By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times
Get ready for a fun-filled stretch of partying, bacchanal, sweet food treats and celebrations.The party starts with the Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl Parade on February 14. It continues with Valentine’s Day on February 14 and concludes with Presidents’ Day activities on Monday.
The biggest annual celebration is Valentine’s Day which arrives on Friday.
That means that married couples, lovers, boyfriends and girlfriends, boyfriends and boyfriends, engaged couples, girlfriends and girlfriends, sweethearts and even pet owners and their pets will be celebrating the annual romantic holiday this weekend.
Lincoln Mill Haunted House is reopening its doors on Main Street in Manayunk for a special two-night only pop-up event on February 14 and 15 – “Viktor’s Valentine: A Dark Love Story.”
Equipped only with a candle, guests will venture through the hidden chamber in the darkness. With a Valentine’s Day twist, this blackout experience will heighten your senses as you encounter the mill’s inhabitants and the ghost of Viktor’s Valentine.
In the 1930s, Viktor Kane had several accomplices that helped him carry out his evil acts. One of them loved Viktor but developed a deep resentment towards him. She wanted the pain to stop and so she came up with a plan to take down his operation.
On February 14, 1939, she left a trail of hearts inside the hidden chamber.
At the end of the trail, she revealed herself, greeted Viktor with a kiss, and then stabbed him in the heart. She then took her own life, wanting to be free of her guilt, her body, and to be with Viktor forever.
According to Lincoln Mill Haunted House Co-Founder Jared Bilsak, “Valentine’s Day is about romance and spending time with your significant other. In addition to taking your date out to a restaurant or bar, what other night-out options are there in the Philly region? There’s something romantic about walking through a haunted house with your date in the dark, holding hands, side by side.
“We wanted to offer something unique and not offered anywhere else in the region. Our team has created a dark candlelit experience that wasn’t just about the traditional idea of love and romance. Instead, we wanted to combine the emotions of love and fear while walking through a haunted mill in the dark. The idea for Viktor’s Valentine was born.
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The Legend of Lincoln Mill is an evolving story, and we want to continue telling that story throughout the year. In the story of Viktor’s Valentine, Viktor’s death is revealed, and we learn that he was killed by someone close to him back in the 1930s. Love and fear are the strongest human emotions and have become the key inspiration for this event.”
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 Legend of Viktor’s Valentine: A Dark Love Story” will have Candlelight tours leaving between 7 and 9:15 p.m. with tickets only $35 per person.
Laurel Hill Cemetery (3822 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia, 215-228-8200, www.thelaurelhillcemetery.org) will have two special events this weekend.
On February 15, Laurel Hill Cemetery will present the “’Til Death Do Us Part: Love Stories of Laurel Hill Walking Tour” on from 1-3 p.m.
Visitors on February 15 can celebrate the “spirit” of Valentine’s Day with their soulmates in one of Philadelphia’s most romantic and mysterious locations. Laurel Hill East’s love stories walking tour was inspired by the little-known story of Mary Peterson whose heart – and only her heart – now lies buried beneath the cemetery’s earth. Learn about her symbolic, final gesture, and other tales of love as varied as the souls from which they transpired.
Tour Guide will be Gwen Kaminski.
Tickets are: $20/General Admission, $18/Seniors (65 & up) and $10/Students with ID.
On February 16, Laurel Hill will present “All Thorns, No Roses: Love Gone Wrong” from 1-3 p.m.
With over a century of burial records, biographies, letters, and press clippings of those buried at Laurel Hill West, there is a wealth of stories about love lost, betrayed, or gotten with guise.
On this walking tour, you will hear more about love and abandonment, affairs and revenge, and all the stories of love gone wrong that put the bitter in bittersweet.
Tour Guide will be Sarah Hamill.
Tickets are: $17/General Admission, $15/Seniors (65 & up) and $8.50/Students with ID.
This weekend will feature many special family events dealing with history and nature – including an annual Presidents Day event at a national park.
On February 17, 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.-2 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 2025, you can join Mrs. Washington, members of the Continental Army, and others to celebrate His Excellency’s 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.
Volunteers will be distributing free cupcakes at the pavilion just outside the Visitor Center. Cupcakes are courtesy of the faculty and students of the Culinary School at Montgomery County Community College.
“The 14th Annual Ribstock,” an all-day benefit music event, will be held on February 16 at The 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 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 2025 “Ribstock” will feature performances by Mostly Harmless, Sounds of Phoenix, Former Strangers, Stone Attic, Hot Sauce Junkies, Right Swipes and Basic Cable.
Affectionally known as the “Day of Peace and Music,” this much-anticipated event will benefit the Bridgeport Little League, Upper Merion Cupboard, 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.
Another special attraction will be a performance by Brian Quinn. The veteran musician with an impressive national reputation will perform on February 19 and 26 from 7-10 p.m. each night.
And, except for Ribstock, there is never a cover at The Bridgeport Ribhouse.
Now through February 23, 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.
The Greater Philadelphia Expo Center (100 Station Avenue, Oaks, 484-754-3976, www.phillyexpocenter.com) is hosting the “Philly Fishing Show” on February 14, 15 and 16.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, and a fly-fishing pond.
There will be professional anglers and lure makers sharing the stage on the tank giving seminars and demonstrating different lures.
Tournament Anglers such as Nick Honachefsky, Gabe Farina and Khoa Nguyenwill 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 $12 for adults, $6 for children (6-12) and free for children (five and under).
Valentine’s Day and chocolates have been a match made in heaven for a long time. Not surprisingly, Valentine’s Day is in the top four for holiday candy sales.
If you’re wondering how the top four fare against each other, you might be surprised at the answer. Easter is first followed by Christmas, Valentine’s Day and Halloween.
The romantic holiday is just a few days away and wine-loving chocoholics have been – and will be — celebrating all month.
Valentine’s Day arrives in the middle of February and is a holiday that is natural for gifting and consuming chocolate delights and fine wine.
Many wineries around the area have found a way to elevate moods – and get a Valentine’s Day vibe going — by presenting events that feature wine and chocolate tastings.
Every Saturday and Sunday in February, the Chaddsford Winery (632 Baltimore Pike, Chadds Ford, 610-388-6221, http://www.chaddsford.com) is presenting “Reserve Tastings – Wine & Chocolate.”
Guests will join the CFW Crew for an intimate and educational 60-minute experience in the Barrel Room. The trained staff will guide them through a pre-selected tasting of five widely diverse and award-winning wines from across the portfolio. The selections will be paired alongside seasonal local cheeses and other accoutrements to enhance your tasting experience.
The staff will also discuss topics such as grape growing conditions at our partner vineyards and the onsite winemaking process from production to aging and bottling.
The 2025 Pairing Line Up is: Sparkling White paired with Spiced Pear Bonbon; Dry Rosé: Redux paired with Passion Fruit Bonbon; Harbinger Red Blend paired with Star Anise Bonbon; Good Vibes Only paired with Pennsylvania Dutch Dark Chocolate Pretzel Bar; and Revolution (fortified, port-style wine) paired with Bolivian Nacional Bonbon.
Reserve seatings are $35 per person.
The “Wine & Chocolate Pairings at Penns Woods” at Penns Wood Winery (124 Beaver Valley Road, Chadds Ford, 610-459-0808, http://www.pennswoodswinery.com) provide a nice way for visitors to enjoy a winter weekend day.
Penns Woods Winery features a pairing which includes a tasting of four wines perfectly paired with four handcrafted chocolates from Good Good Chocolates.
The mouth-watering tastings will be held every weekend in February from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturdays and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sundays.
Tickets cost $36 per person and reservations are required.
Harvest Ridge Winery (1140 Newark Road, Toughkenamon, www.harvestridgewinery.com) will present Live Music with Liz Watkins on February 14 at 4:30 p.m.
This event will feature live acoustic music that will let you sit back and relax while sipping on wine.
There will also be a “Wine & Macaron Pairing” on February 16.
Tickets for the event, which starts at 1 p.m., are $25.
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 15 and 16 from noon-5 p.m. each day.
Visitors can toast Valentines’ Day during this sweet weekend on the wine trail sampling sumptuous chocolates and confections paired with featured wines of the region.
They can visit each of the 10 participating wineries along the Berks County Wine Trail to determine their favorite pairing ombo.
The list of wineries and featured tastings includes: Deerfoot Winery (Shoemakersville); Manatawny Creek Winery (Douglassville); Kog Hill Winery (Morgantown); Long Trout Winery (Auburn); Stoudt’s Winery (Shartlesville);
Setter Ridge Vineyards (Kutztown); Stonekeep Meadery (Fleetwood); Bouchette Vineyards (Bethel); Lily’s Winery & Vineyard (Reading); Blue Mountain Winery (New Tripoli) and Ridgewood Winery (Birdsboro).
The ticket price includes a wine and chocolate pairing at each of the participating wineries.
Tickets are $15 and are good for both days.
If you’re looking for another out-of-the-ordinary way to celebrate Valentine’s Day, you might want to consider taking part in the “Sweetheart Skate” at the Blue Cross RiverRink (Market Street at the Delaware River, Philadelphia, www.riverrink.com).
“Sweetheart Skate” is slated for February 14 at the outdoor rink with skating sessions from 7-11 p.m.
The event’s focus is providing a suitable atmosphere for guests to skate with their special someone and RiverRink features one of the most romantic settings in the city.
Participants in “Sweetheart Skate” will be able to enjoy flowers, slow jams by DJ NA$H, boardwalk games, rides, cozy cabins, firepits and “favorite lovey-dovey films” in the Lodge.
Tickets, which are $27 per person, include skating admission, skate rental, a single rose, and a keepsake photo Old City Photo Booth.
Unlike most of the suburban ice rinks, RiverRink features public skating. Ice skating is the only use of this ice rink.
This winter, RiverRink takes 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.
For three decades, Winterfest has been Philadelphia’s favorite Winter tradition on the Delaware River Waterfront, inviting visitors for a chance to indulge in flights of fancy under thousands of sparkling lights in a winter wonderland with spectacular views of the Delaware River, complete with comforting warming cabins, physically distanced fire pit stations, games for the young and young-at-heart, delicious food and refreshing drinks, the signature holiday tree and — of course — ice skating on an NHL-sized rink.
Another ice-skating option in downtown Philadelphia is Center City Parks District’s Rothman Orthopaedics Institute Ice Rink at Dilworth Park (1 South 15th Street, Philadelphia, http://ccdparks.org/dilworth-park).
It is an unparalleled entertainment experience on Philadelphia’s center stage in a wonderfully urban and unique setting. Open seven days a week, the rink offers wintery fun for all ages, with a full slate of programs.
The Colebrookdale Railroad (South Washington Street, Boyertown, www.colebrookdalerailroad.com) is running its “Valentine’s Day — Romance on the Rails” excursions on February 14 and 15
The Edwardian splendor of the Secret Valley Expedition will surely kindle romantic fires as the train journeys into the night. The rail line has taken care of all of the details so that you and your love can sit back, relax, and let the world fade away as you focus on each other. This Valentine’s Day do something different — get aboard a 1920’s era train and enjoy a hand prepared meal as you leisurely wind your way through the Secret Valley.
The specials excursions will run on February 14 at 6 p.m. and February 15 at 5 p.m.
Ticket prices are $30 for adults, $25 for seniors and $15 for children.
The New Hope Railroad (32 West Bridge St, New Hope, 215- 862-2332, www.newhoperailroad.com) offers its annual “Valentine’s Excursion” on February 14 and 15.
Riders can take a step back in time and experience the romantic luxury of America’s railroads in premium turn-of-the-century Parlor cars for an intimate 60-minute excursion through the foothills of beautiful Bucks County.
During the trip, they can enjoy table-seated comfort while sampling light fare served by knowledgeable Parlor Car attendants. Each couple will receive a lush sweet and savory charcuterie spread, a long-stemmed red rose, and a takeaway to share later. Guests over 21 years of age will also receive a flight of hand-crafted demi cocktails to sample and pair with the spread.
Fares start at $143.
The Northern Central Railway (2 West Main Street, New Freedom, www.northerncentralrailway.com) is running its “Sweetheart Brunch Excursion to Alecraft Brewery” on February 15 at 11 a.m.
Riders can join Brewery Tours and their fun and knowledgeable Beer Guides aboard Northern Central Railway of York for a pretty sweet craft beer experience!
The ticket includes a guided tasting of 10 five-ounce craft beer samples from South County Brewery with a special cheesecake pairing, a keepsake tasting glass, as well as complimentary water and snacks.
Tickets are $59.99.
Do Portugal Circus, which is based in Mexico, is visiting the area for visit to Franklin Mall (1455 Franklin Mills Circle, Philadelphia, www.doportugalcircus.com) that is running now through February 16.
Do Portugal Circus is not only one of the world’s most acclaimed circuses, it also is one of the oldest. Named after the Portugal Family, the company’s history dates back to 1911.
For more than 100 years — with a history spanning five generations — Do Portugal Circus has been entertaining fans of all ages with a variety of impressive circus acts.
In 1950, the family started in the direction it still follows. They got their first tent and opened their first touring show which, at the time, was called Circus America.
In the 1980s, it changed its name to Circus Dina. The show later changed into Do Portugal Circus in 1993.
The circus toured exclusively in Mexico until 2014 when it played El Salvador and other venues in Central America – including Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Costa Rica and Guatemala.
Five years ago, Do Portugal Circus began performing in both Mexico and the United States with two different tents at the same time.
Do Portugal Circus made its area debut last year when it set up its Big Top in the parking lot of the King of Prussia Plaza.
The visit to Philadelphia this year is part of an international tour for 2025 that will see stops in nearly 20 cities this year.
What could be described as the circus’ headline act is the Troupe Ethiopia Hand Voltage Team. The athletic performers from Addis Ababa form a highly skilled and professional troupe which is a treasure of the East African country.
Another fan favorite is the Globe of Death — a metal sphere featuring three motorcyclists racing inside at speeds reaching more than 100 mph.
The Philadelphia show will also showcase Spanish Web, trapeze, aerialists, jugglers, hand balancing, clowns, quick change, bounce juggling, magicians, dancers, acrobats and Aerial Silks.
Unlike various touring circuses in the past, there are no animals in any Do Portugal Circus performances. This show features only human acts.
Ticket prices start at $20.
“Astra Lumina Philadelphia” is an enchanted night walk at the Abington Art Center (515 Meetinghouse Road, Jenkintown, https://astralumina.com/philadelphia) invites the audience to discover the wonder of visiting stars – to set off across mysterious grounds to discover a celestial pathway of lustrous light, cosmic visions, and astral song.
Created by the visionary minds at Moment Factory, “Astra Lumina Philadelphia” is the 24th experience in the Lumina Night Walk series.
Located on a historic 27-acre campus, Abington Art Center is a beautiful setting for the enchanting Astra Lumina. The campus has been transformed to create a magical journey.
Participants wander along specially designed pathways that weave through the forest landscape and immerse themselves in the wonder of Astra Lumina.
Highlights of the tour — Stroll along an enchanted one-mile night walk guiding visitors of all ages on a journey to discover the wonder of visiting stars, experience nature come alive through nine cosmic installations, marvel at the stars falling to your feet from 20 feet above and immerse yourself in a field of thousands of pixel lights.
“Astra Lumina Philadelphia” will run through March 9.
Longwood Gardens (Route 1, Kennett Square, 610-388-1000, www.longwoodgardens.org) is celebrating the new year with one of its annual special events – “Winter Wonder.”
“Winter Wonder,” which runs now through March 24, celebrates the beauty of winter. It’s all about outdoor spacious, indoor oasis, and the power of story.
Outside, visitors can find a sense of peace and tranquility as they walk past textural grasses, seed heads and the dramatic silhouettes of trees that stretch up into the sky.
Inside, they can bask in a world of warmth that features an overhead garden of hanging baskets adorned with such vibrant beauties as jasmine, cape-primrose, and lipstick-plant.
Visitors will be able to enjoy a paradise of flowers and foliage, bursting with color — all in a beautiful indoor winter wonderland with a tropical twist.
Inside Longwood’s Conservatory, visitors can check out nearly 300 blooming orchids on display in the site’s Orchid House. There will also be rare blue poppies blooming in March but for only about 10 to 15 days.
Another popular attraction this year is Longwood Gardens’ “Science Saturdays” series.
Topics for Science Saturday events are “Plant Exploration in Tanzania” on February 10, “Longwood Research, Down to a Science” on February 24, “Managing Our Natural Lands” on March 9 and “Seed Science” on April 20.
Longwood custom grows a staggering 1,300 (and counting) types of plants each year for seasonal indoor displays and outdoor gardens … and each type has its own needs. While Longwood’s team utilizes its horticulture expertise to grow this diverse palette of plants, its innovative greenhouses further the capabilities to grow them precisely and efficiently, all while attending to each plant type’s individual needs.
The gardens are open from Wednesdays through Mondays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. until Friday, March 31. Hours change in the spring.
As always, admission by “Timed Ticket” — tickets issued for specific dates and times. Timed ticketing limits the number of people in the Gardens at any given time and allows guests to enjoy minimal lines and a better viewing experience.
You may enter the Gardens up to 30 minutes prior and 30 minutes after your designated time. Make every effort to arrive at your designated reservation time. Earlier or later arrivals may not be accommodated.
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).
Hagley Museum and Library (Buck Road East entrance via Route 100, Wilmington, Delaware, 302-658-2400, www.hagley.org), a 230-acre historical village on the site of the original du Pont Company gunpowder mills in northern Delaware, has a popular attraction – “Nation of Inventors.”
In conjunction with this, Hagley hosts “Kid Inventors’ Weekend” from February 15-17 in the Visitor Center.
Hagley celebrates “Kid Inventors’ Weekend” on Saturday by offering activities that will ignite kids’ creativity and curiosity.
They can participate in activities that celebrate the genius behind design, learn about the patent process and see examples of early American ingenuity in the “Nation of Inventors” exhibition.
They also will be able to see robotics and Lego teams demonstrating their amazing creations and pay a visit to the DuPont Discovery Loft to “Tinker and Create.”
Future innovators can take apart electronics, use household “junk” to create their own inventions, and submit their ideas to the “Hagley Patent Office.”
“Nation of Inventors” celebrates the American spirit of ingenuity by taking visitors on a journey from the early years of the patent system, in the 1790s, through the “golden age” of American invention, in the late 1800s.
The exhibit features more than 120 patent models from Hagley’s unique collection highlighting the diverse stories of inventors from all walks of life.
Patent models are scaled representations of inventions and were part of the patent application process for nearly 100 years. “Nation of Inventors” showcases patent models representing innovations in a variety of industries from transportation and manufacturing to food preservation and medical devices.
In the exhibition, visitors will enjoy engaging experiences around every corner, testing their knowledge of innovation and hearing personal accounts from inventors.
“Nation of Inventors” includes patent models from well-known inventors and companies like Ball (Mason Jars), Jim Beam, Bissell, Corliss, Steinway, and Westinghouse.
“Nation of Inventors” is located on the first two floors of Hagley’s Visitor Center. Visitors can plan to spend about 30 minutes on their self-guided tour of the exhibition.
Admission to Hagley is $20 for adults, $16 for students and seniors (62+) and $10 for children (6-14).
This weekend is a special time at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University (1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, www.ansp.org).
The museum is presenting “Drop-in Science Workshops: Swing into Spring” on February 15 from 2-4 p.m.
This month’s theme will be– What is a seed and what do you need to make it grow?
Topics will include: What are heirloom plants and why are they important? Meet live decomposers from our Living Exhibits Collection and discover why they are so essential in helping plants thrive. Make seed starters to take home.
Museum admission is $29 for adults (age 13 and above) and $25 for children (ages 2-12).
A well-attended Bucks County attraction is the “The Winter Un-wined” at Shady Brook Farm (931 Stony Hill Road, Yardley, www.shadybrookfarm.com).
The event will take place in the Greenhouse and feature live music by local artists. Music is performed from 6:30-9:30 p.m. every Friday and Saturday night now through March 8.
The Stone’s Throw Pub will offer a wide array of locally brewed craft beer, Rose Bank Winery wines, and handcrafted cocktails featuring PA distilled spirits. The free event will also feature hot food items from The Kitchen and Pizza Box.
Sesame Place (100 Sesame Road, Langhorne, www.sesameplace.com) may be closed for park rides and activities but there’s still furry fun to be found.
This weekend’s special event will be “Mardi Gras Celebration,” which will be held from February 15-March 9.
Visitors can let the good times roll at Sesame Place’s family-friendly Mardi Gras Celebration.
Guests can join in the festivities and celebrate by dancing along with special strolling entertainment, participating in the Mardi Gras Mask Scavenger Hunt, and much more. They also can enjoy Sesame Street-themed rides and attractions for guests of all ages.
The Sesame Street Mardi Gras Parade is a celebration with everyone’s favorite Sesame Street friends dressed up and ready to shine, and features lively tunes, fancy dancing, and floats decked out in Mardi Gras colors of sparkly purple, green, and gold.
Visitors to Sesame Place can enjoy mouth-watering menu items made famous by the city of New Orleans like beignets and jambalaya. Come celebrate with us as we take the celebration of Mardi Gras from New Orleans to Sesame Place.
The John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum (8601 Lindbergh Boulevard, Philadelphia, www.fws.gov/refuge/John_Heinz) will host a “Bird Walk with Mary Ellen Krober” On February 15.
Take an educational walk with one of the park’s knowledgeable volunteers and discover the 300-plus species of birds that use the Refuge during their migration routes. Each week guarantees different species.
Walk will meet by the Visitor Center and be at a relaxed paced on flat surfaces.
There are restrooms near the trailhead. No registration required.
