What To Do: 89th PA Hunt Cup

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times

There are several events in the area this weekend with impressive numbers regarding anniversaries – lofty numbers such as 89, 76, 54, 48, and 42 – numbers marking the events’ anniversaries.

The Pennsylvania Hunt Cup (Pennsylvania Hunt Cup racecourse, Newark Road, Unionville, 484-888-6619, http://pahuntcup.org) is one of the oldest and most respected equestrian events in the Mid-Atlantic region. This year, the Hunt Cup will celebrate its 89th anniversary on November 5.

The equestrian competition will feature four open races sanctioned by the National Steeplechase Association. Three of them will feature races over fences and one will be a race on the flat.

The challenging course features 18 post and rail fences and is one of just three four-mile races sanctioned by the National Steeplechase Association. First run in 1921 over a course in Whitemarsh in Montgomery County, the race moved to the present location in Unionville in 1964, where it has been held annually since. Over the years the race meeting has grown so that the race day card now includes three sanctioned timber races, and the Pennsylvania Pony Hunt Cup for children.

Gates open at 10 a.m. The first event — the Pennsylvania Junior Hunt Cup – is scheduled to start at 10:45 a.m. followed by the National Anthem at 12:30 p.m.

There will be the traditional “Carriage Parade” at 12:45 p.m. followed by the Lewis C. Ledyard Memorial Foxhunters Chase at 1:30 p.m., the Arthur O. Choate Jr. Memorial Trophy race at 2:15 p.m. and the Pennsylvania Hunt Cup at 3 p.m. The final event of the day will be the Athenian Idol Races at 3:45 and 4:15 p.m.

General Admission, which is $100 per car, includes parking and admission for all occupants of one vehicle.

Anyone wanting to get into a Christmas mood early can visit Koziar’s Christmas Village (782 Christmas Village Road, Bernville, 610-488-1110, www.koziarschristmasvillage.com) which begins its 76th season on November 4.

Koziar’s Christmas Village is truly a holiday wonderland — a wintertime spectacle that delights young and old alike with a huge amount of holiday displays and special attractions. It will remain open every night through January 1 — including Christmas Eve, Christmas Night, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Night.

The tours of “Christmas Village” feature visits to a variety of displays and exhibits, including “Santa’s Post Office,” “Christmas in the Jungle,” “Manger Scene,” “Christmas Beneath the Sea,” “’Twas the Night Before Christmas,” “Olde Fashioned Bakery Shop,” “Toy Maker and his Toy Shop,” “Christmas in Other Lands” and “The Olde Church”.

Other attractions at Koziar’s Christmas Village include a huge model train display, a toy shop, a country kitchen, indoor and outdoor Christmas displays and a place to visit with Santa and even get pictures taken with the old guy in the red suit. Admission to Christmas Village is $12 for adults, $11 for seniors (65 and older) and $10 for children (ages 4-10).

This weekend, the Expo Center in Oaks (100 Station Avenue, Oaks, www.lapidary.org) will present the 2023 edition of Gemarama which is scheduled for November 4 and 5.

Visitors to the 54th Annual Gemarama will find an amazing variety of gems on display and available for purchase. Gem specialists and dealers from all over the country will be displaying and selling their specialties at this popular gem and mineral show.

Show attendees will be able to look at gems and rare stones from all around the world — many of which are for sale and not just exhibition pieces. Visitors will be able to examine and select purchases from a huge number of collectible items ranging from fossils to precious gems.

As an added attraction, members of the Tuscarora Lapidary Society will be presenting demonstrations of various lapidary and jewelry making skills including faceting, intrasia, faceting, channel jewelry, metal craft, silversmithing, bead stringing, chain making and wirewrap jewelry.

At the “Children’s Table”, youngsters will be able to make bracelet and key chains, use informative children’s coloring books on gems and minerals and toss a bean bag to win a prize.

Also featured will be a variety of competitive exhibits with awards in the following categories — Best in Show, Best Theme Exhibit, Most Educational Exhibit, Best Non-Member Exhibit, Best Mini-Case Exhibit and Director’s Award.

Gemarama will run from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on November 4 and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on November 5. Admission is $6 for adults, $1 for children under 12 years of age; two-day adult tickets are $9. Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts in uniform and accompanied by an adult Scoutmaster are admitted free.

There is another attractive event at the Expo Center this weekend.

On November 4 and 5, the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center is hosting the Americana Indian Show.

American Indian art is always a popular motif for home decorating is American Indian art — especially artwork produced in the American Southwest. This weekend, you can find a lot of examples of this art style at the Americana Indian Art & Jewelry Show on Oaks.

The show provides an excellent opportunity to look at artifacts and other items related to the history of Native Americans. The show is presented by the Americana Indian and Western Gallery and admission is free.

The Americana Indian and Western Gallery had its beginning in 1947 when its founder Lee Anderson attended school on a Navajo reservation and worked after school for his uncle in the trading post. The family collected American Indian art such as Navajo rugs, pottery, baskets, and other Indian and western items.

Anderson’s sells Navajo, Hopi, Zuni, and Santo Domingo jewelry, as well as Navajo rugs, Hopi and Zuni kachinas, baskets, pottery, art and collectibles. One of the most respected Native American art dealers in the United States, Americana Indian Shows brings thousands of items direct from the Southwest to the show attendees.

Show hours are 10 a.m.-7 p.m. on November 3 and 10 a.m.- p.m. on November 4.

This weekend, Peddler’s Village’s will host its ultra-popular Apple Festival (Routes 202 and 263, Lahaska, 215-794-4000, www.peddlersvillage.com).

The 48th annual staging of the event will be held November 4 and 5 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. each day at the Peddler’s Village complex. It will feature a variety of artisans who will be demonstrating and selling their crafts. There will also be live music and the curiously entertaining pie-eating contests.

As expected, the free festival will be a showcase for apples served in all sorts of tasty ways — apple cider, caramel-covered apples, apple fritters, apple sundaes, apple pie and apple strudel.

Visitors will even be able to sample country apple butter cooked over an open fire. Many of the apple treats will be available for take-home as well as for eating at the festival. Additionally, visitors will be able to purchase a variety of fresh apples in bushels from the site’s orchard.

Live entertainment will be provided by Nikki Briar Band, Galena Brass Band, Lolly Hopwood, Jersey Harmony, Rendition Jazz Band, The Big Chill, Love? Said the Commander, Ridiculous Nicholas Magic Show, Harmonics Quartet, Michael Christopher Band, Barefoot Bobby and the Breakers, Spinning Straw, Vintage Vibe and Cheddar Boys.

On November 5 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Hope Lodge (553 South Bethlehem Pike, Fort Washington, 215-646-1595, http://www.ushistory.org/hope) will host its 42nd annual “1777 Whitemarsh Encampment.”

This event commemorates the time from November 2-December 11 in 1777 when General George Washington and the Continental Army were encamped in Whitemarsh Hills.

Saturday’s activities will begin at 10 a.m. and shift into high gear at 11:30 a.m. with a skirmish re-enactment in the back field. The battle display will be followed by another skirmish re-enactment at 2:30 p.m.

There will be “Children’s Musters” at 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.

The list of all-day activities includes sutlers, open hearth cooking demonstrations, presentations by regiments, dulcimer entertainment by Lynn King and a demonstration of Colonial dressmaking.

As an added attraction, the Hope Lodge mansion will be open for self-guided tours all day (except during the skirmishes). Admission is $10 for adults and $8 for seniors (age 60 and older) and youths (ages 6-17). Children ages 5 and under are free.

Here’s another number that is in the spotlight this weekend – “6.”

This weekend, the Kennett Symphony (kennettsymphony.org) is performing one of its season staples – a “Reimagined Symphony.”

The Symphony’s schedule features a “Reimagined Symphony” on November 5 at 3 p.m. at Mendenhall Inn (323 Kennett Pike, Chadds Ford).

The program for Saturday’s matinee will feature Ludwig van Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 6 (Pastoral).”

The Kennett Symphony posted this message on its website – “We invite you to immerse yourself in the world of classical music like never before at our Reimagined Concert Experience! Seated in the round, with options for food and drink, our casual setting encourages an open and friendly atmosphere. Hosted by Music Director Michael Hall, enjoy the perfect marriage of music and visuals as multimedia projections bring the music to life with informative, captivating imagery. Perfect for first time attendees, as well as patrons who would like a renewed appreciation for the timeless beauty of classical music.”

At the “Reimagined Symphony” concert, seating around the orchestra will provide the audience with a unique perspective. Food and drink will be available throughout this one-hour long performance in a relaxed atmosphere.

“It makes it fun,” said Kennett Symphony Music Director Michael Hall during a phone interview.

“The whole idea of a concert series is to make it fun. This will be very relaxed – sit, have a drink and enjoy some food. It will be general admission.”

Ludwig van Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 6 (Pastoral)” is a symphony in F major with an opus number of 68. It was composed between 1802 and 1808 and is one of the few works by Beethoven that contains explicitly programmatic content.

The symphony has five movements, each with a descriptive title that sets the scene for the music. The titles are as follows:

Erwachen heiterer Empfindungen bei der Ankunft auf dem Lande (Awakening of cheerful feelings on arrival in the countryside)

Szene am Bach (Scene by the brook)

Lustiges Zusammensein der Landleute (Merry gathering of country folk)

Gewitter, Sturm (Thunder, Storm)

Hirtengesang. Frohe und dankbare Gefühle nach dem Sturm (Shepherd’s song. Cheerful and thankful feelings after the storm)

The symphony was first performed alongside Beethoven’s fifth symphony in Vienna on December 22, 1808. The piece is known for its beautiful melodies and vivid depictions of nature, which were inspired by Beethoven’s love for the outdoors.

Video link for Kennett Symphony – https://youtu.be/rWLWE2gWMZU.

Tickets for Saturday are $50 for adults and $10 for students (18 and under).

Ticket price includes the concert, your first glass of wine or other beverage, and hors d’oeuvres. Cash bar is also available on site. All seating is General Admission (no pre-assigned seats). Seating at the Mendenhall Inn is first-come, first-served.

Not all of the spirits that came back for Halloween have gone back to their homes in the netherworld. There is still a reason to hang around for a little longer.

November 1 is a special day in Mexico and in Mexican American communities throughout the states. It is the day known as “Dia de Los Muertos” — the Day of the Dead. It is a festive day when families remember and honor their loved ones who have passed away.

Kennett Square and Casa Guanajuato will be celebrating the holiday this weekend with a variety of special events.

This year, the Festival Dia de los Muertos is taking place on November 3 and 4 at the new Kennett Square Library (300 East State Street).

Additionally, there will be an “after party” at The Kennett Creamery from 8 p.m. until closing.

In Mexico, every ranch, town and city have special ways to commemorate this day.

This year, the festival is honoring the magical state of Oaxaca.

The Ninth Annual Philadelphia Veterans Parade (www.phillyveteransparade.org), a non-profit which hosts an annual parade honoring the sacrifices of our Veterans in the tri-state region, will take place on November 5 at noon with more than 150 organizations involving over 7,000 participants and 30 Veteran Service Organizations.

The parade route begins at Juniper and Market streets with a brigade of over 250 motorcyclists, heads east on Market Street and concludes at North Fifth Street where the Veterans Festival will take place.

Entertainment at Vet Fest includes live music by Sensational Soul Cruisers along with Face Painting and Balloon Animals, Stilt Walkers, Rocky! and Captain America!

Participating Food Trucks are Many Hands Coffee, Philly Fry Food Truck, Goodfellas Food Truck, and Urban Village Brewing.

On November 4 and 5 the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania (300 Gap Road, Strasburg, 717-687-8628, www.rrmuseumpa.org) is presenting a special event that is sure to appeal to the patriotic spirit in everyone — an event called “Trains & Troops.”

It is a Veterans Day celebration a few days early.

“Trains & Troops” is the museum’s annual tribute to the U. S. Armed Forces — to all those who served or are serving in defense of our nation. At the annual autumn event, visitors will be able to greet our men and women in uniform — including veterans, civilians, railroaders and re-enactors from the Civil War forward. Also featured will be a large array of military and military railroad service-related posters, uniforms, equipment, field gear, maps, books and photographs on display.

The annual event is also a tribute to American railroads and their role in supporting the U. S. Armed Forces. Railroads built our nation and came to the country’s defense during times of war — both on the home front and overseas. The American Civil War marked the first major military application of railroads. The Military Railway Service was created in 1916 for World War I. In World War II, U. S. freight and passenger railroad service, both military and civilian, was huge.

There will be a salute to veterans and active-duty service personnel with the Lancaster Red Rose Honor Guard on November 4 at 11 a.m. and November 5 at 1 p.m. The Lampeter-Strasburg Community Band will present a concert on November 4.

Tickets for “Trains and Troops” only are $10 for adults, $9 for seniors and $8 for youth (ages 3-11).

Laurel Hill Cemetery (3822 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia, 215-228-8200, www.thelaurelhillcemetery.org) will present “Mesmerizing Monuments of Laurel Hill East” on November 4 at 1 p.m.

Soaring Obelisks, imposing mausoleums, and lifelike sculptures are all featured in this tour.

Visirors to Laurel Hill East immediately notice that this is no ordinary cemetery.

From soaring obelisks and imposing mausoleums to lifelike sculptures, there are hundreds of permanent cemetery residents who chose to immortalize themselves in nontraditional ways. A far cry from neat rows of identical headstones, Laurel Hill East was always imagined as a rural sculpture garden, and Philadelphians of the past gladly rose to meet that expectation.

This tour will highlight some of our most interesting and arresting gravesites, and the people who now rest there eternally. Learn the stories behind the stones and get some insight as to why these individuals chose the monuments they built.

Tour Guide is Jerry McCormick.

Ticket prices are: $17/General Admission (Ages 13 and up), $15/Seniors (Ages 65+) and Students with ID, $12/Members of the Friends of Laurel Hill, and $8.50/Youth (Ages 6-12)

Chaddsford Winery (Route 1, Chadds Ford, 610-388-6221, www.chaddsford.com) is hosting its “Fall Food Truck Festival” on November 4 and 5 from noon-6 p.m. each day.

An all-star lineup of local food trucks is taking over Chaddsford for the weekend.

The roster includes Calaveras Tacos, Common Good Pizza and Tap, Ennis BBQ (Sunday only), The Jawnery, The Lost Cow, PA Boys BBQ, Savannah’s Tender Love and Fries, and Slappster’s Kitchen (Saturday only).

Live music both days will be performed by Adam Monaco.

Wine is available by the glass only during Fall Food Truck Festival. Bottles are available for to-go sales. Admission is free with walk-in seating only.

Elmwood Park Zoo (Elmwood Park Zoo, 1661 Harding Boulevard, Norristown, www.elmwoodparkzoo.org)

The Elmwood Park Zoo (1661 Harding Boulevard, Norristown, www.elmwoodparkzoo.org) has a variety of special activities coming up.

The Zoo’s “Dog Days” event will be held on November 3, 5, 8, 10, 12, 15, 17 and 19.4, 6, 9, 11, 13 and 16.

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.”

The “Dog Days” event is slated to run from 1-5 p.m.

Pricing is $10.95 per dog with each additional dog at $9.95. Regular zoo admission is required for all humans.

The Zoo will also host a “Harvest Fest” on November 4 and 5 from noon-3 p.m. each day.

Visitors can participate in themed activities, play carnival games, enjoy live entertainment, and sip on festive fall drinks.

Lancaster has a lively First Friday celebration every month. This month’s edition of First Friday Lancaster (https://visitlancastercity.com/first-friday) will run from 10 a.m.-9 p.m. on November 4 in downtown Lancaster.

The event will feature attractive exhibitions at art galleries, artisan studios and museums. There will also be live performances presented in a variety of genres — professional theater, symphony orchestra and performing groups.

In addition to the many galleries, shops, and pop-up musicians that regularly participate in First Friday, the following venues are hosting special events and showcases — Monstro Collaborative Works, First Friday Artist Reception, First Friday at Freiman Stoltzfus Gallery and Free First Friday at the Lancaster Science Factory.

The next few days will feature several popular annual ethnic festivals – events where you can find freshly made traditional food from Greece and three of Europe’s Slavic nations.

This weekend, you can get a glimpse at how holidays are celebrated in a culinary way in Eastern Europe and Russia by visiting the festival at Saint Herman of Alaska Orthodox Church (1855 North Middletown Road (Route 352), Gradyville, 610-459-5310, www.sthermansoca.org).

The annual Christmas bazaar and food festival at St. Herman is running on November 4 and 5 and again on November 11 and 12.

The food will be available through online ordering or drive-through from noon-5 p.m. each day.

The menu, which is billed as a “Taste of Tradition,” offers a selection of Russian, Ukrainian, Serbian, Greek & Eastern European Cuisine.

The menu features stuffed cabbage, blini, beef stroganoff, cevapcici, kolbassi sandwiches, halushki, homemade pastries and other specialties.

The 2023 Greek Food Fest at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church (229 Powell Lane, Upper Darby, saintdemetrios.org) is scheduled for November 3, 4 and 5.

The event, which will run from 4 p.m.-10 p.m. on Friday, noon-10 p.m. on Saturday and noon-8 p.m. on Sunday, will feature a wide array of tasty Greek treats such as souvlaki, shish-ka-bob, moussaka, pastitsio and gyros and baklava.

Other festival activities are areas featuring vendors with crafts and Greek items.

The Church Bazaar at Saints Peter and Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church (1406 Philadelphia Pike, Claymont, Delaware, 302-798-4455, www.sspeterandpauluoc.org) will be held on November 4.

The menu of food items which can be eaten onsite or purchased to go includes Holubtsi (Ukrainian stuffed cabbage rolls), Kovassa (Ukrainian-style kielbasa), Halushki (cabbage and noodle), Pyrohy (Ukrainian pierogies), Borscht (beet soup), Mushroom Soup and authentic handmade Ukrainian bakery items such as nut rolls, Pascha and poppy rolls.

There will also be church tours, pysanka for sale and a variety of other vendors with cultural and religious items for sale. The free event runs from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

A “Pierogi Festival” will be held on November 4 and 5 at St. Nicholas Eastern Orthodox Cathedral (817 North Seventh Street, Philadelphia, https://www.stnicholaseoc.org/).

The church’s 2023 “Pierogi Festival” will feature homemade pierogi (traditional potato cheese, kapusta, cherry, cheesesteak and pulled pork), halupki, kielbasa, halushki, pelmeni, blini, soups and more.

The event opens at noon each day. The beer garden and outdoor seating with live music in our tent will close at 9 p.m. on Saturday and 5 p.m. on Sunday.

The event features free admission with parking lot and street parking available.

Autumn’s colors just came in and are already on their way out – especially with the cold, windy weather forecast for the next few days. There is still time to take in autumn’s annual color display by riding on a special excursion on an area tourist railroad.

The West Chester Railroad (Market Street Station, West Chester, 610-430-2233, wcrailroad.com) is running its annual “Fall Foliage Express” trains on November 5. Trains depart at noon and 2 p.m.

The round-trip train ride travels to the village of Glen Mills and back and lasts for 90 minutes. During the brief layover in Glen Mills, riders can explore the historic Pennsylvania Railroad station and have a snack in the railroad’s picnic grove along the Chester Creek.

Tickets are $22 for adults, $18 for children.

The Wilmington & Western Railroad (2201 Newport Gap Pike, Wilmington, DE, 302-998-1930, www.wwrr.com) is running its “Autumn Leaf Special” on November 4.

Trips are either a one-and-one-half hour roundtrips to the Mt. Cuba Picnic Grove or two-and-one-half hour roundtrips to Hockessin.

Tickets for the “Autumn Leaf Special” start at $18.

The Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad (Reading Outer Station, Reading, www.rbmnrr-passenger.com) is running its 2022 “Fall Foliage Rail Diesel Car Excursions” on November 4 and 5.

Passengers can enjoy a train ride to experience the fantastic fall colors that Pennsylvania has to offer.

They will travel over the rails to Historic Jim Thorpe for the town’s annual fall festival after boarding the train at Reading Outer Station or Port Clinton Station.

Passengers will have time to explore historic Downtown Jim Thorpe during the layover.

Tickets for the all-day excursion are $49.

Now through November 5, the Strasburg Rail Road (Route 741, Strasburg, 717-687-7522, www.strasburgrailroad.com) has a very special event – “Strasburg Rail Road Productions presents…The Legacy of Sleepy Hollow: Not Everything Dies.”

Visitors will discover the true Legacy of Sleepy Hollow at the Strasburg Rail Road. The greatest ghost story ever told did not tell us the whole story.

Guests will join Isabel Crane, the great-great-granddaughter of the legendary Ichabod Crane, as she takes them on a frightful journey filled with sword fights, ghosts, and a centuries-old curse surrounding her family.

It seems that not everyone wants the truth to come out and they’ll go to any length necessary to keep their haunted past a secret. With grand special effects, live horses, and the scariest train ride of the season, this is an opportunity to learn, hear, and experience the Legacy of Sleepy Hollow aboard the historic Strasburg Rail Road.

A pre-boarding act/performance will commence 15 minutes before departure. Please plan to arrive early for check-in and then enjoy the pre-boarding performance before you embark on a memorable journey.

Please note: Due to the subject matter of this event and its presentation, this event is recommended for ages 8 and older. Parental discretion is advised.

The Northern Central Railway (2 West Main Street, New Freedom, www.northerncentralrailway.com) is running its “Fall Foliage Trains” on select dates through November.

Riders can enjoy the beauty of fall in Southern York County as the train follows the original Northern Central Railroad, a mainline in operation since 1838, through the scenic Heritage Rail Trail County Park.

Motive power will be the William H Simpson No. 17 replica steam locomotive or the 6076 PRR GP9 historic diesel locomotive. The conductor and brakeman will tell riders about the history and growth of the towns and villages they pass along the way.

Ticket prices start at $34.

Another popular railroad related event this weekend is “Steamin’ Days” at Auburn Heights Preserve (3000 Creek Road, Yorklyn, Delaware, 302-239-2385, http://auburnheights.org) on November 5.

“Steamin’ Days,” which is held on the first Sunday of the month through November, focuses on steam power.

During “Steamin’ Days at Auburn Heights,” the site is bustling with activity. Visitors are encouraged to climb into an antique automobile or board one of the trains and experience what it was like to travel at the turn of the 20th century. They can also tour the magnificent 1897 mansion that was home to three generations of the Marshall family.

Also included is entry to the Marshall Steam Museum, which features the world’s largest operating collection of Stanley steam cars along with a 1930s working Lionel electric train display, a hands-on engine display, kids’ activities and exhibits and the Museum Gift Shop.

Activities run from 12:30-4:30 p.m. each time. Combo Tickets, which cover all rides and building tours, are $20 (13 and older) and $14 (age 12 and under).

Longwood Gardens (Route 1, Kennett Square, 610-388-1000, www.longwoodgardens.org) is a great place to visit any time in the year and always has special attractions to add to the experience.

Longwood’s Chrysanthemum Festival is running through November 12. Innovative plant-growing techniques and displays take center stage by way of thousands of trained chrysanthemums throughout our Conservatory.

Big, bold colors and thousands of carefully nurtured and trained chrysanthemums abound during this imaginative display serving as the largest and oldest of its kind in North America.

Throughout the Conservatory, specialty chrysanthemum forms from fanciful clouds to sculptural spirals not only showcase our horticultural savvy but help preserve an ancient Asian artform that we are beyond proud to perpetuate.

Daily performances in the Main Fountain Garden will feature more than 1,700 spinning jets that spin dance to various music programs. These are no little jets as some shoot up as high as 175 feet in the air.

The 30-minute show is slated for Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 9:15 p.m.

The Main Fountain Garden Show fountain performance that begins with a touch of narrated history and concludes with dynamic choreography marrying music and the site’s newest fountain features.

These displays will be presented daily at 1:15 a.m., 1:15, 3:15 p.m. and 5:15. There will also be performances on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 6:15, 7:15 and 8:15 p.m.

The “Illuminated Fountain Performance” will be staged Thursdays through Sundays at 9:15 p.m.

One of Longwood’s most popular fall family activities – “Pumpkin Playground” – runs through October 30.

The attraction is located in the Children’s Corner in the Idea Garden for interactive play. Families can find the perfect opportunity for a festive fall photo amid the whimsical seasonal display of pumpkins, gourds, and corn husk towers.

Admission to Longwood Gardens is $25 for adults, $22 for seniors (ages 62 and older) and college students, $18 for active military and veterans and $13 for youth (ages 5-18).

Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library (Route 52, Wilmington, Delaware, 800-448-3883, www.winterthur.org) is currently showcasing a new exhibition “Ann Lowe: American Couturier” now through January 7, 2024

In 1964, The Saturday Evening Post referred to fashion designer Ann Lowe as “Society’s Best-Kept Secret.” Although Lowe had been designing couture-quality gowns for America’s most prominent debutantes, heiresses, actresses, and society brides—including Jacqueline Kennedy, Olivia de Havilland, and Marjorie Merriweather Post—for decades, she remained virtually unknown to the wider public. Since then, too little recognition has been given to her influence on American fashion.

Ann Lowe’s recently emerging visibility as a designer stands in contrast to much of her career and the countless unrecognized Black dressmakers and designers who have contributed to American fashion for generations, including her own grandmother and mother. She blazed a path for others to follow and her legacy is still felt in fashion culture.

This is the largest exhibition of Ann Lowe’s work to date, featuring 40 iconic gowns, many that have never been on public display, and it will illuminate her evolution as a designer from the 1920s to the 1960s. The exhibition will also feature the work of contemporary couturiers and fashion designers whose current design practices, perspectives, and career paths reflect the trajectory of American fashion emanating from Lowe’s foundation. These include B Michael, Tracy Reese, Amsale Aberra, and Bishme Cromartie. Elizabeth Way, associate curator at The Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology, is guest curator of the exhibition.

Born in Clayton, Alabama, into a family of African American dressmakers, Ann Lowe (ca. 1898–1981) learned the skill of dressmaking from her mother and grandmother. She developed not only expert technical skills by the time she was a teenager but also her distinctive style—feminine, elegant, and often incorporating her signature hand-made floral elements. Her extraordinary career took her through the Jim Crow South, from Montgomery, Alabama, to Tampa, Florida, and in 1928 to New York City. Lowe’s work made her an asset to wealthy society women around the country, yet she also experienced the tumultuous hardships of the fashion business and segregated America in a period of dramatic change.

Ann Lowe’s workplaces her among America’s significant fashion designers, and her life illustrates a legacy of Black women’s knowledge and skills that began as enslaved labor. Lowe modernized this legacy and expanded it to international visibility, positioning herself as a creative designer, a fashion insider, and a vital contributor to American culture.

Admission to Winterthur is $25 for adults, $23 for seniors and students and $8 for children.

If crisp fall weather puts you in the mood for an energetic outdoor activity, you have two good options.

Treetop Quest Philly (51 Chamounix Drive, Philadelphia, www.treetopquest.com) is an aerial adventure park that will challenge you physically and mentally as you maneuver from tree to tree through obstacles and zip-lines. Once you’re equipped, they will teach you how to operate your equipment and you’ll be able to swing through each course as many times as you want for 2.5 hours.

Each participant is outfitted with a harness and gloves. Each course has a continuous belay system — a lifeline that is impossible to detach without a staff member. The activity is self-guided, and the staff is ready to assist when needed.

Gloves are required for our activity. During this time, we encourage participants to bring their own gloves to use while up in the trees, gardening gloves are perfect for this activity.

Ticket prices are $55, adults; $48, ages 12-17; $38, ages 7-11.

“TreeTrails Adventures Trevose” (301 West Bristol Pike, Trevose, treetrails.com/trevose-pa) is an adventure park full of fun challenges for outdoor adventurers of all ages.

Participants can experience the rush of TreeTrails Adventures as they swing through the trees of the new adventure park. They will be able to discover the excitement of climbing and zip lining above the forest floor with family, friends, co-workers, or teammates.

The park, which is based at Phoenix Sport Club in Bucks County, offers two ways to experience climbing – TreeTrails Adventure Park and KidTrails Park. Young explorers can enjoy miniaturized courses in the adjacent KidTrails Park.

General Park Admission prices are: Main Park Adult Tickets (Ages 12+), $59; Main Park Youth Tickets (Ages 7–11), $51; KidTrails Tickets (Ages 4–7), $12.

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.

Halloween events have been taking place for more than a month. Now, even though Halloween and El Dia de Los Muertos have passed, some of them have refused to die.

“Lincoln Mill Haunted House” (4100 Ridge Avenue, Manayunk, www.lincolnmillhaunt.com) is Philadelphia’s newest haunted attraction. The attraction takes guests on a journey through an interactive living story featuring more than 40 live scare-actors, production quality sets, props, animatronics, and breath-taking special effects.

The attraction is intended to be very scary during evening hours. The owners want it to be the scariest haunted house in the greater Philadelphia region. Mission accomplished — it is scary.

While most haunted house attractions have a lot of room for props and actors, Lincoln Mill has a limited area. As a result, the 20-minute walk through the attraction features many tight spaces, sharp turns, sections that are pitch black, scary props and a slew of live-scare actors doing what they do best.

The attraction’s backstory emerged from a tragic event that occurred in 2021. On September 2, 2021, Hurricane Ida struck Philadelphia and flooded the Mill to historic water levels.
The flood significantly damaged the mill’s interior and revealed a hidden chamber located below the basement level. Countless bodies were found, and a dark truth was discovered about the mill’s past.

Local authorities determined that during the 1930’s, Viktor Kane, the mill owner, tormented and experimented on his workers. Countless workers lost their lives, and their spirits continue to haunt the mill. Construction has since been halted and the mill will open up for guests to experience its dark past for themselves.

The main haunted house event will run at night Thursday, Friday, and Saturday now through November 4. Tickets are sold in hour time slots from 6-11:45 p.m. For those that aren’t into very scary attractions, there will be a more family-oriented event every Saturday from noon-4 p.m. with no scare actors.

Ticket prices start at $25.

Canal-O-Ween will get started this weekend at Yardley’s Rivermawr neighborhood (North Edgewater Avenue, the Canal Path from Afton to Fuld, Yardley, www.experienceyardley.com).

Visitors are invited to enjoy the warm and welcoming spirit of Halloween at the week-long celebration, “Canal-O-Ween.”

The event kicks off with the annual “Carve-O-Thon,” a family-friendly event where folks gather to carve more than 300 Jack-O-Lanterns — all in about three hours.

In the evenings, guests will be able to enjoy the “Jack-O-Lantern Stroll” along the historic Delaware Canal guided by the warm light of hundreds of uniquely carved Jack-O-Lanterns flickering along the way for more than a quarter mile.

The free event, which runs from October 30-November 6 is billed as “an old-fashioned, low-tech, magical way to celebrate Halloween.”

Pennhurst Asylum (100 Commonwealth Drive, Spring City, 484-866-8964, www.pennhurstasylum.com), which is open through November 4, is on the site of a former mental asylum which has been shuttered for over a quarter of a century.

It has been transformed into a haunted attraction with huge sets, detailed rooms and live actors. Visitors can also explore the labyrinth of underground tunnels.

Tickets are $52 for a combo pass valid for all three Haunted Attractions at Pennhurst: Pennhurst Asylum, The Morgue & The Tunnels.

For years, Eastern State Penitentiary (2124 Fairmount Avenue, Philadelphia, www.easternstate.org) presented one of the premier Halloween attractions in Philadelphia — “Terror Behind the Walls.”

Last year, the venue tried something different – a new attraction called “Halloween Nights at Eastern State Penitentiary.”

The truly scary attraction, which is running through November 11, takes place at a penitentiary site that was once was an active prison and is now a National Historic Landmark. It is a scream-inducing event featuring laser and special-effect lighting, digital sound, sinister scents, animatronic creatures and 3-D illusions.

There is “Delirium,” a 3D Haunted House where visitors take a mind-altering trip into another dimension –a parallel, neon universe where nothing is quite as it seems. Fascinating creatures emerge from seemingly nowhere as the world you thought you knew shrinks away.

“The Crypt” is another Haunted House. The creatures of The Crypt request your presence. Wade through the mist and into the lair of an ancient clan of vampires. They’ve set the table, but if you’re not careful, you might end up on their next menu.

“Hospital Flashlight Tour” is a guide-led Walking Tour – a 20-minute, guide-led, flashlight tour of Cellblock 3, the Hospital Block.

Another Haunted House is the “Machine Shop.” Hidden away from the world is a long-forgotten machine shop. Evil pervades this space – an evil with one mind but with many bodies. Will visitors survive or will they become just another cog in the machine?

Other attractions are “The Speakeasy at Al Capone’s Cell,” “The Bloodline Lounge,” “The Fair Chance Beer Garden,” “The Voices of Eastern State” Highlights Audio Tour, “Kaleidoscope Hall,” and “S’mores and Lore.”

Admission prices, which vary with the date, start at $39.

The “38th Annual Jason’s Woods” (99 Stehman Road, Lancaster, 717-872-5768, www.jasonswoods.com), which is running through November 5, is a horror show complex that features a combination of live actors, impressive animation and scary special effects.

Popular attractions include “Horrifying Hayride,” “Chamber of Horrors,” “Zombie Apocalypse,” “Lost in Jason’s Woods,” and “Carnival of Fear,” Admission prices are for combo tickets are $25 for three attractions and $40 for five.

For “Count’s Halloween Spooktacular at Sesame Place” (100 Sesame Place, Langhorne, 215-752-7070, www.sesameplace.com), which runs now through November 5, the popular amusement park has been converted into a Halloween-themed safe venue for kids with trick or treating, pumpkin decorating, hayrides and a hay maze.

Guests will enjoy trick-or-treating around the park, Halloween-themed shows, participating in our interactive Scarecrow Scavenger Hunt, and unique photo opportunities with everyone’s favorite furry friends dressed up in costume on their Halloween-themed floats!

Featured attractions, which will continue for the next six weeks, are “Neighborhood Street Party Halloween Parade,” “Halloween Light Show,” and “The Not-Too-Spooky Howl-O-ween Radio Show.”

Admission to the park starts at $44.99.

Grim Philly’s “Dark Philly History Tour” (www.grimphilly.com) will be held every evening throughout the fall.

Participants can walk with tour guides from the grounds of America’s first White House, Congress, and Liberty Bell to homes and sites of Hamilton, Washington, Franklin, Adams, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, and more than 10 other Founding-Fathers. The surprising dirt of espionage, murder, sexual license and blackmail highlight the secrets of 1776 with a ghost story or two along the way. This tour is highly researched. And your guide is a historian.

Tickets are $35.

Ghost Tour of Philadelphia (215-413-1997, www.ghosttour.com), Ghost Tour of Lancaster (717-687-6687, www.ghosttour.com) and Ghost Tour of Strasburg (717-687-6687, www.ghosttour.com) operate throughout the winter and offer an eerily entertaining evening of true ghost stories and real haunted houses.

The Ghost Tour of Philadelphia, which is based on the book, “Ghost Stories of Philadelphia, PA.,” is a candlelight walking tour along the back streets and secret gardens of Independence Park, Society Hill, and Old City, where ghostly spirits, haunted houses, and eerie graveyards abound.

Participants can discover the ghost lore of America’s most historic and most haunted city with stories from the founding of William Penn’s colony to present-day hauntings.

The activity is open year-round – weekends, December-February; every night, March-November. Tickets are $24.

The Ghost Tour of Lancaster and the Ghost Tour of Strasburg are based on the book, “Ghost Stories of Lancaster, PA.”

Participants in the Ghost Tour of Lancaster explore the long-forgotten mysteries of one of America’s oldest cities, with haunting tales of otherworldly vigils, fatal curses, and star-crossed lovers. The tour provides the opportunity to experience 300 years of haunted history from the Red Rose City’s thorny past. Tickets are $20.

The Ghost Tour of Strasburg is a candlelight walking tour of the quaint and historic town of Strasburg in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country. Visitors will experience an entertaining evening with a costumed tour guide spinning tales of haunted mansions, eerie graveyards, and spirits that roam the night … in a town lost in time. Tickets are $20.

Each September, “Pumpkinland” returns to Linvilla Orchards (137 West Knowlton Road, Media, 610-876-7116, www.linvilla.com). “Pumpkinland,” which runs through November 5, features fairy tale characters from nursery rhymes along with a huge scarecrow and a really tall storybook.

Other activities include train rides, a straw bale maze, hayrides, pick-your-own apples and pony rides.

There will also be “Harvest Hayrides” and “Autumn Moon Hayrides” starting later in September along with “Straw Bale Maze,” “Train Rides,” “Corn Maze” and “Pony Rides.”

A fun maze can be found at Cherry Crest Adventure Farm in Ronks (150 Cherry Hill Road, Ronks, 717-687-6843, www.cherrycrestfarm.com).

The farm’s popular annual “Flashlight Maze” is now underway and will continue every Friday and Saturday night through November 5. Cherry Crest Adventure Farm has reserved several weekends during the autumn months for Flashlight Maze.

This special activity allows visitors to experience the Amazing Maize Maze in total darkness. All you need are flashlights and a few friends.

The Flashlight Maze is a nice, non-scary, Halloween alternative that has appeal for people of all ages. The Flashlight Maze, which has a $12 admission fee, is open from 6:30-10 p.m. with the last entrance into the Maze at 9 p.m.

The main attraction is Cherry Crest’s “Amazing Maize Maze,” which is billed as “the world’s most dynamic and interactive corn maze.” It is a five-acre corn maze with over two-and-one-half miles of paths, scenic bridges, and clues.

Participants can walk at their own pace as they encounter the “Kernels of Knowledge” along with a variety of clues, tunnel slides, and watering stations. They can also check out a bird’s eye view from the two bridges and watch everyone’s flags waving high above the corn.

The average time to complete the “Amazing Maize Maze” course is one hour. Ticket prices start at $19.

“Valley of Fear” (300 W. Bristol Road, Feasterville, 215-942-9787, www.valleyoffear.com), which is open through November 5, features three “heart pounding attractions” — “The Original Haunted Hayride,” “Miles Manor Haunted House,” and “Willie’s Shipwreck Cove.”

There will also be live music every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

The attraction is billed as “America’s Most Horrifying Woods.” Admission prices start at $25.

The “31st Annual Field of Screams” (109 College Avenue, Mountville, 717-285-7748, www.fieldofscreams.com), which is open now through November 11, features four world-class Haunted Experiences and an impressive Midway Area.

Top attractions include “Horrifying Haunted Hayride,” “Den of Darkness,” “Nocturnal Wasteland” and “Frightmare Asylum.”

Ticket prices start at $16.

Shocktoberfest (94 Park Avenue, Sinking Spring, 610-375-7273, shocktoberfest.com) features an array of natural and genetically engineered Zombies in a safe and controlled habitat.

“Shockfest Zombie World” is celebrating its 33rd year with five “Killer Experiences” — “Zombie Safari Hayride Tour,” “Prison of the Dead,” “The Unknown 3.0,” “Ground Assault,” “Zombie Experience,” and “Midway Massacre.”

The attraction will close on November 4. Ticket prices start at $30.

“The 27th Annual Frightland” (309 Port Penn Road, Middletown, Delaware, 302-838-0256, www.frightland.com) features eight special themed areas — “Zombie Prison,” “Ravenwood Cemetery,” “Haunted Hayride,” “Idalia Manor,” “Fear,” “Ghost Town,” “The Attic” and “Haunted Barn.”

Frightland Haunted Attractions has been named a Top 10 Scariest Haunted Attraction in the country by Travel Channel, Forbes and Huffington Post.

The venue includes a variety of haunted attractions including a two-mile Haunted Hayride, four indoor haunted houses and more. The nationally acclaimed Halloween attraction also features live entertainment, carnival amusements and a daytime fall festival.

The venue will remain open through November 5. Ticket prices start at $40.