What To Do: W. Chester Chili Cookoff offers tasty fun

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Now that crisp autumn weather has arrived, it’s a great time to enjoy outdoor events such fall festivals, historical celebrations, hayrides, wine festivals, mazes and scenic train rides. Last weekend, West Chester was supposed to be the site of a special event to determine who can make “The Best Darn Chili in Chester County!” — the site...

What To Do (Halloween events): Spooky times all over the local area

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times Walk down any street and turn any corner and you’re likely to find a Halloween event over the next three weekends. The Chester County History Center (225 North High Street, West Chester, mycchc.org) is presenting two Halloween flavored walking tours this weekend. On October 17, it will be “Plagues and Pestilence: A Walking Tour” at 6 p.m. In...

What To Do: Scary fun is everywhere now

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times October’s arrival also marks the arrival of Halloween related events and pumpkin-flavored everything. I’m waiting for pumpkin-flavored Listerine to hit the shelves. It’s time to look at this weekend’s events – some of which inevitably include pumpkins. The Chester County History Center (225 North High Street, West Chester, mycchc.org)...

WC Chamber names Ryan as new President

Laurie Ryan  The Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce (GWCC)  announced Tuesday that Laurie Ryan will become the next President of the 137-year-old organization effective Nov. 3. “Laurie is a long-time West Chester resident, so she was a natural fit when paired with her impressive depth of experience in chamber management, as well as hands-on experience in business. She’ll be a powerhouse...

What To Do: Chester County Day tops busy weekend schedule

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times This is the time of year when many of the Brandywine Valley’s most popular outdoor events fill the calendar. Chester County Day (locations around Chester County, 610-431-5301, www.chestercountyday.com) is one of the oldest annual events in the Brandywine Valley. On October 4, the 2025 Chester County Day, which will be held in and around West...

What To Do: festivals for everyone this weekend

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times With crisp weather and moderate temperatures, this is the season for outdoor festivals and there are many of them on this weekend’s calendar. The Fourth Annual Oktoberfest in Downtown West Chester (137 North High Street, West Chester, downtownwestchester.com) will be held on September 27 starting at noon. Participating locations will have a...

WCU dedicates football field to two alumni

L to R) Pictured on Tomlinson-Fillippo Field are Agnes Ware, Roger Ware ’82, Head Football Coach Duke Greco, West Chester University President Dr. Laurie Bernotsky, Robert “Tommy” Tomlinson ’70, Tom Fillippo ’69 (sitting), Vice President for University Advancement and External Affairs Dr. Zebulun Davenport, Vice President of University Affairs and Chief of Staff Andrew Lehman, Director...

What To Do: ‘Fall’ into fun fairs and festivals

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times We’re now moving into the season of fall fairs and food festivals. The Chester County Restaurant Festival (Gay Street and downtown area, West Chester, https://westchesterpa.myrec.com/info) has been treating visitors to the borough with the opportunity to sample a wide variety of gourmet treats for more than 40 years. This year, the free festival,...

DASD students donate Solar Kit to Pickering Valley Elementary

Pickering Valley students pose with the Drishti Foundation student leaders and their newly donated solar kit, ready to explore renewable energy through hands-on learning. A group of Downingtown Area School District (DASD) student leaders from the Drishti Foundation visited Pickering Valley Elementary School to donate a solar kit, demonstrating exceptional leadership and community service. This...

What To Do: Remembering history at Brandywine, Christiana

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times The Battle of Brandywine This is a weekend in which summer events are leaving the area schedule while most harvest and Halloween activities have yet to arrive. There is still a full slate of attractive events representing a wide range of genres such as cars, food, ethnic, arts and crafts, trains, scarecrows and lots more. On September 13 and...