Here’s something our little neighbors and their parents will enjoy doing again now that the section “A” of Clark Park has reopened. A traditional “Storytime at the Turtle” has returned and is taking place every Thursday at 7 p.m.

Stories and short books are read by volunteers from the Parent Infant Center (PIC). Snacks and refreshments are also available. So head down with your little ones tomorrow night to the turtle for this fun and educational activity.
 

Here are two super cool events happening in West Philly this weekend.

To mark the longest day of the year, the annual Summer Solstice Music and Art Festival will take place in Clark Park (43rd & Chester) tomorrow, June 25, beginning at noon.

The festival has been a West Philly tradition since 1970. This year the organizers are bringing over 40 vendors and nine bands, along with the arts and crafts vending, dance and theater and fun activities for kids.

Here’s a full band lineup with starting times.

12:30 – 1 p.m. – Lion Versus (Stage 1)
1:15 – 1:45 p.m. – Mount Joy (Stage 2)
2 – 2:30 p.m. – Early Ape (Stage 1)
2:45 – 3:25 p.m. – Bedroom Problems (Stage 2)
3:40 – 4:20 p.m. – Arrah and the Ferns (Stage 1)
4:40 – 5:20 p.m. – Psychic Teens (Stage 2)
5:35 – 6:05 p.m. – Serpent Throne (Stage 1)
6:20 – 7 p.m. – Samsara (Stage 2)
7:15 – 8 p.m.- Dangerbird (Stage 1)

Also on Saturday, world-renowned Philly-based band The Sun Ra Arkestra will kick off the 40th Street Summer Series – a series of free outdoor live music performances organized by the University City District and The Rotunda. The series will feature concerts by internationally-acclaimed artists every fourth Saturday in June through September, from 6 to 8 p.m.

The opening act for tomorrow’s performance by The Sun Ra Arkestra will be the West Philly drill team, the Elegant Cavaliers.

All concerts will take place at the 40th and Walnut Street field (behind the Walnut Street West Library). If you get there early enough you can also enjoy complimentary (first come, first served) Rita’s Water Ice which will be given out during the performances.
 

 
In case you missed the official opening of the park yesterday, here’s a little slideshow. My favorite moment of the whole thing was turning around during the pomp and circumstances and ribbon cutting, etc. and seeing two guys sitting at one of the new tables playing chess. They were oblivious to everything else going on. That’s the Clark Park we know and love. The new look is great and functional, but the people make the place.

The day that many of us have been waiting a long time for has arrived. Early this morning the fences came down at Clark Park “A” and it didn’t take long for people to pour in with books, coffee, kids and dogs in tow.

The official opening ceremony is today at 4 p.m.

A few things still need to be worked out, such as how best to accommodate the chess players that have dueled in the park for years. The biggest visible change, of course, is the graveled round open space where the flag pole (and a lot of mud) used to be.

Several orange cafe-style tables and chairs will be distributed around the space. They will be locked to one another to help prevent theft.

Today is a great day for the opening. The weather is nice and the Thursday farmer’s market starts at 3 p.m. So get out there and take it all in.

More details are rolling in about the opening of Clark Park’s “A” section. The June 16 opening ceremony is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m., just after the weekly Thursday farmer’s market kicks off.

The opening will incorporate the market with “A Taste of the Market,” a sampling of products from market vendors.

Deputy Mayor Michael DiBerardinis, state officials and multiple community partners will also be on hand.

It seems like space (or maybe food) is limited for this thing and those interested in attending are asked to RSVP to Barbara McCabe of Philadelphia Parks & Recreation at barbara.mccabe [at] phila.gov or (215) 683-3679.

If you want to get a running start on the Dollar Stroll or just pick up some stuff for dinner, then you might want to hit the inaugural Thursday edition of the Clark Farmer’s Market today. The Thursday market is, of course, held at the same location as Saturday’s – along 43rd Street between Baltimore and Chester – but with special work-friendly hours of 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

And don’t forget that the “A” section of the park (between Chester and Baltimore) is scheduled to open June 16.