CHOCOLATE, WINE & WHISKEY FEST, WINERY DOGS CONCERT AMONG WEEKEND HIGHLIGHTS
The following events are planned for this weekend throughout the region:
• Celebrate Valentine’s Day at the Philly Chocolate, Wine & Whiskey Festival, taking place Saturday in two sessions — from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and 5 to 9 p.m. — at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center at Oaks. Tickets are $65 for general admission and $90 for VIP, with the first hour of each session reserved for VIPs. The price includes chocolate samples, a wine glass and unlimited pours of wines, craft beers and ciders, samples of whiskeys and other spirits, a S’more Bar, boozy milkshakes and other sweet and savory items such as cookies, cakes and cheeses. Also at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center this weekend is the Philadelphia Fishing Expo, running noon to 7 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. The event includes fishing tackle, gear and apparel for sale, free seminars, a trout fishing pond and a 5,000-gallon gamefish aquarium. Tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for ages 6 to 12 at the door. For more information on both of these events, see phillyexpocenter.com.
• The Winery Dogs, a rocking supergroup featuring Reading native and guitarist extraordinaire Richie Kotzen alongside bassist Billy Sheehan and drummer Mike Portnoy, plays the Keswick Theatre, Glenside, on Friday at 8 p.m. Kotzen was a former member of Poison and Mr. Big in addition to having an impressive solo career. Sheehan is known for playing with Steve Vai, David Lee Roth, Talas and Mr. Big. Portnoy has played in Dream Theater, Flying Colors, Transatlantic, Neal Morse Band, Sons of Apollo and Adrenaline Mob. On Saturday, the legendary R&B vocal group The
Spinners take the Keswick stage at 8p.m. For tickets and more information, see keswicktheatre.com.
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Jay Wheeler’s Emociones World Tour comes to Santander Arena,
Reading, tonight at 8. Known for his romantic ballads, Wheeler is a Puerto Rican singer and songwriter whose first album, “Platonico,” featured the song “Otra Noche Mas,” featuring urban superstar Farruko, one of Wheeler’s childhood idols. His second studio album, “Platonicos,” released in 2020, features collaborations with Dalex, Myke Towers, Miky Woodz, Alex Rose, Farruko and others. It peaked at No. 13 in Spain, and his songs “Me enamore” and “La curiosidad” were certified platinum and triple platinum, respectively. Tickets start at $59 at santander-arena. com.
• The Santander Performing
Arts Center, Reading, presents the Philly-based Led Zeppelin tribute band Get the Led Out
on Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and the touring production of the musical “Hairspray” on Sunday at 7:30 p.m. The six-piece band Get the Led Out recreates Led Zeppelin’s songs in all their depth and glory, including the studio overdubs that Zeppelin themselves never performed live. They offer a strong focus on the early years, including some of the deeper cuts that were seldom heard in concert. “Hairspray” reunites Broadway’s awardwinning creative team led by director Jack O’Brien and choreographer Jerry Mitchell. The Tony Awardwinning musical comedy follows 16-year-old Tracy Turnblad in 1960s Baltimore as she sets out to dance her way onto TV’s most popular show. It features such hit songs as “Welcome to the ’60s,” “Good Morning Baltimore” and “You Can’t
Stop the Beat.” For tickets and more information, visit santander-arena.com.
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The Newtown Theatre presents The Limit
performing Songs of the Eagles on Saturday at 3 and 8 p.m. This group of area musicians is fronted by Rick Wrigley and features musicians who have been in bands with and opened for Chuck Berry, Joe Cocker, Livingston Taylor, Chubby Checker, Glad, David Meece and others. Tickets are $35 in advance or $40 at the door if not sold out. For more information and to reserve, visit thenewtowntheatre.com.
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The Reading Theater Project will presents its eighth annual 5-Minute Fringe Festival: Shadows
today through Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Yocum Institute for Arts Education’s Schumo Theater, West Lawn. This live theater production will feature new work by 10