Weekend highlights include KC & the Sunshine Band, Chocolate, Wine & Whiskey Fest [Events Roundup]

The following events are planned for the week ahead throughout the region:

• The Santander Performing Arts Center, Reading, presents KC & the Sunshine Band’s 50th anniversary tour on Friday at 8 p.m. and Almost Queen on Saturday at 8 p.m. Fronted by Harry Wayne Casey — KC for short — KC and the Sunshine Band developed a unique fusion of R&B and funk, with a hint of a Latin percussion groove. With sales of over 100 million records, nine Grammy nominations, three Grammy Awards and an American Music Award, the group was one of the most progressive bands of the 1970s and is credited with changing the sound of modern pop music with hits like “Get Down Tonight,” “That’s The Way (I Like It)” and “Shake Your Booty.” Almost Queen is a four-piece tribute band that recaptures the signature four-part harmonies and intricate musical interludes that made Queen famous. For tickets and more information, see santander-arena.com.

• The Philly Chocolate, Wine and Whiskey Festival will be held Saturday at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center at Oaks. Session 1 is sold out. General admission tickets are still available for Session 2, running from 6 to 9 p.m., for $69. Included in the price are chocolate samples, pours of wine, craft beer, whiskeys and other spirits, boozy milkshakes, candy cocktails, and more. To reserve. see phillyexpocenter.com.

• Well known for his Netflix specials “Ball Hog,” “Disgraceful,” “Completely Normal” and “Mostly Stories,”  comedian Tom Segura headlines a show at Santander Arena, Reading, on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. Segura has also made feature film appearances that include “Instant Family,” “Countdown,” “Flinch” and “The Opening Act.” He is one of the top-selling touring acts in the world, having sold hundreds of thousands of tickets on multiple international tours. Additionally, he co-hosts two of the most popular comedy podcasts, “Your Mom’s House,” with his wife, comedian Christina P., and “Two Bears, One Cave” with fellow comedian Bert Kreischer. Tickets start at $45 at santander-arena.com.

• The Newtown Theatre presents Steal Your Peach performing the music of the Allman Brothers Band and the Grateful Dead on Thursday at 8 p.m. Steal Your Peach pays close attention to the details of the original music while also adding its own improv to the mix, making each show unique and exciting. On Saturday, the Newtown presents Crystal Ship performing its tribute to the Doors at 3 p.m. (sold out) and 8 p.m. For the first-time ever, Crystal Ship will be playing with The Roadhouse Horns, a four-piece horn section that will recreate the “Soft Parade” album. Tickets are $37 for each concert at thenewtowntheatre.com.

• Award-winning blues saxophonist Vanessa Collier headlines a concert Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at the Miller Center for the Arts at Reading Area Community College. Collier has twice won Blues Music Awards for Horn Player of the Year, along with one BMA for Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year. She has eight BMA nominations in all, a Blues Blast Award nomination, the Jammingest Pro Award bestowed by the Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise and won first place for lyrics in the International Songwriting Competition. A 2013 graduate of the prestigious Berklee College of Music, she’s toured nationally and internationally, and released four critically acclaimed albums. Tickets cost $38 at millercenter.racc.edu.

• Vocalist and songwriter Jennifer Cella, best known for her work as lead vocalist with the multi-platinum group Trans-Siberian Orchestra, portrays Adele in the Absolute Adele Tribute, coming to Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center, West Chester, on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. While touring with TSO for nearly a decade, Cella captivated audiences on some of the world’s most prestigious stages, singing alongside Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Roger Daltrey of The Who and Joan Jett, as well as Greg Lake of ELP and Jon Anderson of YES. Tickets are $40 in advance at uptownwestchester.org or $45 at the door.

• The Broadway series at the Santander Performing Arts Center, Reading, presents “Annie” on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. Based on the popular comic strip, “Annie” tells the extraordinary story of a little orphan who ends up in the lap of luxury with Depression-era billionaire Oliver Warbucks. Tickets start at $49.50 at santander-arena.com.

• The Malvern Retreat House 2024 Art Show runs through Sunday at McShain Horstmann Family Life Center,315 S. Warren Ave., Malvern, with a wine and cheese artist reception scheduled for Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. More than 2,000 fine art pieces including paintings, sculpture, photography, jewelry, fiber art, glasswork and ceramics created by over 100 juried artists are available for purchase during the show.  In addition to full-size paintings, there is a whole room dedicated to miniatures and portfolio pieces. Hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. For more information, see malvernretreat.com.

• The KU Presents! Family Series at Kutztown University presents Janet’s Planet on Sunday at 2 p.m. in Schaeffer Auditorium on campus. Part artist, part scientist Janet Ivey-Duensing believes art and science should be taught in concert with one another. With her engaging approach, kids experience complex concepts in an accessible way to help them retain more information and develop a deeper understanding of space. This theater presentation encourages scientific literacy using humor, theatrical antics, visual illusions and fun. Tickets are $15 at kutztown.edu.

• The Sunnybrook Ballroom, Pottstown, presents a Bob Marley birthday bash featuring Dread the Dead on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. The band will perform a full set of Wailers tunes, plus Grateful Dead songs and reggae versions of Dead songs. Special guests The Holts will open the show. Tickets are $10 in advance at souljoels.com or $15 at the door.

• Manayunk is marking its 100th birthday with a yearlong celebration that will begin this weekend as Founders Brewing Co. presents the Founders Philly Freeze Out, starting at 9:30 a.m. Saturday with the Freeze Out Run. Meanwhile, Main Street in Manayunk will transform into a winter wonderland filled with live ice carving demonstrations and 25-plus ice sculptures created by “ice king” Peter Slavin of Ice Sculpture Philadelphia. The 2024 MNYK Chowder Crawl runs from noon to 4 p.m. Festivities during the day will also include the Lion Dance with New Leaf for Chinese and Lunar New Year, a new interactive ice sculpture by Philadelphia Flyers street team, a new snowy ice igloo experience and photo opportunity, offerings from popular food trucks, Founders and MNYK giveaways, a pop-up market, and Founders specials at restaurants and bars up and down Main Street. Founders Philly Freeze Out is free to attend, with food, drink and shopping pay as you go. The Freeze Out Run is free, with advance registration required. The chowder crawl is $15 per ticket. For event info, race registration and chowder crawl tickets, visit https://manayunk.com/events.

• Emmy-nominated television personality, best-selling author, podcaster, celebrity hairstylist and comedian Jonathan Van Ness brings his “Fun and Slutty Tour” to the Keswick Theatre, Glenside, on Saturday at 8 p.m. Unfiltered and wildly entertaining, the show is a celebration of joy and a showcase for all the sides of JVN you have never seen before. Tickets start at $39.50 at keswicktheatre.com.

• Ardmore Music Hall presents Splintered Sunlight’s tribute to the Grateful Dead on Friday at 8 p.m., the psychedelic electronica duo BoomBox with producer, DJ and electronic artist Tep No on Saturday at 8:30 p.m., and a celebration of life and benefit concert for Donner Buckley featuring the Grateful Dead tribute band Steal Your Face on Sunday at 5 p.m. For tickets and more information, see ardmoremusichall.com.