By Monica Peters
For The Inquirer
The Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts continues its 27th Philadelphia International Children's Festival through Saturday with kids' activities, dance, music, and theatrical performances.At noon Friday, the Dance Theatre of Harlem Ensemble will perform. The festival features Friday and Saturday shows, beginning at 10 a.m., including American Indian storytelling; dance; music by Grammy-winning singer Thirza Defoe; puppeteer Basil Twist's Petrushka; and Vancouver-based recycled-materials drummers and athletic choreography group ScrapArtsMusic. Other Saturday highlights include the theatrical shows Water, Water Everywhere and Garbage Is My Bag performed by environmental educator Jack Golden. Television, film, and stage actor John Lithgow will entertain at noon and 4 p.m. with his children's concert "The Sunny Side of the Street," whose album of the same name received a Grammy nomination.
At the outdoor plaza, the festival will feature the children's Fun Zone, offering face-painting, crafts, and other hands-on activities. There will be performances by Steve Pullera and his Cool Beans Band, the Give & Take Jugglers, Hoop-La, and Alex and the Kaleidoscope Band. Middle Eastern percussionist Joe Tayoun and guests will offer hand-drumming workshops. Fun Zone activities are free to all festival ticket holders.
