If you’re a Philly musician or maker looking to expand your audience, you could score a spot on the most central stage in the entire city: City Hall’s Dilworth Park.
There’s programming at the plaza almost all year round, and if you want to get in the game, the time is now. The Center City District, the public-private nonprofit responsible for the area, just released a call for new acts. Applications will be accepted through Jan. 31.
Options to participate include a number of public happenings and event series, both in Dilworth Park and nearby Sisters City Park, across from Logan Circle.
Some examples of opportunities:
- Friday Night Live, a rock-music showcase
- Fine Art and Craft Fair, a summer event
- Rhythm & Brews, for blues-centric performers
- Octoberfest beer festival with small bands and DJs of various genres
There’s also Center City Sips, the summertime happy hour attraction that brings college students, downtown workers and touristy passersby to enjoy drinks at some of the city’s cutest restaurants and pop-ups — including Dilworth. Previous Sips happy hours there have featured performances from folks like DJ HVNLEE and DJ Sylo.
Since renovations at Dilworth were unveiled in 2014, the park has become a go-to outdoor destination during warm weather, drawing folks working nearby, students passing through, and families touring the area.
During the often packed summer lunchtime hours in the summer, there’s Live @ Lunch, a series where listeners can hear jazz and jazz-adjacent performances from acts like singer LeeMo and trumpeter Honeychile, R&B from artists like Elle Gyandoh, and electronic dance music from artists like Jacqueline Constance.
Also, now is the time to get involved with what’s perhaps one of the biggest attractions in the area: the holiday Made in Philadelphia Market.
This season, the market expanded a bit northward and featured a new 65-foot-tall Ferris wheel. Part of downtown’s Christmas Village extravaganza, organizers have said more than 800,000 people visited the bazaar in 2018. CCD wants to keep that market fresh, and is calling on crafters to submit themselves and their work for a chance to be one of the more than 45 vendor tents pitched around the park.
You’ve gotta be 21 or older to apply. If you’re there, head to the Center City District RFP page for a complete rundown of the opportunity.
Still looking good? Fill out this Google Form to apply. Prepare to negotiate your rates, as compensation will be discussed individually, according to the application description.
