By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times
Kimberton Fair
Two things arrive in this area every July without fail — heat waves and an assortment of festivals, outside music events, carnivals, family-oriented celebrations and summertime fairs.
If you enjoy country fairs, you should check out the Annual Kimberton Community Fair (Kimberton Fairgrounds, Route 113, Kimberton, 610-933-4566, http://kimbertonfair.org) which is running from July 25-30.
The Kimberton Community Fair, which was first staged in 1929, is one of the oldest community fairs in the state — and one of the last “free admission” fairs operating in the Pennsylvania State Association of County Fairs. The Kimberton Fair is a “free admission fair with parking by donation.”
As always, the fair offers a huge array of free attractions — a festive midway with amusement rides, live entertainment shows, nightly contests, exhibit buildings and livestock displays.
The fair will be held at the Kimberton Fairgrounds on Route 113 approximately one mile south of Phoenixville. The non-profit event, which lists the volunteer Kimberton Fire Company as its beneficiary, attracts over 60,000 people each year.
There will also be open class and 4-H competitions along with a full midway of rides by Reithoffer Shows.
The Kimberton Fair is a “rain-or-shine” event – more or less.
According to the event’s website, they never officially “close” the fair as a result of rain because they must remain “open” to adhere to Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture operating guidelines.
The indoor attractions stay open even in inclement weather, but the festival may shut down any amusement ride if the weather causes safety issues.
Ludwig’s Country Carnival is running now through July 23 at Ludwig’s Corner Show Grounds 5 Nantmeal Road, Glenmoore, ludwigshorseshow.com/ludwigs-country-carnival).
Like any good summertime fair, the event features carnival rides, festival food items, amusement games, live music and concessions.
Stolen Sun Brewery will be hosting the carnival Beer Garden. On Friday and Saturday
As a special attraction, SALT-PA Princesses will be on site for photo ops with the little ones on Friday and Saturday.
Parking, which is a $5 donation per car, benefits the Ludwig’s Corner Horse Show Association.
Prices for rides are $25 for unlimited rides or $1.25 per ticket.
The event is wheelchair and stroller friendly. Pets are welcome but must be leashed.
On July 24, the West Goshen Community Park (1023 Fern Hill Road, West Chester) will be the site of the latest offering in the West Goshen Summer Concert Series.
At 6:30 p.m., there will be an outdoor concert by The. The band, which is a favorite of area fans, features Dixieland Jazz.
The West Goshen Summer Concert Series offers free performances, a summer tradition on Sunday evenings in West Goshen Community Park.
The Rose Tree Summer Festival (Rose Tree Park, Route 252, Media, www.delcopa.gov/departments/parks) returns with a summer-long series of free outdoor shows at the scenic park just north of Media.
The schedule of upcoming shows in the next week features Eric Mintel Quartet on July 21, Four Lean Hounds on July 22, Charlie Gracie on July 23. Us & Floyd on July 24, and Reggae Thunder on July 27.
An interesting annual summer event in Pennsylvania Dutch country is the Rough and Tumble Engineers Historical Association’s “John Deere Days” (4977 Lincoln Highway East, Kinzers, 717-442-4249, www.roughandtumble.org).
The event is scheduled for July 22 and 23 with activities slated to get underway at 9 a.m. each day.
This annual show, which is sponsored by the Waterloo Boys Club of Southeastern Pennsylvania, features a wide range of John Deere tractors with “Deere History” and “Tractor Pulling” events.
One of the highlights each day will be the “John Deere Parade of Power,” which is a showcase for many different and unique models.
On Friday, there will be the “Garden Tractor Parade” and the “Tractor Pull.” Popular activities on Saturday include the “Kiddy Pedal Pull,” “Large Tractor Pulling” and the always-popular “Raffle Tractor Drawing.”
Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for youth (ages 12-18). Children under 12 years are admitted free.
It’s hard to think about blankets and quilts when it’s 95 degrees out but it’s not stopping people from attending the “Methods and Madness Quilt Show (https://www.brandywinevalleyquiltshow.com) which will be held from July 22-24 at Neumann University’s Mirenda Center (501 Convent Road, Aston).
This show celebrates the artist, scientist, and creative spirit of today’s quilters, highlighting beautiful piecing and experiments with color combinations and quilting designs.
Making a quilt is a science with measurement, precision, tools, and a fair amount of skill are needed for every project. It is a beautiful artform which pulls together fabric choices, designs and piecing to tell a story, or brighten a home. Quilts can be cozy, or stunning pieces of modern art.
This biennial quilt show features more than 100 judged and exhibition quilts. Many vendors will offer a wide selection of handcrafts, fabrics, and notions.
Throughout the show interesting lectures and demos are scheduled and a wide array of beautiful mini quilts and creative themed baskets will be raffled off. Six workshops from leading quilters and textile artists offer wonderful opportunities for experienced and beginning quilters and artists to expand their quilting and textile skills.
Brandywine Valley Quilters, a dynamic volunteer organization which began in 1987, hosts this event with some of the profits going toward educational and philanthropic causes including scholarships to support students pursuing post-secondary education or training in textile, sewing, quilting, fiber, fabric arts and/or technology or related areas.
$10 admittance covers all three show dates.
Glen Foerd (5001 Grant Avenue, Philadelphia, www.glenfoerd.org/events) is hosting “Summer Celebration” on July 24.
This free “Summer Celebration,” which is the historic site’s biggest event of the summer, will feature art making, food, music, dancing, and more.
The public is invited to join Glen Foerd’s popular event, which begins at 2 p.m. with hands-on art and educational activities from Riverfront North, Friends of Poquessing Creek, and other local partners. Featured will be Philly-based designer, illustrator, and printmaker Justine Kelley, who will guide attendees in screen printing a colorful Glen Foerd illustration.
Other activities include lawn games, birding, tours of Glen Foerd’s Main House, and exploring the grounds with a new audio tour.
Musical entertainment kicks off at 6 p.m. with Philadelphia dance party band Snacktime through 8 p.m. Food trucks and a cash bar will be set up all day. Food and drink vendors respectively include Smoke Break BBQ, Dos Hermanos, Dunkin Donuts, John’s Water Ice, and Mutual Respect Co-op and Mad Wild Wines.
In addition, Glen Foerd also presents its July Summer Series event of live music, food, family fun activities and art on July 28 from 6-8:30 p.m. The Summer Series is held the last Thursday of each summer month through September.
Activities on July 28 will include live musical entertainment by Brazilian band Minas. Teaching artist, arts educator and museum professional Stephen Coleman will lead an art activity for families. Food and beverages will be available from Wok Works Food Truck and by brewing and distilling collective, Mutual Respect, and Mad Wild Wine.
To each summer event the public is invited to bring a blanket or chairs, enjoy lawn games, roam Glen Foerd’s grounds, and explore its Main House, which will be open for free self-guided tours.
Donations are appreciated but not required for all events, and attendees are asked to register in advance by visiting Glen Foerd’s events page at www.glenfoerd.org/events.
Glen Foerd is an 18-acre public park and historic site located along the Delaware River in Philadelphia. Built in 1850 and enlarged in 1902-03, the estate—consisting of historic gardens, an Italianate-Classical Revival style mansion, and multiple additional structures—was saved from potential development through the activism of dedicated neighbors in 1983.
The grounds of Glen Foerd are open daily from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Access to Glen Foerd is only restricted during private events and after dark. The Glen Foerd mansion is open for public visitation, free of charge, on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 10 a.m-1 p.m. Visiting the mansion includes access to areas on all four floors of the house, where pieces from Glen Foerd’s historic collection are on display alongside installations by Artists in Residence.
The Delaware Art Museum (2301 Kentmere Parkway, Wilmington, Delaware, www.delart.org) is presenting its “Powwow of Arts and Culture” on July 23 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Planned in partnership with community advisors and the Nanticoke Indian Association, this event celebrates indigenous culture.
Principle Chief Coker of the Lenape Indian Tribe will open the event, Keith Colston (Tuscarora and Lumbee) will MC, and Urie Ridgeway (Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape) is the Arena Director.
Dancers and musicians include Head Lady Adrienne Harmon (Nanticoke), Head Male Louis Campbell (Lumbee), and Host Drum: Red Blanket Singers (Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape) and Native Aztec dance by Tonantzin Yaotecas. Visitors of all ages and backgrounds are welcome.
This Powwow is open to the public.
The following is the etiquette for non-native visitors:
The dance arena and the seats nearest the circle are reserved for singers, dancers, drummers, and their families.
Visitors are welcome to watch, but please do not participate in dancing unless explicitly invited by the Master of Ceremonies (MC).
Please ask permission before taking photos or videos. Please do not touch any part of the regalia of dancers.
Additionally, the Delaware Art Museum has a new exhibit that will run through September 11 – “Stan Smokler: Steel in Flux.”
The Delaware Art Museum celebrates the career of Stan Smokler with this Distinguished Artist exhibition. His celebrated found object, steel sculptures continue the trajectory of modernist abstraction.
Smokler completed his Master of Fine Arts degree at Pratt Institute in 1975, and he continued to work in New York on his own sculpture as well as in art conservation and interior design before relocating to the Brandywine Valley in 1999.
In addition to participating in numerous solo and group exhibitions throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast United States, Smokler established his Marshall Bridge Workshop in 2004. The Workshop is an immersive training opportunity for artists of all levels interested in working with welded steel, and Smokler has been praised for his supportive approach to teaching.
“Stan Smokler: Steel in Flux” includes work from the late 1970s through 2020 along with several of the artist’s charcoal and pastel drawings of his completed sculptures. Examples of Smokler’s largescale work will be on view in the Museum’s Copeland Sculpture Garden with an extended showing through October 30, 2022.
With his commitment to exploring the possibilities of steel and mentoring students through his numerous Marshall Bridge workshops and years at the Delaware College of Art and Design, Smokler has guided the trajectory of contemporary abstract sculpture.
Admission to the Delaware Art Museum is $14 for adults, $7 for students, and $6 for youth (ages 7-18).
Historic Rock Ford (Rockford Road, Lancaster, www.discoverlancaster.com) is opening a new exhibit this weekend
“Long Rifles of the American Revolution: How Lancaster Craftsmen Helped Win the War” will be introduced to the public on July 21 and remain open until October 30.
Historic Rock Ford is collaborating with guest curator John Kolar on the exhibit which will showcase approximately 30 rifles.
The rifles featured in the exhibit are being loaned by museums and private collectors from across the nation and will be used to describe the pivotal role played by the long rifle in winning American independence.
Visitors will be able to examine different rifles while also engaging in the story of the war by highlighting their use in several key battles including the siege of Boston, the battle of New York, Trenton, Saratoga, Kings Mountain and the Miller Block House as well as on the Frontier.
Admission to Rock Ford is $12 for adults, $11 for seniors and youth (ages 6-17).
The American Swedish Historical Museum (1900 Pattison Avenue, Philadelphia, 215-389-1776,www.americanswedish.org) is unveiling a new exhibit this weekend.
“Art for All: The Swedish Experience in Mid-America” will open on July 21 and run through February 19, 2023.
“Art for All: The Swedish Experience in Mid-America” is an exhibition of paintings and sculptures by Swedish-American artists in the late-19th and early-20th centuries.
This colorful and emotive impressionist art reflects its own time, interprets nature and landscape, and is independent of artificial conventions while keeping Swedish folk traditions alive.
The American Swedish Historical Museum is proud to present Art for All: The Swedish Experience in Mid-America, an exhibition of paintings and sculptures by Swedish-American artists in the late-19th and early-20th centuries. This colorful and emotive impressionist art reflects its own time, interprets nature and landscape, and is independent of artificial conventions while keeping Swedish folk traditions alive.
This exhibition features many Swedish artists who studied and absorbed the democratic philosophies of “art for all,” espoused by Anders Zorn and the Artist’s League. These young artists immigrated to America to forge new career paths. “Art for all” became a catchphrase in Kansas by the 1930s, stemming from efforts of local artists to offer affordable paintings and prints so that every citizen could have original art in their own homes for a richly cultured way of life.
“Art for All: The Swedish Experience in Mid-America” was conceived and developed by the Birger Sandzén Memorial Gallery and the Hillstrom Museum of Art.
Lehigh Valley Passport to History’s flagship event, “Passport to History Month” (lvhistory.org/passport-to-history-month) is held every July.
More than three dozen historic sites have signed on to open their doors for free tours, activities and programs for visitors of all ages.
The event, which originally began as a one-day event in 2019, has quickly grown in popularity. By the second year, it turned into a weekend event, and now it’s a month-long event.
“Passport to History Month” is a celebration of local history, stories, and the community that brings Lehigh Valley history to life. The event gives an opportunity for visitors, regardless of family size or income, to explore local history through a variety of museum tours, interactive exhibits, children’s activities, and more.
Participating locations this weekend are 1803 House, Alburtis LockRidge Historical Society, Atlas Cement Company Memorial Museum, Emmaus Historical Society, Horner Cemetery, Knauss Homestead, Lower Macungie Township Historical Society, Quiet Valley Living & Historical Farm, Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center, Shelter House in Emmaus, Slate Belt Heritage Center and Whitehall Township Historical Society Helfrich Springs Grist Mill.
Longwood Gardens (Route 1, Kennett Square, www.longwoodgardens.org) is always a special place to visit – especially during the run of its annual “Festival of Fountains.” The 2022 “Festival of Fountains” opened in May and is running through September 26.
This summer is even more special because of light. More specifically because of “Light: Installations by Bruce Munro,” which is artist Bruce Munro’s illuminating new installation at Longwood Gardens.
The exhibit had its debut two weeks ago and will be on view Thursday through Sunday evenings until October 30.
“Light” is an extravagant exhibit that includes eight installations comprising more than 18,000 glowing lightbulbs across Longwood’s outdoor areas and indoor conservatory.
From the luminous “Field of Light” stretching across the Large and Small Lake landscape … to a flamboyance of 1,000 flamingoes wading near the Chimes Tower … to an immersive sensory environment inspired by the Waterlily Display in the Exhibition Hall, the exhibit showcases eight installations spanning Longwood Gardens’ indoor spaces and outdoor vistas.
Daily performances in the Main Fountain Garden will feature more than 1,700 spinning jets that spin dance to various music programs. These are no little jets as some shoot up as high as 175 feet in the air.
The 30-minute show is slated for Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 9:15 p.m.
The Main Fountain Garden Show fountain performance that begins with a touch of narrated history and concludes with dynamic choreography marrying music and the site’s newest fountain features.
These displays will be presented daily at 1:15 a.m., 1:15, 3:15 p.m. and 5:15. There will also be performances on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 6:15, 7:15 and 8:15 p.m.
The “Illuminated Fountain Performance” will be staged Thursdays through Sundays at 9:15 p.m.
Live music can be heard in the Beer Garden, where live instrumental music from traditional Celtic tunes to Caribbean steel pan grooves sets the tone Thursday through Saturday evenings.
Beer Garden performances are scheduled through August 28 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. They will also be held in September from 5-8 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.
As always, admission by “Timed Ticket” — tickets issued for specific dates and times. Timed ticketing limits the number of people in the Gardens at any given time and allows guests to enjoy minimal lines and a better viewing experience.
You may enter the Gardens up to 30 minutes prior and 30 minutes after your designated time. Make every effort to arrive at your designated reservation time. Earlier or later arrivals may not be accommodated.
Video link for “Festival of Fountains” — https://youtu.be/AHsC2YuFerY.
Admission to Longwood Gardens is $35 for adults, $32 for seniors (ages 62 and older) and college students, $27 for active military and veterans and $19 for youth (ages 5-18).
Longwood Gardens is one of many attractions on the Brandywine Treasure Trail
The Brandywine Valley has quite a few museums and tourist sites that provide residents and tourists ideal opportunities to spend leisure time — and you can maximize your effort if you take advantage of the 2022 Brandywine Treasure Trail Passport.
The cost is $49 for an individual pass and $99 for a family pass (for up to five family members).
The Brandywine Treasure Trail Passport is good for one-time admission to Wilmington and the Brandywine Valley’s top attractions now through October 31.
A family pass, which includes one-day admission to each of 12 sites, can bring a savings of over $200 for the holders — especially since many of the participating institutions have regular admission fees in double figures.
The list of locations covered by the Brandywine Treasure Trail Passport includes Longwood Gardens, Delaware Museum of Nature and Science, Brandywine River Museum, Delaware Art Museum, Delaware History Museum, Hagley Museum and Library, Delaware Center for Contemporary Arts, Nemours Mansion & Gardens, Read House and Garden, Mt. Cuba Center, Rockwood Museum and Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library.
For more information, call (800) 489-6664 or visit www.visitwilmingtonde.com/bmga/.
The Brandywine River Museum (Route 1, Chadds Ford, 610-388-2700, http://www.brandywinemuseum.org) will be open from 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. with admission to the galleries including two featured exhibitions, “Gatecrashers: The Rise of the Self-Taught Artist in America” and “Dawoud Bey: Night Coming Tenderly, Black.”
“Gatecrashers: The Rise of the Self-Taught Artist in America,” which is running now through September 5, examines how, after World War I, artists without formal training “crashed the gates” of major museums in the United States, diversifying the art world across lines of race, ethnicity, class, ability, and gender.
Included are over 50 works by celebrated painters such as Horace Pippin, Anna Mary Robertson “Grandma” Moses and John Kane, as well as by fifteen artists who are lesser known now but were recognized in their day, including Josephine Joy, Morris Hirshfield, Lawrence Lebduska, Patrick Sullivan, and others.
“Dawoud Bey: Night Coming Tenderly, Black,” which is running through August 31, is a selection of photographs from Bey’s critically acclaimed series from 2017.
Regarded as one of the most important photographers working today, Dawoud Bey (b. 1953) is recognized for his compelling, large-scale portraits and street photographs of marginalized people and communities that he began in the 1970s. Inspired by artist Roy DeCarava (1919—2009), Bey has been photographing the Black community in Harlem where he was born, and Queens where he grew up, for over four decades.
Hagley Museum and Library (Route 141, Wilmington, Delaware, 302-658-2400, www.hagley.org) presents a special event called “Science Saturday” on July 23.
Visitors of all ages are invited to discover solutions to science and engineering challenges. Science Saturdays are drop-in activities, so visitors are free to stop by at any time during the event hours – noon-4 p.m.
The program on July 23 will be “Science Saturday: River Rangers.”
For this Saturday’s activity, visitors will learn how to gauge the health of our local waterways by observing the variety of critters living in and around it.
The Brandywine Zoo will join the Hagley staff with a demonstration and Animal Ambassador.
Hagley Museum and Library is the site of the gunpowder works founded by E. I. du Pont in 1802. This example of early American industry includes restored mills, a workers’ community, and the ancestral home and gardens of the du Pont family.
High on a bank of the Brandywine River overlooking the original powder mills, E. I. du Pont, founder of the DuPont Company, built his home. For almost a century the Georgian-style home and surrounding complex of buildings and gardens served as the center of family and business life. Five generations of du Pont family members lived in the house since its completion in 1803, each leaving their mark. Today you will see it much as it was when the last family member lived there, filled with furnishings and collections of American folk art, alongside treasured family pieces and items brought with the family from France when they left in 1799.
Admission to Hagley is: $15, Adults; $12, Seniors (62+) and Students; and $8, Children 6-14.
Hagley will host “Bike & Hike & Brews” on July 27 from 5-8 p.m. – and every Wednesday evening through August 31.
Visitors to Hagley can enjoy an after-work hike or a picnic along the Brandywine’s most beautiful mile on summer Wednesday evenings from June through August.
It is a family event featuring summer fun in a beautiful outdoor setting. Guests can bring a picnic to enjoy at Hagley’s picnic pavilion on Workers’ Hill or at a picnic table along the Brandywine.
Dogfish Head craft beer and Woodside Farm Creamery ice cream are also available for purchase. You are welcome to bring your own food to “Bike & Hike & Brews,” but outside alcohol is strictly prohibited.
Admission is $5 per person and free for Hagley members and children five and under. Please note that this event is weather-dependent.
“Bike & Hike & Brews” will also offer “Dog Days” on July 27 and August 31. On “Dog Days,” leashed canine companions are welcome at “Bike & Hike & Brews.”
Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library (5105 Kennett Pike, Wilmington, Delaware, 800-448-3883, www.winterthur.org) is featuring a Guided Exhibition Tour – “Jacqueline Kennedy and Henry Francis du Pont: From Winterthur to the White House” – now through January 8, 2023.
Visitors can explore the friendship between the First Lady and H. F. du Pont and their work to restore the White House in this guided tour of the special exhibition.
In 1961, an unusual partnership was formed when the youngest First Lady in American history, Jacqueline Kennedy, appointed a reserved octogenarian collector from Delaware, Henry Francis du Pont, to lead her project to restore the White House interiors. Du Pont brought credibility to Kennedy’s efforts and vision, and her enormous popularity lifted him onto the national stage and validated his life’s work.
Together, they transformed the White House from a mere public residence into a museum, and along the way, they engaged with some of the most celebrated interior designers of the 20th century.
For the first time, the story of this historic partnership will be told at Winterthur, the inspiration for Mrs. Kennedy’s project. Through artifacts, archives, and images, this exhibition will invite visitors to experience the behind-the-scenes collaboration between the two during this captivating period in American history.
Their partnership culminated in a televised tour of the White House, led by Jacqueline Kennedy, which became the most watched program in American history. The former First Lady will forever be remembered as the person who restored history and beauty to the White House.
Their “restoration” of America’s most famous house became a history lesson for the country and awakened an interest in preservation and interior design that is still felt today.
A related event will be “Terrific Tuesdays” – a special activity that is running every Tuesday through the end of August.
Visitors are invited to drop in for crafts, games, and demonstrations inspired by Jacqueline Kennedy’s White House restoration in the 1960s. Activities will introduce design, history, art, cultural conservation, and architectural preservation to kids ages 3–10 and the adults they bring with them.
The schedule for “Terrific Tuesdays” is: July 26—China Room: Dynamic Ceramics; August 2, Children’s Rooms: Pets and Play; August 9, Red Room: Fantastic Fabrics; August 16, Blue Room: Contrasting Compositions; August 23, East Room: Entertainment Extravaganza; and August 30, Diplomatic Reception Room: Parley and Printmaking.
Admission to Winterthur is $22 for adults, $20 for seniors and students and $8 for children.
Another site with impressive gardens can be found just across the Pennsylvania-Delaware state line.
Nemours Estate (850 Alapocas Drive, Wilmington, Delaware, www.nemoursestate.org) has now re-opened after a pandemic safety closure.
Hours are Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Reservations are not required and there is no timed entry.
Nemours Estate comprises an exquisite, 77-room Mansion, the largest formal French gardens in North America, a Chauffeur’s Garage housing a collection of vintage automobiles, and 200 acres of scenic woodlands, meadows and lawns.
Nemours was the estate of Alfred I. duPont.
Alfred named the estate Nemours, after the French town that his great-great-grandfather represented in the French Estates General. While looking to the past and his ancestors for inspiration, Alfred also ensured that his new home was thoroughly modern by incorporating the latest technology and many of his own inventions.
The Gardens is one of the estate’s prime attractions.
The two elk at the top of the Vista are the work of French sculptor Prosper Lecourtier (1855–1924), a specialist in animal figures. Lined with Japanese cryptomeria, pink flowering horse chestnuts and pin oaks, the Long Walk extends from the Mansion to the Reflecting Pool.
The 157 jets at the center of the one-acre pool shoot water 12 feet into the air; when they are turned off, the entire “Long Walk” is reflected in the pool. The pool, five and a half feet deep in its deepest section, holds 800,000 gallons of water and takes three days to fill. The Art Nouveau-style, classical mythology-based “Four Seasons” around the pool are by French-born American sculptor Henri Crenier (1873–1948).
Admission to Nemours is $20 for adults, $18 for seniors and $10 for children.
More art in Delaware can be found in the quaint town of Odessa.
The Historic Odessa Foundation (Main Street, Odessa, Delaware, www.historicodessa.org) is now presenting its newest exhibition of acrylic paintings — “Color Secrets: Paintings by Jan Crooker.”
The exhibit of colorful acrylics by the talented Kutztown artist is on display now through August 28 in the Historic Odessa Visitor Center Gallery.
For Crooker, who is well-known for her vibrant images of still life, flowers and local scenes and landscapes, color has always been a focus of her artistic expression.
According to Crooker, “I think my love of color harkens back to my early exposure to art at the children’s classes at the Toledo Museum of Art in Ohio. While some kids had favorite stars or athletes, I had favorite artists. My first favorite artist was Vincent Van Gogh.”
Crooker researched the master colorist’s use of color and read his thoughts on the subject. Although she admires other colorist artists, Van Gogh has been the greatest influence on her color use.
Crooker earned a bachelor’s degree in art education from Toledo University, and a Master of Fine Arts from Penn State University.
The John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum (8601 Lindbergh Boulevard, Philadelphia, www.fws.gov/refuge/John_Heinz) has several attractive events scheduled for this weekend.
“Birds Walks” will take place on July 23 and 24 from 8-10 a.m.
Visitors can take an educational walk with one of the Refuge’s knowledgeable volunteers and discover the 300-plus species of birds that use the Refuge during their migration routes. Each week guarantee different species.
Participants will meet by visitor center. The walk will be at a relaxed paced on flat surfaces. There are restrooms and a water fountain near the trailhead.
On July 24 at 10 a.m., it be time for one of the site’s “Refuge History Walks.”
In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the refuge, historian Patrick Haggerty will lead a history walk. The event is free, and no registration needed.
Another venue where you can get close to nature is Tyler Arboretum (515 Painter Road, Media, 610-566-9134, www.tylerarboretum.org).
The arboretum’s schedule for this weekend features the “POP-UP: Tasting Station in Lucille’s Garden” from 10 a.m.-1 p.m.” and the “Saturday Evening Wildflower Walk,” on July 23 from 5-7 p.m.
At the “POP-UP: Tasting Station in Lucille’s Garden,” visitors will be able to sample the seasonal bounty from Tyler’s edible garden. No registration is necessary and it’s free with admission.
At the “Saturday Evening Wildflower Walk,” wildflower expert Dick Cloud will lead an informative two-hour hike that will take visitors through meadows, woods, and occasionally streamside. These walks are for those who have a love of plants, their role in ecology, or for those who want to learn more.
Admission to Tyler Arboretum is $15 for adults (ages 18-64), $13 for Seniors (65+) and $9 for children (ages 3-17) and Military with valid ID.
Stoneleigh: A Natural Garden (1829 East County Line Road, Villanova, stoneleighgarden.org/garden/home/) will present a “Home and Garden Tour” on July 23 from 10:30 a.m.-noon.
Formerly a Main Line country estate, Stoneleigh: A Natural Garden opened to the public in 2018.
Dazzling displays of native plants, ancient trees, landscape designs by the Olmsted Brothers, and myriad habitats are highlighted on this guided exploration of Stoneleigh. The spectacular Tudor Revival Main House—which is usually only open for special events—is also included in the tour.
This tour will highlight the transition from beloved family home to public garden through a guided exploration of breathtaking historical landscapes, majestic trees, and the more than 2,000 varieties of native plants.
Guests can learn how the staff created gardens that are beautiful, biodiverse, and beneficial to wildlife.
Tickets for the tour are $15.
Morris Arboretum (100 Northwestern Avenue, Chestnut Hill, www.morrisarboretum.org) is opening a new season exhibit – “Bloomin’ Bubbles.”
Every Tuesday through August, Morris Arboretum is presenting “Bloomin’ Bubbles” from 11 a.m.-noon starting at the Azalea Meadow – weather permitting.
There are more than flowers in bloom this spring and summer at the Morris Arboretum. Visitors are invited to join the arboretum staff for “Bloomin’ Bubbles,” when the Azalea Meadow is transformed into a magical flurry of bubbles for children to play with, play in and pop before lunch.
Guests can celebrate opening day of “Bloomin’ Bubbles” with a “Fairy Parade on the Meadow.”
The parade will begin at the Visitor Center and work its way down to the Azalea Meadow where, if everyone sings loud enough, they might encounter a new Arboretum phenomenon — a flurry of bubbles coming seemingly out of nowhere. This year, the Arboretum has a new bubble-machine.
Participants are encouraged to come dressed as an enchanted woodland creature to dance and play, and then join Melissa in crafting their very own magical wand. They are reminded to not forget their fairy wings, gnome hats, dragon scales, and whatever else they might need to be their most magical selves.
The Morris Arboretum also is offering its “Garden Highlights Tour” this month.
Experienced guides will share both the history and current highlights of the Arboretum during a one-hour walking tour.
Tours depart from the Visitor Center at 1 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday. These tours are small groups and space is very limited.
This reservation is good for admission to the Arboretum as well as for the tour itself. The tour is weather permitting. If the tour is cancelled, your ticket is still good for admission.
Another attraction at Morris Arboretum is the ultra-popular Garden Railway Display, which has become a major summer attraction at the site. The annual edition of the display will remain open until October 10.
The railway has a quarter mile of track featuring seven loops and tunnels with 15 different rail lines and two cable cars, nine bridges (including a trestle bridge you can walk under) and bustling model trains.
The buildings and the display are all made of natural materials – bark, leaves, twigs, hollow logs, mosses, acorns, dried flowers, seeds and stones – to form a perfectly proportioned miniature landscape complete with miniature rivers.
Philadelphia-area landmarks are all meticulously decorated for the holidays with lights that twinkle. There is even a masterpiece replica of Independence Hall are made using pinecone seeds for shingles, acorns as finials and twigs as downspouts.
This year the tracks are surrounded by miniature replicas of “Wonders of the World.” Visitors will be able to see the Eiffel Tower, Hagia Sophia, the Egyptian Pyramids, the Wall of China and more.
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).
Chaddsford Winery (Route 1, Chadds Ford, 610-388-6221, www.chaddsford.com) will be presenting “Taste of Summer Reserve Tastings” on select Saturdays and Sundays through July 31.
Visitors are invited to join the winery’s staff for an intimate and educational 60-minute experience in the newly renovated Barrel Room tasting some of Chaddsford’s latest wine releases.
The trained staff will guide you through a pre-selected tasting of five widely diverse wines from across the portfolio. The selections will be paired alongside local cheeses and other accoutrements to enhance your tasting experience.
The staff will also discuss topics such as grape growing conditions at partner vineyards and the onsite winemaking process from production to aging and bottling.
The “pairing lineup” is Greeting Wine: 2019 Sparkling White, 2021 Vidal Blanc with Yellow Springs Farm’s Lil Chardy, 2020 Harbinger with Smoked Gouda Chip, 2021 Vignoles with Covina Dorada chili lime tortilla chips and fresh guacamole and Sunset Blush with Gemelli Gelato’s rosé infused sorbetto.
Reserve Tastings are $35 per person. There are three seatings each day – noon, 2 and 4 p.m. Advanced reservations are required and are non-refundable.
Peddler’s Village (Routes 202 and 263, Lahaska, 215-794-4000, www.peddlersvillage.com) is presenting “Bluegrass & Blueberries” in July — a month-long celebration of bluegrass and blueberries.
July will be Blueberry Month at Peddler’s Village.
Every day, the site will offer special blueberry-themed food and drinks at its restaurants and eateries, and also present live bluegrass and country entertainment on weekends. On Saturdays and Sundays, you can also enjoy made-to-order sandwiches and burgers at the Water Wheel Food Tent.
Many of the village’s shops will be hosting sidewalk sales and special offers throughout the month.
Sesame Place (100 Sesame Road, Langhorne, www.sesameplace.com), a family-friendly amusement park in Langhorne, is hosting “Christmas in July” now through July 25.
Guests will be able to rock out with Elmo, Abby Cadabby, Cookie Monster and Count von Count.
The festive “Santa Cookie Monster Meet & Greets” will be held each day at 11:30 a.m., 12:30, 1:30, 4:30 and 5:30 p.m. at Sesame Studio.
Kids can Visit Cookie Monster Santa each day during the Christmas in July Celebration. Christmas card photos will be available for purchase.
Additionally, “Christmas Photos with Elmo & Friends,” will take place each day at 11 a.m./, noon, 1, 4 and 5 p.m.
Visitors will be able to get a photo with Elmo and his friends in their holiday attire.
Ticket prices for Sesame Place start at $49.99.
As part of Historic Philadelphia’s anniversary celebration at Franklin Square (200 Sixth Street, Philadelphia, www.historicphiladelphia.org), the organization is illuminating the park with its annual Chinese Lantern Festival.
Now through August 7, 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 $20 for adults, $18 for youth, seniors and military, and $12 for children (ages 3-12).
Grim Philly’s “Dark Philly History Tour” (www.grimphilly.com) will be held every evening throughout the summer.
Participants can walk with tour guides from the grounds of America’s first White House, Congress, and Liberty Bell to homes and sites of Hamilton, Washington, Franklin, Adams, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, and more than 10 other Founding-Fathers. The surprising dirt of espionage, murder, sexual license and blackmail highlight the secrets of 1776 with a ghost story or two along the way. This tour is highly researched. And your guide is a historian.
Tickets are $35.
Ghost Tour of Philadelphia (215-413-1997, www.ghosttour.com), Ghost Tour of Lancaster (717-687-6687, www.ghosttour.com) and Ghost Tour of Strasburg (717-687-6687, www.ghosttour.com) operate throughout the winter and offer an eerily entertaining evening of true ghost stories and real haunted houses.
The Ghost Tour of Philadelphia, which is based on the book, “Ghost Stories of Philadelphia, PA.,” is a candlelight walking tour along the back streets and secret gardens of Independence Park, Society Hill, and Old City, where ghostly spirits, haunted houses, and eerie graveyards abound.
Participants can discover the ghost lore of America’s most historic and most haunted city with stories from the founding of William Penn’s colony to present-day hauntings.
The activity is open year-round – weekends, December-February; every night, March-November. Tickets are $24.
The Ghost Tour of Lancaster and the Ghost Tour of Strasburg are based on the book, “Ghost Stories of Lancaster, PA.”
Participants in the Ghost Tour of Lancaster explore the long-forgotten mysteries of one of America’s oldest cities, with haunting tales of otherworldly vigils, fatal curses, and star-crossed lovers. The tour provides the opportunity to experience 300 years of haunted history from the Red Rose City’s thorny past. Tickets are $20.
The Ghost Tour of Strasburg is a candlelight walking tour of the quaint and historic town of Strasburg in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country. Visitors will experience an entertaining evening with a costumed tour guide spinning tales of haunted mansions, eerie graveyards, and spirits that roam the night … in a town lost in time. Tickets are $20.
Hope Lodge (553 South Bethlehem Pike, Fort Washington, 215-343-0965, http://www.ushistory.org/hope/) will be presenting a “Guided Mansion Tours” on July 24.
Hope Lodge was built between 1743 and 1748 by Samuel Morris, a prosperous Quaker entrepreneur. Morris acted as a farmer, shipowner, miller, iron master, shop owner, and owner of the mill now known as Mather Mill. Hope Lodge is an excellent example of early Georgian architecture, and it is possible that Edmund Woolley, architect of Independence Hall, offered advice in building. Samuel Morris owned the estate until his death in 1770.
The site opens at 12:30 p.m. with self-guided tours starting at 1 and 2:30 p.m. The closes at 4 p.m.
Tour admission is $8 for adults, $5 for seniors (age 65+) and for youth ages 6-17, and fee for children under 5. Hope Lodge is a Blue Star Museum which means that active-duty military personnel, including National Guard and Reserve and their families, are admitted free for regular tours from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Wonderspaces at the Fashion District (27 North 11th Street, Philadelphia, philadelphia.wonderspaces.com) is an experiential, interactive arts venue.
Building on the success of annual pop-up shows in San Diego, and its first permanent location in Scottsdale, Arizona, Wonderspaces opened a 24,000 square foot gallery space in Philly a year ago.
Wonderspaces features 14 art installations that all play with the idea of perspective. The artwork ranges from award-winning virtual reality short film about a dinner party-turned-alien abduction, to a room where visitors digitally paint the walls with the movement of their bodies.
New artworks rotate in every few months, creating an ever-evolving, year-round show.
Tickets are for entry at a specific date and time. Visitors are welcome to stay as long as they please during operating hours. The average time spent experiencing the show is 90 minutes.
A few installations contain flashing lights, images, and patterns that may trigger seizures for people with photosensitive epilepsy. All visitors must sign a waiver prior to being admitted into the space. Adult supervision is required for visitors under 16.
The Elmwood Park Zoo (1661 Harding Boulevard, Norristown, www.elmwoodparkzoo.org) has a variety of special activities coming up.
A “Zoo Snooze” overnight campout will start at 6 p.m. on July 22 and run until 9:30 a.m. on July 10.
The “Campout” includes — Dinner (includes pizza, salad, and potato chips), Breakfast (includes pastries and fresh fruit), Flashlight tour of the zoo, Campfire & activities, educational show the next morning and Zoo admission the next day.
Tickets are $54.95.
“Night Adventures” is scheduled for July 22.
Adventurous visitors can zip the zoo in the dark with Treetop Adventures’ “Night Adventure.” They will be able to experience all the thrills of the zip line and ropes courses with the added challenge of darkness.
Adventurers will navigate through the trees, equipped with a headlamp. Young adventures can also experience the nighttime fun on the Zoo’s Cub Climb course.
Treetop Quest Philly (51 Chamounix Drive, Philadelphia, www.treetopquest.com) is an aerial adventure park that will challenge you physically and mentally as you maneuver from tree to tree through obstacles and zip-lines. Once you’re equipped, they will teach you how to operate your equipment and you’ll be able to swing through each course as many times as you want for 2.5 hours.
Each participant is outfitted with a harness and gloves. Each course has a continuous belay system — a lifeline that is impossible to detach without a staff member. The activity is self-guided, and the staff is ready to assist when needed.
Gloves are required for our activity. During this time, we encourage participants to bring their own gloves to use while up in the trees, gardening gloves are perfect for this activity.
Ticket prices are $55, adults; $48, ages 12-17; $38, ages 7-11.
Several tourist rail lines will be running special excursions this weekend.
The West Chester Railroad ( www.westchesterrr.net) is running its “Summer Picnic Specials” every Sunday now through Sept 18. There will be one excursion each day at noon.
Passengers can enjoy a 90-minute round trip train ride from West Chester to Glen Mills and return on a warm summer afternoon. Riders are invited to pack a lunch to have during excursion’s stop at the Glen Mills train station picnic grove.
Tickets are $17 for adults, $15 for children (2-12) and free for children (under two).
Wilmington and Western Railroad (Greenbank Station, 2201 Newport-Gap Pike, Wilmington, Delaware, www.wwrr.com) is running its “Yorklyn Limited” on July 23 with departures at 12:30 and 2:30 p.m.
Riders can take a leisurely 1.5-hour round-trip ride up the Red Clay Valley to the Mt. Cuba Picnic Grove, where they can de-train to enjoy a half-hour layover along the banks of the Red Clay Creek to have a picnic or simply admire the natural surroundings.
For those who don’t want to get off the train at Mt. Cuba, they can remain onboard and travel further up the line through the communities of Ashland and Yorklyn. On the return trip, there will be a brief stop at Mt. Cuba to pick up the picnic passengers.
The “Yorklyn Limited” excursion is the re-branded name of the “Mt. Cuba Meteor” excursion.
These trips are powered by one of Wilmington and Western Railroad’s historic first-generation diesel locomotives.
Tickets are $18 for adults, $17 for seniors and $16 for children (ages 2-12).
On July 23, the Colebrookdale Railroad (South Washington Street, Boyertown, www.colebrookdalerailroad.com) is running its “Secret Valley Expedition” at 1 p.m. and again on July 24 at 11 a.m.
The tourist rail line’s two-hour expedition into the Secret Valley features rides on meticulously restored century-old rail cars and visits one of the most scenic and historic regions in the northeast.
The railroad will be offering a lunch and dinner aboard the Secret Valley Expedition to all dining class passengers.
Additionally, and a la carte menu is available in all cars and all passengers have access to the open car for near 360-degree views of the Secret Valley.
The Northern Central Railway (2 West Main Street, New Freedom, www.northerncentralrailway.com) is running three special excursions this weekend – “Glen Rock Express” on July 23 at noon, “Hanover Junction Flyer” on July 23 at 2 p.m. and “Firefly Flyer” on July 23 at 6:30 p.m.
The first will be “Wild West Express with No. 17.”
The “Glen Rock Express with No. 17” will take the train to Glen Rock with the William H. Simpson No. 17 (the rail line’s authentic replica steam locomotive) on a former Pennsylvania Railroad mainline that has been in operation since 1838. The ride follows the route of the original Northern Central Railroad through the scenic Heritage Rail Trail County Park.
Tickets are $27 Adult; $15 Child (age 3-12); $5 Toddler (in lap).
The New Hope Railroad (32 Bridge Street, New Hope, www.newhoperailroad.com) is running its “Grapevine Express,” which features “Wine & Cheese Tasting” on July 23 and 24 at 5 p.m. each night.
Riders are invited to take part in a romantic “Wine and Cheese Excursion” and enjoy fine gourmet cheese, artisan crackers, meats, fruit, and our featured local wines. Additional Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic beverages are also available onboard.
Wine and cheese will be served to passengers as they travel along the same railroad line passengers did when it was built in 1891 connecting New Hope with Philadelphia. The journey travels through the beautiful hills and valleys of Bucks County, along once vital waterways and streams and across numerous trestle bridges.
The excursions will take place aboard one of the railroads lavishly appointed early 1900’s first-class parlor cars.
Tickets are $102.58 (Ages 21 and older only).
This weekend, the Strasburg Railroad (Route 741, Strasburg, www.strasburgrailroad.com) is running its “Wine & Cheese Train” on July 22 and 23 at 7 p.m. each night.
Passengers can enjoy the luxurious, climate-controlled first-class accommodations and a tasting of select wine, cheese, and crackers as they travel in style down the tracks from Strasburg to Paradise and back. The train departs at 7 p.m. and the total trip time is 45 minutes.
“Wine & Cheese Train” boarding is 30 minutes before the scheduled departure. Riders must be 21 or older and have their photo ID ready when they board.
Featured wines are carefully selected from Waltz Vineyards, and cheeses are paired accordingly. Beer and select non-alcoholic beverages are also available for purchase upon request. Riders can purchase a souvenir wine glass on board the train if desired. Glasses are $7 each.
In accordance with Pennsylvania law, alcohol is only served during the train ride. The rail line is not permitted to serve alcoholic beverages while the train is berthed in the station.
This popular train is available on select Friday and Saturday evenings throughout the season. Tickets are $50.
