Summer concert season gets kickstart with Roots Picnic [Events roundup]

The following events are planned for this weekend throughout the region:

• The Roots Picnic returns to the Mann in Fairmount Park on Saturday and Sunday. Usher will bring his Las Vegas residency performance to Philly, and Ms. Lauryn Hill will co-headline and perform the entirety of "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the seminal album's release. Award-winning American comedian, screenwriter, television and film producer, and actor Dave Chappelle will make his Roots Picnic debut performing with The Roots. The lineup also celebrates local talent, including a headline set from Lil Uzi Vert, the return of Eve during Black Thought's Live Mixtape set, DJ Drama, Kindred the Family Soul, a State Property Reunion, and more. For schedules, tickets and more information, see therootspicnic.com.

• The epic struggle between good and evil comes to life as SALT presents "Jekyll & Hyde," opening Friday and running through June 18 at its West Chester location. The show is based on the classic story by Robert Louis Stevenson and features a score of pop-rock hits performed by a live orchestra and some of the best local talent. "‘Jekyll & Hyde’ explores the darker depths of humanity, and brings to light that all people are commingled with both good and evil; all are capable of the dark night of the soul," said Lauren McComas, president and artistic director of SALT Performing Arts. "While this is not our typical family-friendly feel-good show, it's an important piece of art, and we are excited to present it with such incredible talent." This weekend's show times are 7 p.m. Friday, 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Friday is Dressy Attire & Champagne Opening Night. For tickets and more information, visit saltpa.com/jekyllandhyde.

• The Bryn Mawr Twilight Concerts series kicks off Saturday with a performance by Lucy Kaplansky with opener Cabin Dogs at 7 p.m. at the Bryn Mawr Gazebo. Kaplansky started out singing in Chicago folk music clubs as a teenager. Then, barely out of high school, she took off for New York City, where she found a fertile community of songwriters and performers including Suzanne Vega, Steve Forbert, The Roches and others. With a flair for harmony, she has performed on Shawn Colvin's Grammy-winning "Steady On," and on Nanci Griffith's "Lone Star State of Mind" and "Little Love Affairs." Tickets cost $15 for ages 13 and older at brynmawrtwilightconcerts.com.

• Night Lights, a sky lantern festival inspired by the traditional Thai Lantern Festival, comes to Maple Grove Raceway, near Mohnton, on Saturday and Sunday from 5 to 10:30 p.m. The highlight of the evening is the lantern release an hour after sunset. There will be fire pits, s’mores kits, games, food, snacks and alcoholic beverages. Fred Lee will provide live music. Tickets are required for ages 7 and up and cost $54.50 in advance for Saturday and $39.50 in advance for Sunday at nightlightevents.com. If not sold out, tickets will be availabe at the gate for $74 and Saturday and $64 on Sunday.

• The Hawk Mountain Arts Tour, featuring more than 30 artists and businesses stationed throughout the Kempton valley plus a satellite location hosted by the Hamburg Area Arts Alliance at Etchberger Memorial Park, will be held Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Artists at the various stops will display pottery, wood and metal sculptures, and fine art paintings. The free driving tour takes place within a 25-mile radius of scenic Albany Township, and a printable map of the stops can be found online at hawkmountain.org/artstour. Printed maps will also be available to pick up at the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary's Visitor Center, which is the first stop on the tour, featuring six local artisans. For information about participating artists, driving directions or other event details, visit hawkmountain.org/artstour.

• The Widoktadwen Center for Native Knowledge, City of Reading Public Works and PA Department of Health present the inaugural Good Medicine Indigenous Wellness Celebration on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Riverfront Park in Reading. Learn about Native American approaches to health and wellness and connect with local nonprofit and healthcare resources. The event kicks off at 10 a.m. with a Rally for the River, sponsored by American Rivers and co-hosted by Barrio Alegrίa and Berks Nature. Speakers will discuss the history of the Schuylkill River and how our health is intricately connected to the health of our land and water. There will be healthy cooking demonstrations, health education, vaccines, Native American dance demonstrations, music, arts and crafts and more. This family-friendly event is free and open to all. Visit widoktadwen.org/events/ for more info.

• Joan Osborne headlines the Upper Merion Concerts Under the Stars series at the Upper Merion Township Building Park on Friday at 6 p.m., with opener Jonah Tolchin. Osborne is an eight-time Grammy nominee and multi-platinum-selling recording artist. A native of Kentucky, she moved to New York City to attend NYU Film School but dropped out after becoming involved in New York's downtown music scene. Her 1995 album, "Relish," was a critical and commercial success and spawned the international hit single and video "What If God Was One of Us," as well as "St. Teresa." General admission tickets cost $25 for ages 13 and older at concertsunderthestarskop.com. A VIP option is also available.

• Turks Head Music Festival returns to Everhart Park, West Chester, on Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Throughout the day, the two stages will feature eight local bands performing different genres of music, including rock, pop, folk, R&B, country and blues. Scheduled to perform, in order of appearance, are Tom Wang, Katie Barbato, Tree Walker, Will Borda, Strange Neighbors, Lost Northern Tribe, Flux Capacitor and Steve Liberace. The festival also features approximately 70 artists and vendor booths set up throughout the park to sell their products and high quality arts and crafts. Local vendors will be selling food. Admission is free. For more information, see turksheadfestival.com.

• The GoggleWorks Center for the Arts in downtown Reading will host a First Friday celebration from 5 to 9 p.m. featuring live performances, food trucks, a beer garden, vendors and other arts-related activities, including an opening reception for the National Juried Art Exhibition, featuring drawings, paintings, prints, collage and photographs. At 8:30 p.m. will be a public premiere of "From the River," a documentary on the history of the greater Reading area, by local filmmaker Tracy Schott. Tickets for the film are $10 for general admission, $8 for seniors and $7 for students. For more information, see goggleworks.org.

• Luis Angel, also known as El Flaco, a Mexican singer, songwriter and musician who performs banda and other forms of Mexican folk music, will perform Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the Santander Performing Arts Center, Reading. Angel became famous in 2003 when he joined the Mexican folk band Banda Los Recoditos, with whom he went on to release multiple albums and tour the world. He began his solo career in 2020 with the release of his debut single. "Reflexion." Tickets start at $59.50 at santander-arena.com.

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