By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times
FL!P Circus
Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus closed down a few years ago for many reasons – including PETA protests at every tour stop.
Big touring productions which featured an array of performing animals no longer held the appeal they once had.
Fortunately, there are several smaller circuses — top-flight circuses — performing in tents around the country.
One of those new circuses is FL!P Circus, which is currently returning to the area to take up residency under its Big Top in the parking lot of the King of Prussia Plaza (160 North Gulph Road, King of Prussia, www.flipcircus.com).
The new circus, which will run in King of Prussia until May 13, has been dazzling audiences since making its first appearance in 2022.
Billed as one of America’s best new family entertainment events, FL!P Circus showcases an impressive mix of international human performers.
FL!P Circus melds classic with contemporary to bring a complete circus experience for audiences – complete with a distinctive red and white striped, 800-seat, climate-controlled Big Top tent.
As an added attraction, no seat at FL!P Circus is more than 50 feet from the ring.
Ringmaster Jan Vasquez is the host. He also performs with his sister, Carolina Vazquez, in a daring act on the rolla bolla.
He also performs with his sister, Carolina Vazquez, in a daring act on the rolla bolla.
Johnny Rico, who is from Spain, makes his debut as a comedian with this year’s Flip Circus.
The roster of impressive circus talent also includes the Bravuuri Troupe from Finland, Duo Fossett from Hungary and Brazil’s father and son hand-balancing team, Duo Marrufo.
Africa is represented by the Bone Breakers, who hail from Conakry, Guinea. Ther show also features the Bingo Troupe from Ukraine.
One of the show’s highlights is the FL!P Circus Band. The musical troupe is talented, versatile and perfectly suited for a circus performance.
Video link for Flip Circus — https://youtu.be/euDlW_FPJKo.
Show times are 7:30 p.m. on weekdays and 1, 4 and 7 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Ticket prices start at $30.
The Brandywine Valley has earned a well-deserved respect for being horse country. It has established its reputation as an area known for staging top-flight equestrian events.
Willowdale Steeplechase
The 2025 equestrian season had its unofficial start last weekend with a big annual point-to-point event in Delaware.
This weekend, the spotlight will be on the Annual Willowdale Steeplechase (Steeplechase grounds, routes 82 and 926, Unionville, willowdalesteeplechase.org).
This year’s 32nd annual staging of the event will be held on May 10 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
The initial competition will be the “Jack Russell Terrier Races” at 10:30 a.m. followed by the “Pony Races” at 11:30 a.m.
The Willowdale Steeplechase is a first-class steeplechase course that features an uphill approach to the fences. This encourages less speed and more jumping and, as a result, causes less wear and tear on the horses.
The first of seven steeplechase races will begin at 1 p.m. and the racing is scheduled to end between 4:30 and 5 p.m. Gates will close at 6 p.m.
This year’s Willowdale Steeplechase has several beneficiaries — The Stroud Water Research Center and The University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine at New Bolton Center.
Tickets are $50 at the gate.
The Yellow Springs Art Show (Art School Road, Chester Springs, www.yellowsprings.org), which is one of the longest-running art shows in the state, is celebrating its 52nd anniversary in 2025.The Yellow Springs Art Show got its start back in 1973 as a free event featuring a variety of artists displaying their work on clotheslines.
It has changed immeasurably since then and has become one of the largest and most prestigious annual art shows in the Delaware Valley.
The show is still free and open to the public. The popular annual event now features close to 200 participating artists — including many artists who are new to the show this year.
The show is running now through May 11 in Historic Yellow Springs Lincoln Building. Show hours are from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. daily.
The 2025 Yellow Springs Art Show will have on display more than 3,000 pieces of fine art in a wide range of media and styles – oils, watercolors, bronze sculptures, pastels, landscapes, still life, three-dimensional works, seascapes and abstract.
All proceeds benefit arts education, environmental protection and historic preservation of the 300-year-old village of Historic Yellow Springs.
Tulip season has arrived, and you can see the colorful flowers in home gardens all around the area.
One of the more energetic traditional springtime events in Pennsylvania Dutch country is the Rough and Tumble Engineers Historical
Association’s annual “Spring Stream Up” (Rough and Tumble, 4977 Lincoln Highway East, Kinzers, 717-442-4249, www.roughandtumble.org).
“Spring Steam-Up” is looked at as a special event each year at Rough and Tumble — a time to get the steam engines out of hibernation and fire them up. It is also a time for the plowing to begin.
“Spring Steam-Up” is scheduled for May 9 and 10 from 7 a.m.-5 p.m. each day. One of the highlights will be sessions of “Plowing with Steam and Gas Tractors.” This activity will be held only if weather is favorable to plow.
There will be a variety of displays featuring steam engines, gas engines, steam tractors, gas tractors and antique cars. Also featured will be a model shop, a sawmill, two steam trains and blacksmithing demonstrations at the museum’s blacksmith shop.
“Tractor Games” are scheduled for Friday at 4 p.m. The “Garden Tractor Pull” and the “Children’s Pedal Tractor Pull” will be held on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Tickets for “Spring Stream Up” are $5 for adults and $2 for children (ages 6-12).
On May 10, Laurel Hill Cemetery (3822 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia, 215-228-8200, www.thelaurelhillcemetery.org) will present “Accessible Hot Spots and Storied Plots” walking tour at 10 a.m.
“Accessible Hot Spots & Storied Plots” walking tours are shorter than a typical Hot Spots & Storied Plots tour and will stay on paved paths.
In life and in death, we all have stories to tell, and what better place to hear tales of wonder than Philadelphia’s most famous home of the dead?
This tour provides an informative overview of Laurel Hill’s long history, which includes many of the marble masterpieces, stunning views, and legendary stories about Laurel Hill.
“Hot Spots and Storied Plots” is the perfect introduction for anyone who enjoys beautiful art, scenic nature, and fascinating history. An experienced graveyard guide will offer a unique perspective. No two “Hot Spots and Storied Plots” are alike.
The Tour Guide will be Joe Lex.
Linvilla Orchards (137 West Knowlton Road, Media, 610-876-7116, www.linvilla.com) is presenting its traditional spring activities this weekend.
There will be fishing, pony rides, playland playground, spring hayrides and barnyard animals.
Other attractions are the rose garden class, the Farm Market and Garden Center, Linvilla Grill and Ship Bottom Beer Garden.
The 2025 season is underway at Nemours Estate (1600 Rockland Road, Wilmington, Delaware, nemoursestate.org). The entrance is located on the campus of Nemours Children’s Health, follow signs for Nemours Estate.
One of the site’s popular spring events will be held this weekend.
On May 10, Nemours will celebrate “Alfred I. duPont Birthday Celebration.
The event, which runs from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. will feature free ice cream treats for all.
Nemours was the estate of Alfred I. duPont.
Originally constructed in 1910, Nemours Estate is one of Delaware’s grandest buildings and includes the largest formal French garden in North America.
Nemours Estate comprises an exquisite, 77-room mansion, the largest formal French gardens in North America, a Chauffeur’s Garage housing a collection of vintage automobiles, and 200 acres of scenic woodlands, meadows and lawns.
The Gardens are one of the estate’s prime attractions.
The two elk at the top of the Vista are the work of French sculptor Prosper Lecourtier (1855–1924), a specialist in animal figures. Lined with Japanese cryptomeria, pink flowering horse chestnuts and pin oaks, the Long Walk extends from the Mansion to the Reflecting Pool.
The 157 jets at the center of the one-acre pool shoot water 12 feet into the air; when they are turned off, the entire “Long Walk” is reflected in the pool. The pool, five and a half feet deep in its deepest section, holds 800,000 gallons of water and takes three days to fill.
The Art Nouveau-style, classical mythology-based “Four Seasons” around the pool are by French-born American sculptor Henri Crenier (1873–1948).
Admission to Nemours is $23 for adults, $21 for seniors and $10 for children.
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 ongoing attraction – “Nation of Inventors.”
Two popular upcoming events are “Science Saturday” and “Walking Tour.”
“Science Saturday,” which is scheduled for 11 a.m. on May 10, is a drop-in family program encouraging innovation and creativity. The theme on Saturday will be “Digging into Compost.”
With the “Walking Tour,” participants can walk through history during an in-depth, 90-minute guided tour each Monday morning from March through December. This week’s topic is “What’s for Dinner?”
“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” 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).
Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum (2451 Kissel Hill Road, Lancaster, 717.569.0401, www.landisvalleymuseum.org) is holding its 36th annual Herb & Garden Faire on May 9 and 10.
Landis Valley is transformed into a gardener’s paradise at this annual sale.
With more than 80 vendors of heirlooms, natives, and other hard-to-find varieties as well as herbal skin care products, garden art, and jewelry spread out over the historic village area of the site, it’s a delightful shopping experience that’s quickly becoming a Mother’s Day weekend tradition.
Visitors can also grab a bite from the Faire’s food vendors, listen to beautiful music, or tour gardens run by the museum’s Heirloom Seed Project.
The Herb & Garden Faire will run from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. both days. No pets are allowed.
Admission is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, $8 for youth (ages 6-11) and free for ages 5 and under. Tickets will be available at the door.
If you’re out in Lancaster County, there are few out of the normal attractions – maybe even paranormal – for you to check out.
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.
You can capture the same vibe closer to home with tours in Philadelphia.
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.
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 spring and summer and offer an eerily entertaining evening of true ghost stories and real haunted houses.
The 11th Annual Philadelphia Fleadh (www.PhillyFleadh.com) will be held on May 10 at Nick’s Roast Beef Parking Lot at 4501 Woodhaven Road in Northeast Philadelphia.
Voted one of five most authentic Irish destinations in America by Good Morning America, The Philadelphia Fleadh is a Celtic music and dance festival with 13 bands, traditional music sessions, Celtic Flame’s Feis at the Fleadh, dance performances, and a Ceili.
The event, which will run from 11 a.m.-8 p.m., will feature food, spirits and merchant vendors along with a kid’s zone with bounce houses, face painting and balloon animals and much more.
Some of the featured acts this year are No Irish Need Apply, The Natterjacks, Birmingham 6, The John Byrne Band, The Shantys, and Bogside Rogues.
Admission is $25.
The 2025 season is in full swing at Chanticleer (786 Church Street, Wayne, www.chanticleergarden.org).
The Chanticleer estate dates from the early 20th-century, when land along the Main Line of the Pennsylvania Railroad was developed for summer homes to escape the heat of Philadelphia. Adolph Rosengarten, Sr., and his wife Christine chose the Wayne-St. Davids area to build their country retreat.
The Rosengartens hired architect and former classmate Charles L. Borie to design the house, which was completed in 1913. Landscape architect Thomas Sears designed the terraces as extensions of the house. A 1924 addition converted the summer home into a year-round residence and the family moved here permanently.
There are seven horticulturists, each responsible for the design, planting, and maintenance of an area. The areas are continually evolving, each with its own feel, yet joined together as one complete unit.
Admission to Chanticleer is $12 for adults and free for pre-teen children (12 years and under).
Andalusia Historic House, Gardens and Arboretum (1237 State Road, Andalusia, www.andalusiapa.org) is in full swing for the 2025 season.
Located on a wooded promontory overlooking the Delaware River, Andalusia has been a stately presence on this stretch of water, just north of Philadelphia, for more than 200 years.
The ancestral home of the Biddle family, Andalusia is also a natural paradise of native woodlands and spectacular gardens that have evolved over time.
Placed on the National Register of Historic Landmarks in 1966, the Big House — one of the finest examples of Greek Revival architecture in the United States — provides an unparalleled look into our nation’s past, while also offering a glimpse into the life of a family that helped to shape its future.
Self-Guided Garden Tours will be available Mondays through Wednesdays through November 4 (excluding holidays) at 10 a.m. or 1 p.m.
Visitors can stroll the spectacular formal gardens and native woodlands during a self-guided garden tour at their leisure and enjoy sweeping views from the banks of the Delaware River. Picnics are allowed on the grounds (with a “carry-in, carry-out” policy).
