The 3rd annual ​Chester County Pride Fest will take place this Saturday June 2nd from noon until 5 PM at Reeves Park. It is a FREE event with food trucks, 50+ vendors, live music & entertainment, and kids’ games and activities. Bring a blanket to sit and enjoy food and music, but please note alcohol and smoking are prohibited in the park.

ENTERTAINMENT SCHEDULE -- Led by MC VinChelle

• 12:00 - Lauren Ferretti (2-3 songs)
• 12:10 - Welcome / Announcements
• 12:45 - VinChelle performance (one song)
• 12:55 - Amelia & Friends (Broadway songs)
• 1:25 - Cheer New York
• 1:45 - Aiden James (singer)
• 2:30 - Cheer New York
• 2:45 - Drag Performers: Iris Spectre, Felicia O’Toole Buffington, LeKross Ortiz Cruz, Shantel Dior, VinChelle
• 4:00 - Cheer New York
• 4:15 - Jennifer Real (event headliner; singing sensation from Florida)

Please RSVP to the Facebook event HERE

Just days ago, the canal was damn near empty. That's because Lock 60 needed to be repaired and that just could not be done underwater.

The Schuylkill Canal Association (SCA) took the time to explain:

"Over time silt and logs have accumulated in front of the lock. This is a natural process created by erosion from the stream above Lock 60 and the river. The SCA informed Montgomery County of the issues (owners of Schuylkill Canal Park) with the lock. MontCo responded and hired a contractor to repair the lock. The contractor isolated the lock chamber with giant steel plates mounted at each end. Water was pumped out of the lock chamber exposing silt and logs that were blocking the gates.
The contractor removed the silt and logs and replaced broken hardware allowing the gates to freely move, repairing the lock.

During the repairs the water was drain from a portion of the canal. The weir gates near Lock 60 were cleaned out by a SCA volunteer allowing for free movement of weir gate. Water in the canal has been restored to it's normal level.

The Schuylkill Canal Association would like the thank Montgomery County Parks, Trails and Historic Sites and SCA volunteers for their assistance in keeping Lock 60 and Schuylkill Canal Park one of the most beautiful places in Montgomery County.

The SCA would like to invite the public to come out the 3rd Sunday of every month at 3;00 to see the Lock in operation.

The Schuylkill River Sojourn will arrive at Lock 60 on June 6th around 3:00. Watch over 60 boats lock through as they continue their journey down the Schuylkill River.

Also, Canal Day is Sunday June 24th. There will be three lock opening during the day complete with kid's games, story tellers, rides, joust, can jam, trail run, music and a beer garden. The event will be held at St. Michael Field and Lock 60."

So there you have it folks... Problem solved. Well done SCA! The citizens of Phoenixville and beyond thank you for preserving such a great amenity.

​​Lock 60 of the Schuylkill Canal is one of only two sections of the Schuylkill Navigation System that are still watered, and the only operating lock remaining on the Schuylkill River. The canal provides great canoe and kayaking opportunities, and is home to many different birds and turtles.

​​In the video below, a Great Egret scans the shallow canal for prey.

Multiple trail connections, including the Schuylkill River Trail, are accessible from the park. Paddling the five-mile loop water trail is supported by two sets of access points. A demonstration of the opening of the lock is held on the third Sunday of every month at 3 PM.

The photo gallery below shows a few of the machines used to repair Lock 60. 

​Between the wide open dining area, 32 foot bar, 30+ taps, along with a new Private Party area, you will hardly recognize the "new" Bistro On Bridge. The sign, facade, and big open-able windows are just one of the many new things you'll see upon arrival. 

208-212 Bridge Street in Phoenixville has been home to many restaurants and bars over the years but the space is completely wide open now. The bar has been moved to the front, loaded with 32 taps (craft beer, wine AND cocktails), a 100+ Whiskeys, Spirits and bottles of wine. The wood was all reclaimed from the Heidi Sue building and the private party venue has been moved to the back, with barnyard doors. And that's not all... Bistro On Bridge will open a rooftop beer garden this Spring!

Some of the new features of the downstairs bar include:

• Outlets for charging phones, laptops and other electrical devices
• Collection of beer signs from friends, vendors, etc
• Hooks below the bar to hang your bag 

Take a full tour of the bar below...

Princesses, Punk Rock & Political Thrillers!  

The new film this week is the highly anticipated political thriller Beirut starring Jon Hamm, Rosamund Pike and Dean Norris. Check below for showtimes.

The acclaimed dramatization of the infamous Chappaquiddick scandal and the crowdpleaser Isle of Dogs continue for another week!

Friday night at 10:00, Cult Cinema presents The Decline of Western Civilization - director Penelope Spheeris' acclaimed documentary/concert film about the late 70s/early 80s punk rock music scene in LA. Plus, sponsors the Phoenixville Punk Rock Flea Market will DJ a set of classic punk rock in the lobby before the show!

This Saturday, the Young Audiences program presents two very special screenings of The Princess Bride: a Sensory Friendly Screening at 11:15 and a Science on Screen event at 1:30 followed by a discussion with zoologist Dr. Ellen Dawley!

The Classic Film this week is composed of three rarely screed comedy shorts from the legendary team of Zasu Pitts & Thelma Todd: The Soilers, War Mamas,  and Maids à la Mode. Plus, a bonus screening of Laurel & Hardy’s Helpmates! The fun starts at 1:30 on Sunday.

Tickets are now on sale for a live movie riffing comedy event with The Mads are Back, an evening of live jazz and swing with City Rhythm Orchestra's First Ladies of Song, and a very special Cabaret Night with Carolyn Montgomery to benefit The Community Coalition.

Looking ahead, there are some great screenings and events including The Wizard of Oz, a Theatre Organ Concert with Donna Parker, Breakfast at Tiffany's, the Go Ape with Dad - Planet of the Apes Marathon and the annual summer screening of Jaws!
​
See the full schedule

The Patch reports that Sly Fox Brewing will hold their annual "SRT Spree" event this month celebrating the Schuylkill River Trail.

The event will take place on Friday, April 20 and Saturday, April 21 at St. Michael's Park in Mont Clare and will feature live music, food trucks, a 50k race relay, kayaking, trail clean ups, and much more. 

The party, which usually takes place on or near Earth Day, will also commemorate Sly Fox's release of their SRT Ale as a year-round brand. Sly Fox donates $1 to the Schuylkill River Greenways Heritage Area for every case of SRT Ale that is sold.

"The Sly Fox partnership bolsters our efforts to encourage recreation, build and improve the SRT and engage new audiences in our events," said Tim Fenchel, Deputy Director of SRG-NHA. "We are honored to recognize Sly Fox for their meaningful contribution."

SRT Spree kicks off with a trail cleanup in Pottstown on April 20 at Pottstown Riverfront and Manatawny Creek at 5 p.m. For more information on the weekend, volunteering, and various celebrations, see here.

228 is tossing progressive rock, roots rock, math rock, and whatever the heck SWWIK is into a pot, adding some radishes, and distilling a tasty evening of Proggle Rock at The Pickering Creek Inn on Friday March 30th.  

8:30 - THE COZY
9:30 - THE HOOK
10:30 - QWIRK
11:45 - SWWIK
​
$5 cover, 21 & over only. RSVP HERE.

From here on, 228 shows offer space for local artists to sell their wares; this month features pen & ink works by Dave Yasenchak.