county will roll out the red carpet to visitors for Arts Montco Week, September 17-26, 2021.

Kindred Art Collaborative Live Painting Performance

Cellini Studios
113 Poplar Street, Ambler
Saturday, September 18, 7PM
Free

Three artists will work on one large canvas at the same time from beginning to end.  Join Kindred Art Collaborative for this Zoom streaming event.

Bianca Del Rio: Unsanitized

Keswick Theatre
291 N Keswick Ave, Glenside
Saturday, September 18, 8PM
$39.50

Get your vaccinations and cocktails because everyone’s favorite “clown in a gown,” Bianca Del Rio, is returning to the stage with her new comedy tour “Unsanitized”! She’s vaxxed; she’s waxed, and she has more attitude than ever. The pandemic may be ending, but Bianca is just getting started. If you liked COVID-19, you’ll love BIANCA-21.

Hop Along

Ardmore Music Hall
23 East Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore
Saturday, September 18, 8PM
$25-$55

Hop Along began as an acoustic freak-folk solo project known as Hop Along, Queen Ansleis in 2004, during Frances Quinlan’s senior year in high school. Three years after their first album, Quinlan’s brother Mark joined the project as drummer, followed by bassist Tyler Long in 2009. In light of the new formation, the name was shortened to reflect the change from solo project to full band. Hop Along has gone on to win a highly positive critical response from the independent music press.

Guided Tours of Beth Sholom Synagogue

Beth Sholom Synagogue
8231 Old York Rd, Elkins Park
Sunday, September 19-Friday, September 24
Buy 1, get 1 free ($15 per ticket)

Beth Sholom is a National Historic Landmark designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.  See and experience for yourself this remarkable space: a 110’ ceiling and over 1000 seats bathed in natural light.  Guided tours include a 20-minute film on the history of Beth Sholom Synagogue. Envisioned and built by the relationship between Rabbi Mortimer J. Cohen and America’s greatest architect, Frank Lloyd Wright, the Synagogue has a unique story within a storied life.

Harry Boardman Painting Demo

Exhibit B Gallery
105 N Main St, Souderton
Saturday, September 19, 1PM
Wednesday, September 22, 7PM (also live-streaming on instagram: @harryboardmanart)
Free

Born the son of a scientist and a clown, Harry Boardman is always on the lookout for something to paint, preferably an old neglected barn or outbuilding. He is the gallery director at Exhibit B Gallery.

ArtTrail Detective: Exploring Art with the Artist

Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center
105 Seminary St, Pennsburg
Sunday, September 19, 2PM
Free

Artist Jonathan Bond will share how he makes his paintings though an interactive tour of the exhibit Farm Life. Participants will look closely, think about context, and learn about the egg tempura process. Best for children ages 8 and up.

Bela Fleck: My Bluegrass Heart

Keswick Theatre
291 N Keswick Ave, Glenside
Sunday, September 19, 7:30PM
$35-$65

Over the last four decades, Béla Fleck has made a point of boldly going where no banjo player has gone before, a musical journey that has earned him 15 Grammys in nine different fields, including Country, Pop, Jazz, Instrumental, Classical, and World Music. But his roots are in bluegrass, and that’s where he returns with his first bluegrass tour in 24 years, My Bluegrass Heart.

Book Discussion

North Wales Area Library
233 South Swartley St, North Wales
Tuesday, September 21, 7PM
Free

The North Wales Area Library’s Evening Book Club meets on the third Tuesday of every month. If you are interested in registering, contact Jayne at Jayne@northwaleslibrary.org.

A Bowie Celebration

Keswick Theatre
291 N Keswick Ave, Glenside
Wednesday, September 22, 8:00PM
$39.50-$59.50

Join key alumni musicians of David Bowie’s bands from across the decades beginning in March 2020 for The David Bowie Alumni Tour as they play two of the greatest albums of all time – Diamond Dogs and Ziggy Stardust – in their entirety featuring an unforgettable and critically acclaimed evening of Bowie songs with world-class vocalists.

Fine Art and Crafts Gallery Tour

Regina Marie Designs Fine Art & Crafts Gallery
4076 Skippack Pike, Skippack, PA 19474
Thursday, September 23-Sunday, September 26, 10AM-5PM
Free

Regina Marie Designs is a gallery featuring the handcrafted art of over 75 artists, mainly those who live within a 35 mile drive from the Gallery. Many of the artists are also Master Artisans in their particular art and craft.  Experience a curated collection of handcrafted jewelry, pottery, glass, textiles, fiber art, photography, painting, wood, sculpture, and fine art.

Mandy Martin Meet and Greet/Painting Demo

Exhibit B Gallery
105 N Main St, Souderton
Thursday, September 23, 4PM
Free

Mandy Martin is an award-winning emerging artist. She creates vibrant paintings to capture the imagination and bring a sense of joy and delight.  Join her at Exhibit B Gallery for a meet and greet and painting demo.

The Milk Carton Kids

Ardmore Music Hall
23 East Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore
Thursday, September 23, 8PM
$25-$49

Listening to The Milk Carton Kids — Joey Ryan and Kenneth Pattengale — talk about their creative process, it’s easy to imagine them running in opposite directions even while yoked together. They dig at each other in interviews and on stage, where Ryan plays his own straight man, while Pattengale tunes his guitar. The songs emerge somewhere in the silences and the struggle between their sensibilities.

Their singing is the place where they make room for each other and the shared identity that rises out of their combined voices. Defying the conventions of melody and harmony is a strategy The Milk Carton Kids have consciously embraced.

22nd Annual Ursinus College Fringe Festival Cabaret

The Kaleidoscope Performing Arts Center at Ursinus College
601 E. Main Street, Collegeville
Friday, September 24, 7:30 PM
Free

The 22nd Annual Ursinus College Fringe Festival Cabaret will feature a special performance of “The History of Hip Hop.” The Festival is a diverse, vibrant and exciting event that brings cutting-edge, experimental performances and visual arts to campus featuring professional, student, and faculty artists sharing their latest theater, dance, music, film, and visual artworks.

Starman: The Bowie Tribute

Keswick Theatre
291 N Keswick Ave, Glenside
Friday, September 24, 8:00PM
$29-$49

Starman is deeply dedicated to presenting David Bowie’s music and stage show authentically, both sound and vision. This includes multiple mid-set costume changes – executed flawlessly – which cover all styles and periods as his music and characters changed and evolved through the years.

Sarah Jarosz

Ardmore Music Hall
23 East Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore
Friday, September 24, 8:00 PM
$25-$60

With her captivating voice and richly detailed songwriting, Sarah Jarosz has emerged as one of the most compelling musicians of her generation. A four-time Grammy Award-winner at the age of 29, the Texas native started singing as a young girl and became an accomplished multi-instrumentalist by her early teens.

After releasing her full-length debut Song Up in Her Head at 18, she went on to deliver such critically lauded albums as Follow Me Down, Build Me Up From Bones, and 2016’s Undercurrent, in addition to joining forces with Sara Watkins and Aoife O’Donovan to form the acclaimed Grammy-winning folk trio I’m With Her.

Souderton Art Jam

Souderton Connects
Wile Avenue between Souderton Borough Community Park & Pool, Souderton
Saturday, September 25, 10AM-5PM
Free

The Souderton Art Jam features artists and artisans from all over the East Coast. Come experience art, food, fun, live music, wine, craft beer, and so much more.  This event is family-friendly.  Well-behaved dogs are welcome.

Whitpain Community Festival

Montgomery County Community College Blue Bell Campus
340 Dekalb Pike, Blue Bell
Saturday, September 25, 12:00 PM-8:30PM
Free

Live bands, children’s games, food vendors, and fireworks will be featured at this free community festival.

Lotus Land

Keswick Theatre
291 N Keswick Ave, Glenside
Saturday, September 25, 8:00PM
$29-$49

David Uosikkinen’s In The Pocket    

Ardmore Music Hall
23 East Lancaster Avenue, Ardmore, PA 19003
Saturday, September 25, 9:00PM
$25-$65

Drummer David Uosikkinen is one of the founding members of Philadelphia’s The Hooters. David formed In The Pocket over 10 years ago to celebrate all of the great music that has come out of Philadelphia, and to bring you this all-star Philly band, as they cover classic Philly tunes and more.

The Little Mermen

Keswick Theatre
291 N Keswick Ave, Glenside
Sunday, September 26, 2PM
$25-$35

The Little Mermen are the ultimate Disney cover band for Disney fanatics of all ages. The band’s repertoire covers all 82 years of the Disney canon, including favorites from The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, Mary Poppins and Frozen. The group performs in full costume with band members dressing up as characters from the films. They tour nationally to sold-out crowds of cosplayers and casual fans alike.

Founded by singer/songwriter Alexis Babini, TLM throws enchanted events that are jam-packed with nostalgic fun and sing-alongs. Hailed by BuzzFeed and Time Out New York as the premiere Disney cover experience, they’ve won praise from none other than Disney.com and Alan Menken himself.

More about Arts Montco Week

This brand new festival is free for arts and culture venues to participate, with no requirements for in-person or virtual programming, and will feature a website, blog, video, public relations, and social campaign.

The goal of the initiative is to help reinvigorate Montgomery County tourism’s normally robust $1.65 billion positive economic impact – including more than 25,000 jobs. 

The county, which has previous hosted the likes of organizations like Cirque du Soleil, Big Apple Circus, and the Philadelphia Orchestra, is home to live music venues, award-winning playhouses, historic movie theaters, amazing architecture, museums and art galleries, and some of the finest gardens and arboretums in the country. 

Arts Montco Week will highlight the people and organizations that make these incredible venues inspire thousands of visitors a year.

Arts Montco Week on the Visit Valley Forge Mobile App

Guests will be able to experience all Arts Montco Week offers and events on the free Visit Valley Forge App.  The app is a hand-held guide for where to stay, play, eat, and shop in Montgomery County. Users will be able to claim special offers under “Maps & Info,” enjoy free digital highlights that are family-friendly, discover the best attractions, search-by-cuisine-restaurants, 80 hotels, outdoor activities like golf, and more.

Health and Safety

Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board takes the health and safety of its guests, staff, and artists very seriously. All venues are following local and federal health agency guidelines and regulations. 

\Patrons are encouraged to check each venue for their specific safety measures. Updates to the Arts Montco Week lineup can be found on their website.