By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times
Porch Fest
This area has many — really many — annual events that have passed milestone anniversaries….and there are some still in their infancy.
The Second Annual West Chester Porchfest (westchesterporchfest.com) will be held on May 20 from 1-7 p.m. Rain date is May 21.
Participants can stroll from porch to porch and enjoy live local talent and the beautiful porches of historic West Chester.
The porches are located in the southwest quadrant of West Chester from South Church Street to South Bradford Avenue and West Miner Street to Dean Street.
Food trucks and picnic tables will be open at Ironworks Church while children’s activities at Everhart Park will add to the festivities.
The entertainment also features a wide range of performers from Philly rock legend John Faye to the West Chester Univ. Opera Theater.
The roster of performers includes Garden Station, Mike Dee, Rented Mule, Twist It, Valendina, Moondawgs, Annalise Curtin, Captain Dawg, West Chester Ukulele Group, Pimp Fried Rice, Angelica and the Midnight Ghost, Jesse B., Stephanie Phillips, Kurt Papenhausen, Homeless & Desperate, Peter Peak, DT and the Burnerz, Elise Kyle Weber, West Chester Dance Works, Michael Rudolph Cummings, Dan Schatz, Berry Hill Band, Patrick Hedgecock, Onyx&Honey, Manali Fusion, Echozone, Brad Rau, Without Question, Sanction Ethereal, and Frank Lloyd Wrong & the Seven Kevin’s Blue
The entertainment line-up also features The Racing Hearts, Max Davey, The ShoeShiners, Nicholas Lurwick, Anthem Arcade, Snooze Blues, The Unit, Tea Head, Brent Christopher, Candiflyp, Wild Parlor Rock, Fast Eddie, Sundog, We’re From Antarctica, Lee James, Jeff Campbell, Cornflower, Groove Intelligence, Baker & Collins, Jumping Juvies, The Lenape Brass Ensemble, Seth Witcher, Two Cats and a Cow Girl, Cleansl8, Not Quitting Our Day Jobs, The Crrunckers, Phineas Wrath, and Jesse B.
Children’s activities at Everhart Park include dinosaur themed arts and crafts, a musical petting zoo, face painting, and a planting activity.
Phoenixville’s 80th Annual Dogwood Festival (www.phoenixvilledogwoodfestival.org) is running now through May 20.
The 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.
The main day for activities at the free festival will be May 20 with a parade and other festivities running from noon-10 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.
Some of the music acts scheduled for the 2023 Dogwood Festival are The Music Depot, Smooth Riders, Cole Campbell, Florida Wayne Band, Sun Blind, Tucked In, Audrey & Kendal, Speeding Arrow, Soul Shine, River Dogs, Piper Down, PAHS Jazz Band, Dallas Malone and Vinyl Roots.
Radnor Hunt
May 20 is a big day in the local equestrian world – the day of the Radnor Hunt (826 Providence Road, Malvern, https://www.brandywine.org/conservancy/radnor-hunt-races).
This year marks the 92nd running of the Radnor Hunt Races. Held on the grounds of the Radnor Hunt (826 Providence Road, Malvern), the event annually draws an estimated crowd of 20,000. The National Hunt Cup and the Radnor Hunt Cup headline the day’s six races.
The first Radnor Hunt Races was held in 1928 at Chesterbrook, the former estate of A.J. Cassatt. The Races were run annually until racing was suspended during the war years of 1943-1945. The following year George Brooke, II, with the aid of Morris Dixon, Thomas McCoy, Jr., and George Strawbridge, Sr., supervised construction of a new course on the present Club property.
In 1980, the Radnor Hunt and Brandywine Conservancy began a partnership spearheaded by Betty Moran and George “Frolic” Weymouth. Under their leadership, the Radnor Hunt Races are Racing for Open Space. For the past 40 years the Brandywine Conservancy has been the sole beneficiary of the Radnor Hunt Races. With over $5 million raised, those funds have fueled the Conservancy’s vital efforts to protect open space and water resources in southeastern Pennsylvania and northern Delaware.
The 92nd Radnor Hunt Races, which are held on the W. Burling Cocks Memorial Racecourse in Malvern, will get underway at 1:30 p.m. with The Milfern Cup race.
The annual Chester County Studio Tour (chestercountystudiotour.com) will be held on May 20 and 21. The tour, which has continued to grow in size and stature from year-to-year, is a showcase for more than 150 different artists whose work will be displayed at 79 studios in the area.
Some of the artists whose work will be on display at 2023 edition of the event are Brett Anderson Walker, Phillip Hill, Joe Grubb, Lin Webber,
Theresa Haag, Erica Brown, Teri Morse, Mollie Allen, Dan Reed, Monique Sarkessian, Sally Richards, Kimberly Hoescht, Denise Sedor, and Diane Cirafesi.
Tour hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on May 20 and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on May 21. The event is free and open to the public.
Longwood Gardens (Route 1, Kennett Square, www.longwoodgardens.org) is inviting visitors to enjoy the beauty of late spring.
The “Festival of Fountains” opened for the season on May 11 and will run until September 24.
Longwood Gardens’ Open Air Theatre and Italian Water Garden fountains sprang to life, as did the Square Fountain, Round Fountain (Flower Garden Walk), Sylvan Fountain (Peirce’s Park), and Children’s Corner fountains.
The season of renewal and growth has started. Millions of tiny geophytes begin the season, blanketing Longwood’s vistas with sweeps of spring-has-sprung color.
Dancing fountains, performances under the stars, and beautiful gardens make the Festival of Fountains at Longwood Gardens magical. The spectacular celebration of music, light, water, and nature includes distinctive garden experiences indoors and out.
Iconic Illuminated Fountain Performances dance, soar, and delight in the Main Fountain Garden Thursday–Saturday evenings. New Illuminated Fountain Performances for 2023 include “Put Me In, Coach,” featuring a variety of sports-related tunes; “Rachmaninov: Power and Passion”; “Shake It Off” by Taylor Swift; “Starman” by David Bowie; “To Infinity and Beyond” highlighting beloved songs from animated movie favorites; and “Where the Heart Is” a showcase of coming-home hits by the likes of Bon Jovi and Ed Sheeran. Illuminated Fountain Performances are free with Gardens admission.
Before the fountain performances, guests can sit under the stars and enjoy live music and refreshing brews and pub fare in Longwood’s Beer Garden. Guests can enjoy a variety of selections from Victory Brewing Company, including the Longwood Seasons series brewed with ingredients grown at Longwood. Regional artists perform live instrumental music, including Hawaiian-Inspired Steel Guitar from Slowey & The Boats, Jazz Age Blues from Drew Nugent & The Midnight Society, Traditional Cuban Son by Conjunto Philadelphia.
Select Fridays throughout Festival of Fountains bring extra family fun during Longwood’s “Festive Friday” theme nights. During these special evenings, enjoy themed fountain performances, concessions, entertainment, and more. Plus, every festive Friday brings the rare opportunity to climb to the top of the Chimes Tower for a stunning view of Longwood’s 62-bell carillon and the surrounding landscape.
The first Festive Friday theme of the season is “Bollywood Blockbusters” on May 26, celebrating the soul of Hindi film and featuring the Daksha Dance Troupe at 6:30 and 7:30 pm in the pumphouse plaza. It’s all about Music with the June 30 Festive Friday theme—”Make Some Noise”—where keyboards will be set up around the gardens for guests to play from 5-8 pm.
Paying homage to the City of Brotherly, “It’s a Philly Thing” on July 14 highlights Longwood’s own collaboration with Victory Brewing Company and live music from Polkadelphia. “To Infinity and Beyond” on August 4 is sure to be an evening of fun for both the young and the young at heart when performers from the Philadelphia School of Circus Arts takeover the Pumphouse Plaza from 6–8 pm.
And, on September 15, the “I’m a Believer” theme for Festive Friday brings family-friendly magic with The Give and Take Jugglers in the Pumphouse Plaza from 5:30–7:30 pm. Included with Gardens Admission, visit Longwoodgardens.org for more information.
As the season unfolds, flowering trees delightfully punctuate the landscape, radiant tulips stretch toward the sun, and the delicious fragrance of wisteria floats along the breeze.
Visitors can also enjoy special exhibits at the Orchid House.
Admission to Longwood Gardens is $25 for adults, $22 for seniors and college students, $18 for active military and $13 for youth.
On May 20 and 21, 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 — “Beauty & The Beast.”
This spring, Brandywine Ballet is proud to present an enchanting new version of the classic fairy tale, “Beauty & The Beast,” based on the original story by Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve. Resident Choreographer, Nancy Page, has created a whimsical world full of animated characters to tell the story.
A powerful spell is cast — transforming the fate of an entire castle until the day that the Prince learns to love, and is loved himself. It is a tale of overcoming one’s fears, vulnerability, love, and the lesson that beauty is so much more than skin deep.
Performance times are noon and 4 p.m. on May 20 and 2 p.m. on May 21.
Ticket prices range from $25-$45.
If you’re a fan of antique cars, you’ll have several options this weekend for events that will interest you.
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 21, 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 Annual Ambler Auto Show (Butler Avenue, Ambler, http://amblermainstreet.org) will be held May 21 from 1-6 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.
There is a big event for specialized memorabilia collectors this weekend — the Philly Non-Sports Card Show.
The event will be held on May 20 and 21 at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center (Station Avenue, Oaks, http://phillynon-sportscardshow.com)
There are two basic categories of trading cards — sports cards and non-sports cards. Sports cards depict athletes at all levels. Non-sport cards offer so much more. There are card sets dealing with music, movies, politics, nature, pop culture and history.
For more than a century, non-sport trading cards have documented trends in pop culture – providing people with history lessons provided by small, rectangular pieces of cardboard.
Twice each year, collectors from across the country come together in eastern Pennsylvania for this very special event. The event is the oldest show of its kind in the country.
Many of the hobby’s top manufacturers will have exhibit booths at this weekend’s show and will be distributing free promo cards. There will be a huge array of non-sport cards, sets, singles, wrappers, chase cards, promos, and related memorabilia.
Topps has sent the show organizers a treasure trove of Garbage Pail Kid related prizes to give away to show attendees. Some will be Saturday giveaways and some exclusive to Sunday. Included are t-shirts, puzzles, Garbage Pail Krashers, Micro Figures, the Garbage Pail Kids Monopoly game, 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 20 and 21, 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.
The Upper Darby Greek Festival 2023 (St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church of Upper Darby, 229 Powell Lane, Upper Darby, www.saintdemetrios.org) will be held now through May 21 with a wide array of tasty Greek treats such as souvlaki, shish-ka-bob, moussaka, pastitsio and gyros and baklava.
Other activities include vendors with crafts and Greek items and live Greek dancing. The free festival is open from 11 a.m.-midnight on Friday and Saturday and noon-9 p.m. on Sunday.
The annual Wayne Art Center Plein Air Festival will be held now through May 16-June 25 at the Wayne Art Center (413 Maplewood Avenue, Wayne, www.wayneart.org).
“En plein air” is the act of painting outdoors. This method contrasts with studio painting or academic rules that might create a predetermined look. The practice goes back for centuries but was truly made into an art form by the French Impressionists.
The Wayne Art Center Annual Plein Air Festival Collectors’ Preview Party & Sale is scheduled for May 12 from 6-10 p.m. Fresh off the easel, more than 250 works adorn Wayne Art Center’s walls opening night, as patrons enjoy an evening of fine art, heavy hors d’oeuvres, open bar, and live music, while experiencing the artists’ individual interpretations of life and landscapes.
The 15th Annual Wayne Art Center Plein Air Festival will feature 32 juried, nationally recognized and emerging artists who have come to Wayne to capture the cool atmosphere and ephemeral, lush greens of spring in the Delaware Valley.
As one of the premier plein air events in the country, Wayne offers the unique opportunity to showcase work created during the festival in spacious, light-filled and state-of-the-art galleries during an exhibition that hangs until June 24.
On May 20, Laurel Hill Cemetery (3822 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia, 215-228-8200, www.thelaurelhillcemetery.org) will present “This Sporting Life: Athletes of Laurel Hill West” walking tour at 10 a.m.
Laurel Hill West is the final resting place for members of the baseball, tennis, skiing, hockey, and college football Halls of Fame.
Participants will hear the fascinating stories of a man whose inventions completely changed two sports, a 19th-century baseball outfielder who still holds a major league record, a tennis player who was a spy for the CIA on the side, the man who invented progressive resistance weightlifting, and others.
It’s a long walk around the cemetery, but participants will meet some of the great sportspeople of the 19th and 20th centuries.
Tour guide is Joe Lex.
Fort Mifflin (Fort Mifflin and Hog Island roads, Philadelphia, 215-685-4167, www.fortmifflin.us) offers a variety of special events throughout the year. On May 20 and 21, the special event will be “World War II – Explore the Eastern Front.”
Visitors to Fort Mifflin will be able to experience WWII history along the Eastern Front.
There will be interesting living history displays and activities as well as displays of uniforms.. Another highlight will be several weapons demonstrations.
Participants can expose themselves to a special guided tour of the Eastern Front focusing on political climate and home front experiences.
This event is dedicated to the history of the region from 1939-1945.
Activities will run from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Sunday.
Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and $8 for children (ages 6-12) and military veterans with ID.
The Morris Arboretum & Garden (100 East Northwestern Avenue, Philadelphia, 215-247-5777, www.morrisarboretum.org) is holding its annual “Historic Springfield Mill Days” on May 21 from 1-4 p.m.
Morris Arboretum’s oldest architectural feature is the historic grist mill, dating back to 1761 and situated along the picturesque Wissahickon Creek. On a guided interactive tour, participants can watch one-ton millstones grind corn kernels, observe 160-year-old machinery transport and sift ground corn to produce meal, and even grind their own flour on a pedal powered mill.
Madelyn Ladner, a member of the Philadelphia Guild of Handweavers who grows and uses dye plants for knitting projects, will also be demonstrating wool spinning.
Activity is free with regular admission — Adults: $20; Seniors (65+ years): $18; Youth (3-17 years): $10; and Children (Under 3): Free.
The “FRIENDS™ Experience: The One Near Philadelphia” is running now through May 29 at the King of Prussia Mall, 640 West Dekalb Pike, King of Prussia,
Visitors can step into the iconic TV show like never before in this interactive experience.
They will be able to explore set recreations including Joey and Chandler’s apartment, Monica and Rachel’s kitchen, and Central Perk!
Visitors to the attraction can dance in front of the fountain and pose on the iconic orange couch.
Participants will be able to see a wide array of props and costumes from the show which will bring them one step closer to their favorite characters.
And they can shop exclusive items at The FRIENDS™ Experience Retail Store which features an array of clothes, accessories, collectibles and more.
The interactive exhibit is open from noon-7 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. on Saturdays and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sundays.
The exact location is at The Pavilion, which is on the third floor above Cheesecake Factory and Urban Outfitters and across from Ethan Allen)
All ages are welcome. Children 3 and younger don’t need a ticket when accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Adult ticket prices start at $32.
The Strasburg Rail Road (Route 741, Strasburg, 717-687-7522, www.strasburgrailroad.com) is running a special train on May 19, 20 and 21 – the “Wine & Cheese Train.”
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 6 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 $65.
On May 20 and 21, The Northern Central Railway (2 West Main Street, New Freedom, www.northerncentralrailway.com) is running its Glen Rock Express” at 11 a.m. and its “Hanover Junction Flyer” at 12:30 p.m. each day.
The “Glen Rock Express” will travel to Glen Rock and back with the historic PRR GP9 Diesel Locomotive built-in 1959. The ride will be on a former Pennsylvania Railroad mainline that has been in operation since 1838.
The “Hanover Junction Flyer” travels through the Heritage Rail Trail County Park and southern York County countryside on this trip to Hanover Junction.
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 19 and 20, the 2023 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.
On May 20, the annual Skippack Spring Wine Festival (Skippack Pike, Skippack, 610- 584-1155, http://winetober.com) will be staged along the main street of the scenic village near the Skippack Creek in Montgomery County.
The popular annual event will feature 32 wine vendors with a tasty array of wine and food samples along with live music. There will be more than 125 vendors overall.
Some of the wine vendors who will be participating in this weekend’s event are Grace Winery, Le Garage Winery, Cork Dork Winery, Blue Mountain Vineyards, Juanita Valley Winery, Bee Kind Winery,and Benigna’s Creek Vineyard & Winery, Inc.
This year’s Skippack Spring Wine Festival will be held from noon-6 p.m. Tickets for the event, which include food and wine sampling, are $25.
From May 19-21, it will be time for the New Hope and Lambertville “Pridefest” (https://www.newhopecelebrates.com/pridefest/).
The event, which straddles the Delaware River from New Hope in Pennsylvania to Lambertville in New Jersey will feature daytime fireworks displayed over the Delaware River from the New Hope & Lambertville Bridge.
The event’s major festivities are “Pride Parade,” “Pride Fair,” “Best Cocktail Contest Crawl,” and “New Hope Celebrates Pride Dance Party.”
The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University (1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, ansp.org) is celebrating the remarkable diversity of birds, their important role in ecosystems, and people’s relationships with our avian friends with a special exhibition, “Conversations with Birds.”
The exhibition, which runs through May 21, spotlights familiar local birds, such as house sparrows and cardinals, and goes beyond by introducing the variety of migrators that pass through on astounding epic journeys across the globe.
“Conversations With Birds” features amazing avian photography and video by local birders and wildlife photographers, including Anwar Abdul-Qawi, an Academy educator, and Tom Johnson of Cape May, N.J., a Field Guides birding tour leader; nest cam video footage of a peregrine falcon nest from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and of a bald eagle nest courtesy of HDOnTap.com and the Pennsylvania Game Commission; hands-on activities that explain the body architecture that enables birds to do what they do; gorgeous taxidermy mounts of familiar local birds and also migrators that visit the area; and BirdCast animations from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology showing live bird migration forecasts
Also featured will be bird-tracking products by Cellular Tracking Technologies that use cell towers, GPS, big birds, small birds, and what’s being used in research projects; an interactive media exhibit that shows five migratory birds that pass through the Philadelphia region on their seasonal passage between North and South America; live or video demonstrations (depending on the day) of Academy ornithologists and volunteers preparing specimens from the Bird Safe Philly project for research and storage in the Academy’s world-renowned Ornithology Collection; and informal presentations by a diverse range of regional birding groups and participatory poetry workshops by Drexel’s Writer’s Room on select Saturday afternoons.
“Conversations With Birds” opens just ahead of spring migration when millions of birds will wing through the Atlantic Flyway north to their breeding grounds. During this period, April 1–May 31, the partnership of Bird Safe Philly asks communities to participate in “Lights Out Philly” to minimize unnecessary lights by turning off, blocking or dimming artificial lights from midnight-6 a.m. to help keep birds from becoming confused by the lights and colliding with buildings.
The exhibition shows that there are engineering solutions that can go a long way to helping prevent window strikes. Visitors also will learn about local birding groups such as In Color Birding and Bird Philly, as well as birding app options for the adventurous birder and the backyard kitchen-table pigeon watcher alike.
“Conversations With Birds,” which is on view through May 21, is free with general museum admission – adults, $25; seniors, military, and students, $22; and children, $21.
Hope Lodge (553 South Bethlehem Pike, Fort Washington, 215-343-0965, http://www.ushistory.org/hope/) will be presenting a “Guided Mansion Tour” on May 21.
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.
Visitors can participate by watching a short film and then taking a tour. Guided tours of the mansion will depart at 1 and 2:30 p.m.
Tour admission is $8 for adults, $5 for seniors (age 65+) and for youth ages 6-17, and free 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.
If you’re looking for “attractive” attractions or “special” special events, the First State is great. Delaware always has a lot to offer.
The 2023 Brandywine River ShadFest is scheduled for May 20 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at Brandywine Park (1080 N Park Drive, Wilmington, Delaware, www.brandywineshadfest.org).
The Second Annual Brandywine River ShadFest is a family-friendly celebration of the Brandywine River and the return of the American shad.
The Festival starts at 10 a.m. with live music scheduled for noon.
The wide array of attractions includes fishing lessons for kids, seining demonstration, face painting, live stream bugs, interactive watershed model, t-shirt fish printing, shad obstacle course, food and craft vendors, adult beverages and more.
Energetic attendees can start the morning by running or walking in the ShadRun 5K race through Brandywine Park. The ShadRun 5K will take place from 9-10 a.m.
It didn’t take very long for the Wilmington Grand Prix (various locations around downtown Wilmington, 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 an official stop on USA Cycling’s National Criterium Calendar.
The action starts May 19 with the Monkey Hill Time Trial, a 3.2-mile race against the clock through Wilmington’s Brandywine Park. On May 20, 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 21, it will be time for the Ninth Annual Governor’s Ride and the Eighth 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 20 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.
Wilmington and Western Railroad (Greenbank Station, 2201 Newport-Gap Pike, Wilmington, Delaware, www.wwrr.com) is running a very special train this weekend – the “Brandywine Springs Historic Express.”
One of the most historically significant locations along the rail line’s tracks is Brandywine Springs Park, which was the site of a hotel and amusement park in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Brandywine Springs featured a fun house, pony rides, dance hall, lake, bandstand and an early wooden roller coaster. Many people came to the park on trains operated by the Wilmington & Western.
The amusements closed in 1923 and today Brandywine Springs is a New Castle County park – only a few stone foundations remain of the park’s amusements. The Friends of Brandywine Springs perform monthly archaeological digs in the park to uncover this unique piece of Wilmington’s history and tell the stories that this site holds.
On this special history-focused excursion, you’ll have the opportunity to explore Brandywine Springs with a Friends of Brandywine Springs guide who will point out the locations of the former amusements and paint a picture of Brandywine Springs in its heyday.
On the outbound trip from Greenbank Station, the train will stop for the Brandywine Springs walking tour, which will take approximately one hour. Once everyone is back aboard, the train will continue outbound to the Mt. Cuba Picnic Grove, and then return inbound to Greenbank Station (this train will not layover at the picnic grove). Allow two hours for the train ride and walking tour. Passengers are encouraged to wear comfortable walking shoes.
This excursion will be powered by the rail line’s 1929 Pennsylvania Railroad Doodlebug railcar.
Tickets are $20 for adults, $19 for seniors and $18 for children.
On May 20, you can take a trip back to a different era in America’s history by attending the 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.-5 p.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 A.J. Meerwald.
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.
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 $25 for adults and $5 for children (ages 6-12).
The Annual Bellefonte Arts Festival (Brandywine Boulevard, Bellefonte, Delaware, www.bellefontearts.com) will be held on May 20.
The event, which is scheduled to run from 10 a.m.-5 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.
The Kalmar Nyckel Shipyard (1124 East Seventh Street, Wilmington, Delaware, www.kalmarnyckel.org) is beginning its 2023 season of live sails.
Sailing season for the Kalmar Nyckel returns with river cruises in Wilmington and tall ship sails in Historic New Castle. Tickets for day sails plus private ship rentals are now available.
Day Sails from New Castle are scheduled for May 21, 24, 26, 27 and 29. Ticket prices start at $40.
The ship is a beautiful recreation of the original Kalmar Nyckel, which was built in Holland in the 1620s. Her mainmast is taller than a 10-story building, and she carries 7,600 square feet of sail area and six miles of rigging.
The original Kalmar Nyckel was a Swedish-owned, three-masted armed pinnace that sailed from Goteborg, Sweden in November of 1637 and brought the first permanent European settlers to the Delaware Valley.
In 1986 a group of citizens established the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation to design, build and launch a replica of the Kalmar Nyckel at a shipyard adjacent to the original landing site.
The new Kalmar Nyckel was constructed there and was launched on September 28, 1997. She was commissioned on May 9, 1998, and now serves as Delaware’s sea-going Ambassador of Good Will. She is a fully functional sail training vessel and has represented Delaware all over the country.
There will be free deck tours on May 20 and 29.
Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library (Route 52, Wilmington, Delaware, 800-448-3883, www.winterthur.org) has attractions both indoors and outdoors going on right now.
There seems to be no end to what’s in bloom — and in almost every corner of the garden. Azalea Woods is at its breathtaking peak with its paths lined with azaleas in shades of red, pink, salmon, and white.
You can follow the white arrows through the garden or choose your own path. Visitors can discover the beauty and fragrance of the masses of lilac bushes and enjoy the showy display in Enchanted Woods and by the Reflecting Pool.
The Peony Garden and Quarry Garden are both must-sees this week, with primroses and peonies going strong in shades of white, pink, and red. Tree peonies provide unusual shades of peach, yellow, and deep red, and broadleaf rhododendrons continue to flower in Azalea Woods.
Torch azaleas add touches of red, salmon, and pink on the museum lawn, Icewell Terrace, and Enchanted Woods, while Sycamore Hill is beginning to glow with the blossoms of fringe trees, kousa dogwoods, red buckeye, fragrant abelias, and more. Enjoy this video of the Quarry Garden.
On May 20, “Getting Dressed with Ann Lowe” opens in the Society of Winterthur Fellows Gallery. In anticipation of the fall opening of “Ann Lowe: American Couturier,” peek behind the scenes at the work of fabricating, shaping, and dressing the mannequins in this groundbreaking exhibition. Learn about the special collaboration between the University of Delaware MakerGym and Winterthur’s textile conservation lab to create the custom mannequins for the gowns.
Admission to Winterthur is $22 for adults, $20 for seniors and students and $8 for children.
Historic Odessa (Main Street, Odessa, Delaware, 302-378-4119, www.historicodessa.org) is both a scenic and an historic site in Delaware.
The Historic Odessa Foundation is excited to be the northern Delaware venue for an exhibition of selected works by the beloved Delaware artist Jack Lewis (1912-2012). The exhibition entitled “Everyday Lives, Everyday People: The Work of Jack Lewis” runs May 2 through July 2 in the Historic Odessa Visitors Center Art Gallery.
The selection of paintings by Jack Lewis comes from the Nancy and Russell Suniewick Collection on loan from the Rehoboth Art League. In 2021, the Suniewicks, long-time friends of Lewis, and the executive producers of “If You Lived Here, You Would Be Home Now: A Film About Jack Lewis and Bridgeville, DE,” donated an outstanding collection of 52 paintings and various documents of the late artist to the Rehoboth Art League.
The works from the Nancy and Russell Suniewick Collection date from the 1930s to 1980s, and include portraits, domestic and foreign scenes, and an important early self-portrait.
Odessa is one of Delaware’s most historic sites.
Known in the 18th-century as Cantwell’s Bridge, Odessa played a vital role in commercial life along the Delaware River as a busy grain shipping port.
Today, visitors can stroll along tree-lined streets and admire examples of 18th- and 19th-century architecture in one of the best-preserved towns in Delaware. They can also tour a remarkable collection of antiques and Americana preserved in period room settings and quaint exhibits.
Historic Odessa is open to the public from March through December, Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m.4:30 p.m. and Sunday from 1-4 p.m. The site is also open Monday by reservation. General Admission: Adults, $10; Groups, Seniors, Students, $8; and Children under six are free.
Nemours Estate (1600 Rockland Road, Wilmington, Delaware, nemoursestate.org) has come alive with its magnificent gardens.
Originally constructed in 1910, Nemours Mansion is one of Delaware’s grandest buildings and includes the largest formal French garden in North America.
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 Irénée du Pont was an American industrialist, financier, philanthropist and a member of the influential Du Pont family.
On May 13, Nemours Estate is celebrating Alfred I. duPont’s birthday. duPont was born on May 12, 1864, and died on April 28, 1935.
Nemours’ celebration of duPont’s nativity will feature an ice cream truck and live music in the gardens.
duPont 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, duPont also ensured that his new home was thoroughly modern by incorporating the latest technology and many of his own inventions.
The Gardens are 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).
The entrance is located on the campus of Nemours Children’s Health, follow signs for Nemours Estate.
Admission to Nemours is $20 for adults, $18 for seniors and $10 for children.
This weekend, there will be an Auburn Heights Mansion Tour at Auburn Heights Preserve (3000 Creek Road, Yorklyn, Delaware, 302-239-2385, http://auburnheights.org).
On May 19, the event, which gets underway at 1 p.m., focuses on the stately mansion, which is one of the best examples of a Queen Anne style Victorian mansion in Delaware.
The mansion is the former home of the Marshall family whose legacy of industry and innovation filled the home with the antiques and furnishings there today. Visitors will get to explore two floors of Auburn Heights with a small group.
Tickets are $8 for adults and $4 for children. Parking is available in the event lot on Creek Road across from the mansion.
On May 25, the site, which features the Marshall Steam Museum and the Auburn Heights Mansion, is hosting another Mansion Tour at 1 p.m.
The Delaware Art Museum (2301 Kentmere Parkway, Wilmington, Delaware, delart.org) currently is featuring four exhibitions.
“Estampas de la Raza: Contemporary Prints from the Romo Collection” is running now through May 28.
Estampas de la Raza chronicles the unique heritage, history, and experience of Mexican Americans and Latinos in an exhibition of 61 eye-catching screenprints and lithographs from the McNay Art Museum in San Antonio. This body of prints comprises an essential but largely overlooked aspect of contemporary American art, focusing on prints made by Mexican American and Latino artists between 1980 and 2010.
Inspired by the Chicano art movement of the 1960s and 1970s, many of these artists activate Pop Art aesthetics and powerful messages to explore the complex identities and struggles of Latinos living in the United States. The exhibition highlights Mexican icons, including Frida Kahlo and Che Guevara, and celebrates Latino cultural traditions.
The 44 featured printmakers include Raul Caracoza, Sam Coronado, Richard Duardo, Germs (Jaime Zacarias), Ignacio Gomez, Ester Hernandez, Luis A. Jiménez Jr., Malaquias Montoya, Frank Romero, Patssi Valdez, and Ernesto Yerena.
“Our Red Planet: Anna Bogatin Ott” is running now through July 16.
Ukrainian-born abstract painter, sculptor, and digital artist Anna Bogatin Ott captures the sublime in nature and the complexity of human existence. This exhibition showcases her most recent work, informed by NASA images from Mars and her meditations on the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine.
“My Life, My Voice: Occupying Spaces (La vida de uno y el lugar que ocupamos)” is running now through September 24.
Cesar Viveros is transforming DelArt’s Orientation Hall with a painted mural and a series of seven screen prints, commissioned by the Museum to accompany the exhibition Estampas de la Raza: Contemporary Prints from the Romo Collection. Born in Mexico, Viveros is a renowned muralist, painter, screen-printer, clay and papier-mâché sculptor in the Philadelphia area, and a leader in the region’s Latino community and art world.
Viveros’ mural represents a bodega or tienda de la esquina—a typical corner store which serves as a daily point of encounter in Latino neighborhoods. His posters are based on conversations with members of the Hispanic American Association of Delaware and Los Abuelos, a senior group from the Latin American Community Center.
“Revision: David Meyer” is also running now through September 24.
Sculptor David Meyer uses various materials—flour, dirt, steel, or glass—to form objects that elevate our senses. For this large-scale installation, Meyer creates shapes derived from distorted photographic images. It is the moment of recognition that Meyer elicits in his sculptures.
Admission to the Delaware Museum of Art is $14 for adults, $7 for college students and $6 for youth.
Hagley Museum and Library (Route 141, Wilmington, Delaware, 302-658-2400, www.hagley.org), a 230-acre historical village on the site of the original du Pont Company gunpowder mills in northern Delaware, has opened a new attraction – “Nation of Inventors.”
This weekend, Hagley will present a special event called “Science Saturday.”
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.
“Nation of Inventors” celebrates the American spirit of ingenuity by taking visitors on a journey from the early years of the patent system, in the 1790s, through the “golden age” of American invention, in the late 1800s. The exhibit features more than 120 patent models from Hagley’s unique collection highlighting the diverse stories of inventors from all walks of life.
Patent models are scaled representations of inventions and were part of the patent application process for nearly 100 years. “Nation of Inventors” showcases patent models representing innovations in a variety of industries from transportation and manufacturing to food preservation and medical devices.
In the exhibition, visitors will enjoy engaging experiences around every corner, testing their knowledge of innovation and hearing personal accounts from inventors.
The patent models in “Nation of Inventors” were created between 1833 and 1886. “Nation of Inventors” not only features patent models submitted by inventors from the United States, but also models from inventors in England, France, Ireland, Russia, and Spain, demonstrating an international interest in America’s intellectual property system.
“Nation of Inventors” includes patent models from well-known inventors and companies like Ball (Mason Jars), Jim Beam, Bissell, Corliss, Steinway, and Westinghouse. The exhibit presents important topics and timely themes including women inventors, Black inventors, immigrant inventors, improvements in urban living, and the ways Americans learn about and understand progress and change.
“Nation of Inventors” is located on the first two floors of Hagley’s Visitor Center. Visitors can plan to spend about 30 minutes on their self-guided tour of the exhibition.
Admission to Hagley Museum is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and students and $6 for children (ages 6-14).
The newest exhibition at the Brandywine Museum of Art (1 Hoffman Mill Road, Chadds Ford, brandywine.org), “Andrew Wyeth: Home Places,” opened a few weeks ago and will run through July 13.
This exhibition is a presentation of nearly 50 paintings and drawings of local buildings that inspired Wyeth time and again over seven decades of his career.
The artworks in this exhibition are drawn exclusively from the nearly 7,000-object Andrew and Betsy Wyeth Collection of the Wyeth Foundation for American Art, now managed by the Brandywine. Many of these pieces have never before been exhibited, offering a first glimpse at a significant treasure trove that will shed new light on the collaborative creative process of Andrew and Betsy Wyeth.
“Andrew Wyeth: Home Places” shares the story of a remarkable immersive and intensive artistic practice that ranged across the full array of media Andrew Wyeth practiced. Over the course of a long and diverse career of many chapters, Wyeth repeatedly depicted a small group of historic houses in the vicinity of his hometown of Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania.
In these weathered buildings others might have overlooked or even scorned in the face of gentrification and commercial development of the region, Wyeth found layers of emotion and association. These structures—both venerable and vulnerable in a changing Brandywine Valley—served as a means of pursuing his abiding attention to that which lies beneath the surface of things.
Through living in this landscape his whole life, he engaged in an artistic practice of uncommon focus over an extended timescale, coming to know deeply the evocative buildings in a radius of just a few square miles and rendering them in an astonishing variety of compositions, handlings and approaches. As Wyeth said, “You can be in a place for years and years and not see something, and then when it dawns, all sorts of nuggets of richness start popping all over the place. You’ve gotten below the obvious.”
Among the previously unexhibited works on view are the charming early oil “The Miller’s Son,” painted when Wyeth was just 17 years old, and the stunning watercolor “Noah’s Ark Study” made at age 87—both depicting the same property, Brinton’s Mill.
That the Wyeths came to own and restore this property for use as their primary residence is among the many contributions of Betsy James Wyeth, whose distinct role in stewarding historic properties in Pennsylvania and Maine, which informed her husband’s painting practice, is a key context of this exhibition.
Museum admission is $18 adults, $15 seniors (65+), $6 children (ages 6-18) and students with ID and free for children (ages five and under).
Every Saturday and Sunday in May, the Chaddsford Winery (632 Baltimore Pike, Chadds Ford, 610-388-6221, http://www.chaddsford.com) is presenting “Mimosas with Mom.”
The winery is honoring mom and mimosa lovers with bubbly pours and seasonal specials. This intimate 60-minute experience takes place in the Barrel Room and provides access to some of its latest wine releases.
Each session will begin with a brief classroom-style presentation by a Chaddsford Wine Educator. After the pairings are introduced and explained, your group will have an hour to enjoy the carefully curated selections while raising a well-deserved toast to all the matriarchs in your life.
The 2023 Pairing Line Up is — Greeting Wine: Watermelon mimosa with fresh watermelon juice and 2021 Sparkling White; 2022 Dry Rosé; 2022 Harbinger; 2021 Demi-Sec Niagara and Shareable Charcuterie Board by J. Scott Catering.
Outside food is not permitted during this program but guests can enjoy food truck fare from Common Good Pizza.
This program is $35/person with three seatings times per day — noon, 2 and 4 p.m.
Advanced reservations are required and are non-refundable. Guests under 21 years old are not permitted to attend.
Penns Woods Winery (124 Beaver Valley Road, Chadds Ford, http://www.pennswoodswinery.com) will present “Live Music on the Lawn” every weekend in May.
The schedule for May 20 features Paul Wilkinson and Greg Jones from 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
The schedule for May 21 features Bill Hake and Jason Ager from 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Elmwood Park Zoo (1661 Harding Boulevard, Norristown, www.elmwoodparkzoo.org) will also be hosting several of its ultra-popular “Dog Days” over the next week.
The Zoo’s “Dog Days” event will be held on May 19, 21, 24 and 26 from noon-4 p.m. each day.
All guests visiting the zoo with a furry friend must complete an online waiver and submit required documents before visiting the zoo. You must upload a copy of your most recent veterinary visit, including proof of vaccine and heartworm test here. All items will be required for you to attend “Dog Days.”
Pricing is $10.95 per dog with each additional dog at $9.95. Regular zoo admission is required for all humans.
Peddler’s Village (Routes 202 and 263, Lahaska, peddlersvillage.com) is presenting “Strawberry Month” now through the end of May.
Peddler’s Village is also presenting its “Cupcake Decorating Competition” from May 3-20.
On display for the first two weeks of May, this icing-laced display will include professional and amateur culinary creations in four categories: Traditional, Baker’s Choice, Student, and Kids.
Admission is free to the display which is housed in the Visitor & Event Center (Red Barn, located off Street Road and Peddler’s Lane).
Sesame Place (100 Sesame Road, Langhorne, www.sesameplace.com) will be presenting “Elmo’s Springtacular” every weekend now through June 18 – and this weekend, the focus will be on mothers.
“Elmo’s Springtacular” at Sesame Place is filled with furry fun and exciting events – including an exciting line up of meet & greets, music, magic, pirate adventures, and fireworks.
This weekend will feature “Elmo’s Pirate Weekend” on May 20 and 21.
Elmo and his crew are setting sail for a pirate adventure with exclusive showings of “Elmo and the Bookaneers” in Abby’s Paradise Theater.
Visitors can join in the fun with a “Treasure Hunt” throughout the park, and have photos taken with all of their favorite furry friends dressed in their pirate garb.
Kids can take a spin on the rides, catch their favorite Sesame Street shows, and watch the Sesame Street Party Parade.
There are many other sites where nature’s spring glory is on display. Chanticleer (786 Church Street, Wayne, www.chanticleergarden.org), which just opened its 2023 season, is one of them.
The Chanticleer estate dates from the early 20th-century, when land along the Main Line of the Pennsylvania Railroad was developed for summer homes to escape the heat of Philadelphia. Adolph Rosengarten, Sr., and his wife Christine chose the Wayne-St. David’s area to build their country retreat. The family’s pharmaceutical firm eventually became part of Merck & Company in the 1920s.
The garden has evolved greatly since the death of the owner in 1990. As the home of the Rosengartens, Chanticleer was beautiful and green with impressive trees and lawns. Most of the floral and garden development you see today has occurred since 1990 — designed by Chanticleer staff and consultants.
There are seven horticulturists, each responsible for the design, planting, and maintenance of an area. The areas are continually evolving, each with its own feel, yet joined together as one complete unit.
The Teacup Garden and Chanticleer Terraces feature seasonal plants and bold-textured tropical and subtropical plants.
The Tennis Court, Ruin, Gravel Garden, and Pond Garden focus on hardy perennials, both woody and herbaceous.
Asian Woods and Bell’s Woodland are shady areas. The Serpentine celebrates the beauty of agricultural crops.
Admission to Chanticleer is $12 for adults and free for pre-teen children (12 years and under).
Andalusia Historic House, Gardens and Arboretum (1237 State Road, Andalusia, www.andalusia house.org) opened its gates for the 2023 season at the beginning of April.
Located on a wooded promontory overlooking the Delaware River, Andalusia has been a stately presence on this stretch of water, just north of Philadelphia, for more than 200 years. The ancestral home of the Biddle family, Andalusia is also a natural paradise of native woodlands and spectacular gardens that have evolved over time.
Placed on the National Register of Historic Landmarks in 1966, the Big House is one of the finest examples of Greek Revival architecture in the United States.
Its surrounding gardens delight the senses all through the year, from the tumbling, brightly colored leaves of fall to the floral extravaganza of spring and the abundance and scent of summer.
Self-Guided Garden Tours will be available Mondays through Wednesdays from April 4-November 2 (excluding holidays) at 10 a.m. or 1 p.m. Picnics are allowed on the grounds (with have a “carry-in, carry-out” policy).
Access to the Big House is not included with this tour, which is $20 per person. There is no charge for children 12 and under.
Big House Tours with Garden Access will be available Mondays through Wednesdays from April 4-November 2 (excluding holidays) at 10 a.m. or 1 p.m. Tickets are $30 per person. There is no charge for children 12 and under.
A sweet place to enjoy flowers in bloom is Tyler Arboretum (515 Painter Road, Media, 610-566-9134, www.tylerarboretum.org).
The arboretum’s schedule for this weekend is a “Saturday Wildflower Walk” on May 20 at 1 p.m.
Participants can join wildflower expert Dick Cloud on an informative two-hour hike that will take them through meadows, woods, and occasionally streamside. Although the focus is on plants, we will talk about whatever we might see while we are out! In May, we should see a large variety of spring wildflowers.
Another featured attraction will be the “Bluebird Nesting Box Tour” at 1 p.m. on May 21
For more than 50 years, volunteers at Tyler Arboretum have been monitoring the nesting activities of the Eastern Bluebird. This is a family-friendly tour to share this tradition.
Admission to Tyler Arboretum is $18 for adults (ages 18-64), $15 for Seniors (65+) and $10 for children (ages 3-17) and Military with valid ID.
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 are rotated 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.
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.
Grim Philly’s “Dark Philly History Tour” (www.grimphilly.com) will be held every evening throughout the winter.
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.
