What To Do: It’s Mushroom Festival time in Kennett

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times

One statement that always applies in Kennett Square is — “There’s a fungus among us” – and it’s never more evident than on the weekend after Labor Day each year – the weekend for the annual staging of the Mushroom Festival.

After three decades, anniversaries begin to take on a special significance. This weekend marks the 34th anniversary of the annual Mushroom Festival in downtown Kennett Square (http://mushroomfestival.org).

Now in its fourth decade, the annual party is expected to draw more than 100,000 festival fans and mushroom lovers. Some of the main attractions are the Amateur Mushroom Cook-off, an Antique and Classic Car Show, the National Fried Mushroom Eating Championship, and a Mushroom 5K Run/2-Mile Walk.

On September 6, the Mushroom Festival kicks off with its annual parade – and the opening of the “Old Fashioned Carnival.” The community parade starts at 6 p.m. at State and Willow streets. Post-parade activities include live music, dining in the borough’s acclaimed restaurants and dancing in the street (until 9:30 p.m.).

On September 7, the festival gets underway at 10 a.m. with the opening of the Street Fair and the Growers’ Exhibit as well as the Painter Mushroom Silent Auction.

At 10:30 a.m., it will be time for the Amateur Mushroom Cook-Off in the Special Events Tent at State and Willow Streets. The National Fried Mushroom Eating Championship is scheduled for 3 p.m. in the Special Events Tent. Contestants will be competing for a $1,000 prize by eating the most fried mushrooms in eight minutes. The world’s record is 11.5 pounds.

Other festival activities include a mushroom soup sale at the Masonic Lodge, a Cute-as-a-Button (Mushroom) Baby Photo Contest, Flyers Community Caravan, and cooking demonstrations in the Culinary Tent.

Live entertainment will be provided by Pittman Magic, Juggling, and Comedy Show; Dan & Galla’s Musical Show; Katelyn Christine; Andrew’s Big Show; Green Eggs and Jam; Chris Bruni: The Gilroy’s; and Hoots and Hellmouth

There will also be an “Old-Fashioned Carnival” at 600 South Broad Street across from Kennett High School in the Genesis parking lot from 6-10 p.m. on Friday, 3-10 p.m. on Saturday and 1-6 p.m. on Sunday.

Sunday’s activities begin with the Mushroom Run and Fun Walk at 8:30 a.m. — with registration starting at 7:30 a.m. The Walk goes off at 8:35 a.m. The race begins on South Street in front of Kennett High School, follows Red Clay Creek and passes by a number of mushroom houses.

The Soup and Wine Event will be held at 11 a.m. in the Special Events Tent with guests sampling local wines and voting for the festival’s best mushroom soup.

The roster of entertainers performing throughout the day includes Dan & Galla’s Musical Show; Pittman Magic, Juggling, and Comedy Show; It’s About the People; Andrew’s Big Show; Campbell and Son; and Hot Breakfast.

Friday is September 6 and that means it is the first Friday of the month.

The first Friday of the month is a good time to spend an evening in Kennett Square, West Chester or Lancaster – a time to enjoy special First Friday activities.

Kennett Square will celebrate First Friday with its Art Stroll (downtown Kennett Square, http://historickennettsquare.com) from 6-9 p.m. on September 7

Kennett Square’s Art Stroll is a monthly celebration of the local art scene as it is showcased in the galleries, shops and restaurants throughout town.  Residents and visitors alike are encouraged to wander along the tree-lined streets and browse the many businesses that stay open late.

Opening reception will take place at Square Pear Fine Art Gallery for “Spaces & Faces,” which is an urban-themed show featuring the artwork of Heather Lynn Gibson, Brad Earl, Kimberly Hoechst, Robert Jenkins, Jack Gianguilio, Zhanna Martin, Rhoda Kahler, and Linda Harris Reynolds.

Also, on Friday evening, West Chester hosts its version of First Friday (downtown West Chester, http://www.downtownwestchester.com). The First Friday event for this month will be held in downtown West Chester on September 6.

First Friday activities, which are held on the inaugural Friday each month, feature great shopping opportunities and delicious food offerings. Stores are open late and many of them feature free refreshments and shopping specials.

As an added attraction, there will be free on-street parking after 5 p.m.

Lancaster also has a lively First Friday celebration very month. This month’s edition of First Friday Lancaster (https://visitlancastercity.com/first-friday) will run from 5-9 p.m. on September 6 in downtown Lancaster.

The event will feature attractive exhibitions at art galleries, artisan studios and museums. There will also be live performances presented in a variety of genres — professional theater, symphony orchestra and performing groups.

One of the area’s most pleasant late-summer events is the annual Barclay Friends’ Secret Gardens of West Chester and Plant Sale (locations in downtown West Chester, 610-696-5211, www.facebook.com/BarclayFriends/). It was formerly known as the Barclay Friends’ Festival of Gardens.

This event is a garden tour that features a variety of scenic gardens created by residents of West Chester Borough. Held in different sections of the Borough of West Chester each year, the Festival of Gardens is annual event that benefits the Barclay Friends’ Horticultural Therapy program.

This year, the 15th Annual Festival of Gardens will be held on September 7 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Gardens range from tiny courtyards to an elegant estate property. In addition, there will be a plant sale at Chester County Art Association from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Tickets are not required for the plant sale and refreshments. Tour tickets are $25 in advance and $30 on the day of the event. All proceeds support Barclay Friend’s Horticultural Therapy Program.

On September 7, it’s time for the 13th annual Caln Community Day (253 Municipal Drive, Thorndale, http://www.calntownship.org/community-day.html).

The event will be held in Municipal Park and on G.O. Carlson Blvd in Thorndale on Saturday from 3-8:30 p.m.

The popular annual fair will feature vendors, food, a beer garden and a wide array of family activities including a mini golf course, moon bounces, a pie-eating contest, an escape room, and an obstacle course. Live entertainment will be provided by Project X

The grand finale will be a spectacular fireworks show sponsored by Arro Consulting.

The Malvern Business and Professional Association is inviting people to visit the borough of Malvern on September 8 for the inaugural staging of Endless Summerfest (West King Street, Malvern, https://www.malvern-festivals.com).

The event is a celebration of the end of the summer – a festive day to bid farewell to summer with an array of fun activities,

There will be special menu items in the restaurants, special sales in the shops and a wide variety of exhibits by sponsors and non-profit organizations.

The roster of “Non-Profit Exhibitors” includes Animal House Project, Area 9 Republican Committee, Brookline Labrador Retriever Rescue, Footlighters Theater, GunSenseUs, Ideate, Malvern Public Library, Operation Homefront, PA State Rep. Kristine Howard, Paoli Battlefield Preservation Fund, Profugo, Revolution Lancaster, Samaritan’s Purse (Operation Christmas Child), To Love a Canine Rescue, Willistown-Malvern Democrats, and Office of Senator Andy Dinniman, Senate of Pennsylvania.

There will also be an array of visiting food vendors such as Au Sam’s Trolley Stop, Bad Mother Shuckers, Christ Church Academy Funnel Cakes, Dos  Gringos Mexican Kitchen, Foltz’s Pretzels, Gotta Lotta Gelata, Happy Pita, Maggie Moo’s Ice Cream and Treatery, Phyllodelphia, Rosie’s Kettle Corn, Sabitino’s Pizzaria, and The Cow and The Curd.

“Endless Summerfest,” which will run from 11 a.m.-4 p.m., is a free family event.

The Radnor Hunt Concours d’Elegance debuted in 1997 and is an invitation-only event that assembles one hundred of the most interesting and significant automobiles based on a featured automobile marque, vehicle type or coachbuilder and motorcycle marque or class each year. The event was also the first nationally recognized concours to feature motorcycles on the show field and is the only such event to feature horse-drawn coaches and carriages.

From September 6-8, the 22rd Annual Radnor Hunt Concours d’Elegance will be held on the grounds of Radnor Hunt (826 Providence Road, Malvern,www.radnorconcours.org).

This year’s event will feature Buick, the Designs of Bill Mitchell, Special Interest Porsches, and Road Cars with Racing Names. The featured motorcycles classes are Rickman Motorcycles (street & competition), American Century Classics (pre-1920) and Select American & Import Motorcycles.

The event also includes horse drawn coaches and carriages which illustrate the evolution of wheeled transportation.

The Radnor Hunt Concours d’Elegance features three days of activities beginning with the Friday evening barbecue, followed by the always popular road rally through the scenic countryside of Chester County on Saturday morning, culminating in a catered lunch.

The Saturday evening “Black Tie Gala, Silent Auction and Art Show Preview” is the prelude to the main event, the Concours d’Elegance on Sunday.

The Radnor Hunt Concours d’Elegance debuted in 1997 and is an invitation-only event that assembles one hundred of the most interesting and significant automobiles based on a featured automobile marque, vehicle type or coachbuilder and motorcycle marque or class each year. The event was also the first nationally recognized concours to feature motorcycles on the show field and is the only such event to feature horse-drawn coaches and carriages.

Each year, the concours event, an invitation-only show, has a featured marque, a vehicle type or coachbuilder and a motorcycle make.

The event also includes Motorsport Park, providing local marque car clubs the opportunity to gather in an exclusive parking area close to the show field entrance on Sunday, as well as a Cars & Coffee gathering on Saturday concurrent with the road rally.

The Marketplace area features a variety of both automotive and non-automotive merchants offering specialized shopping for concours attendees.

Adult admission is $50 at the gate, and admission for youth (ages 12-18) is $25. Admission for children (under 12) is free with paid adult admission ticket.

Proceeds from the event will benefit two local non-profit organizations; Thorncroft Equestrian Center and the local Boy Scout troops. The Thorncroft Equestrian Center in Malvern is committed to a mainstreaming approach for teaching horseback riding and to promoting the development of new and independent therapeutic riding programs, particularly for those with special needs.

The “Sunflower Hayride Adventure” will be held September 7, 8, 14 and 15 at Hurricane Hill Farm (704 East Reeceville Road, Coatesville, https://hhfmaze.com/).

From 10 a.m.-6 p.m. each day, visitors will be able to enjoy a scenic hayride out to Hurricane Hill Farm’s three-acre sunflower field. The sunflowers will be in full bloom and perfect for photo ops and a stroll through the field.

The five-acre “Gladiator (Roman Empire) Corn Maze” and a smaller corn maze will be open all four days as well as the Corn Slide, the Cow Train Rides, the Trike Track, the John Deere Harvester slide, hayrides, Corn Boxes, and the Hay Climb.

Tickets are $12.

Now through September 8, the Broomall Fire Company is hosting its 2019 Carnival (Malin Road and West Chester Pike, Broomall, 610-353-5225,http://www.broomallfirecompany.com/pages/carnival.html) — an old-time country fair put together by Majestic Midways.

The event features free admission but there is a cost for the rides. Individual tickets $1.50 each and are sold in quantities of two tickets. Riders can purchase a block of 24 tickets for $25 or a block of 54 tickets for $50.

The carnival is scheduled to get underway on September 6 at 6 p.m. and run until 11 p.m. Hours for Saturday are 3-11 p.m. and then the event will be open from 1-6 p.m. on Sunday.

Majestic Midways, which is based in York, has been providing amusement rides and games for carnivals for 105 years. Some of the company’s more popular rides are Ring of Fire, Century Wheel, Kite Flyer, Raiders, Monkey Mayhem, Super Shot and Himalaya.

The 10th Annual Phoenixville Blues Festival will be held on September 7 at Phoenixville’s Bandshell (Reeves Park, Main Street and Second Avenue, Phoenixville, http://pvilleblues.org).

The festival will run from noon-10 p.m.

The schedule for the 2019 festival is: 12:30-1:30 p.m., SlideWinder Blues Band; 1:30-2:30 p.m., Chaz DePaolo; 2:30-3:30 p.m., Slim and the Perkolators; 3:30-4:30 p.m., Skyla Burrell Band; 4:30-5 p.m., Vocal Fusion/Anthem; 5-6 p.m., Benjamin Vo Band ; 6-7 p.m., Lowercase Blues Band; 7-8 p.m., Samantha Fish; and 8:45-10 p.m., Hotlanta.

The event, which will be held rain or shine, is free and open to the public.

Brews in a festive outdoor setting can be found at the Historic Odessa Brewfest (202 Main Street, Odessa, Delaware, 302-378-4119, http://www.odessabrewfest.com).

The Sixth Annual Historic Odessa Brewfest, which is being presented by the Historic Odessa Foundation and Cantwell’s Tavern, is slated for September 7 from noon-6 p.m.

America’s thirst for ale and beer began with the earliest colonists who made it a priority to first build a brewhouse on the site of their new settlements. As drinking water was avoided like the plague, beer was a major dietary staple in the colonies, consumed by everyone from cradle to grave.

Joining the festivities again this year will be colonial re-enactors, Rich and Linda Wagner. In full period dress, the Wagners will make beer on site using historically accurate methods and materials — copper kettles, wooden barrels, hops and grains.

Brewfest attendees will be able to sample many of the best regional and national craft beers by more than 50 brewers, including 3rd Wave, 16 Mile, Bellefonte, Big Oyster, Blue Earl, Brick Works, Crooked Hammock, Dogfish Head, Fordham & Dominion, Midnight Oil, Mispillion, Revelation, Stitch House, Twin Lakes and Volunteer.

Locally sourced food will be available from Cantwell’s Tavern and the Roaming Raven Food Truck. Additionally, artisan vendors will be on site and live music will be provided by Spokey Speaky, Shotgun Betty, Tony Mowen and Charlie Hannagan.

All attendees have access to food and merchandise vendors, live bands, sponsor tables, and more during the entire event. Doors open at noon for the VIP Tasting and the regular fest is slated to start at 2 p.m. All taps will close at 6 p.m.

The cost of the festival is $55 for general admission, $70 for VIP and $15 for designated drivers. Tickets buy an unlimited sampling of beer for the full duration of the event.

The annual Brandywine Festival of the Arts (North Park Drive, Wilmington, Delaware, 302-363-5955, www.brandywinearts.com) has been one of the most popular late-summer events in northern Delaware for a long, long time.

The 59th annual two-day staging of the arts-and-crafts festival is slated for September 7 and 8 at its usual location in Brandywine Park’s Josephine Gardens along the banks of the Brandywine River in Wilmington. Tickets are $5 for adults with children (under 12) admitted free.

As always, the festival is a juried event that brings more than 250 artists and crafters from more than 15 states to Josephine Gardens to exhibit and sell their work.

The list of featured categories includes mixed-media, clothing, bears, stoneware, watercolors, lamps, ironwork, herbs, bonsai, wood type, glass, acrylic, weaving, stenciling, pastels, scarves, etchings, photography, sculpture, jewelry, raku, and leather.

There will also be vendors offering a wide variety of food items at the festival, which is scheduled to run from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sunday.

Greenfest Philly (Headhouse Square, Second and South streets, Philadelphia, http://cleanair.org/greenfest), which will be held on September 8 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., is the largest environmental festival in the Philadelphia area.

With more than 150 exhibitors and vendors, Greenfest is the place to learn about living sustainably while having fun.

Since 2006, this popular event in early September provides a unique opportunity for 10,000-20,000 attendees to learn how to live life a little greener and healthier. The festival’s multitude of vendors, local businesses, supporters and sponsors help transform Headhouse Square into a festive, fun and educational outdoor marketplace.

This event has something for everyone including shopping for local green wares, great food, live music, live demonstrations, and kid-friendly activities. In 2015, Greenfest Philly was voted “Best Family Event” by Everything Philly.

The festival is free to attend, and all are welcome.

Now through September 8, the Philadelphia Honey Festival (https://phillyhoneyfest.com/) will feature three days of free, bee-related activities at three locations in Philadelphia – September 6 at Glen Foerd on the Delaware (Grant Avenue and Minor Street, Philadelphia), September 7 at Wyck Historic House/Garden/Farm (6026 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia) and September 8 at Bartram’s Gardens (5400 Lindbergh Boulevard, Philadelphia).

New for 2019, Glen Foerd introduces the Bee-Happy Hour with live music, food, and beverages including craft beers and meads along with honey cocktails served by Red Brick Craft Distillery. Over at Wyck House on Saturday, following a blockbuster inaugural year in 2018, the Philadelphia Honey Home Brew Challenge sponsored by Colony Meadery will be reprised.

On Sunday, Bartram’s Garden will host two speakers, local Philly beekeepers, Stephanie Brown and Sam Torres.  Also featured will be the famous “Children’s Bee Parade.”

The mission of the Philadelphia Honey Festival is to raise awareness about the importance of honeybees to our environment, our food supply and our economy, and to promote urban beekeeping and gardening.

The Philadelphia Honey Festival began in 2010 to accompany the placement of an historic marker honoring Philadelphia-born Lorenzo L. Langstroth. Well-known to beekeepers, Langstroth invented the first movable frame hive design based on the principle of “bee space.”

You can see the marker at 106 South Front Street in Philadelphia, his birthplace.

Visitors to the festival will be able to learn about the importance of bees in our ecosystem through honey extraction demonstrations, hive talks and other programming designed to explore at the hard-working insect that supports our food supply.

There will be several featured attractions this weekend at the Morris Arboretum (100 Northwestern Avenue, Chestnut Hill, 215-247-5777, www.morrisarboretum.org).

On September 7 and 8, Morris Arboretum’s Garden railway will welcome special guests.

Thomas the Tank Engine will arrive to celebrate the summer weekend with his multitude of fans – young and old.

Visitors to the arboretum can look for their favorite train characters among the whole steam engine gang from Sodor as they take over the Railway for the weekend.

Saturday and Sunday will also feature” Early Bird Weekends.”

If you’re up with the sun, you can start your day with an early morning visit to Morris Arboretum. Starting at 8 a.m., visitors are invited to find the shining dew on more than 12,000 labeled plants in the Arboretum’s living collection.

Admission is $20 for adults; $18 for seniors (65 and older); $10 for students (ages 13-17 or with ID), active military and retired military; and free for children (under 3).

On September 7, Laurel Hill Cemetery (3822 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia, 215-228-8200, www.thelaurelhillcemetery.org) will host “Market of the Macabre.”

Visitors will be able to peruse a curated collection of unusual antiques, assorted oddities, vintage items, artwork and handmade wares at this outdoor market of the macabre. Taking place in the most fitting of venues — a 182-year-old Victorian cemetery – the event allows visitors the opportunity to explore their morbid curiosity as well as Laurel Hill’s scenic grounds and rich history.

The event, which will run from noon-5 p.m., will include food and beer for purchase from local vendors. Victorian and/or Steampunk attire is encouraged. The entrance fee is $5 per person. Only cash will be accepted at the door.

Other events at the historic cemetery this weekend are “Welcome to the Graveyard: The Evolution of Tombstones & Cemeteries” on September 6, “Lunar Stroll” on September 6, and “Afternoon Out with Our Dearly Departed: Victorian Picnic” on September 8.

When summer winds down, it means that the area’s many ethnic festivals are looming on the horizon. This weekend, the list of options includes German, Brazilian, Ukrainian, Greek, Latin American and Polish.

The 81st annual Bucks-Mont Oktoberfest will be held on September 7 at the Vereinigung Erzgebirge (130 Davisville Road, Warminster, http://veclub.org/oktoberfest).

The event, which runs from 11 a.m.-10 p.m., will features German beer and food along with music by German-American bands.

There will also be a wide array of family activities including a moon bounce, arts and crafts, face painting, hayrides, an obstacle course and a full slate of soccer games.

Live music will be performed by Willi Aust, Don Bitterlich and The Philadelphia German Brass Band.

Admission is $5.

The Fall Grecian Festival 2019 (St. Sophia’s Greek Orthodox Church, 900 South Trooper Road, Jeffersonville, 610-650-8960, www.saintsophiachurch.org) runs now through September 8 with a wide array of tasty Greek treats such as souvlaki, shish-ka-bob, moussaka, pastitsio and gyros and baklava.

Other activities include midway rides, vendors with crafts and Greek items and live Greek music. The free festival is open from 11 a.m.-9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and from noon-7 p.m. on Sunday.

On September 8, visitors to the Great Plaza at Penn’s Landing (Delaware Avenue, Philadelphia, www.delawareriverwaterfront.com) will be able to celebrate Brazilian Independence Day during Brazilian Day Philadelphia.

With dancing, music, food and souvenirs, this free, family-oriented event will focus on the best of Brazilian culture.

From 1-7 p.m., the Great Plaza at Penn’s Landing will be transformed into a Brazilian street fair. The annual festival showcases Brazilian dance and music styles such as samba, capoeira, forro, pagode and samba-reggae.

There will also be a wide array of vendors will be selling Brazilian merchandise and traditional cuisine such as Feijoada and Polenta.

Brazilian Day Philadelphia is the celebration of the Brazilian Independence Day — the day that Brazil formally withdrew from Portugal just under two centuries ago.

The mission of Brazilian Day Philadelphia is to celebrate the wonderful culture and traditions of Brazil and to share with the public the diverse ethnic heritage that makes Brazil unique and rich in cultural pride.

Now through September 8, the Ukrainian Food and Culture Festival will be held at St. Michael The Archangel Ukrainian Catholic Church (1013 Fox Chase Road, Jenkintown, 1013 Fox Chase Rd, Jenkintown, http://mykhailivka.org/).

One of the largest Ukrainian festivals in the United States, it celebrates Ukrainian heritage, ethnicity and lifestyle on 16 acres of beautiful countryside located in Jenkintown.
Enjoy non-stop entertainment with Ukrainian performers from the Greater Philadelphia area.
On Saturday night, there will be dancing at the evening ‘zabava’ the music of the band Relax. There are plenty of fun activities for the little ones including a Bounce House and Photo Booth.

Visitors will be able to enjoy Ukrainian dishes such as “varenyky,” pieorgies, “holobtsi” along with other delicious traditional food.

This is a rain or shine event that will run from 3-11 p.m. on Saturday and noon-6 p.m. on Sunday.
On Saturday, admission is $15 — $10 if wearing Ukrainian embroidery. On Sunday, admission is free.

Feria del Barrio (http://feria.tallerpr.org), which is one of Philadelphia’s largest celebrations of Latino arts and culture, will take place on September 8 from noon-5 p.m.

The free, all-ages event, which is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year, features top-flight Latin acts. Visitors can enjoy Latin music and dancing, Latin American food treats and vendors with handmade arts and crafts for sale.

The headline act this year will be Ballet Folklórico Hermanos Ayala.

The popular annual festival will be held along the sidewalks of the historic Centro de Oro neighborhood on North Fifth Street between Huntingdon and Somerset streets.

The Latin American Cultural Center of Lancaster presents its Seventh Annual Latin American Festival September 7 and 8 at Lancaster’s Binn’s Park (North Queen Street, Lancaster, www.lancasterlacc.org).

The event, which will run from 2-9 p.m. on Saturday and 2-8:15 p.m. on Sunday is an original Latin American festival featuring an entire day of music, dancing, culture and food. There will also be live entertainment from several Latin American countries.

The festival is suitable for people of all ages and attendance is expected to again reach or surpass 10,000 people. The festival begins at noon in in Binn’s Park with food and merchandise vendors set up along North Queen Street.

In addition to the live music from local and international talents, there will be face painting, piñatas and balloon twisting for the children.

The Latin American Cultural Center of Lancaster (LACC) is an established, non-profit organization that promotes the rich and diverse Latin American culture in Lancaster County. Admission to the festival is free.

The 54th Annual Polish Festival the National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa (654 Ferry Road, Doylestown, 215-345-0600, www.czestochowa.us) is being held on September 7 and 8.

Visitors to the festival will be able to feast on such Polish delicacies as kielbasa, pierogis, placki, holubki and chruschicki. The festival will feature rides, games and a full slate of Polish music and polka bands.

The roster of live entertainers includes Ojczyna Polish Folk Dancers, DJ Grzegorz, Polish American String Band, John Gora and Korona, TKO, Lenny Gomulka and Chicago Push, PKM Polish Folk Dancers, and the Jelski Family Ensemble.

Admission is $12 per person.

There is another reason to make Doylestown a destination this weekend.

On September 7 and 8, the downtown area of Doylestown will be the site of the 28th Annual Doylestown Arts Festival (www.doylestownartsfestival.com, 215-340-9988).

It will be a weekend of original arts and crafts, live music and diverse food. The two-day festival features more than 160 artists showcasing their creative works. Selections include paintings, photography, jewelry, wood and metal work, furniture, pottery and more.

There will be five stages of live music and various activities featured throughout town. A variety of dining options are available at the festival’s food court and at the restaurants that line the streets.

The annual festival features free admission.

The weekend after Labor Day always features the Hay Creek Festival at Historic Johanna Furnace (Route 10, Morgantown, 610-286-0388, www.haycreek.org).

The well-attended Berks County festival, which is an authentic traditional arts and crafts show that is celebrating its 42nd anniversary, is also an event that gives visitors a chance to have a look back at the area’s historical development.

This year, the festival, which runs now through September 8 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. each day, will have a number of special festival areas, including Charcoal Barn, Casting House, and Festival Food Court (early American and contemporary).

Other areas are Early American Crafts, Engine and Mechanical Technology, a Civil War Encampment, Open Hearth Cooking Demonstration, Home Craft Marketplace and the Historic Joanna Furnace Iron Plantation Complex.

Festival attendees can shop in the Early American Crafts area for such items as fabrics, jewelry, folk art, pottery, woodworking, leather, dried flowers, woodcrafts, Windsor chairs, stained glass and hand-woven rugs.

The Craft Market will feature handmade redware pottery, candles and hand lotions, gourd birdhouses, soaps, wooden toys and bowls, handbags from vintage fabrics, quilted items and unique jewelry.

The Mechanical Technology area presents vintage working equipment, including a model steam blower engine and a display of pedal tractors. Hundreds of antique cars, tractors, and hit n’ miss engines are on display and will parade the festival grounds throughout the weekend. There will also be daily demonstrations of sawmilling, shingle milling, grain threshing and water ram pumps.

Other activities include live entertainment, storytelling sessions, musical jam sessions and a variety of hands-on activities for children.

Tickets for the festival are $10 for adults and $2 for children (ages 6-12).

On September 7, “Wings N’ Wheels” will be held at Wings Field (1501 Narcissa Road, Blue Bell, https://angelflighteast.org).

The event, which runs from 11 a.m.-4 p.m., is a family-fun day of wings, wheels and aviation history including unique displays of vintage and military aircraft, new planes and classic and antique cars. Sightseeing flights, great food, music and a variety of children’s activities will also be featured.
Admission for adults is $10 while children’s tickets are $5. Parking is free. All admissions fees are tax-deductible and will directly support the mission of Angel Flight East.
Angel Flight East facilitates free air transportation for seriously ill patients who require medical treatment far from home and delivers supplies to disaster areas and reunites families in desperate times.

The Lancaster Balloon Festival (Bird-in-Hand Events Field, Old Philadelphia Pike, Bird-in-Hand, Bird-in-Hand Events Field Old Philadelphia Pike Bird-in-Hand, PA 17505 ) will be held now through September 8. It will feature a variety of activities in the air and on the ground including balloon fly-ins, the “Hound & Hare Race,” tethered balloon rides, balloon glows, a scavenger hunt and a photo competition.

Friday’s schedule features Spaghetti Dinner, Mass Balloon Ascension, and Balloon Glow and S’more Party.

Featured events on Saturday will be Food Truck Festival, Tethered Hot Air Balloon Rides ($10/child – $15/adult), Mass Hot Air Balloon Ascension and Balloon Glow.

Activities on Sunday will be Hot Air Balloon Rides, Hound and Hare Race + Fly-in, and Mass Hot Air Balloon Ascension.

The festival is free and open to the public. Parking is $10 on Saturday and free on Friday and Sunday.

The Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire (Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire Shire, Mount Hope Estate and Winery grounds, Route 72, Cornwall, 717-665-7021, www.parenfaire.com) is hosting its “Wizarding Weekend” on September 7 and 8.

From 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. each day, the huge faire will be dedicated to wizard fans – youngsters and adults.

Whether you have the gift of magic or enjoy life as one who is unaware of the sorcery surrounding us, this weekend is sure to enchant all visitors to the Shire.
Nipperkins are invited to the Avalon Hill Stage for a chance to work their magic by decorating a wand. For those 18 and older, there will be the Horcrux Scavenger Hunt. Participants will try to gather all five horcruxes and deliver them to a Ministry representative.

There will be “Quidditch Demonstrations” conducted by Franklin and Marshal College’s Quidditch Club. Quidditch practices the fine art of running with a broomstick, throwing a volleyball through hoops and peggin’ people with dodgeballs.
The event also includes “Royal Dog Days.” His Majesty has issued an invitation to the lover of dogs to join him and the Royal Hounds upon the Fairegrounds on this special weekend.

Admission is $31.95 for adults and $12.95 for kids ages 5-11.

If you’re looking for something very different to do on this late-summer weekend, consider attending the annual Whoopie Pie Festival at Hershey Farm Restaurant & Inn (240 Hartman Bridge Road, Route 896, Strasburg, 717-687-8635, http://whoopiepiefestival.com).

The Whoopie Pie Festival, which is billed as “The Most Delicious Day in Lancaster County,” features more than 100 different Whoopie Pie flavors. It will be held this year on September 7 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

According to food historians, Amish women would bake these tasty desserts and put them in farmers’ lunch pails. When farmers would find the treats in their lunch, they would shout “Whoopie!” It is likely that the original Whoopie Pies were made from cake batter leftovers.

Scheduled events at the 2018 festival are Whoopie Pie Treasure Hunt, Whoopie Pie Race, Whoopie Pie Launch, Whoopie Pie Checkers, Whoopie Yell Off, and Amateur Whoopie Pie Eating Contest.

Visitors will also be able to watch when the festival’s Whoopie Pie makers attempt to produce the “Largest Whoopie Pie Ever Made.” You might even see a Whoopie Pie that weighs more than you do. Past attempts have created a Whoopie Pie well over 250 pounds.

Other events throughout the day include Whoopie Pie making for kids, face painting and bounce house fun.

The event features free admission. Rain date is September 8.