The Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board announces the return of Arts Montco Week, a celebratory initiative that supports Montgomery County’s over 200 arts, culture, and entertainment venues.

The festivities will highlight artists, entertainers, makers, and attractions in the region, which normally represent $100 million in positive economic impact, not to mention hundreds, if not thousands, of jobs.

The county — which has hosted such prestigious international entertainment organizations as Cirque du Soleil, Big Apple Circus, and the Philadelphia Orchestra — will roll out the red carpet to visitors for Arts Montco Week, Sept. 16–25, 2022.

In addition, this year’s Arts Montco Week festivities includes the debut of the first-ever Montco Jazz Fest, a world-class weekend of some of the nation’s most celebrated musicians performing in intimate and engaging concert venues throughout the county.

A special kick-off event for the fest will take place on September 21 at Rivet Canteen and Assembly in Pottstown. 

“The Arts Montco brand is an important and vital brand for Valley Forge Tourism, and the addition of our premiere Montco Jazz Festival helps solidify Montgomery County as a first-rate arts and culture destination,” said VFTCB President & CEO Mike Bowman. “Arts and culture can change us, shape us, and have a positive impact on all our lives. We need that now more than ever.”

The goal of the initiative is to provide visitors a first-hand look at Montgomery County’s robust arts and entertainment sector and the role it plays in regional tourism. The county is home to live music venues, award-winning playhouses, historic movie theaters, stunning architecture, museums and art galleries, and some of the finest gardens and arboretums in the country.

Arts Montco Week will also highlight the people and organizations that help these incredible venues inspire thousands of visitors a year through special performances, gallery exhibitions (including the return of the popular Montco Studio Tour), and discount deals for the public.

The 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 Arts Montco Week is to shine a spotlight on the diverse arts, cultural, and entertainment industries in Montgomery County,” noted Rachel Riley, VFTCB Vice President of Communications. “These people and organizations not only provide tremendous positive economic impact to the region [they] also serve as a vital reminder that the arts are essential for everyone.”

Arts Montco Week on the Visit Valley Forge 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.

Its users will be able to:

• Claim special offers under “Maps & Info”
• Enjoy free, family-friendly digital highlights
• Discover the best restaurants, hotels, and outdoor activities like golf

Montco Jazz Fest

The first ever Montco Jazz Fest will celebrate Montgomery County as a music destination, highlighting the region’s diverse jazz artists and venues

The festivities kick off on September 21 with the All Star Big Band performing at Rivet Canteen and Assembly in Pottstown. This 16-piece ensemble, which will play swinging big band classics, is sponsored by Montgomery County Community College.

Additional events include:

• Cymande — the British funk band popular in the early 1970s, with its unique combined sound of jazz, funk fusion, soul, reggae, and Afro pop — at the Ardmore Music Hall on Sept. 24
• The Terry Klinefelter Trio, a straight-ahead jazz trio performing standards and original compositions, performing on Sept. 24 at the Community Music School of Collegeville
• Peebo Bryson and Oleta Adams, two of the most significant jazz voices of the past 30 years, performing at the Keswick Theater, Glenside, on Sept. 25.

A series of “jazz brunches” on Sunday, Sept. 25 will round out the weekend, including performances at Rivet Canteen and Assembly, Pottstown, King of Prussia Mall, and The Blossom Cafe, Skippack.

More information is online.

Other Highlighted Events and Promotions

The following is just a small selection of Arts Montco Week offerings; for up-to-the-date listings are at the tourism board’s website.

Art and Exhibitions

• Art on the Hill, various dates/times, 100 North Main St., Souderton, free
• “Christo & Jeanne-Claude: The Tom Golden Collection” and “Andrea Modica: Theatrum Equorum” at The Philip and Muriel Berman Museum of Art at Ursinus College, various dates/times, 601 East Main St. Collegeville, free
• The Charles L. Blockson Exhibition at The Centre Theater, various dates/times, The Centre Theater, 208 DeKalb St, Norristown, $5–$10
• “Scrappy Quilts” and “Back to Black,” Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center, various dates/times, 105 Seminary Street, Pennsburg, free
• Renee Crystal Photographer, Gallery Reception, Sept. 24, Community Music School of Collegeville, 775 West Main Street, Trappe, free
• Montgomery County Studio Tour: Sept. 24–25, various studios throughout Montgomery County, free

Classes and Workshops

• unWINED & PAINT, various dates/times, 515 Stump Rd., North Wales, price TBA
• Adult Night with a Lego Master Builder at Legoland, Sept. 16, 6:00 p.m., Legoland Discovery Center, Plymouth Meeting Mall, price TBA
• Birding by Canoe at the John James Audubon Center, Sept. 22, 6:00 p.m., 201 Pawlings Road, Audubon, $30

Concerts

• Emerald Rae, Philadelphia Folksong Society, Sept. 16, 8 p.m.m 6156 Ridge Ave, Phila., $5–$18
• Old 97s, Ardmore Music Hall, Sept. 16, 8:00 p.m., 23 E. Lancaster Ave., price TBA
• Steal Your Peach, Ardmore Music Hall, Sept. 17, 8:00 p.m., 23 E. Lancaster Ave., price TBA
• Haley Heynderickx & The Westerlies, Sept. 20, 7:30 p.m., Ardmore Music Hall, 23 E. Lancaster Ave., price TBA
• Sierra Hull, Ardmore Music Hall, Sept. 21, 8:00 p.m., 23 E. Lancaster Ave., price TBA
• Cymande, at Ardmore Music Hall, Sept. 22, 8 p.m., 23 E. Lancaster Ave., price TBA
• Saved by the 90s, Ardmore Music Hall, Sept. 23, 8:00 p.m., 23 E. Lancaster Ave., price TBA
• Pink Talking Fish, Ardmore Music Hall, 23 E. Lancaster Ave.: Sept. 24, 8:00 p.m., price TBA
• Musical Story Hour at Community Music School of Collegeville, Sept. 24, 10:00 a.m., 775 West Main Street, Trappe, free
• Leo Nocentelli (of The Meters), Ardmore Music Hall, Sept. 25, 7:00 p.m., 23 E. Lancaster Ave., price TBA

Theater

• The Prisoner of Second Avenue, Act II Playhouse, various dates/times, 56 E. Butler Ave,, Amber, $27–$49
• Ripcord, Playcrafters of Skippack, various dates/times, 2011 Store Rd., $18
• TOWN, Theatre Horizon, Sept. 15–28, Eisenhower Science and Technology Leadership Academy, 1601 Markley St., Norristown, free
• Annual Student One-Act Play Festival, Ursinus College, Sept. 16, Berman Outdoor Amphitheater, 601 E Main St, Collegeville, free

About Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board: The Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board (VFTCB) is a nonprofit, membership-based sales and marketing organization that actively promotes Valley Forge and Montgomery County, Pa., as a convention site and leisure visitor destination by encouraging patronage of its 600+ member hotels, restaurants, attractions, and services. The award-winning website links visitors, meeting planners, tour operators, and residents to a diverse portfolio of brands focused on reasons to visit the region.