Weekend event picks: Kutztown Folk Festival, New Castle County Ice Cream Festival & more

The first full weekend of summer has plenty to offer from a taste of Paris and Italy to tall ships and video games.

One of the summer's landmark events sets sail on Thursday, June 25. The Tall Ships Philadelphia-Camden Festival, bringing 13 storied tall ships to both Penn's Landing and the Camden Waterfront, is sure to excite with tours and rides aboard the vessels as well as on-land action with beer gardens, musical entertainment and fireworks (on Sunday, June 28). Set sail from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, June 25, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, June 26 and Saturday, June 27 and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, June 28. 

You don't need to book a flight to taste Parisian cuisine. Peddler's Village (Routes 202 & 263, Lahaska) brings the scones, baguettes and wines to the table for the French Wine and Food Fest from Thursday, June 25 through Sunday, June 28. From afternoon tea at 3 p.m. on Friday, June 26 to Murder at the Moulin Rouge mystery dinner at 7 p.m. on Saturday, June 27, there's enough Parisian intrigue for everyone.

The only place to get your fix of cosplay wrestling, gaming burlesque, and Pokémon tournament is the Too Many Games gaming event at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center (100 Station Ave., Oaks). Doors open at 2 p.m. on Friday, June 26 for three days of gaming tournaments (arcade, console, handheld and the like), panels on everything from YouTube to Nintendo history and vendors. Show hours are 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, June 27, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 28.

These aren't Mom's meatballs, but someone had to make them for North Wildwood's annual Italian-American Festival's meatball relay races. Between the red-white-and-green memorabilia, music and, oh yes, the food, it'll be a worthwhile Shore weekend. The festival runs down Olde New Jersey Avenue starting at 1st Avenue from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday, June 26, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, June 27, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, June 28.

Keep it in South Jersey for a beer tasting at Continental Atlantic City (The Pier Shops Caesars, 1 Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic City) featuring Cape May Brewery on Friday, June 26. Sample four Shore-inspired brews starting at 7 p.m.

Hop in the car for a little road trip to the Kutztown Folk Festival, a nine-day event held at the Kutztown Fairgrounds (225 N. Whiteoak St., Kutztown) showcasing the life and fun times of the Pennsylvania Dutch. Running from Saturday, June 27 through Sunday, July 5, the festival offers traditional entertainment daily like hoedown dancers and brass bands as well as a country auction, talks on the life of a Dutchman, puppet shows and quilt barn. Don't forget the Dutch delicacies either. Between the farmers market and full-course, all-you-can-eat dinners, no one will leave hungry. Festival hours this weekend are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, June 27 and Sunday, June 28.

You screamed for ice cream. New Castle County listened. The New Castle County Ice Cream Festival at Rockwood Park (610 Shipley Rd., Wilmington, Del.) is two days of frozen dairy goodness with cream from Kilby Cream, Little Baby's, UDairy Creamery, Yuenglings Ice Cream and more. Other bites that won't induce a sugar high include Hai Kitchen, Jake's Wayback Burgers and Sole Bistro & Brick Oven. Indulge your sweet tooth from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, June 27 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, June 28.

The Fourth of July season in Philadelphia kicks off on Saturday, June 27 with the start of Wawa Welcome America. Get in the holiday spirit with a family festival at the Shops at Liberty Place (1625 Chestnut St.) from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday and a community service day in Port Richmond at the Samuel Recreation Center (3539 Gaul St.) from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday, June 28.

Summer Saturdays just got a bit swankier. Sofitel's Liberte Lounge (120 S. 17th St.) hosts Summer Solstice Saturdays with drink specials and a live DJ the last Saturday of the month during the summer. This month it's from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Saturday, June 27.

Picks from the Inquirer's Michael Harrington

Fringe fave Almanac Dance Circus Theatre describes its second major show, "Leaps of Faith and Other Mistakes," as "an absurd and contemplative tapestry of sublime human idiocy, isolationist seafarer cults, and the kinds of people that devote their lives to becoming acrobats." The story, by Josh McIlvain, with music written and performed by Patrick Lamborn, tells of three friends traveling the world on their trusty sofa in search of excellence. The show goes on at Fleisher Art Memorial (719 Catharine St.) Times: 8 p.m. Friday, June 26, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, June 27 and 2 and 5 p.m. Sunday, June 28.

Terry Gilliam's 1988 masterpiece "The Adventures of Baron Munchausen" is comic fantasy chock-full of amazing effects and delightful cameos (keep an eye out for Ray D. Tutto, a.k.a. the late Robin Williams). The film screens at International House (3701 Chestnut St.) at  7 p.m. on Friday, June 26.

The sensational singer Joanna Pascale performs with a trio featuring the fine pianist Orrin Evans (who also produced her dynamite new album, Wildflowers) at Chris' Jazz Cafe (1421 Sansom St.) at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Saturday, June 27.

Those giant trees — your oaks, pines, and hickories — may get the glory, but there's something to be said for the smaller specimens as well. The tour Small Trees for Small Spaces takes in examples in the 15-to-30-foot range at Morris Arboretum (100 E. Northwestern Ave.) at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 27.

A natural pairing of film classics, one inspired by the other. First, Michelangelo Antonioni's 1966 existential thriller "Blow-Up," in which a world-weary photographer (David Hemming) making the scene in Swinging London finds he may have taken a picture of a murder. Next, Brian De Palma's 1981 Antonioni homage "Blow Out," with John Travolta as a Philadelphia movie sound-effects technician who records what may be an assassination along the Wissahickon on Lincoln Drive. The films screen at the Colonial Theatre (227 Bridge St., Phoenixville) at 2 p.m. (Blow-Up) and 4:20 p.m. (Blow Out) on Sunday, June 28.

For more Things to Do, check out our calendar for the most up-to-date happenings.