Theater Spotlight: Blobfest 25th Anniversary

Beware of the blob, it creeps.
And leaps and glides and slides
Across the floor.
Right through the door
And all around the wall.
A splotch, a blotch
Be careful of the blob.
~ Title song by Burt Bacharach (really)

Finally ready to join the iconic “run out” experience that highlights every Blobfest celebration? The 25th anniversary plans three chances to reenact that memorable scene from the 1958 cult sci-fi classic, The Blob, in which moviegoers flee the Colonial Theatre — preferably in period costume. Be part of local history for a film that also marked a teenaged Steve McQueen’s debut in this horror movie about an alien invasion, juvenile delinquents or the threat of communism (The Blob was red, after all).

And that’s just part of the three days of fun scheduled for mid- July. Friday’s Blobfest Stage Show (with live music and short film contest) and the first “run out” on July 12 launch the festivities, followed by the Blob Ball after-party featuring sock-hop hits, swing dancing and frozen drinks.

The fun continues on Saturday with the Blobfest Street Fair. Come at 11 a.m. for the Fire Extinguisher Parade (good way to fight The Blob), live music, DJs and kids activities, then visit 70+ vendors selling Blobfest merch and more. At 1 p.m., join the Blob-themed Costume Contest at Main and Bridge Streets and stroll the catwalk. The Colonial Theatre will screen the 1958 original and Spanish-dubbed version of The Blob along with the 1988 remake throughout the day, with two more chances to join the “run out” reenactment.

Sunday, the final day, kicks off with the 7th Annual Blobest 5K, 10K and Half-Marathon. The runs help support and celebrate the historic Colonial Theatre, a cultural and community hub in Phoenixville that shines in its film cameo. There’s a final screening of the 1958 film, The Blob, plus the 1972 sequel Beware! The Blob.

The Phoenixville community gets in the spirit with a Façade Decorating Contest, where storefronts, windows and entire buildings on Bridge Street and throughout the borough get bedecked and compete on creativity, showmanship and relationship to the movie.

Not enough? How about a Sci-Fi & Horror Tattoo Contest? Share your body art and celebrate the tattoo artist who inked it, so long as you’re at least 18 and the design is not NSFW (think PG).

Want more Blob nostalgia? Head for the Downingtown Diner, another location featured in the film.

For more information, screening times and tickets, visit TheColonialTheatre.com/Blobfest.