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By Caitlin Burns
Student Intern

For one weekend every year, The Blob returns to Phoenixville. To celebrate the 1958 movie, Phoenixville’s Colonial Theatre hosts the BlobFest and holds a re-enactment of the running-out scene that was filmed at the theater for The Blob.

“In Phoenixville, there’s been this thing called BlobFest for the last 10 years,” Jane Tucker, co-creator of Blob Ball, said. “It was something created by the Colonial Theatre.”

After the re-enactment, Tucker and Stu Frederick host Blob Ball, which invites people to dress up in 1950s attire and party.

“We decided to create an event that would keep people in town,” Tucker said. “It’s part sci-fi and 1950s celebration.”

Many people dress as Marilyn Monroe and other ’50s and ’60s icons, Tucker said. “[It’s to] get people to celebrate the ’50s and ’60s.”

This year, the 3rd Annual Blob Ball, will take place on Friday, July 9, at 8:30 p.m. at Club 212, 212 Bridge St. Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door and $15 for the VIP lounge. Last year they sold out within five minutes of opening, so Tucker encourages people to buy tickets in advance. So far they have sold 100 out of about 400 tickets. Tickets can be bought by contacting Tucker at steelcitycoffee@aol.com.

“We left a lot of people outside last year,” Frederick said. “We don’t want to do that. We encourage people to buy their tickets early.”

At Blob Ball, there will be live music played by the Rivers Rockabilly Trio, which was founded by Frederick five years ago.

“I started the Rivers Rocakbilly Trio because I found that the 1950s was treated better in Europe than here,” Frederick said. “There’s a whole generation that doesn’t get to hear their music anymore.”

Frederick said the music played at the Blob Ball will be from around the time the movie was made in 1958, when the ’50s were at their best.

Specialty food and drinks will be served, such as Elvis Presley Fries, La Bamba Hot Wings, Buddy Holly Mini Burgers, 1957 Chevy (drink) and Pink Cadillac (drink).

“To get everyone in the spirit,” Tucker said about the drinks. As a souvenier, there will be Blob Ball shots.

Prizes will be awarded for the best men’s and women’s ’50s dress, best celebrity costume, best scary movie costume and best dancers.

“I love to watch the dancers,” Frederick said. “[They] jump up to the music.”

The club is located down the street from the Colonial Theatre and the re-enactment can be watched from there. While Blob Ball starts at 8:30 p.m., the re-enactment is not until 9 p.m.

“[BlobFest is] an international festival,” Tucker said. “It’s a celebration of ‘The Blob’ movie.”

BlobFest starts on July 9 at 7 p.m. with a live stage show by Dr. Frank N. Stone and Ghoul-A-Go-Go. Some of the other events that night include awards and screenings for the short film contest and guest speakers. After the re-enactment, people are invited to Blob Ball, if tickets are still available. On Saturday, there will be the street fair and the Colonial Theatrr will host showings of “The Blob” and “Twenty Million Miles to Earth” at 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Tickets are between $6 and $10.

Other groups have gotten involved with the BlobFest as well. The Phoenix Village Art Center hosts the Tin Hat Contest and businesses participate in the BlobFest facade competition, where they create storefront displays that are “The Blob themed.

For more information on BlobFest, visit www.thecolonialtheatre.com.

IF YOU GO

Blob Ball

will be held

at Club 212,

212 Bridge St.,

Phoenixville, PA 19460,

Friday, July 9, 8:30 p.m.,

in correspondence with

BlobFest,

at Colonial Theatre,

227 Bridge St., Phoenixville.

July 9, 7 p.m.

Blob Ball tickets:

$10 in advance;

$12 at the door;

$15 for VIP.

BlobFest tickets: $7, Friday;

$6 – $10, Saturday movies.

Info: www.colonialtheatre.com

and by contacting Jane Tucker

at steelcitycoffee@aol.com.