What To Do: As Winter (hopefully) winds down, enjoy cold weather activities

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times

This is the time of year when the adventurous can get outside and enjoy a variety of winter festivals and other outdoor winter-themed events.

This weekend will undoubtedly be a weekend of wintry weather with West Chester having forecast lows of 20 degrees on Friday, 17 degrees on Saturday and 26 degrees on Sunday.

So – bundle up, dress in layers, head outdoors and enjoy winter 2022.

Elmwood Park Zoo (1661 Harding Boulevard, Norristown, www.elmwoodparkzoo.org) is celebrating the season with its “Winterfest Weekend” on February 19 and 20.

The event will feature winter-themed entertainment and fun activities, including an ice slide created by the talented Ice Concepts.

Guests can also enjoy keeper chats with our animal ambassadors, carousel rides, s’mores by the fire and drink specials (for guests 21 and older).
The ice slide will be available weather permitting.

The Zoo is hosting several of its ultra-popular “Dog Days” over the next week.

The Zoo’s “Dog Days” event will be held on February 18, 20 and 23 and 16 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.

On February 19, Fort Mifflin (Fort Mifflin and Hog Island roads, Philadelphia, 215-685-4167, www.fortmifflin.us) will host a special event called “Family Fire Pit Festival.”

Visitors are invited to gather around the fire pit and enjoy a wintertime adventure. They’ll be able to explore the whole site to discover unique activities at each of the fort’s special fire pits and fireplaces.

Participants can also listen to a ghost story and meet a Revolutionary War or Civil War soldier.

Guests can bring their own camp chairs and refreshments or visit our Hot Chocolate Bar in the Cannonball Tavern for coffee, cocoa and s’mores kits.

Guided Tours and gallery talks at noon and 2 p.m. will highlight the contributions of African Americans to Fort Mifflin’s history from the 18th to the 20th century.

Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and veterans and $6 for children (ages 6-12).

Now through February 27, the town of Lititz is hosting its annual Fire & Ice Festival (lititzfireandice.com).

Featured attractions will be live ice carvings around town and sculptures out for view all over Broad Street and Main Street (which will be closed to vehicular traffic).

Food trucks will be located around town and retailers will be open late for shopping.

Ice sculptures are available for viewing from dawn to dusk in the Lititz Springs Park and throughout downtown Lititz.

Guests are invited to walk around downtown Lititz and enjoy the ice sculptures, dine at local restaurants, and shop at the local stores.

Visitors to Longwood Gardens (Route 1, Kennett Square, 610-388-1000, www.longwoodgardens.org) during the next two months will be able to immerse themselves in a winter wonderland.

Now through March 27, Longwood Gardens will celebrate a winter wonderland with a special attraction called “Winter Wonder.”

In the past, Longwood Gardens was always a great place to go from January to April to escape the harshness of winter. Guests could enjoy an amazing array of flowering plants inside the lush and nicely heated Conservatory.

That has stayed the same this year and “Winter Wonder” adds a new dimension.

Outdoors, winter’s subdued beauty illustrates how plants can be used for both aesthetic and habitat benefit. Visitors can stroll among the serene landscape of the Hillside Garden or reflect among a symphony of copper and umber hues in the 86-acre Meadow Garden.

Although subdued colors reign, the occasional burst of bright yellow and orange of blooming witch-hazel dots the landscape, while winter grasses add a textural element.

Even though winter is a time of dormancy for many plants, it is also a time when plants’ different characteristics are on display – characteristics such as bark patterns, seed pods and ornamental fruit.

Wintertime allows the clear details of the garden to come forward and highlights the harmony that a garden builds with its surrounding landscape. The clear light of winter enhances the finer details of the outdoor landscape, from deciduous trees holding onto their late winter leaves to the brown-toned structures of summer-flowering perennials set against a blue winter sky.

Indoors, there is always the Conservatory.

This winter, visitors can experience a warm, colorful oasis in Longwood’s grand Conservatory. Vibrant Streptocarpus ‘Concord Blue’ baskets float above, pink and purple Saintpaulia (African-violets) delight, and tall Clerodendrum schmidtii (chains-of-glory) stun.

From beds of coral Cymbidium to a dedicated area showcasing highlights from the site’s vast collection, guests will be able to find hundreds of orchids in spectacular bloom.

In early March, Longwood’s famed blue poppy (Meconopsis ‘Lingholm’) returns to the Conservatory. These spectacular flowers—which are native to the high elevations of the Himalayan Mountains— are grown using precise techniques to force the blue-poppies to flower in March. The substantial petals are a mesmerizing sky-blue color.

The Strasburg Rail Road (Route 741, Strasburg, 717-687-7522, www.strasburgrailroad.com) is running a special train on February 19 – the “Long John Limited” at noon, 1:30 and 3 p.m.

According to the rail line’s website, “Passengers are invited to don their long johns and winter attire, brave the weather aboard our Open Air Car, and enjoy complimentary Long John donut and coffee.”

Not to be confused with the long undergarment worn on cold days, Long Johns are rectangular, yeasted doughnuts that are either filled or unfilled and topped with a variety of icing flavors.
Strasburg Rail Road’s Long Johns will be provided by Achenbach’s Pastries Inc and available while supplies last to those customers purchasing a ticket for the Open-Air car. They can pick up their Long John donut and coffee at the Station before boarding the Open Air Car.

The rail line’s website also posts this advisory — Please note: Passengers assume full responsibility for dressing warmly enough for the weather conditions presented the day of the event. Due to the potentially frigid temperatures, this ride is not recommended for very young children, though tickets for all ages are available for purchase in the event of unseasonably mild conditions the day of. During the train ride, any passengers needing a respite from the cold may retreat to a heated Coach directly adjacent the Open Air Car.)

Tickets are $20 for adults and $13 for children (ages 2-11).

The weather will have some major swings starting this weekend. Overnight temperatures on Saturday and Sunday will be well below freezing – maybe even into the teens.

Next week will be a different story with temperatures ranging from the upper 50s to the mid-60s. For February in the Philly area, this is weather that is definitely hot.

A good way to transition into the “heat wave” is to attend a concert that is definitely hot – a twin bill featuring an artist who was an MTV favorite in the 1980s and is still making music that is relevant today and a versatile thought-provoking singer-songwriter who has been producing top-flight music for more than 25 years,

On February 20, the Sellersville Theater (24 West Temple Avenue, Sellersville, 215-257-5808, www.st94.com) will present a concert featuring Howard Jones and Rachael Sage.

Sage is like a modern-day Renaissance woman — singer-songwriter, ballerina, pianist, poet, record label owner, actress, organist, writer and record producer. Currently, she is focused on being a performer.

“I’m doing a whole tour with Howard,” said Sage, during a phone interview last week. “I’m excited to hit the road – for us to do what we do. We were in the middle of this exact tour two years ago when COVID shut things down. We’re picking up where we left off.”

In March 2020, Sage and Jones had a Sellersville date sandwiched between shows in New York City, Huntington (NY) and Alexandria (VA). This year, Sage’s calendar includes shows in Huntington on February 18, New York on February 19 and Alexandria on February 21.

Sage’s 2020 tour with Jones was in support of her latest album, “Character,” which was released on her own label, MPress Records.

Her own tour just prior to that was cancelled because she was diagnosed with cancer.

“I’ve been in remission for three years,” said Sage. “I had endometrial cancer. I eat healthy and exercise and I stay in remission. I think that doing what you love is the best medicine.”

In early 2020, Sage released an intimate video for “Bravery’s On Fire,” which was the first single off “Character.” Directed by longtime collaborator and award-winning filmmaker Tom Moore, the video is an emotional, cinema verité window into her own recovery from cancer. 100 percent of the proceeds from the sale of the single were targeted to benefit women’s cancer research at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, the two institutions where Sage received her treatment.

Now on the other side of treatment and in complete remission, Sage hopes to raise awareness of this disease, which is the most common type of women’s cancer with more than 60,000 new cases diagnosed each year in the United States alone and 530,000 women worldwide.

“Character,” which was co-produced by Sage and Grammy® winner Andy Zulla, contains the 12 songs she recorded while recovering from her treatment. Recorded at both Carriage House Studios and her home studio in NYC, “Character” features diverse material that reflects on such concepts as gratitude, identity, compassion, authenticity, optimism, and mindfulness.

Sage spent time during the COVID lockdown working on another project – “Poetica.”

“Poetica” is a collaborative album I made with Dave Eggar,” said Sage.

Cinematic and stylistically expansive, “Poetica” is a creatively ambitious musical spoken word project distilling a poetic spirit through text, voice and music in the spirit of Leonard Cohen, Patti Smith and Laurie Anderson. What began as a remote duo collaboration between poet/vocalist/producer Sage and three-time Grammy nominated cellist Dave Eggar eventually evolved into a full-blown spoken word concept album, with musicians contributing from around the globe.

Produced and engineered by Sage herself, “Poetica” aims to create connection and shared experience via the unifying power of words. Adventurous yet familiar in its intimacy, Sage’s voice is perfectly at home in the absence of typical song structure, while her musical arrangements fuse elements of jazz, classical and Appalachian folk with surprising agility.

Additional contributors to “Poetica” include renowned klezmer clarinetist David Krakauer, Spooky Ghost guitarist Gerry Leonard, jazz trumpet player Russ Johnson, guitarist Jack Petruzzell, blues harmonica player Will Wilde, violinist Kelly Halloran and drummers Doug Yowell and Quinn.

“Dave Eggar and I took my poetry and we collaborated on the music,” said Sage. “Kelly Halloran, who has played with me for a long time, played a big role. She is so much more than a violinist. She plays with an extra string so it’s like a viola.

“For the show at Sellersville, it’s just a duo with me and Kelly. Howard is playing as an acoustic trio. I love touring with him. He was so supportive when I covered his song ‘No One Is To Blame.’

“This is my fourth tour with Howard. The first was in the U.K. Then, we toured the states. We did another U.K. tour and now there is this tour. I just feel so fortunate.”

Video link for Rachael Sage — https://youtu.be/SG6icw2syQc.

The show at the Sellersville Theater on February 20 will start at 8 p.m. Tickets are start at $49.50.

“Ribstock 2022,” an all-day benefit music event, will be held on February 20 at Bridgeport Ribhouse (1049 Ford Street, Bridgeport, 610-278-8066, http://ribhouse.net/).

The festivities kick off at 2 p.m. and will feature performances by some of the top local artists.

This popular event was created by the Bridgeport Ribhouse staff, Philadelphia musicians Kevin Burk, Brian Quinn and Paul Hammond, sound engineer Dave Anderson, and dmk Publicity owner Denise Kovalevich as a way to give back to the community.

The 2022 “Ribstock” will feature performances by some of the area’s best artists including The Hot Sauce Junkies, Former Strangers, Nat Attack (featuring Michael Natalini of The Trammps), Old School, Paul Hammond (from Get the Led Out) & Friends and Whiskey Logic.

Affectionally known as the “Day Of Peace And Music,” this much-anticipated event will benefit the Bridgeport Little League and Norristown’s Expressive Path, a non-profit organization committed to enriching, educating, and inspiring adolescents by providing resources in the areas of theater, dance, music, humanities and the visual arts.

In addition to the live music located inside the bar, sandwiches and other food items will be served outside in the tented area in the Ribhouse parking lot.

A $10 entry fee is required for the event and specials will be offered throughout the day and evening.

On February 21, Valley Forge National Historical Park (1400 North Outer Line Drive, King of Prussia, www.nps.gov) is hosting “George Washington’s Birthday Party” from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

The site of one of the most storied struggles of the American Revolution pays tribute to Gen. George Washington with a fun-filled birthday party. Indoor and outdoor activities at Valley Forge National Historical Park take place around the visitor center and include games and crafts for kids, as well as a chance for the little ones to join the Continental Army. Washington stops by for a visit, and all guests can enjoy a celebratory birthday cupcake.

The first public celebration of Washington’s Birthday was at Valley Forge in 1778. Now in 2022, you can join Mrs. Washington, members of the Continental Army, and others to celebrate His Excellency’s 290th birthday.

George and Martha Washington will meet the public for pictures in the main tent and kids can show their appreciation to the General by creating a birthday card for him in the main tent.

The Chaddsford Winery (632 Baltimore Pike, Chadds Ford, www.chaddsford.com) will host Wine & Chocolate Reserve Tastings every Saturday and Sunday in February.

Visitors can enjoy stops at stations featuring locally crafted artisan chocolates from Éclat Chocolate carefully paired with the winery’s award-winning wines.

The pairing lineup is 2019 Sparkling White with Grapefruit Patê de Fruite, 2021 Artisan Series Dry Rosé with Lavender Truffle, 2019 Artisan Series Rise / Run paired with Coffee and Cardamom Bar, good vibes only with Tahitian Vanilla Truffle, and Niagara with Pear Caramel Truffle.

Sessions will be offered throughout the day at noon, 2 and 4 p.m.  During the session, Chaddsford Winery staff will lead guests through an educational pairing while providing interesting facts about the featured wines and chocolates.

Advanced tickets are $35 per person, and space is limited. Advanced reservations are required and are non-refundable.

Guests under 21 years old are not permitted to attend a Reserve Tasting. Outside food is not permitted during this program.

The “Wine and Chocolate Pairings” at Penns Wood Winery (124 Beaver Valley Road, Chadds Ford, http://www.pennswoodsevents.com) will be held every Saturday and Sunday in February.

In addition to its regular tastings, the winery is offering special tastings to celebrate February because February is the month of wine, chocolate, romance and fun.

Penns Wood is adding new and exciting items to its wine and chocolate pairings this year featuring its wines carefully paired with local chocolate treats.

Tickets cost $36 per person in advance and reservations are required.

The Berks County Wine Trail (www.berkscountywinetrail.com) will present “Chocolate & Wine Pairing Event Weekends” to celebrate Valentine’s Day. The event is scheduled for February 19 and 20 from noon-5 p.m. each day.

Visitors can toast Valentines’ Day during two sweet weekends on the wine trail sampling sumptuous chocolates and confections paired with featured wines of the region. They can visit each of the 11 participating wineries along the Berks County Wine Trail to determine their favorite pairing combo.

The list of wineries and featured tastings includes: Deerfoot Winery (Shoemakersville); Stone Barn Cellars (Spring City); Manatawny Creek Winery (Douglassville); Kog Hill Winery (Morgantown); Long Trout Winery (Auburn); Stoudt’s Winery (Shartlesville); Setter Ridge Vineyards (Kutztown); Stonekeep Meadery (Fleetwood); Lily’s Winery & Vineyard (Reading); Weathered Vineyards (New Tripoli); and Ridgewood Winery (Birdsboro).

Tickets are $10 and are good for all four event days.

The Greater Philadelphia Expo Center (100 Station Avenue, Oaks, 484-754-3976, www.phillyexpocenter.com) is hosting the “Philly Fishing Show” on February 18, 19 and 20.

The event will feature free seminars — saltwater, freshwater and fly – and a wide array of vendor booths.

Special attractions include the “Hawg Trough”, a 5000-gallon aquarium full of local freshwater gamefish, a trout fishing pond, a fly-fishing pond and the “3000-Pound Great White Shark Mount and Fighting Chair Challenge.”

There will be professional anglers and lure makers sharing the stage on the tank giving seminars and demonstrating different lures. Tournament Anglers such as Bobby Uhrig, Travis Manson, and Grae Buck will be sharing secrets that have put them in the money.

Hours are noon-7 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sunday.

Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children (6-12) and free for children (five and under).

February is African American History Month and the National Constitution Center National Constitution Center (525 Arch Street, Independence Mall, Philadelphia, 215-409-6700,www.constitutioncenter.org) is honoring it with a number of special events and attractions that are running now through the end of February.

During the month of February, the National Constitution Center will pay tribute to the achievements and the courageous sacrifices made by African Americans throughout history as they strived to become recognized as an integral part of “We the People.”

The National Constitution Center will honor that milestone all month long with special educational programs and performances in conjunction with the new Civil War and Reconstruction exhibit, including “The Road to Freedom” show.

Visitors can also take a self-guided tour of the museum’s The Story of We the People exhibit to discover key milestones in African American history, and then test their knowledge at the Center’s giant game board activity.

Activities at the Center will feature interactive programming designed for visitors of all ages, including “Decoding the Document: Emancipation Proclamation Document Workshop,”

Visitors can take a closer look at the museum’s rare printing of the Emancipation Proclamation to learn more about its history, the history of the Civil War, and the background of the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments.

On the “Self-Guided African American History Tour”, visitors can tour the Center’s main exhibition “The Story of We the People” and discover important moments in African American history through historical artifacts.

Now through March 31, visitors can enjoy discounted admission of $10 for adults (usually $14.50) and $7.50 for youth ages 6-18 (usually $11).

Throughout the month of February, the Betsy Ross House (239 Arch Street, Philadelphia, historicphiladelphia.org) will offer free programming on weekends celebrating the contributions Black Americans have made throughout our nation’s history.

On February 19 and 26 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. each day, the program will be “Meet Rev. Richard Allen.”

Reverend Allen was a minister, educator, writer, and one of America’s most active and influential Black leaders. In 1794, he founded the African Methodist Episcopal Church (AME), the first independent Black denomination in the United States and opened its first church here in Philadelphia.  Visitors can hear about his journey from enslaved person to powerful religious leader and abolitionist.

The events on February 20 and 27 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. each day will be “Once Upon A Nation Storytelling.”

The Betsy Ross House’s award-winning storytellers will share short, interactive and little-known tales about Black Americans through history.

Laurel Hill Cemetery (3822 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia, 215-228-8200, www.thelaurelhillcemetery.org) will have a timely special event this weekend – a Black History Month themed tour on February 20 from 1-3 p.m.

In celebration of Black History Month, the cemetery will tour some of the black pioneers, civic leaders and entertainers buried in West Laurel Hill.

Participants will hear about the lives of some of those who helped influence Philadelphia and national culture in the 20th century — from musicians like Teddy Pendergrass to civil rights leaders like Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander.

Tour Guides will be Sarah Hamill and Rachel Wolgemuth.

Tickets, which must be purchased in advance, are: $15/General Admission, $13/Seniors (65 & up) and Students with ID, $7.50/Youth (6-12), and $0/Child (5 & Under). Youth and children must be accompanied by an adult.

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 $18.

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 $18.

Now through April 10, the Brandywine River Museum of Art (Route 1, Chadds Ford, www.brandywine.org) is presenting its latest exhibition, “Wayne Thiebaud 100: Paintings, Prints, and Drawings.”

Highlighting the full range of this iconic American artist’s work made over 70 years, the exhibition features a spectacular selection of his paintings, watercolors and prints.

Created on the occasion of Thiebaud’s 100th birthday, the exhibition now also serves as a fitting tribute to his remarkable career following the artist’s recent death on December 25, 2021. Drawn from the collection of the Thiebaud family and foundation, as well as from the Crocker Art Museum’s rich holdings, the retrospective includes works from every period of the artist’s long career — including many that have never been shown publicly.

The exhibition also includes the artist’s newest body of work — circus clowns — revealing his extraordinary and expansive practice over seven decades.

Spanning two floors of galleries in the Museum’s historic Mill, this exhibition at the Brandywine will allow visitors to appreciate the totality of Thiebaud’s artistic vision and the rich sensations he infused into all his work.

The exhibition is accompanied by a richly illustrated catalogue chronicling the artist’s visual journey and artistic influences.

The Brandywine River Museum of Art features an outstanding collection of American art housed in a 19th-century Mill building with a dramatic steel and glass addition overlooking the banks of the Brandywine.

Admission is $18 for adults, $15 for seniors ages 65 and over, $6 for students and children ages 6 and up; free for children 5 and younger.

Now through April 17, the Delaware Museum of Art (2301 Kentmere Parkway, Wilmington, Delaware, delart.org) is presenting “Delaware Women’s Hall of Fame: Celebrating 40 Years,” an exhibition of portraits of outstanding women from across the state.

To mark the 40th anniversary of the prestigious award, the Office of Women’s Advancement and Advocacy commissioned Delaware artist Theresa Walton to create portraits of every woman inducted. The exhibition celebrates the tremendous achievement of women from across the state in a variety of professional fields.

Portraits of Hall of Fame inductees include, former Governor Ruth Ann Minner, U.S. Representative Lisa Blunt-Rochester, Delaware Children’s Theatre founder Marie Swajeski, educators Dr. Jill Biden and Dr. Reba Hollingsworth, and community leader Maria Matos, among others.

Admission is $14 for adults, $7 for students, $6 for youth (ages 7-18) and free for children (6 and under).

This Saturday and every Saturday during the winter, the Kalmar Nyckel Shipyard (1124 East Seventh Street, Wilmington, Delaware, www.kalmarnyckel.org) is hosting “Winter Ship Tours” of the Kalmar Nyckel.

Kalmar Nyckel deck tours are open during the winter “maintenance season” on Saturdays from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

The $10 admission includes a self-guided tour of the Copeland Maritime Center.

Ship tours will cancel for inclement weather and safety issues due to heavy maintenance work.

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.

If you’re looking for a fun family activity – an indoor activity unaffected by the weather — Linvilla Orchards (137 West Knowlton Road, Media, 610-876-7116, www.linvilla.com) has something just for you — the miniature golf course “Fore! the Planet.”

Linvilla Orchard’s “Fore! The Planet” is a highly interactive and playful museum exhibit created by the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia. This exhibition pairs important environmental issues with the fun of miniature golf.

It features 18 unique educational holes on a variety of topics — butterfly metamorphosis, a tropical rainforest, evolution, dinosaur extinction, food chains and more. Kids of all ages can enjoy playing miniature golf while learning about our environment on every hole.

The first hole is “Butterfly Life Cycle” and players must putt through each stage of the colorful insect’s metamorphosis. The next five holes are titled “Seed Dispersal,” “Bat Sonar,” “Food Chain,” “Evolution of a Golfer” and “Backyard Explorer” followed by “Natural Selection” and “Predators and Prey.”

On the “Dinosaur Extinction” hole, players get to hit their balls toward the scientific theory of dinosaur extinction they find most plausible. The remainder of the thought-provoking holes are “Recycling,” “Water Pollution,” “Landfills,” “Wild Corridors,” “Bird Migration,” “Spawning Salmon,” “Alien Species,” “Population Threats” and “Rainforest Threats.”

The mini-course is open daily from 9 a.m. through March 27. Tickets are $7.

“Elmo’s Furry Fun Fest” at Sesame Place (100 Sesame Road, Langhorne, www.sesameplace.com) is happening every weekend now through March 20 with this weekend’s focus on “My Fuzzy Valentine’s Celebration.”

Guests are invited to visit the park to enjoy an event series during “Elmo’s Furry Fun Fest,” a festive, family-friendly celebration with everyone’s favorite Sesame Street friends live and in-person at the amusement park in Langhorne.

The current special attraction is “Mardi Gras Celebration” on February 19, 20, 26 and 27.

Every weekend through March, visitors can celebrate treat little loves to a fun day during the “My Fuzzy Valentine’s Celebration,” let the good times roll during the family-friendly “Mardi Gras Celebration,” experience the park’s “St. Patrick’s Day Celebration,” and wish Big Bird a Happy Birthday during his Birthday Weekend.

Activities include a riding on the Sunny Day Carousel, dancing and grooving during at the “Furry Friends Dance Party,” watching “Elmo the Musical, LIVE!” and having fun at the always popular Mini Parades.

The schedule features “Mardi Gras Celebration” on February 19, 20, 26 and 27, “St. Patrick’s Day Celebration” on March 5, 6, 12 and 13, and “Big Bird’s Birthday Pajama Party” on March 19 and 20.

The park will be open from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays now through March 20 along with February 21.

A good way to get out of the cold weather is to visit Wonderspaces.

Wonderspaces at the Fashion District (27 North 11th Street, Philadelphia, philadelphia.wonderspaces.com) is an experiential, interactive arts venue.

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

Wonderspaces features 14 art installations that all play with the idea of perspective. The artwork ranges from award-winning virtual reality short film about a dinner party-turned-alien abduction, to a room where visitors digitally paint the walls with the movement of their bodies.

New artworks rotate in every few months, creating an ever-evolving, year-round show.

Tickets are for entry at a specific date and time. Visitors are welcome to stay as long as they please during operating hours. The average time spent experiencing the show is 90 minutes.

A few installations contain flashing lights, images, and patterns that may trigger seizures for people with photosensitive epilepsy. All visitors must sign a waiver prior to being admitted into the space. Adult supervision is required for visitors under 16.

The installation is open from noon-10 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. on Saturdays and 10 a.m.-8 p.m. on Sundays.

Tickets are $24 for adults, $20 for seniors, teachers, healthcare workers, students and active military, and $15 for children (ages 3-12).