What To Do: With outdoor events looming, hope for dry weather

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times

Hopefully, things won’t be too soggy over the next few days – especially because many of the popular events on this weekend’s calendar are outdoor activities.

From May 18-20, the Spring Gulch Folk Festival will return for another year at Spring Gulch Resort Campground (475 Lynch Road, New Holland, 717-354-3100, www.springgulch.com).

The festival’s host site is a top-flight campground which features Olympic size pools and spa, tennis and shuffleboard courts, mini golf, a dance barn, wooded sites, a laundromat, a state-of-the-art playground, an arcade, a fishing lake, a country store and an ongoing variety of children’s activities.

The Spring Gulch Folk Festival is a family festival in a beautiful camp resort setting — a weekend event featuring live music by top-name folk musicians, sing-a-long campfires, workshops, dancing, and crafts.

The main attraction is the music.

The line-up of live music for Friday evening includes Katherine Rondeau, Maybe April, Western Centuries, and Tim O’Brien. The Saturday matinee concert, which gets underway at noon, features The Levins, Lizanne Knott, Mustard’s Retreat, Scott Wolfson and Other Heroes, Stephen Wade with Zan McLeod, and Tempest.

The show on Saturday evening presents Larry Ahearn, Roy Book Binder, Craig Bickhardt, Kruger Brothers, and the Vanessa Collier Band. The Sunday concert at noon will feature Mustard’s Retreat, Joe Crookston, Mama’s Broke and Cubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band.

Spring Gulch also offers Amish buggy rides, games, tennis clinics, campfires and many more related activities. As an added attraction, there will be a wide array of organized children’s activities throughout the weekend.

Ticket prices are: Friday, $22 (adults) and $10 (children); Saturday, $48 (adults) and $20 (children); Sunday, $22 (adults) and $10 (children).

The Chadds Ford Histrical Society’s “Music in the Meadow – A Music Fest in Chadds Ford,” which was scheduled for May 19 has been cancelled due to severe weather through the weekend. With heavy rain expected during the days leading up to the event, and rain and possible thunderstorms on the day of the event, the Society’s Board of Directors decided that the best decision to insure the safety of our visitors, performers, volunteers and employees was to cancel the event. At this time there are no plans to reschedule the event in 2018.

The annual Chester County Studio Tour (chestercountystudiotour.com) will be held on May 19 and 20. The tour, which has continued to grow in size and stature from year-to-year, is a showcase for 154 different artists whose work will be displayed at 64 studios in the area.

Some of the artists whose work will be on display at 2018 edition of the event are Patsy Keller, Mitch Lyons, Joe Grubb, Lin Webber, David Katz, Christine Oddo, Mary Roach-Bailey, Theresa Haag, Erica Brown, Gillian Pokalo, Justin Smith and George Watson.

Tour hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on May 19 and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on May 20. The event is free and open to the public.

On May 19 and 20, the Brandywine Ballet will bring its annual spring performance to West Chester University’ Emilie K. Asplundh Concert Hall (South High Street, West Chester, 610-696-2711,www.brandywineballet.org).

This weekend, the Brandywine Ballet will present the classic family favorite — “Sleeping Beauty.”

This beautiful ballet tells the story of Princess Aurora who was born to the King and Queen of a magical fairytale kingdom. A wicked fairy curses Aurora at her christening and promises that she will prick her finger on a spindle and die.

The Lilac Fairy comes to the aid of the royal family and uses her magic to alter the wicked Carabosse’s spell. Aurora is now destined fall into a deep sleep only to be awoken by true love’s kiss. A century later, with the help of The Lilac Fairy, a Prince seeks to wake Aurora from this sleep and lift the spell. A magical story awaits audiences who embark on this adventure.

“Sleeping Beauty” will be performed May 19 at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. and May 20 at 2 p.m. Ticket Prices are $25, $32 and $42.

On May 20, the Schuylkill Canal Association will present a special “Wildflower Walk” from 1-4 p.m. at Lock 60 at Schuylkill Canal Park (400 Towpath Road, Mont Clare, 610-917-8030,www.schuylkillcanal.org).

Visitors are invited to join the Schuylkill Canal Association’s Dave Williams for a guided walk to view wildflowers along the Schuylkill River and ravines.

Weather permitting, this is a moderately-difficult 1.5- hour hike up the first ravine, up a steep hill, along the bluffs, then down a narrow trail, and back to Lock 60 along the Schuylkill River.

The activity is open to adults and children (8 and older) with an adult. Pre-registration is requested. Participants are asked to meet at the Locktender’s House, which is located at Lock 60, the only operating lock of the historic Schuylkill Navigation.

Phoenixville’s annual Dogwood Festival is coming down the stretch and will be open until May 19.

The 75th annual staging of the springtime fair will take place at the historic Reeves Park Bandshell (Main Street between third and Fourth avenues, Phoenixville, 484-928-0052, www.phoenixvillejaycees.org) with live entertainment each night.

On May 18, live entertainment will be provided by Rougarou while Saturday’s music line-up features String Band and John Valerio.

The main day for activities at the free festival will be May 19 with a parade and other festivities running from noon-3 p.m. and live entertainment starting at 4 p.m.

The parade, which is one of the festival’s showcase events, is slated to get underway at 1 p.m.

On May 19, the Chesmont Astronomical Society will host a “Star Party” at French Creek State Park (843 Park Road, Elverson, http://www.chesmontastro.org). The public is welcome and the event, which offers activities for the entire family, is free.

Participants will meet at the Playground Parking Lot at French Creek State Park in Berks County around 7 p.m. and the party will run from 7:30-11 p.m. Those attending will be able to view the nighttime sky using society members’ telescopes and live view star cameras.

Another Star Party will be held at the same site on July 21.

There will also be a Star Party events at Marsh Creek State Park on June 23, September 15 and October 20.

Marsh Creek Star Parties end at 11 p.m. while French Creek Star Parties end after midnight.

These events are free of charge provided to the community by your neighbors who are members of the Chesmont Astronomical Society

Because these events need a clear, dark sky to be successful, they are dependent on the weather. Therefore, it is recommended to check the society’s website (www.chesmontastro.org) after 5 p.m. for last minute schedule changes.

On May 20, the Bethel Township Preservation Society (610-459-4183, http://betheltownshippreservationsociety.com) will present its “12th Annual Log House Tour” at a restored historic log house that is located at 1645 Bethel Road in Garnet Valley.

The event, which is free and open to the public, will feature colonial demonstrations — quilt making, weaving and spinning, butter making, and basket making.  There will be crafts and a children’s colonial toy display as well as “punched tin” and “bird walk” activities for kids.

The house was built in the late 1600s in the William Penn style that was the prototype for the row houses in Philadelphia.

The log house was continuously occupied until the early 1940s and remained in the “abandoned” category for quite a while. A few years ago, the structure was dismantled log by log and moved to its current home on Bethel Road.

In conjunction with the tour, Bethel Township Parks and Recreation is presenting a Bird Walk.

The free bird walk, which starts at 2 p.m., will be led by Chris Weaver of Wild Birds Unlimited.

Attendees are encouraged to bring their binoculars to identify a variety of birds on this guided walk and kid’s “bird scavenger hunt” held on the historic log house property.

For more than three-quarters of a century, LuLu’s Shriners have been sponsoring an annual circus performance at various locations in the Delaware Valley.

This weekend, the 77th Annual LuLu Shrine Circus will be held at LuLu Temple (5140 Butler Pike, Plymouth Meeting, 800- 898-LULU, http://lulushrinecircus.com).

Now through May 20, the Temple grounds will be alive with the sights, sounds and smells of a live circus with performances at 7 p.m. on Friday; 11 a.m., 3 and 7 p.m. on Saturday; and noon and 4 p.m. on Sunday.

The performances feature complete “Three Ring Circus” shows on the LuLu Temple’s grounds in an outdoor facility that can accommodate 4,000 spectators. This is a traditional old-time circus — the kind that used to travel the country and set up “Big Top” performance tents wherever it stopped.

There will be trapeze artists, a magic show, a high-wire hula hoop performer, jugglers and an aerial rings act. And, there will be a variety of circus animals including tigers, elephants, ponies and even an acrobatic dog act.

As an added attraction, elephant rides and pony rides will be available before and after the performances.

As always, a popular feature at every show is the zany activity by the LuLu Temple’s “Klownz” which is a group of more than 50 members who not only do the skits for the Circus each year but also perform at Shriners Hospital for Children each month.

Video link for LuLu Shrine Circus — https://youtu.be/MbA1uz8ib0U

Tickets are $24 for adults and $12 for children.

It didn’t take very long for the Wilmington Grand Prix (various locations around downtown Wilmington, 302- 655-6483, http://wilmgrandprix.com) to evolve from a regional bicycle race to one of the premier cycling events in the country.

The Men’s and Women’s Professional Criterium Races will be official stop on USA Cycling’s National Criterium Calendar.

The action starts May 18 with the Monkey Hill Time Trial, a 3.2-mile race against the clock through Wilmington’s Brandywine Park. On May 19, there will be a series of races beginning at 9 a.m. and culminating with the Women’s Pro and Men’s Pro races in the afternoon.

The racing on Saturday will be held in downtown Wilmington on a figure-eight criterium over a one-mile course. The start line and finish line, which are the same, are located in front of the Grand Opera House in the 800 block of Market Street.

On May 20, it will be time for the Eighth Annual Governor’s Ride and the Seventh Annual Delaware Gran Fondo. Last year’s Gran Fondo attracted cyclists from 20 states, including Maine, Florida and Colorado, by offering them a scenic tour through the Brandywine Valley.

The Wilmington Grand Prix’s Street Festival will take place on May 19 beginning with parade that starts at noon. The Street Festival features a Family Fun Zone, a Bike Expo, a “Rock Wall,” sidewalk sales, a VIP Hospitality Tent, a Moon Bounce, and an array of family games and activities.

Linvilla Orchards & the Historical Car Club of Pennsylvania will present an outstanding display of spectacularly restored cars this weekend at their annual Antique Car Show & Flea Market at Linvilla Orchards (137 W. Knowlton Road, Media, 610- 876-7116, www.linvilla.com).

On May 20, the orchard/market/tourist attraction in Media will host the interesting annual springtime event from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. The free show, which grows in popularity every year, will be held rain or shine.

Linvilla Orchards has partnered with The Historical Car Club of Pennsylvania (HCCP) for over three decades to present their annual Spring Meet. More than 250 spectacularly restored and maintained antique, classic, and muscle cars will take over one of Linvilla’s big fields.

Visitors to Linvilla Orchards’ car show will be able to get an up-close and personal look at a large selection of antique vehicles — all of which have been maintained in pristine form. There will be cars dating from as far back as the early 1900s. The wide representation of vintage vehicles will include cars all the way up until the 1970s.

As an added attraction, there will be hayrides around the orchard’s grounds and train rides on Linvilla Orchards Playland Express. Other kid-oriented attractions include a playground, a barnyard and face-painting.

The 22nd Annual Ambler Auto Show (Butler Avenue, Ambler, http://amblermainstreet.org) will be held May 20 from 1-5 p.m. in the center of Ambler.

Billed as “The Best Little Car Show Around,” the annual event has established a reputation as a quality show.

Butler Avenue will close for the event from Lindenwold Avenue to Main Street so that more than 200 classic cars and their owners can compete for a litany of prizes.

The Ambler Auto Show is designed to be a fun, low-pressure event for auto and truck enthusiasts.

Held each year at the beginning of the regional auto show season, Ambler gives the exhibitor a great opportunity to “tune-up” for upcoming shows. Vehicles are positioned along Butler Avenue covering the major shopping area of Ambler.

Visitors to the show have the opportunity to stop and chat with owners to learn more about each vehicle. Vehicles compete for awards in three categories — The Top 50, Major Sponsor Trophy and the Al Whitcomb Best-in-Show Award.

Additionally, all entrants receive a commemorative dash plaque marking their participation in the show.

Joanna Furnace’s “Car Show & Plant Sale” will be held May 19 from 7 a.m.-2 p.m. at Joanna Furnace (Route 10, Morgantown, 610-286-0388, www.haycreek.org).

The historic site will be transformed into a wide-ranging display of classic and antique automobiles plus motorcycles. Any proud owner of a restored vehicle is invited to show his pride and joy. Persons wishing to show a car, truck or motorcycle should plan to arrive between 7 and 11 a.m.

Visitors to the event will be able to step back in time 200 years and learn about the Joanna Furnace Iron Works. They will be able to tour the 26-acre site and see living history demonstrations that include metal casting, and blacksmithing.

There will also be open fire cooking/beehive oven demonstrations—sand the early American foods will be available for sampling. Admission to the event is free.

The annual event features a flea market and a plant sale where visitors can purchase herbs and plants for their gardens.

Guests are invited to tour the Joanna Furnace herb garden to learn about these historic herbs. Many of these herbs are coming back in popularity as a healthy alternative to the processed food substitutes and medicines that are purchased in the grocery store today.

The “Pancake and Sausage Breakfast” will be served from 7-11 a.m.  Cost for the meal is $6.50 for adults and, $4 for children aged 6 to 11. Children five and under eat free. The menu includes fresh country sausage, pancakes, orange juice, coffee and will be served in the Mule Stable Dining Area.

This is a nice time of year to take a drive through central Bucks County to enjoy the spring colors and celebrate the arrival of warm weather.

This weekend, it’s an even better time because it’s the weekend of Peddler’s Village’s 40^th Annual Strawberry Festival (Routes 202 and 263, Lahaska, 215-794-4000, www.peddlersvillage.com).

The 2018 edition of the popular annual event, which will be held May 19 and 20 at the Peddler’s Village complex, features a variety of artisans who will be demonstrating and selling their crafts.

As expected, the free festival will have its focus on strawberries and will feature strawberries served in all sorts of tasty ways.

There will be an array of booths selling strawberry shortcakes, strawberry crumb pies, strawberry rhubarb pies, strawberry cheesecakes and tarts, strawberry shortcake donuts, strawberry cupcakes, donuts, muffins, cookies and chocolate strawberry bombs.

Peddler’s Village Strawberry Tents will have fresh strawberries, freshly baked strawberry pies, and Pennsylvania Dutch strawberry butters.

More than 75 of the region’s finest artisans will exhibit and sell unique handcrafted works on the Street Road Green. Click here to view our Featured Artisans.

Strawberry Fields Fun Area for Kids will feature live musical entertainment, sand art, face painting, kids’ crafts and picnic area. Each afternoon at 3 p.m., people gather on the Main Green to cheer on their favorite contestants in the Strawberry Pie Eating Contests.

The roster of live entertainment features Eric Mintel Quartet, Rendition Jazz Band, Toby Mochel, Big Chill, Overtones, Nassau Brass,
Galena Brass Band, Lolly & YoYo, Borderline, Bellevue, Giant Flying Turtles, and Spinning Straw Duo.

The festival will be held from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. both days. Admission and parking are free and the festival is held rain or shine.

Rhubarb can be a negative if it refers to an angry discussion or a positive if it refers a produce item that is frequently used in fruit pies.

On May 18 and 19, the 2018 Rhubarb Festival will be held at Kitchen Kettle Village (3529 Old Philadelphia Pike, Intercourse, 800-732-3538, www.kitchenkettle.com). The festival starts at 11 a.m. both days.

In Lancaster County, people have been celebrating rhubarb for over 30 years. This is the time of year when Kitchen Kettle Village comes alive with the sweet aroma of rhubarb jam bubbling in its kettles.

Rhubarb is the harbinger of spring in Pennsylvania Dutch Country, and every year Kitchen Kettle Village pays tribute with a two-day food festival filled with delicious and sometimes zany events.

The not-your-everyday annual event will feature attractions and activities for people of all ages, including a rhubarb racecar derby, homemade desserts, the “Rhubarb Stroll” mini-parade, a “Rhubarb Whoopie Pie Filling Contest” and more.

The free, family-oriented event will also feature a wide array of homemade rhubarb foods, including rhubarb dips, rhubarb sauces, rhubarb pies and rhubarb drinks.

One of the Delaware Valley’s strangest spring events is the Kensington Kinetic Sculpture Derby and Arts Festival (http://kensingtonkineticarts.org/).

The annual celebration, which is scheduled for May 19 from noon-6 p.m., showcases human-powered, handmade floats on parade. It also highlights the neighborhood’s creative spirit and community pride.

Just as wacky, artsy, and Kensington as ever, the “best day in the neighborhood” is now known as the Philadelphia Federal Credit Union Kensington Kinetic Sculpture Derby & Arts Festival.

There will be more than 200 local arts and food vendors, alongside a parade of human-powered sculptural floats.

The Kinetic Sculpture Derby parades mobile sculptures along a three-mile, urban obstacle course through the Kensington and Fishtown neighborhoods and finishes with a messy splashdown in a mud pit.

No stored energy, motors, electricity, pushing, pulling or walking is permitted in order to move the human-powered floats throughout the course. Instead, participants must devise unique, human-generated ways to keep “vehicles” – defined as a device that has wheels or moveable legs – moving at a pace of at least three miles-per-hour.

The friendly, juried competition features six awards: Best Art, Best Costume, Best Engineering, People’s Choice, Best Breakdown and the highly-coveted Judge’s Choice Award.

The festival, which raises money for projects in the area while exposing people to an off-the-beaten-path neighborhood, is located on five blocks along Trenton Avenue from Norris Street to Frankford Avenue.

On May 20, it will be time for the 40th Annual Society Hill Open House and Garden Tour (http://societyhillcivic.org). Society Hill’s annual open house and garden tour will be held Sunday from 1-5 p.m.

Visitors can partake in a self-guided tour of 10 homes and gardens throughout the neighborhood and get a peek inside of some of the neighborhood’s most impressive homes.

People taking the tour will be able to walk the same streets as Benjamin Franklin and George Washington.

All of the houses’ architectural and interior styles range from the 18th and 19th Century to the most contemporary. And, there is an all-new selection of houses each year.

Tickets for the tour are $35.

The Rittenhouse Row Spring Festival (Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, http://www.rittenhouserow.org), which is one of Philadelphia’s most popular spring festivals, will be held on May 19 from noon-5 p.m. –rain or shine.

Held each year on Walnut Street from Broad Street to 19th Street, the well-attended annual event showcases Philadelphia’s finest fashions, cuisine and entertainment and attracts more than 50,000 people to enjoy the best of Rittenhouse Row.

Dozens of restaurants will set up shop along the sidewalks of Walnut Street to serve up samples of spring fare. In addition to the tasty food attractions, there are a variety of enticing activities including live music, free wine tastings, fashionable shopping and more.

There is a saying in Italian, “cento anni,” (pronounced colloquially by Italians as “gen-dahn”) that means “one hundred years” and implies “one hundred years of health.” It is often said during a toast.

For more than 100 years, South Philadelphia has been a stronghold of the city’s Italian-American population. Nowhere is it more evidenced than at the South Ninth Street Italian Market (Ninth Street and Washington Avenue vicinity, Philadelphia, 215-278-2903, www.italianmarketfestival.com).

On May 19 and 20, it will be time once again for the annual “South Ninth Street Italian Market Festival.” The festival’s focus will center on specialty food shops, restaurants, taverns and stores.

The festival, which is free, features the annual “Procession of Saints,” along with live entertainment, family events, crafts vendors and food booths.

It will run from 11 a.m-6 p.m. both days and will be held rain or shine.

One of the festival’s most popular attractions is “Albero della Cuccagna” — the “Grease Pole.”  It is a 30-foot high pole greased with lard that is located at the Ninth and Montrose Piazza.

Teams will compete on both days for prizes of meats, cheeses, gift cards and money — prizes that are hanging from the top of the pole.

Now through June 30, Franklin Square (http://historicphiladelphia.org/chineselanternfestival/) will come alive every night with its Chinese Lantern Festival featuring more than two dozen illuminated lanterns – all constructed by lantern artisans from China.

Chinese-inspired performances will take place in Franklin Square twice nightly. Performances, which celebrate Chinese performance art and entertainment, are 30-minutes long and are scheduled for 7 and 9 p.m.

Festival hours are 6-10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 6-11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Admission is $18 for adults, $12 for youth, and $15 for seniors and military.

The 33rd Annual Philadelphia International Children’s Festival is running now through May 19 at Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts (3680 Walnut Street, Philadelphia,

The event features a wide array of performances including music, theater, circus arts and a show with a very large costumed dragon – “My Father’s Dragon” by the Enchantment Theatre Company.

Other featured acts are Jason Bishop with “Straight Up Magic,” Rennie Harris RHAW with “The History of Hip Hop,” Oran Etkin’s Timbalooloo, The Mayhem Poets, Human Alphabet Workshop Pilobolus @ Play, Philadelphia School of Circus Arts with “The Give & Take Little Circus,” and Sonia De Los Santos.

Outside of the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts (the festival venue), kids can enjoy the outdoor PlazaMania with hands-on activities, food trucks and more. The Children’s Festival is being held rain or shine.

Ticket prices vary by show and include most PlazaMania activities. Additional charge for face painting, balloon creations and food.

This weekend, collectors of comics, toys, gaming or non-sport trading cards will be making their annual pilgrimage to Philadelphia to attend the (air-conditioned) Wizard World Philadelphia Comic Con at the Pennsylvania Convention Center (1101 Arch Street, Philadelphia, 215-418-4700, www.wizardworld.com).

One of the country’s top pop culture conventions, the annual event, which is running now through May 20, is the largest event of its type on the East Coast and is expected to draw a crowd of over 25,000 fans.

Wizard World Philadelphia Comic Con will feature movies, comics, toys, video gaming, television, anime, manga, horror, sports, original art, collectibles, contests and movie screenings — along with more than 150 celebrities who will be greeting fans and autographing items and industry professionals representing the best in today’s pop culture.

Some of the top names on the long list of special guests are Henry Winkler, Matt Ryan, Holly Marie Combs, Sean Astin, Charisma Carpenter, Natalie Dormer and Sean Bean.

Other special attractions include comics-themed panels, portfolio reviews, costume contests and “Kids Day” on Sunday with an array of panels and events designed especially for children. Children and adult attendees are encouraged to come dressed as their favorite villain, superhero or pop culture personality for the chance to win special prizes in daily costume contests.

The show also will host hundreds of exhibitors who will be displaying and selling action figures, Anime, movie posters, trading cards, clothing, memorabilia, original artwork and comics.

Tickets are $45 on Friday and Sunday and $55 on Saturday. Show hours are Friday, noon-7 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

On May 19, the sophomore edition of the All Star Craft Beer & Wine Festival will take place at Citizen’s Bank Park (1 Citizen’s Bank Way, Philadelphia, http://www.victorybeer.com).

At the All Star Craft Beer & Wine Festival, guests will be treated to hundreds of amazing craft beer and wine samples from around the world showcased throughout the entire concourse.

Admission includes live band music and DJ entertainment, free parking, two tickets to a Phillies game at Citizen’s Bank Park during the 2018 season ($76 value), free admission to the official after party, and sampling of multiple spirits (bourbon, whiskey, and more), bacon, jerky, and other all-star product vendors.

Participants will also be able to have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to experience the ballpark like never before by being able to walk the bases and get a professional photo in the Phillies dugout. This activity will only be available if the weather cooperates. In the event of inclement weather, you will still be able walk the warning track, but the infield will be closed to protect the field.

Tickets are $49.95.

On May 19, you can take a trip back to a different era in America’s history by attending the 94th annual “A Day in Old New Castle” in Historic New Castle (off Route 141, New Castle, Delaware, 302-322-5774, http://www.historicnewcastle.com).

The event, which will be held from 10 a.m.-5p.m., is a special activity that not only celebrates history but also has a lot of history of its own.

It is a tradition of home and garden tours in New Castle that dates back almost 100 years — in a town that was founded 350 years ago.

Billed as the oldest home and garden tour in the United States, “A Day in Old New Castle” provides visitors with the opportunity to see what life was like during the historic era when New Castle served as the capital of the fledgling colony of Delaware.

New Castle was where William Penn first set foot in North America in 1682. New Castle was also the home to two of Delaware’s three signers of the Declaration of Independence. This weekend’s event will commemorate the 150th anniversary of the year of “Union and Freedom.”

Visitors will be able to tour the many homes, gardens and public buildings that witnessed the rebirth of America at the conclusion of the Civil War. Also included are tours of the Kalmar Nyckel, Delaware’s official tall ship.

The cobblestone streets of Old New Castle will be alive with activities. There will be confederate and union encampments by Union Patriotic League and Garrison of New Amstel.

Live entertainment will be provided by Serenata Strings, Fiscal Year Jazz Trio, and Ft. Delaware Coronet Band.

Other attractions include blacksmithing, historic caricatures, a Colonial brewer, children’s games, bell ringers, a maypole, carriage rides, beer garden, tours of historic Buttonwood School.

Tickets for “A Day in Old New Castle” are $20 for adults and $5 for children (ages 6-12).

The 10th Annual Bellefonte Arts Festival (Brandywine Boulevard, Bellefonte, Delaware, www.bellefontearts.com) will be held on May 19.

The event, which is scheduled to run from 10 a.m. -6 p.m., will feature more than 50 local artists and artisans who will be selling and demonstrating handcrafted items such as pottery, photography, paintings, “up-cycled art for home and garden,” jewelry, glass, textiles, candles, and mixed media.

There will also be an array of community booths, activities for children and pet lovers, performances of live music in the festival’s big music tent and tasty food treats at the food truck food court.

Rain date is for the free, family-oriented event is May 20.

From May 18-20, The Greater Philadelphia Expo Center (100 Station Avenue, Oaks, 484-754-3976, www.phillyexpocenter.com) is hosting the Americana Indian Art & Jewelry Show.

An always-popular motif for home decorating is American Indian art — especially artwork produced in the American Southwest. This weekend, you can find a lot of examples of this art style at the Americana Indian Art & Jewelry Show on Oaks.

The show provides an excellent opportunity to look at artifacts and other items related to the history of Native Americans. The show is presented Americana Indian Shows and admission is free.

The Americana Indian and Western Gallery had its beginning in 1947 when its founder Lee Anderson attended school on a Navajo reservation and worked after school for his uncle in the trading post. The family collected American Indian art such as Navajo rugs, pottery, baskets, and other Indian and western items.

Anderson’s sells Navajo, Hopi, Zuni, and Santo Domingo jewelry, as well as Navajo rugs, Hopi and Zuni kachinas, baskets, pottery, art and collectibles. One of the most respected Native American art dealers in the United States, Americana Indian Shows brings thousands of items direct from the Southwest to the show attendees.

Show hours are 11 a.m.-8 p.m. on Friday, and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. on Saturday and on Sunday.

Another event at the exposition hall in Oaks this weekend is the Third Annual Greater Philly Gluten Free Expo.

Visitors to the health food-focused event will have the opportunity to sample, purchase and interact with more than 70 exhibitors in a gluten-free environment.

Highlights include chefs offering mouth-watering samples of gluten-free dishes, informative sessions about dietary options, and an impressive list of door prizes.

The Philly Gluten Free Expo’s mission is to provide those with celiac disease or gluten intolerance access to products, information, and resources that allow them to “thrive — not just survive — while gluten-free.”

General admission is $10.

May Fair at Rock Ford Plantation (881 Rockford Road, Lancaster, 717-392-7223, www.rockfordplantation.org) will be on May 20 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at the historic site in Lancaster County.

The popular annual event is a traditional celebration of the arrival of Spring featuring period dancing around the Maypole, games, music, open hearth cooking demonstrations, a puppet show by the Edward Hand Puppet Theatre, mortar demonstrations by the 1st Regiment Flying Camp of Lancaster, a puppet demonstration by Robert Brock of the Lancaster Marionette Theatre, and Open House Tours of the mansion.

The Equestrian Team from Millersville University will be riding on the ground during the event and demonstrating what it does in competitions. Red Rope Farm of Douglassville will be exhibiting some of its flock of Tunis sheep. Meduseld Meadery will be offering a selection of its hand-crafted meads available for purchase.

Living history demonstrations include an interactive Colonial game of Trap Ball as well as children’s activities.

All outdoor activities are free and open to the public.

Open House Tours of the mansion will be available from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.  The mansion closes at 3 pm. There is an admission charge of $5 for the Open House Tour.