Never fear, it's Sheila the Great

"Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great" explores the phobic world of 10-year-old Sheila Tubman, who is scared of everything. Three performances Saturday.

Walnut Street Theatre for Kids brings Judy Blume book to the stage.

By Monica Peters, For The Inquirer

Posted: September 21, 2012

Go inside the phobic world of 10-year-old Sheila Tubman, who is scared of everything, at the Walnut Street Theatre for Kids' stage production Saturday of Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great, based on the 1972 book by Judy Blume.

While at day camp, Sheila meets an adventurous girl named Merle "Mouse" Ellis. Sheila covers up her fears with bravado to be friends with Mouse. Meeting Mouse, combined with a family vacation to Tarrytown, forces Sheila to overcome some of her secret fears, including being in the dark, swimming, spiders, dogs and more.

"Otherwise Known as Sheila the Great,"

10:30 a.m. and 1 and 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Walnut Street Theatre, 825 Walnut St. Tickets: $10-$20.25. 215-574-3550 or www.walnutstreettheatre.org.

The Next Kids Corner Music Festival

On Saturday, the WXPN Next Kids Corner Music Festival comes to World Cafe Live at the Queen in Wilmington.

The day's performances start at 11 a.m. with Alex & the Kaleidoscope Band, followed by indie rockers Lunch Money at noon and the zany high-energy group the Paisley Pickles at 1. Festivities will include free make & take craft stations courtesy of Arden Theatre and free balloon twists.

WXPN Kids Corner Music Festival, 11 a.m. Saturday at World Cafe Live at the Queen, 500 N. Market St., Wilmington. Doors open at 10:30. Admission: $12 and $8 for members. Tickets can be purchased at www.kidscorner.org. 302-994-1400 or www.queen.worldcafelive.com.

Apple Festival and Pie Eating Contest

Enjoy all things apple this weekend at Linvilla Orchards' Entertainment Garden for the Apple Festival and Pie Eating Contest. Beginning at 8 a.m. Saturday, you can pick your own apples. At 10, Makin' Music Rockin' Rhythms, the music and movement enrichment program, will get the kids grooving. Costumed characters will appear: Curious Monkey at 11, Handyman Rob at 1 p.m., and Bouncing Tiger at 3. Try seeing how much you can stuff your belly during the apple-pie-eating contest that starts at 2 with kids' and adults' categories.

Visitors can also enjoy pony and hay rides (including to the witch's house), face painting, games, contests, and apple treats including candy apples.

Saturday and Sunday at Linvilla Orchards, beginning 10 a.m. Saturday, at 137 W. Knowlton Rd., Media. Admission is free. Festivities start at 10 a.m. Picked apples are $1.79 a pound and hayrides are $6, $7 for evening, $8 for hayrides to the Witch House. 610-876-7116 or www.linvilla.com.

Contact Monica Peters at mpeters@phillynews.com.