What To Do: Brandywiners present ‘Something Rotten’ at Longwood

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times

Chester County will be the home this weekend to many outdoor summer events, including four very different outdoor and outdoor/indoor events.

There is a traditional summer carnival with rides and cotton candy, an open-air theater production, an event that combines an indoor museum visit with an outdoor concert and a down-home country fair complete with livestock.

From July 23-26, Brandywiners, Ltd. (brandywiners.org) are moving into their summer home at Longwood Gardens (Route 1, Kennett Square, www.longwoodgardens.org) where they will perform a four-show run of “Something Rotten.”

Under the guidance of top-notch directors — Stage Director S. Lee Lewis and Music Director Betsy Conner — “Something Rotten” is an outrageous, crowd-pleasing musical farce.

Two brothers set out to write the world’s first musical in this hilarious mash-up of 16th-century Shakespeare and 21st-century Broadway.

Created by Grammy Award-winning songwriter Wayne Kirkpatrick, and screenwriters Karey Kirkpatrick and John O’Farrell, “Something Rotten” garnered 10 Tony nominations. It was lauded by audience and critics alike as “the funniest musical comedy in at least 400 years.”

Nick and Nigel Bottom, two struggling playwrights in Renaissance London, need a hit. As the brothers and their acting troupe rehearse their latest work, “Richard II,” the Bottoms’ patron, Lady Clapham, arrives to announce that William Shakespeare has also written a new play. The title:” Richard II.”

Clapham issues an ultimatum: if the Bottom brothers don’t deliver her a hit play “on the morrow,” their working relationship will come to an end.

When Nick’s wife, Bea, is forced to find work, Nick takes their meager savings to Soothsayer Alley.

There he finds Thomas Nostradamus, nephew of the famous soothsayer, who gazes into the future and foresees a new entertainment phenomenon: “The Musical,” a play where actors suddenly burst into song.

Nick has his million-pound idea. The Bottom brothers begin work on a musical about the Black Death, but when Shakespeare gets wind of their idea, he steals Nigel’s notebook.

Desperate for revenge, Nick pays Thomas for one more prediction — the name and plot of the greatest play Shakespeare will ever write. Thomas answers, “Omelette,” setting the stage for the Bottom brothers’ own masterpiece – “Omelette, The Musical.”

For Brandywiners Ltd., there’s no place like home – as long as home is Longwood Gardens.

Every summer, the company presents a large-scale musical production at Longwood Gardens and contributes the proceeds to cultural, educational and civic causes throughout the Delaware Valley.

Brandywiners have entertained at holiday and retirement parties at the Wilmington Country Club, the DuPont Country Club, the Newark Country Club, Delaware Art Museum, Hagley Soda House, Winterthur Museum and Garden, and the Chase Center on the Riverfront.

Performances at Longwood Gardens are set for 8 p.m. each night.

Tickets are $38 for general admission ($33 for youth) and include all-day Gardens Admission.

On July 18, the Brandywine Museum of Art (1 Hoffman Mill Road, Chadds Ford, brandywine.org) is hosting “Concerts in the Courtyard: Parlour Noir.”

Visitors will be able to enjoy a concert under the stars in the Museum’s outdoor courtyard featuring swing and jazz music by Parlour Noir.

Since 2017, Parlour Noir, which is based in Philly’s Mount Airy neighborhood, has been a well-spring of traditional jazz music.

The band swings hard through a repertoire that spans 1922-1945, including a handful of original tunes made specifically for the dance floor.

Over the course of the last eight years, Parlour Noir has become one of Philadelphia’s premier swing bands.

Museum galleries will be open from 6-7 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m.

This event is rain or shine.

Tickets for this event, which are $25, are transferable to another person for this performance but not refundable.

Food and drinks will be available for purchase from the Millstone Cafe. No outside food or beverages are permitted.

Now through July 19, the Malvern Fire Company Fair (Monument Grounds, Monument Avenue, Malvern, 610-647-0693, http://www.pa-carnivals.com) will be held from 6-10 p.m. each night.

The free Malvern Fire Company Fair features rides, games and fun for the entire family and discount ride coupons will be available at local merchants.

Guests can ride an unlimited number of rides at the 2025 Malvern Fire Company Carnival for just $30 per person per day when purchased online.

This annual fire department fundraiser features rides for all ages by Houghton Enterprises, plenty of delicious food and treats, carnival games & prizes, fire truck rides, and more.

Fireworks will be held on July 18 at 9:30 p.m.

There are two things you can be sure of in this area every July – scorching heat waves and an assortment of festivals, outside music events, carnivals, family-oriented celebrations and summertime fairs.

If you enjoy country fairs, you should check out the 96th Annual Kimberton Community Fair (Kimberton Fairgrounds, Route 113, Kimberton, 610-933-4566, http://kimbertonfair.org) which is running from July 21-26.

The Kimberton Community Fair, which was first staged in 1929, is one of the oldest community fairs in the state — and one of the last “free admission” fairs operating in the Pennsylvania State Association of County Fairs. The Kimberton Fair is a “free admission fair with parking by donation.”

As always, the fair offers a huge array of free attractions — a festive midway with amusement rides, live entertainment shows, nightly contests, exhibit buildings and livestock displays.

There will be a fireworks display on July 26.

The fair will be held at the Kimberton Fairgrounds on Route 113 approximately one mile south of Phoenixville. The non-profit event, which lists the volunteer Kimberton Fire Company as its beneficiary, attracts over 60,000 people each year.

There will also be open class and 4-H competitions along with a full midway of rides by Reithoffer Shows.

The Kimberton Fair is a “rain-or-shine” event – more or less.

According to the event’s website, they never officially “close” the fair as a result of rain because they must remain “open” to adhere to Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture operating guidelines.

The indoor attractions stay open even in inclement weather, but the festival may shut down any amusement ride if the weather causes safety issues.

The “2025 Town Tours and Village Walks” program has returned for its 31st year with the theme of “Untold Stories.”

 This year’s programs will focus on people and places that are not the economic or social elite, war heroes, or celebrities.

The featured sites will represent the everyday citizens and places of Chester County that are the foundation of our history and heritage.

Featured sites include those connected to the Underground Railroad, the shift workers of our industries, educators, farmers, Revolutionary War soldiers, and more. Some of the sites featured this year include Barnard Station in Pocopson, Coatesville’s business district, charcoal production sites at Warwick County Park, and more.

The programs are free and held weekly, on Thursdays, now through August 21 at locations throughout Chester County

Every program starts at 5:30 p.m. and ends at 7 p.m.

Instead of Thursday, this week’s tour will be held on Saturday July 26.

With a theme of “Lafayette Day,” the tour will start at 10 a.m. at Thornbury Farm, which is located at 1256 Thornbury Road in West Chester.

Newlin Grist Mill (219 South Cheyney Road, Glen Mills, 610-459-2359, www.newlingristmill.org) is holding a “Public Archaeology Day” on July 19.

The public is invited to participate (or just watch) as Newlin Grist Mill’s professional archaeologist, Keith Doms, and a dedicated corps of archaeology volunteers seek to gain a deeper understanding of the site’s history through careful excavation using scientific techniques and thorough documentation.

Depending on the day, visitors might be invited to help screen excavated soil to look for small artifacts or assist with cleaning artifacts that have already been excavated.

Excavations this season are planned for the Trimble farm complex in the Historic Area.

The Trimble family built their house on the property adjoining the Mill in 1739 and, over time, built a whole complex of structures to support the operations of their household and farm.

By conducting archaeological studies in the area around the Trimble House, the Newlin Grist Mill staff hopes to learn more about the people who lived and worked there in the 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries.

The event will run from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. It is free and open to all ages (children must be accompanied by an adult). No reservations are required

If you would like to help out with the dig, be sure to wear clothes that can get dirty and close-toed footwear. Bring work gloves if you have them; the site has a limited number of pairs to lend. For safety, hands-on participation is limited to those ages 5+.

The West Chester Railroad (610-430-2233, www.wcrailroad.com) is running its “Summer Picnic Specials” every Sunday now through September 22 at noon each day.

Passengers can enjoy a relaxing 90-minute train ride from West Chester to Glen Mills and return on a warm summer afternoon. They can also pack a lunch to have during the excursion’s stop at the Glen Mills train station picnic grove.

Tickets are $25 for adults and $20 for children (ages 2-12).

Schuylkill Banks Riverboat Tour (www.schuylkillbanks.org/events/riverboat-tours-1) presents “Secrets of the Schuylkill” now through October.

The boat ride is a one-hour family-friendly tour of Philly’s second biggest river featuring sights such as Bartram’s Garden and Fairmount Water Works.

Riders can discover the Hidden River on a fun and educational riverboat tour while seeing spectacular views of Philadelphia.

They can also learn about the past, present, and future of the tidal Schuylkill River and its impact on Philadelphia on a one-hour Secrets of the Schuylkill tour which costs $25 for adults and $15 for children (age 12 and under).

As part of Historic Philadelphia’s anniversary celebration at Franklin Square (200 Sixth Street, Philadelphia, phillychineselanternfestival.com), the organization is illuminating the park with its annual “Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival in Franklin Square.”

Now through August 31, Franklin Square will come alive every night with its Chinese Lantern Festival featuring more than two dozen illuminated lanterns – all constructed by lantern artisans from China.

In addition to the gorgeous light installations, visitors can enjoy live cultural stage performances, see the choreographed fountain light show in the historic Rendell Family Fountain, taste expanded food and drink options including Asian cuisine and American comfort food, drink a toast at the Dragon Beer Garden, and shop for Chinese folk artists’ crafts created on site as well as Festival-themed merchandise.

Guests can also play Philly Mini Golf and ride the Parx Liberty Carousel at a discounted rate. A portion of the proceeds from the festival benefits Historic Philadelphia, Inc. for the programming and care of this important public space and its many year-round free events.

Chinese-inspired performances will take place in Franklin Square twice nightly. Performances, which celebrate Chinese performance art and entertainment, are 30-minutes long and are scheduled for 7 and 9 p.m.

Festival hours are 6-11 p.m. Admission is $25 for adults ($28 on Saturday and Sunday), $23/$26 for youth, and $10 for children.

Philadelphia Expo Center (100 Station Road, Oaks, 610-529-3614, phillyexpocenter.com) hosts one of the venue’s most popular semiannual events this weekend.

On July 19, the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center will present the East Coast Reptile Super Expo featuring hundreds of live snakes and reptiles.

Many people think snakes and lizards are interesting creatures and maybe even fun pets to own. If you fall into this category, you should check out the show on Saturday.

A wide array of reptiles will be on display as part of the popular exhibition, which is an annual event that is closing in on its silver anniversary.

One of the show’s main attractions is a sales exhibit area featuring many vendors with live reptiles, amphibians and arachnids as well as food items, supplies, books, cages, and related accessories.

The East Coast Reptile Super Expo, which is always a well-attended event, will run from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. in Hall B this Saturday. Tickets are $10 with children (under five) admitted free.

On July 19 and 20, Fort Mifflin (Fort Mifflin and Hog Island roads, Philadelphia, 215-685-4167, www.fortmifflin.us) will host a special event called “Historical Timeline See history through the ages!”

Visitors can check out a living history display with reenactors representing soldiers from the ancient world up to the present.

There will be an array of ancient military units including ancient Greeks, Romans and even Vikings.

Guests will be able to learn what it meant to serve in militaries throughout history.

The event will run from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. both days.

Tickets are $16.

The Historic White Chimneys Estate (5117 Lincoln Highway, Gap, whitechimneys.com) will host “Living History Celebration” — a day dedicated to living history of the Civil War.

There will be battle reenactments, band performances, house tours, displays, food trucks, cannons fired and fireworks, among other activities.

The event will take place on July 26 at the Historic White Chimneys Estate.

Doors open at 10 a.m. with house tours, carriage displays, food trucks, Amish BBQ and food vendors all day.

The Historic Society of Salisbury Township will be in the Bridal Suite with historic displays from 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

Some of the featured attractions are Pennsylvania 69th PA Regiment, 69th Irish Volunteer Band, cannon firing, “Line Dance,” and a fireworks display at dusk.

Tickets are free.

The “Highland Cow Festival” will be the central attraction on July 19 at Cherry Crest Farms (150 Cherry Hill Road, Ronks, cherrycrestfarm.com).

Visitors are invited to “Get ready for a day packed with fuzzy fun as we celebrate these adorable bovines.”

Festival Highlights are Cow Themed Games, Brush-A-Highland, Cowboy Hat Decorating, Photo Ops, Live Music, and Local Brewery & Winery.+

There will be special performances by Trick Roper MacKenzie Fish from 1-4 p.m. and Country Line Dancing from 6-9 p.m.

The festival will run from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. with a fireworks display at 9 :30 p.m.

Hope Lodge (553 South Bethlehem Pike, Fort Washington, 215-343-0965, http://www.ushistory.org/hope/) will be presenting a “Guided Mansion Tour” on July 20.

Hope Lodge was built between 1743 and 1748 by Samuel Morris, a prosperous Quaker entrepreneur. Morris acted as a farmer, shipowner, miller, iron master, shop owner, and owner of the mill now known as Mather Mill. Hope Lodge is an excellent example of early Georgian architecture, and it is possible that Edmund Woolley, architect of Independence Hall, offered advice in building. Samuel Morris owned the estate until his death in 1770.

Visitors can participate by watching a short film and then taking a tour. Guided tours of the mansion will depart at 1 and 2:30 p.m.

Tour admission is $8 for adults, $5 for seniors (age 65+) and for youth ages 6-17, and free for children under 5. Hope Lodge is a Blue Star Museum which means that active-duty military personnel, including National Guard and Reserve and their families, are admitted free for regular tours from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Laurel Hill Cemetery (3822 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia, 215-228-8200, laurelhillphl.com) will present “Nurture with Nature – Blooms & Brews: Native Bouquet & Herbal Tea” on July 19 from 3-5 p.m.

In this hands-on workshop, guests will discover the art of crafting stunning fresh bouquets using professional arranging techniques. The staff will utilize a beautiful mix of native plant materials harvested directly from the garden, combined with specially selected pre-found elements.

Participants will learn how to properly prepare and display their floral creations, and even how to dry them for long-lasting decoration!

The staff will highlight three incredible native plants, teaching how to identify and incorporate them into both home and landscape. Guests will also learn to create their own custom herbal tea mixture featuring these beneficial plants for daily enjoyment.

They will leave with their own gorgeous, hand-arranged bouquet and a personalized herbal tea blend, ready to infuse their life with nature’s goodness.

Working with the healing power of plants can help to decrease stress and anxiety, process grief, and improve overall well-being.

Combining eco-mindfulness and creative activities, the workshops in this series invite participants to learn about the uses and roles of specific native plants through the lens of natural cycles.

Workshops are led by Kate Irvine, a licensed Therapeutic Horticulture Practitioner and mixed media artist.

This session will take place in Nature’s Sanctuary, one of two green burial habitats at Laurel Hill West.

Tickets are $20 for adults, $18 for seniors and students and $10 for youth.

On July 20, Woodside Farm Creamery (1310 Little Baltimore Road, Hockessin, Delaware, www.woodsidefarmcreamery.com) is hosting its National Ice Cream Day Celebration from noon-4 p.m.

Visitors to the free event will be able to try new ice cream flavors, take a behind-the-scenes tour, play field games, meet one of the creamery’s Jersey cows, and take part in an ice cream eating contest.

There is a $5 registration fee for the ice cream eating contest with all the proceeds being donated to the Delaware Food Bank.

Additionally, Food Bank will be accepting non-perishable food items.

The intriguing Paranormal Cirque (https://paranormalcirque.com), which is intended for a mature audience, is in the final weekend of its month-and-a-half visit in the area.

The circus, which was in Pottstown last weekend, wraps up its visit with performances in Dover from July 18-20.

Shows are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on July 18, 6:30 and 9:30 p.m. on July 19 and 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. on July 20.

When the circus visits Delaware, it will take up residence in the parking lot at the Dover Mall, which is located at 1365 North Dupont Highway in Dover.

Paranormal Cirque will expose audiences to a unique creation of combined theatre, circus, and cabaret with a new European style flare.

This innovative horror story, which is presented in true circus style under a Big Top tent, features different shades of sexy and an incomparable storyline. Audiences likely will find it difficult to separate reality from illusion at this show as they fall into a parallel world and end up surrounded by monstrous creatures with hidden talents.

Currently, Paranormal Cirque has three tours running – Paranormal Cirque, Paranormal Cirque II and Paranormal Cirque III. The tour visiting our area is Paranormal Cirque III

Paranormal Cirque’s “Clown Castle” (also known as the Big Top) presents a mesmerizing effect while hosting a two-hour hypnotizing and enchanted show.

A careful casting selection has united the best artists from all over the world.

Under this Clown Castle, the black and red big top tent, there are aerial acrobats, illusionists, freaks, mysterious creatures and all the elements that make one think of a “normal” circus – but this one is not “normal.”

A new show with breathtaking implications always poised between fun and the most uninhibited fear that will transport you to a dark world inhabited by creatures with incredible circus art abilities.

A crazy yet fun fusion between circus, theatre, and cabaret in perfect harmony with the evolution of a show that brings you back to when we dream … and when we had nightmares and fantasies.

Video link for Paranormal Cirque — https://youtu.be/locxFnh5UR8.

Ticket prices start at $20.

The Brandywine Valley has quite a few museums and tourist sites that provide residents and tourists ideal opportunities to spend leisure time — and you can maximize your effort if you take advantage of the 2023 Brandywine Treasure Trail Passport.

The cost is $49 for an individual pass and $99 for a family pass (for up to five family members).

The Brandywine Treasure Trail Passport is good for one-time admission to Wilmington and the Brandywine Valley’s top attractions now through October 31.

A family pass, which includes one-day admission to each of 12 sites, can bring a savings of over $200 for the holders — especially since many of the participating institutions have regular admission fees in double figures.

The list of locations covered by the Brandywine Treasure Trail Passport includes Longwood Gardens, Delaware Museum of Nature and Science, Brandywine River Museum, Delaware Art Museum, Delaware History Museum, Hagley Museum and Library, Delaware Center for Contemporary Arts, Nemours Mansion & Gardens, Read House and Garden, Mt. Cuba Center, Rockwood Museum and Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library.

For more information, visit www.visitwilmingtonde.com/bmga/.

Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library (5105 Kennett Pike, Wilmington, Delaware, 800-448-3883, www.winterthur.org) is presenting its annual “Artisan Market” on July 19 and 20.

Visitors can spend a summer day—or the entire weekend—exploring Winterthur while shopping for artisan-made crafts and gifts.

Some of the region’s most talented craftspeople will present their outstanding wares, including antiques and collectibles, furniture and home décor, upcycled items and architectural salvage, high-quality handmade crafts, vintage clothing and jewelry, artisanal and small-batch gourmet goods, original art in a variety of media, garden items, and much more.

”Artisan Market” reflects the mission of Winterthur by showcasing local artisans through a variety of handmade crafts relating to art, textiles, ceramics, glass, woodworking, antiques, and gardening. Each of these categories connects to Winterthur’s past.

Gates open daily at 9:30 a.m. Ticket booths, transportation, and artisan booths open at 10 a.m.

Tickets are $35 for adults, $33 for seniors and students and $8 for youth.

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.”

Additionally, there will be a “Walking Tour” on July 21 at 11 a.m.

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 theme 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.

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).

A sure sign that summer is here is the positive response by visitors who flock to Kennett Square to enjoy the “Festival of Fountains” at Longwood Gardens (Route 1, Kennett Square, www.longwoodgardens.org).

The “Festival of Fountains” opened for the season on May 9 and will run until September 28.

Longwood Gardens’ Open Air Theatre and Italian Water Garden fountains has sprung to life as has the Square Fountain, Round Fountain (Flower Garden Walk), Sylvan Fountain (Peirce’s Park), and Children’s Corner fountains.

The season of renewal and growth has started. Dancing fountains, performances under the stars, and beautiful gardens make the Festival of Fountains at Longwood Gardens magical.

The spectacular celebration of music, light, water, and nature includes distinctive garden experiences indoors and out.

Before the fountain performances, guests can sit under the stars and enjoy live music and refreshing brews and pub fare in Longwood’s Beer Garden. Other dining options at Longwood are 1906 Fine Dining and The Café.

As the season unfolds, flowering trees delightfully punctuate the landscape, radiant tulips stretch toward the sun, and the delicious fragrance of wisteria floats along the breeze.

Visitors can also enjoy special exhibits at the Orchid House.

Admission to Longwood Gardens is $35 for adults, $31 for seniors and college students, $26 for active military and $20 for youth.

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.

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.

Nemours was the estate of Alfred I. duPont.

Alfred named the estate Nemours, after the French town that his great-great-grandfather represented in the French Estates General. While looking to the past and his ancestors for inspiration, Alfred also ensured that his new home was thoroughly modern by incorporating the latest technology and many of his own inventions.

The Gardens are one of the estate’s prime attractions. 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.

On select Saturday and Sundays now through July 27, the Chaddsford Winery (632 Baltimore Pike, Chadds Ford, 610-388-6221, http://www.chaddsford.com) is presenting “Reserve Tastings – Summer Sips.”

The winery staff is matching the intense heat and bold flavors of the season with exciting, crushable combinations. From delicious textures to a diverse range of fruity, floral, and herbaceous flavors, they are keeping visitors fresh and cool with these carefully curated, summer-approved pairings.

The winery’s trained staff will guide guests through a pre-selected tasting of five widely diverse wines from across the winery’s portfolio alongside artisan cheeses and other accoutrements.

During this intimate and educational 60-minute experience, they will discuss topics such as grape growing conditions at partner vineyards and the onsite winemaking process from production to aging and bottling.

The “Pairing Line Up” is Greeting Wine: ’23 Sparkling White; ’23 Chardonnay with Fresh Chevre and Basil-infused Olive Oil; ’24 Dry Rosé: Redux with Valley Milkhouse’s Honey Bell Cheese and Honey; ’21 Artisan Series Cabernet Franc with Goat Rodeo’s Hootenany Cheese and Blackberry Preserves; and White Sangria with Mango Salsa.

Reserve Tastings are $35 per person and offered only on select Saturdays and Sundays. There are three seatings per day – noon, 2 and 4 p.m. Advanced reservations are required and are non-refundable.

Penns Woods Winery (124 Beaver Valley Road, Chadds Ford, http://www.pennswoodswinery.com) is presenting “Wheels & Wine Car Show” on July 19 from noon-4 p.m.

The event will feature an Artisan Market with local vendors, Philly Hotz food truck, live music by Katelyn Christine from noon-4 p.m. – and vintage cars.

Guests can vote for their favorite entry in the car show. All guests will be given a voting ballot upon their arrival.

Attendees can vote for their favorites in four categories — People’s Choice, Most Unique, Best Custom/Modified Car and Kid’s Pick.

The winery is also hosting “Music Live in the Vineyard” now through Sunday.

On July 18, Paul Wilkinson will perform from 5-7:30 p.m.

Katelyn Christine will entertain visitors on July 19 from noon-4 p.m.

On July 20, Jeff Kessler will perform from 1-4 p.m.

This weekend, the Strasburg Railroad (Route 741, Strasburg, 717-687-7522, www.strasburgrailroad.com) is running its “Wine & Cheese Train” on July 18, 19 and 20 at 4 and 6 p.m. each night (5 p.m. only on Sunday).

Passengers can enjoy the luxurious, climate-controlled first-class accommodations and a tasting of select wine, cheese, and crackers as they travel in style down the tracks from Strasburg to Paradise and back. 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 $7 each.

In accordance with Pennsylvania law, alcohol is only served during the train ride. The rail line is 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 $70.

The New Hope Railroad (32 Bridge Street, New Hope, 215-862-2332, www.newhoperailroad.com) is running its “Grapevine Express,” which features “Grapevine Express” on July 19 and 20 at 5 p.m. each night.

Riders are invited to take part in a romantic “Wine and Cheese Excursion” and enjoy fine gourmet cheese, artisan crackers, meats, fruit, and our featured local wines. Additional Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic beverages are also available onboard.

Wine and cheese will be served to passengers as they travel along the same railroad line passengers did when it was built in 1891 connecting New Hope with Philadelphia. The journey travels through the beautiful hills and valleys of Bucks County, along once vital waterways and streams and across numerous trestle bridges.

The excursions will take place aboard one of the railroads lavishly appointed early 1900’s first-class parlor cars.

Tickets are $99 (Ages 21 and older only).

Elmwood Park Zoo (1661 Harding Boulevard, Norristown, www.elmwoodparkzoo.org) is hosting a “Zoo Snooze” on July 19 and 20.

A “Zoo Snooze” overnight campout will start at 5 p.m. on July 19 and run until 9:30 a.m. on July 20.

The “Campout” includes — Dinner (includes pizza, salad, and potato chips), Breakfast (includes pastries and fresh fruit), Flashlight tour of the zoo, Campfire & activities, educational show the next morning and Zoo admission the next day.

Tickets are $80.

If you like to look at model railroad layouts, then you should definitely check out the Garden Railway Display at the Morris Arboretum & Garden (100 Northwestern Avenue, Chestnut Hill, www.morrisarboretum.org).

The ultra-popular Garden Railway Display has become a major summer attraction at The Gardens at Morris Arboretum. The 26th annual edition of the display will remain open until September 30.

This summer, Morris Arboretum will unveil a brand-new exhibition in its popular Garden Railway – “Garden Railway: Dinos!”

With more than 15 different rail lines running along a third of a mile of track, visitors will enjoy a spectacular display of dinosaurs including Triceratops, and Velociraptor, as well as other Mesozoic creatures—all made out of natural materials such as bark, leaves, and twigs.

As one of the largest outdoor miniature train displays in the United States, the Garden Railway will delight and amaze visitors of all ages.

The railway has a quarter mile of track featuring seven loops and tunnels with 15 different rail lines and two cable cars, nine bridges (including a trestle bridge you can walk under) and bustling model trains.

The buildings and the display are all made of natural materials – bark, leaves, twigs, hollow logs, mosses, acorns, dried flowers, seeds and stones – to form a perfectly proportioned miniature landscape complete with miniature rivers.

Philadelphia-area landmarks are all meticulously decorated for the holidays with lights that twinkle. There is even a masterpiece replica of Independence Hall are made using pinecone seeds for shingles, acorns as finials and twigs as downspouts.

Visitors will be able to see miniature replicas of iconic structures at some of America’s most famous public gardens including the Climatron at Missouri Botanical Garden, Torii Gate and Pavilion at Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Science Pyramid at Denver Botanic Gardens, and so much more.

Admission is $20 for adults; $18 for seniors (65 and older); $10 for students (ages 13-17 or with ID), active military and retired military; and free for children (under 3).

A sweet place to enjoy flowers in bloom is Tyler Arboretum (515 Painter Road, Media, 610-566-9134, www.tylerarboretum.org).

The arboretum’s schedule for this weekend features the “Saturday Wildflower Walk: Summer Edition” at 11 a.m. on July 12.

On Saturday, guests can join wildflower expert Dick Cloud on an informative two-hour hike that takes them through meadows, woods, and occasionally streamside.

Although the focus is on plants, Cloud will talk about whatever participants might see while they are out.

Tyler will also host a “Bluebird Nesting Box Tour” on July 13 at 11:30 a.m.

Guides will lead a walk through Tyler’s succession field and uncover the fascinating lives of Eastern Bluebirds. For more than 50 years, Tyler’s volunteers have cared for these iconic birds by monitoring their nesting boxes and now it’s your turn to join the fun!

On this family-friendly adventure, participants will get up close to the arboretum’s bluebird boxes and witness nature in action. They’ll have the opportunity to see brilliant bluebirds flitting about, discover active nests with delicate eggs, and maybe even spot fuzzy nestlings waiting for their next meal.

This program is a perfect outing for curious kids and nature-loving grown-ups alike.

Admission to Tyler Arboretum is $16 for adults (ages 18-64), $13 for seniors (65 and older) and $8 for children (ages 3-17) and Military with valid ID.

On July 18, the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum (8601 Lindbergh Boulevard, Philadelphia, www.fws.gov/refuge/John_Heinz) is presenting “Bird Walk” with Mary Ellen  Krober as tour guide.

The walk will run from 8-10 a.m.

On July 20, there will be a “Bird Walk” with as Dick Cloud as the tour guide. This walk will get underway at 1 p.m.

Participants can take an educational walk with one of the refuge’s knowledgeable volunteers.

They’ll be able to discover the 300-plus species of birds that use the refuge during their migration routes. Each week guarantees different species.

Both walks will start at the visitor center and be at a relaxed paced on flat surfaces.

There will be several “Guided Museum Tours of Rockwood” this weekend at Rockwood Park & Museum (4651 Washington Street Extension, Wilmington, DE, www.newcastlede.gov/431/Rockwood-Park-Museum).

Visitors can explore the grandeur, history and beauty of the Rockwood Mansion, home of the Shipley, Bringhurst and Hargraves families for 120 years.

These tours, which will be held on July 18 and 19 from noon-4 p.m. each day, emphasize the magnificent mansion interiors and stories of the families that lived there.

Tours involves stairs. Reservations are suggested. Tickets for the 90-minute guided tour are $10.

There will also be a “Growing at Rockwood: The Grand Garden Tour” on July 19 at 10 a.m.

Visitors can join Rockwood staff for a tour of the estate’s 170-year old gardens.

Highlights include Rockwood’s original 1850s pleasure garden, the modern apothecary garden, one of America’s oldest attached conservatories and much more.

Rockwood was built as a specimen garden at the same time as the Gothic revival mansion. This tour will also discuss the unique origins of the plants collected there throughout its history and their popularization from global colonization efforts by Western powers.

Tickets for this tour are $20.

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 this activity. During this time, we encourage participants are encouraged to bring their own gloves to use while up in the trees. Gardening gloves are perfect for this activity.

Ticket prices are $64 for adults and $47 for youth (ages 7-11),

Sesame Place (100 Sesame Road, Langhorne, www.sesameplace.com) is enjoying its 45th Birthday Celebration this year.

 The park is adorned with colorful garland, bright balloons, fabulous birthday presents and more fun décor. The fantastic, new Sesame Street Birthday Parade makes its debut and this colorful and musical parade will get the whole family dancing with contemporary and classic Sesame Street tunes, show-stopping performances, and an interactive birthday song. Everyone can dance, groove and sing along at the Furry Friends Birthday Dance Party, enjoy a Birthday-themed storytime and get one-of-a kind photos with everyone’s furry friends in their fabulous new birthday attire. Everyone’s invited to help us celebrate 45 years of furry fun this year at Sesame Place.

Ticket prices for Sesame Place start at $42.99.

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 family’s pharmaceutical firm would become part of Merck & Company in the 1920s.

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.

Admission to Chanticleer is $15 for adults and free for pre-teen children (12 years and under).

Historic Odessa (Main Street, Odessa, Delaware, 302-378-4119, www.historicodessa.org) is both a scenic and an historic site in Delaware.

Odessa is one of Delaware’s most historic sites.

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. General Admission: Adults, $10; Groups, Seniors, Students, $8; and Children under six are free.

Andalusia Historic House, Gardens and Arboretum (1237 State Road, Andalusia, www.andalusiapa.org) is located on a wooded promontory overlooking the Delaware River.

It 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.

Its surrounding gardens delight the senses all through the year, from the tumbling, brightly colored leaves of fall to the floral extravaganza of spring and the abundance and scent of summer.

Self-Guided Garden Tours will be available Mondays through Wednesdays through November 4 (excluding holidays) at 10 a.m. or 1 p.m.

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 summer.

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.