By Jennifer McKee
The silver lining to taking part in events online is that you may be able to make time for something you wouldn’t otherwise have been able to visit in person. From food and wine festivals to author events, craft workshops, art, music and trivia, a cornucopia of fun activities are coming up this fall. Events are free unless otherwise noted.
“It’s Been Said All Along: Voices of Rage, Hope & Empowerment” at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Beginning September 1
Musicians have been using their medium to promote social justice for decades. These messages are the subject of the latest exhibit from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, which focuses not only on the trailblazers who first spoke out for dignity and equality, but those who continued to keep this message in the forefront of their music. The virtual walkthrough includes videos, artist narratives, exclusive footage from the Rock Hall’s vault, never-before-seen and rare photos, clothing and personal effects, a curated Spotify playlist and much more.
Billie Holiday The Tiffany Club, Los Angeles, 1952. Courtesy of the Tom & Ethel Bradley Center at California State University, Northridge
Parklands Food Fest
September 5
https://www.westernsydneyparklands.com.au/things-to-do/parklands-food-fest-2020
Go down under for Western Sydney’s premier food festival. The Parklands Food Fest hosts its ninth annual event, at which home chefs will be able to cook with chef Matt Moran, who cooks some of his favorite dishes featuring produce from local farms. There will also be a special presentation from chef Travis Harvey on how to repurpose food scraps in effort to reduce food waste.
Photo of Matt Moran courtesy of Bite Communications
San Francisco Bay Area Craft Week
September 7-13
https://shop.craftcouncil.org/
Experience the Bay Area’s vibrant handmade culture from the comfort of your own home. It’s sponsored by the American Craft Council, and you can take part in workshops such as finger crocheting and making pop-up cards, meet the makers “live” and explore curated field guides. In all, more than 130 artisans join together to show off and sell their works that encompass jewelry, home décor, clothing, accessories and furniture.
Photo courtesy of Lee Seung-Hea
Atlanta Food & Wine Festival
September 10-19
https://atlfoodandwinefestival.com/
This reimagined festival is going forward with some intimate in-person events, but the real star is cooking classes that feature chefs from around the country. Sign on to Zoom and learn how to make pickles with acclaimed Dallas chef Misti Norris, bake pies alongside Atlanta’s own Lauren Bolden and make succulent seafood with New Orleans chef Isaac Toups. Each class is only $10.
Photo of Atlanta skyline ©ESB Professional/Shutterstock
In the Spirit Northwest Native Festival
September 10-October 17
www.washingtonhistory.org/exhibit/2020-in-the-spirit-contemporary-native-arts/
Learn about the diverse cultures and art from more than 20 indigenous nations at this Tacoma, Washington-based festival. The Washington State Historical Society, Museum of Glass and Tacoma Art Museum come together for a month-long affair that expands what’s normally a day-long indoor/outdoor festival. The kickoff event is an intimate look at the In the Spirit juried art exhibit, a talk with the jurors and an awards presentation. There’re also videos of each artist, a virtual arts market and closing night performance; in all, there are 16 events.
©Dan Friday, Lummi, Owl Totem, 2020, hand-sculpted glass, 17x4x6 inches. Selected for the 15th annual IN THE SPIRIT exhibition, on view virtually at www.WashingtonHistory.org
I Love Movies Virtual Trivia Night
September 14-17, 7 pm
https://cinemastlouis.org/i-love-movies-trivia-night
Into classic films? Cult favorites? St. Louis cinema? These trivia nights are for you. Compete against your friends or yourself; there are individual prizes every night, and winners will be announced on social media. Just contribute $5 per night played (less than the cost of a movie!), then your email address will be added to the guest list. 1,000 players are allowed each night.
©FabrikaSimf/Shutterstock
Viva Broadway! Hear Our Voices
Live October 1; available through October 5
https://www.broadway.org/info/viva-broadway
Join Lin-Manual Miranda, Lucie Arnaz, Gloria Estefan, John Leguizamo, Chita Rivera and many more artists as they pay homage to the Latinx accomplishments on the stage and screen. There will also be performances from members or the original cast of “In the Heights,” numbers from Broadway-bound musicals such as Leguizamo’s “Kiss My Aztec” and a look at the first Spanish-language production of “A Chorus Line.” Proceeds support Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and Broadway Bridges.
(Front) Zachary Infante; (back, L-R): KC de la Cruz and Angelica Beliard in La Jolla Playhouse’s production of Kiss My Aztec! Photo courtesy of Kevin Berne/Berkeley Repertory Theatre
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival: Let the Music Play On
First Weekend in October
http://www.hardlystrictlybluegrass.com/2020/
This popular fall music festival is taking the celebration virtual in the inaugural Let the Music Play On, filmed in multiple Nashville locations and broadcast online on the festival’s usual weekend. The broadcast will include new performance footage, archival sets and fan memories and showcases diverse talent such as up-and-comers Yola and Sierra Ferrell, as well as staples Alison Brown and John Doe.
Yola photo ©Anthony Pidgeon
Boston Book Festival
October 5-25
Pulitzer Prize winning playwrights, authors and poets usher the festival’s inaugural online event with a roar. Among the keynote speakers are husband-and-wife team Nicolas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn, who received a Pulitzer for international reporting for their coverage of the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989, and Natasha Trethewey, a two-term U.S. Poet Laureate who won the Pulitzer Prize in poetry in 2007. A full schedule of events—which will be touching on issues such as race, politics, ethics, love, climate change and more—will be announced in September.
Natasha Trethewey photo courtesy of Greenough
