Glenside: Keswick Theatre (November 2017)



Keswick Theatre - Historic Venue in Glenside

My spouse and I attended a concert at the Keswick Theatre on a Saturday evening in early November 2017. The Keswick offers live music, comedy, and other events. The theatre first opened in 1928 as a vaudeville/movie house, and it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. The building was designed by the same architect who constructed the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The theatre is located in Glenside, about 10 minutes (5 miles) from Fort Washington and about 6 minutes (2 miles) Abington. The venue seats about 1,300 guests for concerts in one of six permanent seating areas (on traditional velvet-cushioned theater seats), or sometimes on folding chairs in a temporary “pit” area fronting the stage.

To enter the theatre, you must pass through metal detectors and allow your bag to be inspected. Inside, two full-service bars and one express drink area sell wine, beer, cocktails, and non-alcoholic beverages, as well as packaged snacks (including popcorn, pretzels, and candy). Credit Cards are accepted for purchases. Restrooms are situated on the upper level, reachable by twin staircases, with accommodations for the handicapped. Paid parking is available in a surface lot behind the venue, or you can pay to park at a meter on the street. (Meters in effect Monday through Saturday until 8:00 pm for $0.25 per hour.) Additional parking (both metered and complimentary) is available throughout the surrounding neighborhood, just be sure to obey any posted signs. 

Nearby full-service bars and restaurants include the Keswick Tavern and Dino’s Backstage (see our separate reviews on both establishments). The nearest hotels are located about a 10-minute drive from the venue in Fort Washington, including the Hilton Garden Inn (see our separate review), Holiday Inn Express, and Best Western; these properties sometimes offer discounted rates to Keswick patrons. 

We enjoyed our night at the Keswick Theatre so much that we signed up for their mailing list so that we know what’s happening next!





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