By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times
Philadelphia Flower Show
If you’re in the mood for flowers – lots and lots of flowers – all you need do is make a visit to this year’s Philadelphia Flower Show at the Pennsylvania Convention Center (12th and Arch streets, Philadelphia, www.theflowershow.com) which runs through March 9.
The PHS (Philadelphia Horticultural Society) Philadelphia Flower Show is the nation’s largest and longest-running horticultural event and features stunning displays by the world’s premier floral and landscape designers.
First staged in 1829, the Show introduces diverse plant varieties and sustainable garden and design concepts.
Usually, when events have to be moved, they move indoors because of inclement weather.
In 2021 and 2022, the Philadelphia Flower Show mad to move – outdoors because of COVID restraints.
Held indoors once again after two years in FDR Park, the Philadelphia Flower Show returns to the Pennsylvania Convention Center.
The theme, “Gardens of Tomorrow,” invites guests to explore the future through the eyes of visionary designers, expert gardeners, and passionate green enthusiasts as they merge nature’s brilliance with human ingenuity.
Visitors can expect breathtaking displays by the world’s premier floral and landscape designers, as well as musical performances from a slate of hand-picked artists.
Alongside all the Flower Show elements you know and love, like the world’s biggest plant competition, unique shopping experiences, and activities for all ages, you’ll see and hear what the most innovative plant experts from around world think the future of gardening will be through their exhibits at the “Know to Grow” speaker series.
Several designers create the largest gardens in the show’s history to transport visitors into immersive, 360-degree floral worlds — blurring the lines between indoors and out.
This year’s event also features some of the largest gardens in its history, with floral scapes that range in size from 2,200 to 2,900 square feet.
The show, which is presented every year by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and celebrates its 196th anniversary in 20233, treats visitors to a spectacle of floral displays in every size, style and shape imaginable.
The show will feature 10 acres of exhibition halls with floral displays and vendors and provide visitors with all new interactive experiences. This inviting part of the show will feature garden trends, chats with experts, and hands-on learning sessions for gardeners to become even greener.
Guests are encouraged to enhance their Flower Show visit each day with other popular experiences, including Flower Show Guided Tours in the early morning and now also in the evening, Butterflies Live, and Make & Take DIY.
The Flower Show also features an exciting competition that brings together thousands of plant lovers who compete in hundreds of categories.
The show’s biggest attraction each year is the massive “Marketplace” featuring over 150 vendors from all over America and several European nations. They will be selling flowers, orchids, floral-inspired furniture, sheds, artwork and unique garden-related crafts and supplies.
Throughout the week, hundreds of gardening experts will provide learning opportunities in the Lecture Series.
Be prepared for large crowds during the weekend hours. If you want a more leisurely visit, plan to visit the show during the week.
Also, take public transportation if possible. Vehicular traffic in the area is frequently a nightmare and parking lots tend to fill up early even though they are charging exorbitant fees.
Tickets for the Philadelphia Flower Show are $39.99 on weekdays and $49.99 on weekends for adults, $25/$30 for students (ages 18-24) and $20/$25 for children (ages 5-17).
Greater Philadelphia RV Show & Sale
If you’re thinking about getting an RV — or any type from a home-away-from-home on wheels — then you should check out the Greater Philadelphia RV Show & Sale which is running now through March 2 at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center (100 Station Avenue, Oaks, 800-290-6886, www.phillyrvshow.com).
Visitors to the show will be able to shop at exhibits by many of the top dealers of Southeastern Pennsylvania without having to drive all around the area to do so. The dealers will all be assembled together under one roof — allowing comparison shopping to be an easy task.
In addition to exhibits displaying all types of RVs, the show will also feature supplier booths, camping information and dealers specializing in parts and accessories.
The roster of participating dealers includes Stoltzfus RVs of Adamstown, RV Value Mart, Shady Maple RV, and Colton RV Pocono.
The line-up also includes Fretz Enterprises, Indian Valley Camping Center, Campers Inn, Parkview RV Center and General RV.
Show hours are 10 a.m.-8 p.m. on March 1 and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on March 2.
Tickets are $13 with children (under 12) admitted free with a paying adult.
West Chester’s “Restaurant Week” for 2025 (www.downtownwestchester.com/event/west-chesters-restaurant-week) will run through March 2.This fun-filled week is the perfect opportunity for area residents to support your favorite restaurants or explore something new.
West Chester’s culinary masters will be creating special multi-course prix fixe menus that will be featured for one week only. There will be dine-in and takeout options available.
Participating restaurants are 9 Prime, Bar Avalon, Barnaby’s of West Chester, Bierhaul Townhouse, Dolce Zola, Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant, Limoncello, Mae’s West Chester, Mas Mexicali Cantina, Manje Caribbean Cuisine, Pietro’s Prime, Saloon 151 Whiskey Bar & Grill, Slow Hand Restaurant and Bar, The Mediterranean, Santino’s Tap & Table, Stove & Tap, The Social Lounge, Taco Mar, Teca West Chester, Sedona Taphouse, Original Spence Café, Ryan’s Pub & Restaurant, Greystone Oyster Bar, Mercato Ristorante and Bar, Opa Taverna and the Tomato Shack.
“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.
Tyler Arboretum (515 Painter Road, Media, 610-566-9134, tylerarboretum.org) will have a pair of season events this weekend.
On March 1, the arboretum will present “Saturday Wildflower Walk: Early Spring Edition” from 1-3 p.m.
Another event slated for Saturday afternoon is “Witch Hazel Winter Fireworks Tour” which will take place from 1:30-3 p.m.
On March 1 at 10 a.m., the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum (8601 Lindbergh Boulevard, Philadelphia, www.fws.gov/refuge/John_Heinz) will host “Nature Tots! for 3 – 5 year olds.”
Nature Tots are back at the refuge. Children ages 3-5 and an adult are invited to explore nature with a refuge ranger.
Participants will enjoy story times, crafts, hikes, and more.
On March 1, West Chester University will host the 2024 Philadelphia Flute Day Fair (https://www.philaflutesociety.org/fairevents). The event will be held at Swope Music Building and the Performing Arts Center, which is located at 817 South High Street in West Chester.
The Flute Day Fair will be filled with a variety of events including concerts, flute choirs, master classes, exhibits, workshops and presentations.
The “Headline Guest Artist” will be Bart Feller.
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 23, 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.
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.”
“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.
The patent models in “Nation of Inventors” were created between 1833 and 1886. “Nation of Inventors” not only features patent models submitted by inventors from the United States, but also models from inventors in England, France, Ireland, Russia, and Spain, demonstrating an international interest in America’s intellectual property system.
“Nation of Inventors” includes patent models from well-known inventors and companies like Ball (Mason Jars), Jim Beam, Bissell, Corliss, Steinway, and Westinghouse. The exhibit presents important topics and timely themes including women inventors, Black inventors, immigrant inventors, improvements in urban living, and the ways Americans learn about and understand progress and change.
“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).
Historic Odessa (Main Street, Odessa, Delaware, 302-378-4119, www.historicodessa.org) is both a scenic and an historic site in Delaware.
On March 1, Historic Odessa reopens for spring tours and celebrates the beginning of its 2025 season.
Known in the 18th-century as Cantwell’s Bridge, Odessa played a vital role in commercial life along the Delaware River as a busy grain shipping port.
Today, visitors can stroll along tree-lined streets and admire examples of 18th- and 19th-century architecture in one of the best-preserved towns in Delaware. They can also tour a remarkable collection of antiques and Americana preserved in period room settings and quaint exhibits.
Historic Odessa is open to the public from March through December, Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and Sunday from 1-4 p.m. The site is also open Monday by reservation.
March 2 is also a special day in Odessa for another reason.
Visitors are invited to celebrate Dr. Seuss’s birthday with Historic Odessa Foundation.
Guests will have the opportunity to party with their favorite Dr. Suess readings followed by family friendly arts and crafts.
The celebration will run from 2-4 p.m. in the Bank Building (201 Main Street, Odessa).
The Kalmar Nyckel Shipyard (1124 East Seventh Street, Wilmington, Delaware, www.kalmarnyckel.org) is hosting the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation’s “10th Annual LEGO Brick Shipbuilding Day” on March 1.
The Brick Shipbuilding Day is fun for all ages and skill levels. Build STEM ship models or design your own incredible creation for our annual contests. The event culminates with prizes for ships built on site and at home.
Participants will be able to build their own imaginary ships — with masts, wings, wheels or whatever they desire. They can bring one from home or build one on-site with the site’s free-play LEGOs to enter into our contests.
They can also learn to build STEM-based LEGO models of historic and naval vessels including Kalmar Nyckel, USS Gettysburg, CSS Virginia, USS Monitor and many more.
Shipbuilding kits are organized by skill level so that all ages can participate.
The fun family event will run from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
The Annual Gem, Mineral & Fossil Show will be held March 1 and 2 at Doubletree by Hilton (4727 Concord Pike, Wilmington, Delaware, www.dmsrocks.org).
Activities include interesting and educational exhibits of mineral, lapidary and fossil specimens, a “Fluorescent Mineral Room” with brightly glowing, illuminated specimens, displays of minerals from the Iron Hill Museum, display of regional Native American stone artifacts.
Demonstrations by members of the Delaware Mineral Society and the Tuscarora Lapidary Society may include: Gem Faceting, Cabbing, Wirewrapping, Pearl Knotting, Viking Wire Weaving, Gem Tree Making, Bead-Wire Ringmaking, Fossil Fish Specimen Preparing, and more.
The show will also feature a large roster of outstanding dealers of minerals, fossils, gems, jewelry and lapidary supplies along with the “Club Members Booth” where show attendees can purchase self-collected specimens and self-made jewelry items at low cost and a “Children’s Booth” where youngsters of all ages can purchase inexpensive minerals and fossils from $1 and up.
Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $6 for adults, $5 for seniors and juniors (12-16) and free for children (under 12). There will also be a large specimen raffle with one free raffle ticket per paid admission.
The Philadelphia Comic-Con, which is scheduled to run from 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. on March 2 at the Clarion Hotel Conference Center (76 Industrial Highway, Essington, 856-217-5737, www.philadelphiacomic-con.com), features comic books, trading cards and other collectibles — both modern and vintage.
The event, which has an admission fee of $4, also features a number of special autograph guests.
The popular collectibles event, which is the area’s longest running comic convention, will host dealers from all over the Northeast with sales booths featuring Gold & Silver Age comics, action figures, non-sport cards (including Topps “Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens”).
Also featured will be Japanese Manga, gaming cards such as Pokemon and Magic the Gathering, original artwork and all the latest issues of today’s popular comic book series.
The roster of top-flight vendors includes veteran dealers and relative newcomers.
As an added attraction, there will be hourly door prizes beginning at 11 a.m. with $100 in show cash to be given away.
On March 1, Laurel Hill Cemetery (3822 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia, 215-228-8200, www.thelaurelhillcemetery.org) will present “Heavenly Intonations: Musical Legacies.”
Whether we can hear it or not, music hangs in the air at Laurel Hill East — heavenly intonations of the singers, musicians, lyricists, and composers buried within.
Guests will be able to visit the gravesites of those who contributed in some way to the musical legacy of America. In some cases, they can even hear their work.
This includes the composer who created the first serious American symphonic work and was also the first music critic in the United States; the woman who wrote the first words that Thomas Edison uttered into his recently invented phonograph; and the “Bruce Springsteen of the Early 20th– Century American Opera,” who riled up audiences everywhere from Philadelphia’s Academy of Music to Teddy Roosevelt’s White House to the opera houses of Australia.
Tour Guide will be Rich Wilhelm.
Tickets, which must be purchased in advance, are: $17/General Admission; $15/Seniors (65 & Up); $8.50/Youth (6-12). Youth and children must be accompanied by an adult.
On March 1, Fort Mifflin (Fort Mifflin and Hog Island roads, Philadelphia, 215-685-4167, www.fortmifflin.us) will host a special event called “Battle of Verdun – WWI Reenactment.”
Visitors will get a look at the harsh the conditions French and German soldiers would have experienced in the cramped confines of the tunnels of the fortresses of Verdun (transported to Fort Mifflin’s casemates).
They will hear the stories of soldiers who fought room to room for inches of ground at a time.
The event starts at noon.
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 nine unique educational holes — explore butterfly metamorphosis, a tropical rain forest, evolution, dinosaur extinction, food chains, and more. It’s perfect for kids of all ages. The entire family will enjoy playing miniature golf while learning about our environment – every step of the way.
The mini-course is open daily from 9 a.m. -5 p.m. through April 6.
Tickets are $8.
“Maple Sugaring at Peter Wentz Farmstead” (2030 Shearer Road, Lansdale, pe*****************@mo****************.gov) will take place on March 1 from 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Visitors can join the site’s farmers as they create maple sugar from trees right here at the Farmstead.
Guests can watch as they tap the trees, collect the sap, and create the syrup.
They can also learn about the Indigenous origins of maple sugaring and how the process has continued through to today.
Waffles and syrup will be available at Philly Waffle Cabin’s food truck.
This free all-ages event is weather dependent — if the temperature isn’t just right the sap may not flow.
On March 2, the Lancaster County Park Environmental Center (1 Nature’s Way, Lancaster, https://apm.activecommunities.com/LancasterCountyParks, 717-295-2055) will present a special program titled “Maple Sugaring.”
Visitors can join County Park Naturalists for ongoing maple sugaring demonstrations in the sugar bush of Lancaster County Central Park.
They will be able to see trees tapped, sap boiled to syrup, and candy made from the syrup. Maple products will be on sale. Guests can drop in anytime during the program hours for an educational tour of the maple syrup making process.
The Chaddsford Winery (632 Baltimore Pike, Chadds Ford, 610-388-6221, http://www.chaddsford.com) is presenting
“Reserve Tasting – Spring Sips” on Saturdays and Sundays, from March 1-April 19.
The 2025 Pairing Line Up is: Greeting Wine: Pinkette; The White Standard with Goat Rodeo’s fresh Chèvre and Honey;
Chardonnay with Calkins Creamery Noble Brie and Small Batch Kitchen’s Fig Jam; Harbinger with Doe Run Hickory on the Hill cheese washed with Blueberry Wine Lees; and Sangria with a Lemon Macaron.
Reserve seatings are $35 per person.
The “Wine & Cupcake 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.
Each weekend in March, the winery will be offering its “Wine & Cupcake Pairings” which includes wines perfectly paired with gourmet cupcakes.
This pairing includes a tasting of four wines perfectly paired with four gourmet miniature cupcakes from Dia Doce in West Chester.
Tickets are $36 per person.
Harvest Ridge Winery (1140 Newark Road, Toughkenamon, www.harvestridgewinery.com) will present “Live Music with Five Foot Nothin” on March 1 at 4:30 p.m.
The event will feature live acoustic music that will let you sit back and relax while sipping on wine.
There will also be a “Chips, Cheese & Wine Pairing” on March 2.
Tickets for the event, which starts at 1 p.m., are $25.
The Strasburg Rail Road (Route 741, Strasburg, 717-687-7522, www.strasburgrailroad.com) is running a special train on March 1 and 2 – the “Wine & Cheese Train.”
Passengers can enjoy the luxurious, climate-controlled first-class accommodation and a tasting of select wine, cheese, and crackers as they travel in style down the tracks from Strasburg to Paradise and back. The train departs at 6 p.m. and the total trip time is 45 minutes.
“Wine & Cheese Train” boarding is 30 minutes before the scheduled departure. Riders must be 21 or older and have their photo ID ready when they board.
Featured wines are carefully selected from Waltz Vineyards, and cheeses are paired accordingly. Beer and select non-alcoholic beverages are also available for purchase upon request. Riders can purchase a souvenir wine glass on board the train if desired. Glasses are $8 each.
In accordance with Pennsylvania law, alcohol is only served during the train ride. We are not permitted to serve alcoholic beverages while the train is berthed in the station.
This popular train is available on select Friday and Saturday evenings throughout the season. Tickets are $79.
Throughout the month of March, the Betsy Ross House (239 Arch Street, Philadelphia, historicphiladelphia.org) will offer free programming on weekends celebrating Women’s History Month.
On March 2 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m., the program will be “Storytelling Sundays.”
Award-winning Once Upon A Nation Storytellers shed light on women’s contributions to our nation’s history that our history books missed.
As always, visitors will meet Betsy Ross as she works in her upholstery shop. She can share the story of the first flag and so much more.
Ross was a business owner, patriot, single mother, and entrepreneur and led a fascinating life during exciting times.
“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.
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 now through 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 they take the celebration of Mardi Gras from New Orleans to Sesame Place.
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.
Grim Philly’s “Dark Philly History Tour” (www.grimphilly.com) will be held every evening throughout the winter.
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.
Blue Cross RiverRink (Market Street at the Delaware River, Philadelphia, www.riverrink.com) is a great place to enjoy a pleasant winter skate.
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.
