Hurricane season is upon us, which means it's time once again for HampdenFest, our neighborhood arts and music festival (the one without the beehives and boas) on Saturday, Sept. 13, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. This year, new festival head Susannah Siger has brought a lot of exciting new changes to the celebration, including an Eco Lounge (very timely), an Indie Crafters Tent (very crafty) and a Hampden Mosaic (very pretty) that will be constructed at the festival.

Aside from that there will be the regular favorites of food, drink, shopping and merriment. Once again there are three stages of local bands, including Lo Moda, The Oranges Band, The Lexie Mountain Boys, Thrushes, Squaaks (featuring Elena from the Food Network's show Ace of Cakes -- can you tell I'm a huge, geek, fan of the show?), The Ubangis, Pulaski, Susan Alcorn, the Degenerettes, Baby Aspirin, The Tritons, the marching band Barrage Band Orchestra, and many more.

And an all-new, revamped Hampden Idol returns (if you are interested in participating as a contestant, e-mail hampdenfest@earthlink.net).

For an up-to-date schedule, visit www.hampdenfest.com.

Unlike previous years, the party will continue after the festival shuts down at 7 p.m.

The post-HampdenFest festivities start back up at 7:05 p.m. behind Rodney Henry's new Savory House, 3547 Chestnut Ave. The 1st Annual Dangerously Delicious Savory House Parking Lot Rock-n-Roll Party features bands like The Mishaps, Lightnin' Rod Henry, The Desert Boys, Rock Baker and more. It also features gifts and raffles. Stop by for the pie, stay for the rock and roll. Or is it, stop by for the rock and roll, stay for the pie? Either way, a great time is guaranteed.

Then, at 9 p.m., James Dalton (folk/indie/Americana) is playing at El Rancho Grande, 3608 Falls Road. And over at Golden West Cafe, 1105 W. 36th St., starting at 10 p.m., you can check out Lords Of The Highway, Pete Yorko & His One Man Band and Thee Lexington Arrows.

And finally, on Sunday, Sept. 28, the Rev. Michael Dubsky invites friends and neighbors to join the people of St. Luke's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 36th Street and Chestnut Avenue) for a celebration of St. Luke's 125th Anniversary. At 11 a.m. there will be a Festive Worship Service with Lutheran Synod Bishop H. Gerard Knoche as guest preacher, followed by a luncheon.

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