Firebird Festival in Downtown Phoenixville slated for Dec. 11

 (image courtesy http://firebirdfestival.com/)

December 11 marks downtown Phoenixville’s seventh annual Firebird Festival, which draws thousands of people to downtown for the entertainment, dining and the main event – the burning of the Phoenix bird.

This year’s bird is the biggest ever – reaching heights of 28 ft. at the head of the bird and 20 ft. at both wings. There are also seven towers, one for each year of the festival.

Entertainment throughout the downtown, including musicians, dancers and even fire breathers and eaters, starts at 4 p.m. The lighting of the bird is at 8 p.m.

A parade, beginning at 7:15 p.m. at Starr St. and winding its way down Bridge St. and ending at the Firebird site on the 300 block of Bridge street marks the beginning of the lighting of the bird.

The Phoenixville Arts and Entertainment Committee dreamed up the event as a way to bring people into downtown Phoenixville. It is based on the mythology of the Phoenix, who rises from the ashes of the one before it, symbolizing resurrection and renewal.

It is also representative of the town of Phoenixville, who has risen from the ashes, after the steel company was shut down in 1986; the town fell on hard times. Today, it is a bright, vibrant community that has gone through quite a renaissance.

One note, parking in downtown is already atrocious, even on the best of days. Public transit is the way to go if possible. SEPTA bus route 99 from King of Prussia and 139 that runs between Limerick and King of Prussia make stops in downtown Phoenixville. (Route 139 stops at the Philadelphia Premium Outlets – lots of free parking there, and you can do some shopping before you catch the bus!)

For more information on the festival and a schedule of the downtown entertainment, visit firebirdfestival.com.

A Tour of the QVC Studio Park in West Chester

In a diversion on our holiday shopping frenzy, we stopped in West Chester at QVC Studio Park for a tour of the studio.

QVC is on, live, 24 hours a day, 364 days a year (they aren’t live on Christmas Day, though they are on). At Studio Park, there is also the Studio Store where you can purchase items from the shows.

The Tour starts by playing QVC’s first ever broadcast in 1986. Following that, the tour follows above the many studios and sets at QVC’s North American headquarters in West Chester.

While we were touring, "In the Kitchen with David” was filming live below us in the studios. We also got to watch the director of the show working the cameras from joysticks in the control booth.

We also got to see the prop room for all the shows – a room that went on for what felt like miles! As well as the on air sale props for the next week, again, a room packed with items that was huge. The second floor of that room was the biggest jewelry box I’ve ever seen – it was bigger than my bedroom!

The highlight of the tour was the overlook bridge that looked over most of the sets from inside the studios. We were right above David, which was cool!

Tours are held 7 days a week at 10:30 a.m., noon, 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m., and 4 p.m.

For more information, visit, http://bit.ly/fLQThD.

Tickets to see a live show are also available at the above address. Show tickets are free, but there are limited quantities.

A Dickens of a Christmas

A fun, interactive and unique way to get into the holiday spirit this year is at the Mount Hope Estate Mansion House in their Dickens of a Christmas.

The Fezziwigs invite guests to their annual Christmas party and entertain them with parlor games and Christmas stories written by Charles Dickens and a two-man show of "A Christmas Carol," presented by Dickens himself.

The shows are very different from other theatre you’ll ever experience. Every performance is interactive with the audience.

The Fezziwigs read “The Child’s Story” and in between play parlor games, including charades and a game called Dictionary – where guests create definitions for real words.

A newlywed couple, the Perifinkles tell the "Cricket on the Hearth," where the audience becomes part of the cast as well as sings Christmas carols with the Perifinkles to help tell their tale.

This was so much fun – and we couldn’t stop laughing! While a lot of the plays are scripted, there is a lot that is let to improvisation. The script itself is funny, but when the guests really start getting into it, the characters have more fun and that makes it so much fun.

There is a bar in the Mansion House with wine and beer, as well as coffee and hot chocolate available for guests open throughout the night.

At the end of the night, you’re escorted out to the Mount Hope Estate Wine Shop where you can purchase Mount Hope Estate Wines (may I suggest the Spiced Apple Wine) or great, unique gifts for everyone on your list.

Dates, times and prices vary (and some include dinner at the new Swashbuckler’s Pub on site). Visit http://www.parenfaire.com/dickens/main.html for ticket prices and more.