Summer solstice, Philadelphia style

There's no denying that the summer solstice - marked here at 2:06 p.m. today - is a big deal worldwide.

Across the Atlantic, Stonehenge is the venue of choice for Druid wannabes. On the Mediterranean island of Malta, the solstice hot spots are the Temple of Hagar Qim and the Mnajdra temple complex. And in the Yucatan, a crowd is expected at the 90-foot pyramid of Kulkulkan, a.k.a. Quetzalcotl, the Feathered Serpent God.

But Philadelphia knows how to party, too - and at more convenient times.

From 3 p.m. Saturday until dawn Sunday, the Kimmel Center will be rocking with performances for and by children, plus opera, hip-hop, dance, acoustic performances, salsa dancing, indie rock, and the return of Bob and Barbara's Drag Show.

That's not all. Expect karaoke, juggling, speed-dating, an Xbox competition, and, in true Philadelphia fashion, a chance to "Pay to Play" (at the Kimmel's 6,938-pipe organ).

Food? Crafts? Yes, and flower-arranging as well.

Plus, the Perelman Theater will be stripped of its seats to create a dance hall, with performances by the Joe Midiri Sextet (swing, jazz) and Xandé Cruz (samba).

Try to top that at Machu Picchu (which, being south of the Equator, celebrates the winter solstice at this time of year).

For a flat admission price of $10 ($5 for children under 12), celebrants will get wristbands so they can come and go according to their own bodily rhythms.

It all starts at 3 p.m. Saturday with four "kids' corners," featuring hopscotch, bowling, the Give & Take Jugglers, critters from the Philadelphia Zoo, an Aztec Indian dance group, and a chance for karaoke fans to sing along to Disney's High School Musical soundtrack.

Meanwhile, the Kimmel Center Youth Jazz Ensemble performs; lyric soprano Tonia Tecce sings, and organist H.L. Smith hosts the return of "Pay to Play," a fund-raiser at which enthusiasts can pay $25 a minute (or $75 for five) to play the Fred J. Cooper Memorial Organ.

Dance performances start at 4 p.m., with Renee Harris Puremovement; then Miro Dance Theatre performs Hurdy Gurdy, and the McDade Irish Dancers do some stomp.

At 6:30 p.m. the Opera Company of Philadelphia performs Hip H'Opera, with young artists from the Art Sanctuary's North Stars after-school program, and the Sangeet Society presents classical Hindustani music and dance.

Singer/songwriters have their turn starting at 6:30, with Melody Gardot, followed by Cynthia G. Mason at 7:30 and at 9:30 the M Shanghai String Band.

Fans of New Music get their moment(s), with a 7 p.m. performance by Gene Coleman and Soundfield and, at 8:30, cellist Charles Curtis and pianist Aleck Karis playing Morton Feldman's Patterns in a Chromatic Field.

The fashion show is at 8, followed by speed-dating at 10:30. R&B performances feature Taragirl at 7:30, the sultry Carol Riddick at 8:15 and Lady Alma at 9:45 p.m.

More into jazz and cabaret? The Dena Underwood Trio kicks off at 8, the Chance Trio at 9, and cabaret-noir vocalist Nicki Jaine takes over at 10 p.m.

At 11:30, Bob and Barbara's Drag Time begins.

Three Xbox 360s will be set up for a demonstration of the music-video game Guitar Hero (11:30 p.m.), followed by a competition that costs $3 and runs until 2:30 a.m.

Indie rockers take control of Verizon Hall starting at 11 p.m., with the band Relay the Spinto Band at 11:45 and Enon at 12:45, leaving room for DJs Shawn Ryan of Hurrah and Mike Trombly of Paradise to spin until 3 a.m.

When the sun rises at 5 a.m., gather round the B.Y.O. (drum, that is) circle with the Al-Bustan Percussion Ensemble.

Trust us, you'll be glad you didn't go to Stonehenge.

Summer Solstice Celebration

3 p.m. Saturday till dawn Sunday at the Kimmel Center, Broad and Spruce. Tickets: $5-$10. Information: 215-893-1999, www.kimmelcenter.org