What To Do: Kennett Winterfest features region’s top breweries

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, the Times

This is a special time of year in Kennett Square – the time for a popular annual event known as the Kennett Winterfest. Usually, tickets are already sold out by this time but this year some tickets remain.

The Eighth Annual Kennett Winterfest (http://kennettwinterfest.com/) will be held on February 29 from 12:30-4 p.m. in a tented area near 600 South Broad Street in Kennett Square.

Visitors are invited to enjoy winter brews from more than 60 unique craft breweries. Admission to the festival includes unlimited tastings of delicious craft beer.

Once again, the festival will feature a food truck selection instead of a food ticket. Food is available on a pay-as-you-go basis and is not included in the price of admission.

The line-up of food trucks participating in Saturday’s event are Abuelita’s Empanadas, Dia Doce, Natalie’s Fine Food, The Polish Connection and Southbound BBQ.

The long list of participating breweries includes 2SP Brewing, Argilla Brewing, Avery, Big Hill Ciderworks, Conshohocken Brewing, Tuned Up Brewing, Bald Birds Brewing Company, Free Will Brewing, 2nd Story Brewing Company, Athletic Brewing Company, Autumn Arch Beer Project, Be Here Brewing, Bellfonte Brewing Company, Big Oyster Brewery, Brick Works Brewing, Kennett Brewing Co., Ship Bottom Brewery, Singlecut Beersmith, Victory Brewing, Guinness, Zero Day Brewing, Braeloch Brewing, Brothers Kershner Brewing Company, and Cape May Brewing.

Also featured will be Lancaster Brewing, Levante Brewing, Hidden River, Imprint Beer Co., Mispillion River Brewing, Rebel Seed Cider, River Horse, Mainstay Independent Brewery, Collusion Tap Works, Dew Point Brewing Company, East Branch Brewing Company,  Elk River Brewing Company, Evil Genius Beer Company, Fermentery Form,McKenzie’s Hard Cider, Platform Beer Company, Rebel Hill Brewing Company, Rotunda Brewing Company, Well Crafted Beer Company  and Winding Path Brewing.

The diverse list also includes Saranac Brewery, Dressler Estate, Fegley’s Brew Works, Flying Fish Brewing Company, Founders Brewing Co., Great Lakes Brewing Co, Golden Road Brewing, Iron Hill Brewery, Manayunk Brewing Company, Neshaminy Creek Brewing Company, Schlafly Beer, Sloop Brewing Company, Sly Fox Brewing Company, Toppling Goliath Brewing Company, Haymaker Meadery, Highway Manor Brewing, Wilmington Brew Works, Workhorse Brewing Company, Tired Hands Brewing Company, Two Roads Brewing Co., Stolen Sun Brewing Company, Suburban Brewing Co.

There will be live music by Amanda and the Teddy Thomas Band.

The Kennett Winterfest is a fundraising event with all proceeds going to Historic Kennett Square, a non-profit organization working to keep Kennett Square a regional economic and cultural center. The Kennett Brewfest is intended to be an opportunity to sample some of the best regional and national craft beers accompanied by great food, great music, and great people. Anyone displaying malicious, violent, or otherwise inappropriate behavior will be removed from the festival grounds without refund.

No one without a ticket and proper photo identification will be allowed to enter. No one under the age of 21 will be admitted including babies. Pets are also on the “not welcome” list.

The Winterfest is a rain or shine event. Tickets are $60 general admission and $15 for designated drivers.

From March 3-8, Kennett Square will continue in a celebratory mood with Kennett Square Restaurant Week (https://historickennettsquare.com/events/restaurantweek/).

More than a dozen participating restaurants are offering a variety of prix-fixe menus, new dishes, and special offers. For art lovers, the Square Pear Gallery will be exhibiting “Food, Wine and Good Times” throughout Restaurant Week.

The roster of participating establishments includes Grain, Kennett Square Inn, La Verona, Portabellos, The Creamery, Kennett Brewing Company, The Market at Liberty Place, Mary Pat’s Provisions, Kaboburritos, Rump Roasters, Talulas Table, Victory Brewing Company, Braeloch Brewing, Byrsa Bistro, Cafe de Thai, Liberty Place Pub, Roll’Eat Sushi, and Verbena BYOB.

Chestnut Hill Restaurant Week is running through February 28 in downtown Chestnut Hill.

This event will also feature a wide array of restaurants offering special Prix Fixe menus at 15 of the neighborhood’s popular restaurants. Participating spots include Paris Bistro & Jazz Cafe, Tavern on the Hill and Mica.

Real winter weather never arrived in this area – and that’s a good thing.

Instead of gloomy weather and snow-covered flower beds, the weather has been mild and the crocus arrival has already begun.

That means that the annual Philadelphia Flower Show at the Pennsylvania Convention Center (12th and Arch streets, Philadelphia, 215-988-8899, www.theflowershow.com) isn’t the mood breaker that it usually is.

Nonetheless, the arrival of the huge flower show is always a welcome event.

If you’re in the mood for flowers – lots and lots of flowers – all you need do is make a visit to this year’s Philadelphia Flower Show which opens on February 29 and runs through March 8.

The PHS (Philadelphia Horticultural Society) Philadelphia Flower Show is the nation’s largest and longest-running horticultural event and features stunning displays by the world’s premier floral and landscape designers. Started in 1829, the Show introduces diverse plant varieties and sustainable garden and design concepts.

This year’s theme, “Riviera Holiday,” will bring designers and visitors to the Mediterranean Riviera. The world’s leading floral and garden designers will immerse visitors in the sights, scents, and tastes of the region.

Citrus trees and sweeps of lavender will form a vision of Riviera life as visitors wander along intimate pathways to a whole new crop of experiences, garden displays, and artistic design.  The Show will include acres of lush garden landscapes with five new designers including James and Helen Basson of Scape Design, and Laurélie de la Salle of Laurélie Paysages, both from Nice, France, and will feature an enormous variety of Mediterranean plants.

According to Sam Lemheney, PHS Chief of Shows & Events, “The Riviera is one of the most renowned areas for horticulture. And, it has tremendous aesthetic appeal. Anyone familiar with the region can close their eyes and see the magnificent plant life and smell the fragrances of the Mediterranean. We want people to experience the Mediterranean region at the Flower Show, but we also want them to stay and learn about the importance of horticulture and sustainability within their communities.”

The show, which is presented every year by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and celebrates its 191st anniversary in 2020, treats visitors to a spectacle of floral displays in every size, style and shape imaginable.

The show will feature 10 acres of exhibition halls with floral displays and vendors and provide visitors with all new interactive experiences. This inviting part of the show will feature garden trends, chats with experts, and hands-on learning sessions for gardeners to become even greener. The fun and engaging display in the Grow It Center will help visitors learn how they can make a bigger difference in their communities through horticulture.

Mobile “Pop Up” moments throughout the show will illustrate how some of the Show’s fascinating displays are brought to life including how to make jewelry from materials found in nature and how to grow your own show-worthy plants.

The Bloomin’ Brunch is also a new event held daily for foodies and horticulture lovers. The “Taste of Saint Tropez” themed Brunch will treat guests to an exclusive dining menu in a beautiful setting.

Guests are encouraged to enhance their Flower Show visit each day with other popular experiences, including Flower Show Guided Tours in the early morning and now also in the evening, Butterflies Live, and Make & Take DIY. The Flower Show also features an exciting competition that brings together thousands of plant lovers who compete in hundreds of categories.

The show’s biggest attraction each year is the massive “Marketplace” featuring over 150 vendors from all over America and several European nations. They will be selling flowers, orchids, floral-inspired furniture, sheds, artwork and unique garden-related crafts and supplies.

Throughout the week, hundreds of gardening experts will provide learning opportunities in the Lecture Series.

Be prepared for large crowds during the weekend hours. If you want a more leisurely visit, plan to visit the show during the week. Also, take public transportation if possible. Vehicular traffic in the area is frequently a nightmare and parking lots tend to fill up early even though they are charging exorbitant fees.

Tickets for the Philadelphia Flower Show are $42 for adults, $26 for Young Friend (ages 18-29) and  $17 for children ages 5-17.

There are also plenty of flowers on display right here in Chester County.

Longwood Gardens (Route 1, Kennett Square, 610-388-1000, www.longwoodgardens.org) is in the middle of the run of its popular “Orchid Extravaganza” — an annual event that is running through March 22.

The celebration of the orchid species features thousands of orchid blooms along with a variety of displays and special exhibits throughout its four-acre conservatory. “Orchid Extravaganza” will also feature stunning displays of orchids in planting beds, containers and innovative exhibits.

The three largest flowering plant families containing the greatest number of species are the sunflower family (Asteraceae) with about 24,000 species, the orchid family (Orchidaceae) with about 20,000 species, and the legume or pea family (Fabaceae) with 18,000 species.”

The orchid is a flower that is acclaimed as one of the most beautiful, delicate and graceful flowers in the world. The Royal Botanical Gardens of Kew list more than 20,000 accepted species with about 800 new species added each year. Additionally, horticulturists have more than 100,000 hybrids and cultivars.

As one of the first plant collections at Longwood, orchids have held a place of distinction since 1922.

Visitors will be able to escape to a balmy oasis filled with nearly 5,000 blooming orchids during Orchid Extravaganza. Longwood’s heated four-acre Conservatory provides an escape from winter’s chill and features thousands of colorful orchid blooms displayed in extraordinary ways.

In addition to the one-of-a-kind horticultural display, Orchid Extravaganza features activities and programs for the entire family, including concerts, talks, tours, OrKid Days, and more. The Gardens are open daily from 9 am–5 pm.

Guests will be amazed as orchid blooms cascade down walls, spill from containers, and hang from the ceiling– featuring Cattleya, Dendrobium, Phalaenopsis, Paphiopedilum, and Oncidium, among others.

In the Main Conservatory, a canopy of pink and purple Orchid Orbs welcomes you to a lush sanctuary of vibrant, artfully presented orchids.

In the Acacia Passage, delicate cascading branches of cinnamon wattle beckons with fragrant blooms, while 18 urns filled with yellow and white Oncidium and Phalaenopsis line this picturesque passageway.

Additional indoor highlights include the Mediterranean Garden featuring a riot of vibrant color January through April with Australian purple coral-pea (Hardenbergia) vines blooming like miniature wisteria. In the Estate Fruit House, nectarines, melons, and other fruits and vegetables flourish in the midst of winter.

OrKID Days are feature activities where families can discover the colors, patterns, and beauty of orchids through art activities and storytelling. The final OrKID Days will take place on March 9 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and are free with Gardens Admission.

Admission to Longwood Gardens is $25 for adults, $22 for seniors and $13 for students.

Magic will be on the menu this weekend at The Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center (236 North High Street, West Chester, https://uptownwestchester.org/). On February 29, the center will host a performance by one of the area’s premier magicians – Chris Capehart.

Beginning at 7 p.m., the theater will present the “Chris Capehart Family Friendly Magic Show” – a two-hour performance of spellbinding magic.

In 40-plus years, Capehart has performed on the big stage, lectured to magicians, created routines, mastered the linking rings and become a famous, accomplished street performer.

He has been published and imitated throughout the world. His skill at close-up is no less than astonishing. His quick comeback verbal skills, sharpened on the streets of New York City, have made him an outstanding comedian.

Capehart has performed in more than a dozen countries and has worked for three different cruise lines. Most impressively, he has been featured on the cover of Genii Magazine, December 2008 edition as well as a 23-page story inside the magazine.

Tickets for Saturday evening’s performance are $25 for adults and $15 for children.

For a family event that is both fun and educational, it’s hard to top the annual Pancake Breakfast and Maple Sugaring Celebration at the Tyler Arboretum (515 Painter Road, Media, 610-566-9134, www.tylerarboretum.org).

The popular wintertime event will be held on February 29 from 8 a.m.-1 p.m.

The Pancake Breakfast brings visitors to the arboretum site on a Saturday morning in February each year to dine at an all-you-can-eat pancake and sausage breakfast — a hearty morning meal featuring hot pancakes, savory sausage, fresh maple syrup, coffee, tea and juice.

After enjoying the tasty morning meal, visitors can go out into the arboretum to learn how real maple syrup — not maple-flavored pancake syrup — is made. Demonstrations and maple sugaring tours are presented throughout the morning at the old-fashioned maple sugaring festival. The tours show how authentic maple sugar is made — a process that involves tapping the trees and boiling down the sap.

If you’ve ever wondered why real maple syrup is such an expensive item, look at the numbers. It takes about 40 gallons of maple sap to make one gallon of syrup and it takes about 30 years for a sugar maple tree to grow large enough to tap.

Tickets for the Pancake Breakfast are $16 for adults and $10 for children (ages 3-12).

On February 29, there will be another maple sugar event worth checking out when Wissahickon Environmental Center (300 West Northwestern Avenue, Philadelphia, 215-685-9285) hosts its annual Maple Sugar Day.

There will be ongoing maple sugaring demonstrations, pancakes with real maple syrup, a taste test of different pancake toppings, and freshly made maple candy to taste. Pennsylvania Maple Syrup products will be available for purchase.

The all-ages event is free and will run from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Historic Odessa (Main Street, Odessa, Delaware, 302-378-4119, www.historicodessa.org) is both a scenic and an historic site in Delaware.

This year, March 1 will be an historic date for the historic site.

On March 1, Historic Odessa reopens for spring tours and celebrates the beginning of its 2020 season.

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.

March 1 is also a special day in Odessa for another reason.

Visitors are invited to celebrate Dr. Seuss’s birthday with Historic Odessa Foundation.

Guests will have the opportunity to party with a reading of “Cat in Hat” followed by family friendly arts and crafts.

The celebration will run from 2-4 p.m. in the Bank Building (201 Main Street, Odessa).

The Philadelphia Comic-Con, which is scheduled to run from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on March 1 at the Clarion Hotel Conference Center (76 Industrial Highway, Essington, 856-217-5737, www.philadelphiacomic-con.com), features comic books, trading cards and other collectibles — both modern and vintage.

The event, which has an admission fee of $4, also features a number of special autograph guests. This Saturday, the guest artists are Paris Cullins (Artist – Blue Beetle & Blue Devil & More), Bob Petrecca (DC & Marvel Artist & Inker) and Brian Donnelly (Mythographer’s Workshop).
The popular collectibles event, which is the area’s longest running comic convention, will host dealers from all over the Northeast with sales booths featuring Gold & Silver Age comics, action figures, non-sport cards (including Topps “Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens”).

Also featured will be Japanese Manga, gaming cards such as Pokemon and Magic the Gathering, original artwork and all the latest issues of today’s popular comic book series.

The roster of top-flight vendors includes veteran dealers and relative newcomers.

As an added attraction, there will be hourly door prizes beginning at 11 a.m. with $100 in show cash to be given away.

Some of baseball’s greats such as Harold Carmichael, Doc Gooden, Maxie Baugh, Bobby Wine and former Philadelphia Athletics standout Bobby Shantz will be main autograph guests this weekend’s Philadelphia Sportscard & Memorabilia Show, which is running from February 28-March 1 at the Valley Forge Casino Resort (First Avenue, King of Prussia, 610-524-0822,http://www.phillyshow.com).

The show will feature dealers from all over the country who will be selling a wide array of sports-related items such as game-used equipment, autographed balls, posters, magazine, game programs and autographed pictures – and plenty of Philadelphia sports memorabilia. Visitors can also find a huge selection of collectors’ supplies including protective sheets, binders, ball protectors and display cases.

Another major focus of the show will be trading cards — especially baseball cards. Show attendees will be able to find everything from ultra-rare vintage Honus Wagner and Babe Ruth cards to the latest releases. All sports will be represented, including football, soccer, ice hockey, basketball, wrestling, Olympics and UFC.

Show hours are 2-8 p.m. on Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Sunday.

Admission to the show is $8 per day or $18 for a weekend pass.

Fans of blues music should have Lancaster as their destination this weekend because “Lancaster Roots & Blues – A Festival of Music and Art” will be held from February 28-March 1.

More than 70 artists will take the stage at eight venues over three days at the 2020 Lancaster Roots & Blues festival (https://lancasterrootsandblues.com).

The shows will be spread over eight venues, including the Chameleon, Tellus 360, the Convention Center and the Federal Taphouse.

The diverse list of blues entertainers includes such top-flight acts as Albert Cummings, Carey Morin, Clarence Spady, Dr. Harmonica and Rockett 88, Garland Jeffries, Greg Piccolo, and the Nighthawks.

The 2020 Festival will also feature a dynamic Arts Expo in the Commonwealth Ballroom with 24 booths.

If you want to enjoy a session of skating this season at the Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest (Delaware Avenue at Walnut Street, Philadelphia, 215-925-RINK, http://www.delawareriverwaterfront.com/places/blue-cross-riverrink-winterfest), you better act quickly.

This is the penultimate weekend for the rink’s 2019-2020 season. March 8 marks the season finale. When that Sunday’s final session concludes, that’s it – that’s the end until next winter.

Unlike most of the suburban ice rinks, RiverRink features only public skating. Ice skating is the only use of the ice – no hockey leagues, no lessons, just public ice skating.

RiverRink has taken the ice skating experience on the Delaware River waterfront to another level by once again transforming the annual rink into a bona fide winter wonderland.

Open seven days a week, the Blue Cross RiverRink Winterfest is an immersive winter-themed experience with a popular bar and restaurant called The Lodge, winter beer garden-style landscaping, a brand-new light show, and a retail shopping experience from Art Star Gallery & Boutique.

The outdoor rink’s hours this season are 1 p.m.-11 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 1 p.m.-1 a.m. Friday; 11 a.m.-1 a.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m.-11 p.m. on Sunday. Skating admission price is $4 and skate rental is $10.

If you’re thinking about getting an RV — or any type from a home-away-from-home on wheels — then you should check out the Greater Philadelphia RV Show & Sale which is running now through March 1 at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center (100 Station Avenue, Oaks, 800-290-6886, www.phillyrvshow.com).

Visitors to the show will be able to shop at exhibits by many of the top dealers of Southeastern Pennsylvania without having to drive all around the area to do so. The dealers will all be assembled together under one roof allowing comparison shopping to be an easy task.

In addition to exhibits displaying all types of RVs, the show will also feature supplier booths, camping information and dealers specializing in parts and accessories.

The roster of participating dealers includes Stoltzfus RV & Marine (West Chester), RV Value Mart, Shady Maple RV, and Stoltzfus RV (Adamstown).

The line-up also includes Berks-Montgomery Camping Center, Hitch RV, Fretz Enterprises, Indian Valley Camping Center, Family Camping Outlet, Miller Trailer Sales, Campers Inn and Boat-n-RV Superstore.

Show hours are noon-8:30 p.m. on February 28, 10 a.m.-8:30 p.m. on February 29 and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on March 1. Tickets are $11 with children (under 12) admitted free with a paying adult.

For all you parents who are looking for indoor activities to temporarily offer some relief from your kids’ cabin fever, consider crossing the Delaware River for a visit to the Adventure Aquarium (1 Riverside Drive, Camden, New Jersey, 856-365-3300, www.adventureaquarium.com).

Families who visit the Aquarium will have the opportunity to explore and discover hippos, penguins, stingrays, sharks and more – all in one visit.

Some of the popular, family-friendly attractions are “Sea Turtle Cove,” “Caribbean Currents,” “Hippo Haven,” “Creature Feature,” “The Grotto,” “Touch a Shark,” “Ocean Realm,” “Stingray Beach Club,” “Shark Bridge,” “Piranha Falls,” “Penguin Park,” “Shark Realm,” and “Little Blue Beach.”

Admission to the Adventure Aquarium is $31.99 for adults and $21.99 for children (ages 2-12). Children under two are admitted free with a paying adult.

For the next two months, the Franklin Institute (271 North 21st Street, Philadelphia, 215-448-1200, www.fi.edu) is presenting an expansive exhibition titled, “The Worst-Case Scenario: Survival Experience” based on the internationally bestselling book series — “The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook.”

With a 76,000-ball pit as its centerpiece, a horizontal climbing wall, a train car jump, lock picking challenges, upside-down tic-tac-toe, and more—this kid-friendly experience immerses you in various challenges to build your survival smarts.

The “Experiences​” include: Escape quicksand, learn to fall safely, and create and survive an avalanche—in the massive ball pit; Use everyday materials like bobby pins to try to pick a lock; Scale a wall horizontally to practice how to survive rising floodwaters and similar dangers; Practice your lie detection ability on a partner; Hop between simulated train car platforms and jump (and roll) to safety; Discover how your mind adjusts to changes in the environment by playing tic-tac-toe while upside-down; and Spin the wheel and uncover what to do when faced with an angry mountain lion, or a herd of elephants in your path.

“The Worst-Case Scenario: Survival Experience” is open now through April 19.

The Franklin Institute’s general admission is $30 for adults and $26 for children (ages 3-11).

The Hands-on House Children’s Museum (721 Landis Valley Road, Lancaster, 717-569-5437, http://www.handsonhouse.org) offers a wide array of activities for youngster.

Curiosity, creativity, and discovery will take children (accompanied by an adult) on an educational adventure in The Clubhouse, where learning and fun go hand-in-hand.

Some of the museum’s more popular attractions are “Right In Your Own Backyard” where guests can climb in a treehouse and crawl into a honeycomb and see what it’s like to live like a bee, and “Marty’s Machine Shop,” where visitors can put on safety gear and learn how to make the world-famous Watchamagiggles.

Other featured attractions are “Facepaint Porch,” “Little Valley Farm,” “The Corner Grocery,” and “Mostly Make-Believe.”

Admission to the museum is $11 for children and $10.50 for adults. To make sure that every attendee has a great experience, please have one adult attending for every two children.

Wonderspaces, an experiential, interactive arts venue, is celebrating its largest location in the country now through March 23 at the Fashion District (27 North 11th Street, Philadelphia,philadelphia.wonderspaces.com/).

Building on the success of annual pop-up shows in San Diego, and its first permanent location in Scottsdale, Arizona, Wonderspaces features a 24,000 square foot gallery space.

Wonderspaces presents 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.
The first line-up of artwork at Wonderspaces includes: Submergence by Squidsoup, Blooms by John Edmark, Sun by Phillip Schutte, Transition by Mike von Rotz and Joost Jordens, Black Balloons by Tadao Cern, Body Paint by Memo Akten, Come Together by Michael Murphy, The Last Word by Illegal Art, Stories of Mechanical Music by Myriam Bleau, and Myrkviðr by Yasuhiro Chida.

Tickets for Wonderspaces are $24. An average tour of a Wonderspaces show lasts 80-90 minutes but visitors are welcome to stay as long as they want. Tickets are tied to a specific date and time. The number of visitors allowed to enter every fifteen minutes is limited to ensure the space never becomes too crowded.

For the past few months, people have been able to get in a happy mood by visiting HAPPY PLACE (www.HappyPlace.me). If you want to check it out, you only have a few days left.

Live Nation Philadelphia brought HAPPY PLACE, an interactive, immersive pop-up exhibit with larger-than-life installations and multi-sensory themed rooms, to the King of Prussia Mall where it was slated to be open until just after Christmas holiday.

Originally scheduled to run through January 5, HAPPY PLACE has been extended until February 29 and will be operating on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays only.

HAPPY PLACE is filled with multi-sensory immersive rooms inducing smiles and laughter, plus larger-than-life, one-of-a-kind installations including seven-foot stilettos made of a million candies and six-foot tall mirrored X and O letters surrounded by a wall of one thousand red lips. It features more than 15,000 square feet of playful spaces and cheerful moments.

HAPPY PLACE is created for an audience for all ages. Minors under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Tickets start at $30 for adults and $20 for children (ages 4-12).