August is finally here, and we’re anticipating the arrival of the festival in several ways…

>>>Friday: We’ll be in Old City for First Friday at 5:30 pm tonight, handing out guides to this year’s Philadelphia Live Arts Festival and Philly Fringe. Follow us to Race Street Pier afterwards for live music and entertainment at the First Friday Party After Dark from 7:00 until 10:00 pm.

>>>Saturday: It’s opening weekend for A Comedy of Errors, which is being performed by The Philadelphia Shakespeare Theater’s Classical Acting Academy from August 3 through August 21st. The director is Rosemary Hay, who also happens to be directing Carthaginians which can be seen at the 2011 Philly Fringe. A Comedy of Errors runs Wednesdays through Saturdays at 7:00 pm, and Sundays at 2:00 pm.

>>>All weekend: Scribe Video Center’s outdoor film series Street Movies! begins this week and runs through August 27th. Happening at parks all over the city, this is a free event — live performances featuring poets and music start at 7:45 pm, followed by short films and documentaries. Saturday’s films will be in West Philly, at Clark Park (44th Street and Baltimore Avenue). Jubilee School hosts, featuring a film about their students’ journey to Great Barrington, Mass. after learning about the life of W.E.B. Du Bois. Saturday’s other films focus on environmental justice. Click here for specific locations and film selections.

>>>Sunday: Mad Decent Block Party rounds out the weekend on Sunday with Diplo, Das Racist, PO PO, DJ Sega, Brick Bandits, Paul Devro, Kito, and Luvstep (Dirty South Joe & Flufftronix). The Block Party is at the Piazza from 1:00 to 8:00 pm, and it’s also free!

–Christina Snyder