What To Do: Celebrate National Park Week

Beer fests, Artist’s Circle, spring in full bloom and more

By Denny Dyroff, Staff Writer, The Times

Do you know that National Park Week is April 18-26 and are you aware that there are more than 400 National Parks?

National Parks include seashores, battlefields, historic homes, archaeological sites, and spectacular natural area. And, now that a park has been added in Delaware, there is at least one National Park in every state?

In celebration of National Park Week, all of the National Parks across the United States will be waiving all entrance fees on Opening Weekend — April 18 and 19.

On National Junior Ranger Day, which is April 18, parks will invite young visitors to explore, learn, protect and be sworn in as Junior Rangers.

Two special events are schedule for Valley Forge National Historic Park this week.

On April 19, the park near King of Prussia will host the Valley Forge Revolutionary 5-Mile Run with activities from 8 a.m.-noon.

The 10th annual USATF sanctioned race is the only race that directly supports Valley Forge National Park. The event also includes a 3-mile walk and 1.776 km youth fun run. For more information on the Valley Forge Revolutionary 5-Mile Run, contact Kirsten Tallman at 610-783-1031 or tallman@valleyforge.org

On April 25 from 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m., the park in Valley Forge will celebrate National Junior Ranger Day. During National Park Week, national parks across the country will honor and welcome new Junior Rangers. Youngsters can spend the day in the park taking part in hands-on activities and games and earn their Junior Ranger badge.

Other nearby National Parks are Independence National Park in Philadelphia, First State National Monument in Delaware and Hopewell Furnace National Park, which is located in Elverson.
This weekend, more than 25 artists from around the Mid-Atlantic region, will participate in the Artists Circle’s “Annual Art Show and Sale” at Saint Luke Lutheran Church (203 North Valley Forge Road, Devon, 610-688-0122, www.theartistscircle.net). The event opens at 1 p.m. on April 17 and runs through 4 p.m. on April 19.

The Artists Circle, which is one of the largest professional artist collectives in the Delaware Valley, will hold a special “Meet-the-Artists” reception on April 17 from 6-9 p.m.

The popular annual show, which is free and open to the public, will showcase hundreds of original works by members. The artwork will be displayed in the church’s Schlack Hall and will include ongoing demonstrations of painting styles and media.

The roster of this year’s participating artists includes Maureen O’Neill, Deborah Pey, Lisa Prinzo, Myra Ryan, Judy Antonelli, Ruth K. Biles, Marie Harris, Sandra Jahnle, Mimi Barclay Johnson, Jean Uhl Spicer, Joan Spillman, Edith Stevenson and Cheryl Decker-Sauder.

Also featured will be Marcia Gasser, Kristi Gilfi, Ilan, Sandra Jones, Linda Killingsworth, Pam McKee, Janet Milnazik, Terri Morse, Dorothy Muccilli, Wendy Scheirer, Sandra Sigley, Lin Webber, Connie Wort, Nicola Soricelli and Eileen Tolan.

The Morris Arboretum (100 East Northwestern Avenue, Philadelphia, 215-247-5777, http://www.business-services.upenn.edu/arboretum/index.shtml) is presenting its Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival on April 18. The arboretum staff expects cherries, such as the Okame, Higan and Yoshino to be in bloom bymid-April.

The Pennsylvania Bonsai Society will be displaying trees and doing demonstrations of bonsai maintenance from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. There will be a “Cherry Walk” at 10:15 a.m. and again at 12:15 p.m.
The Kyo Daiko Drumming Crew will perform at 10:30 a.m. and noon and the will be an Origami Workshops for Kids at 1 p.m. and again at 2 p.m. The final event of the day will be a Japanese Elements Tour from 2-3 p.m.

Admission is $16 for adults, $14 for seniors and $8 for students and youth (ages 3-17).

Longwood Gardens (Route 1, Kennett Square, 610-388-1000, www.longwoodgardens.org) has “Spring Blooms” running through May 23. Visitors can enjoy hundreds of lush acres featuring burgeoning gardens of daffodils, tulips, magnolias, azaleas, flowering cherries and more than 240,000 flowering bulbs.

In the indoor part of “Spring Blooms”, lilies, delphiniums, hydrangeas and other spring blossoms fill the conservatory with color. Also featured are Longwood’s grand treehouses, whimsical Topiary Garden, and colorful Idea Garden.

Daily visitor programs, including gardening demonstrations, behind-the-scenes tours, and talks add to Longwood’s charms. Children will enjoy the many activities in the outdoor Children’s Area, and the imaginative fun of the Indoor Children’s Garden.

Admission to Longwood Gardens is $20 for adults, $17 for seniors and $10 for students.
If you attend this weekend’s Reading Craft Beer Festival, you’ll forever be able to claim that you were there when it all started. The inaugural Reading Craft Beer Festival is scheduled for April 18 from 1-5 p.m. at the Santander Arena (700 Penn Street, Reading, http://www.readingbeerfest.com, 800-745-3000).

More than 100 beers featuring an amazing array of types, flavors and colors, will be available for unlimited tastings. There will be concessions and vendors on the concourse and arena floor.
Tickets are $45 and include a commemorative sampling glass. All attendees must be at least 21with no exceptions.VIP tickets, which include exclusive hors d’oeuvres and beer pairings in the skybox as well as special events like breakout sessions, are $65.

Tickets for designated drivers are $20 and include admission to the designated driver lounge with games, snacks and non-alcoholic beverages. If you buy four or more VIP tickets, your designated driver is free.

A similar event will be held in Philadelphia this weekend. Yards 8th Annual Philadelphia Real Ale Invitational will be held on April 19 from 1-5 p.m. at Yards Brewing Company (901 North Delaware Avenue, Philadelphia, http://yardsbrewingcom.ticketleap.com, 215-634-2600).

This year’s festival will feature more beers than ever before, with over 40 firkins from breweries all over the country — and overseas. Cask ale (or real ale) is unfiltered, unpasteurized beer that carbonates naturally inside a cask rather than using nitrogen or carbon dioxide pressure. This brewing method originated in England, and Yards helped resurrect the style in Philly 20 years ago with its Extra Special Ale.

There will be food and music aplenty to complement over 40 fine ales stationed throughout the brewery. Each guest will receive a commemorative glass and guide to the day’s festivities. The event will be held rain or shine and guests must be 21+ to attend. Tickets are $50 in advance and will be $60 at the door.

What is your definition of American roots music?

There really is no definitive answer.

Roots music, which is frequently referred to as Americana, is a very diverse category of music that includes modern folk, jug bands, Appalachian folk, blues, bluegrass, Cajun music, country, gospel, old time music, Native American music.

If you’re a fan of roots music then you should plan on visiting Media on April 18 to take part in the 13th Annual Americana Roots Ramble (various venues in downtown Media, 610-566-5039, www.statestreetblues.com).

This year’s Americana Roots Ramble, which features a wide array of traditional music indigenous to North America, will take place on more than 20 stages at indoor venues in downtown Media.
The showcase attractions will be concerts by Freebo at 9:30 p.m. at Towne House and by legendary rocker Charlie Gracie at 10 p.m. at Azie.

Freebo is an award-winning singer/songwriter who has played bass on recordings and toured with artists such as Bonnie Raitt, John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Maria Muldaur, Ringo Starr, Neil Young and Dr. John.

Gracie, who was born and raised in South Philadelphia, had a huge hit with his song “Butterfly.” The song reached Number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1957 and has sold more than three million copies.

Activity at this year’s Americana Roots Ramble will get underway at 6 p.m. Saturday with Michelle McCann & Jim Kelley at House, Andrea Carlson at Lotus and The Dollar Band and Jerry Hionis at Baker Street Tatoo.

This year’s schedule also features Caroline Reese at Desert Rose (6:15), Beth Goldwater at Margaret Kuo’s (7:00), Charlie Phillips at Temaki Sushi Bar (7:00), David Falcone at 7 Stones Cafe (7:30), Southwoods  at Media Pizza & Grill (7:30), The Obsoleets & Friends  at FMFCU Coffee Beanery (7:30), The Ultimates  at John’s Grille (8:00) and The Twangabillies  at Plumstead Inn (8:15).
The music will continue with Vermilion at Stephen’s on State (9:00), Mark DeRose & Dreadnought Brigade at Joclyn’s (9:15), Jack Marshall & Bennett Sykes at Diego’s (9:15), The RockAFillys at Sher-E-Punjab (9:30), Leroy Hawkes & the Hipnotics at Sligo (9:30),Frog Holler at Picasso (9:30), Lovers League at Ariano (10:00), Cliff Hillis Duo at Spasso Italian Grille (10:00) and Beth Goldwater at La Belle Epoque (10:00).

Video link for Freebo — https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=74hi72HhcTY.

Tickets are $15 and advance purchase is recommended.

This weekend is your final opportunity to see “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” at the Candlelight Theater (2208 Millers Road, Arden, Delaware, 302- 475-2313, www.nctstage.org).The show won seven Tony Awards, the New York Drama Critics Circle Award, and the 1962 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

The musical is a comedic story that was also a hit film. A satire of big business and all it holds sacred, it follows the rise of J. Pierrepont Finch up the corporate ladder from lowly window washer to high-powered executive.

Video link for the show — https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=WqeK0k_6tRg.

Tickets, which include a tasty buffet dinner, are $59 for adults and $33 for children (ages 4-12). The matinee on April 19 will be the final show of the run.

Another show in Delaware is closing this weekend.

The Playhouse on Rodney Square (1007 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware, 302-888-0200, www. http://duponttheatre.com) is presenting “Camelot” now through April 19. Tickets for the musical set in King Arthur’s time range from $20-$79.

Another event that is drawing to a close this weekend is the 2015 Berks Jazz Festival (http://www.berksjazzfest.com). It is running through April 19 at a variety of venues around the Reading area.

The lineup for April 17 features Masters of Fusion, Will Downing with Phil Perry, Larry Coryell & Strings Attached, James Hunter Six, Mikey Junior Band, the Original Groovemasters, Reggie Brown & Bunch A Funk, the Tedeschi Trucks Band, Jazz Attack, Sax Summit
The long list of acts slated for April 18 includes Craig Thatcher Band, Nick Colionne, Marion Meadows & Paul Taylor, Marc Antoine, Fourplay, Kind of New, the Royal Scam,  Lou Dotoli, Royal Southern Brotherhood, “Remembering Joe Sample,” The Jost Project and Gerald Veasley’s Midnight Jam.

On April 19, the scheduled performers are Frank Vignola & Vinny Raniolo, Elon Trotman, Jeff Bradshaw, Joey Somerville, New York Voices and the Reading Pops Orchestra and “Gospel According to Jazz Celebration.

Rainbow’s Comedy Playhouse (3065 Lincoln Highway East, Paradise, 800-292-4301, http://rainbowcomedy.com) is presenting “The Hallelujah Girls” now through May 23. Matinee performances are every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and selected Saturdays with an 11:30 a.m. lunch and a 1 p.m. curtain.

Evening performances are every Friday, Saturday and selected Thursdays with dinner at 6:30 p.m. and the show following at 8 p.m. There will also be “Twilight Performances” on selected Sundays with dinner at 2:30 p.m. and the show at 4 p.m. Ticket prices range from $30-$55.