According to the 2000 census the town of Schwenksville has a population of about 1000. It’s probably grown in the past few years with the construction boom in this area, there are whole neighborhoods around our house that are shiny and new. But it’s still a small town, I’d certainly never heard of it before we looked at our house’s real estate listing for it.
But it does have a little claim to fame. Schwenksville hosts the annual Philadelphia Folk Festival, which starts today.
I’d never heard of this festival until we bought the house, but it’s big, and people come from all over the country for it. For about 2 weeks prior they set up tents, rope off area parks and fields for festival tents and parking. Signs go up pointing people to the festival, locals rent out space on their lawn for camping and parking. Hippies show up on the side of the road selling guitars. The festival itself only lasts three days.
I am not into folk music, I don’t like crowds, so I’m generally turned off by festivals in general, we won’t be going. It might be fun just to “check it out” but the $53 ticket to get in for a day is a bit steep.
Instead I think we’re going to go on a drum finding adventure. We want to get skin drums for the shaman course that starts in a couple weeks and there are several stores in the Philadelphia area that sell them, but the key is finding the right one. Should be fun.
As for tonight? No plans so far. It’s been a boring week.