PHILADELPHIA, PA -- (Marketwire) -- 05/01/12 -- WHYY, in partnership with the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation (DRWC) and Coopers Ferry Partnership, will celebrate the region's arts and culture with a week-long festival, highlighted by concerts, film screenings, artistic performances and benefits for WHYY members. For more information about the WHYY Connections Festival, visit WHYY.org/connectionsfestival.

The event will kick off on Sunday, Sept. 2 as the WHYY Connections Festival presents the Camden Backyard Barbeque at Wiggin's Park in Camden, NJ. This exciting event, which is free and open to the public, will feature a barbeque competition and blue concert. The 2011 Backyard Barbeque featured a performance by The Blind Boys of Alabama. More details on the Backyard Barbeque are forthcoming.

Throughout the week of September 3rd, WHYY will host film screenings and panel discussions on a variety of subjects and on Friday, Sept. 7 WHYY and the DRWC will celebrate "First Friday" with a preview screening of WHYY's Emmy Award-Winning production, Friday Arts from the newly constructed Race Street Pier. More details on these events are forthcoming.

On Saturday, Sept. 8, WHYY and DRWC will host a full-day concert event at the Great Plaza at Penn's Landing. Performers for this concert will be announced soon. The 2011 concert featured performances by Dr. Dog, Justin Townes Earle, The Baseball Project, Kuf Knotz, Birdie Busch and Toy Soldiers. Throughout the Saturday concert, WHYY members will have access to an exclusive member-VIP area and other amenities. More details on the concert and WHYY member benefits are forthcoming.

On Sunday, Sept. 9, the WHYY Connections Festival hosts the Philadelphia Doo-Wop festival at the Great Plaza at Penn's Landing. The 2011 Doo-Wop Festival featured the legendary CLEFTONES and CORNERSTONE featuring the Golden Voice of Harry Schmitt. More details on the Philadelphia Doo-Wop Festival are forthcoming.

The 2012 Summer Program of Free Events at Penn's Landing is funded and produced by the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation (DRWC). All events produced by DRWC are FREE to the public on the RiverStage on the Great Plaza, Philadelphia's premier waterfront entertainment destination, and at Philadelphia's newest park, the Race Street Pier.

DRWC is a nonprofit corporation created in January 2009, exclusively for the benefit of the City of Philadelphia and its citizens. The fundamental purpose of DRWC is to design, develop and manage the central Delaware River waterfront in Philadelphia. DRWC is transforming the waterfront into a vibrant destination location for recreational, cultural, and commercial activities for the residents and visitors of Philadelphia.

For more information and event details, please call (215) 922-2FUN or visit www.delawareriverevents.com. This website is a virtual resource for the waterfront which can help visitors plan to easily park, play and stay all day at Penn's Landing.

WHYY is Greater Philadelphia's leading public media provider, serving southeastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and all of Delaware for more than 50 years. WHYY takes pride in bringing its audience news when it needs it, entertainment when it wants it and education when it counts -- on television, radio, the Web and in the community.