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PHOENIXVILLE — Phoenixville’s favorite movie monster oozed into town for the weekend as the community celebrated the 24th annual Blobfest. Events ran all weekend long, paying homage to the 1958 cult classic sci-fi film “The Blob,” which was filmed locally in Chester County.
Festivities began Friday evening with the frightfully fun stage show followed by the popular “Run Out” event. Re-enacting the most famous scene from the film, hundreds of people ran screaming out of the Colonial Theatre onto Bridge Street where a cheering crowd of thousands lined up to watch.
Afterward, people danced the night away to live music performed by rockabilly bands, dressed in their favorite 1950s attire at the Blob Ball held in the lobby of the theater and hosted by Lulu’s Boutique and Gifterie.
Saturday afternoon, the quirky events continued with the colorful Blobfest Street Fair.
Fest-goers enjoyed the fire extinguisher parade, costume contest, live music and special stage performers.
More than 70 sci-fi and horror-themed vendors set up tables selling unique wares and macabre artwork. Inside the theatre, multiple screenings of The Blob and other classic “B” movies were screened including “The Wolfman,” “The Bride of Frankenstein,” “Abbot and Costello Meet Frankenstein” and closing with the 1988 remake of “The Blob.”
Chuck Francisco, who plays Blobfest personality “Dash Daring” the host of many of the festival’s colorful events, remarked how the festival’s theme this year of ‘Gods and Monsters’ was reflected in many films that were screened in the weeks leading up to Blobfest.
“We planned out all the movies leading up to Blobfest to really tie in. We’ve gone really big this year. On Saturday, we are showing more movies and calling it the ‘Monster Mash’ series. The biggest deal is Sunday and “MST3Kon.” Mystery Schedule Theater is in the theater doing a convention as part of Blobfest,” said Francisco.
Filmed locally in Phoenixville, Chester Springs and Downingtown, “The Blob” featured future Hollywood icon, Steve McQueen, and his gang of teenage friends as they race to save their town from a quickly growing red gelatinous monster that threatens to ingest all of humanity.
Several scenes from the film were shot at locations along Bridge Street and Main Street. Innovative in the sci-fi genre at the time it was made, “The Blob” continues to inspire and stand out as a film classic.
“Phoenixville itself has grown and become an integral part of the larger Philadelphia metro community. In lockstep with that, Blobfest has grown to be not just a regional event, but a country-wide event where people come from everywhere to celebrate a movie that is 65 years old. ‘The Blob’ is a movie where everybody has to come together and put aside their differences to do the right thing is something that is needed right now and something people are seeking and resonates,” Francisco said.
“When Blobfest started in 2000, Phoenixville was far from recovered. It was still suffering mightily from the steel manufacturing moving out of town in the 1980s. It started as civic pride, pride in community, a way to gather people together and celebrate this great town that may not have been in the best position but could grow. Blobfest is nakedly kitsch. Were all allowed to enjoy this campy, goofy thing without judgement and without judging each other. The audience understands the purpose of the weekend is to let your guard down and just have some fun,” Francisco remarked.
Phoenixville Mayor Peter Urscheler noted how the festival celebrates arts and culture in the community, as well as an economic boost to local businesses with the influx of festival visitors.
“Blobfest is the flagship Phoenixville event that really highlights our community in such a special way. It’s fun, it’s quirky, it’s unique. There are so many elements that make “The Blob” truly iconic, and it’s also the movie that is playing the movie ‘Grease.’ The really special part is, Blobfest is family-friendly. It’s a great place to bring the kids and walk around and enjoy as a family. It really attracts new visitors to our community and creates fans of Phoenixville, people who are coming back and really taking part in our incredible downtown,” Urscheler said.
Urscheler continued, “For us as a community to have it take place at the Colonial Theatre in the heart of our town is itself an iconic part of Phoenixville’s history. We can really credit Phoenixville’s revitalization with the rebirth of the Colonial Theatre. When you look back to 20-plus years ago when the iconic Colonial was being saved by an extraordinary group of people, that is when our revitalization started taking place. So, with Blobfest we are also celebrating our fun and quirky side, but also the revitalization of our community spurred through arts and culture.”
Activities on Sunday include the Blob 5K and 10K marathon runs, as well as the cult classic show Mystery Science Theater 3000 with hosts Joel Hodgson, Jonah Ray, and Emily Marsh.
“I believe Blobfest has endured because it’s a truly unique festival and a really interesting claim to fame for Phoenixville and the greater Philadelphia area. There’s a little something for everyone at Blobfest and the Colonial Theatre,” added Drew Boardman, the events and engagement manager of the theater.
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