By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times
It’s August and, as usual, the weekend calendar is filled with special events – many of which are annual traditional events.Not surprisingly, the Brandywine Valley is host to a plethora of the area’s favorite events.
The “2025 Town Tours and Village Walks” (www.chescoplanning.org/Historic/TownTours) 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 and 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
The event for August 21 will focus on “Historic Yellow Springs, West Pikeland Township.”
Did you know vaccinations were given to Revolutionary War soldiers at Yellow Springs or that patient John Knight was wrapped in spring water-soaked sheets as part of his spa treatment?
Did you know deceased PA Orphan School children are buried at the Vincent Baptist Church cemetery on Art School Road or that an English landscape gardener designed the Water Meadow pathways?
Did you know Burt Bacharach wrote music for “The Blob” here or that Steve McQueen raced his Corvette around local country roads or that Patty Duke, Lee Meriwether and Robert Lansing starred in movies made here by Good News Productions?
Participants at the event on August 21 will be able to learn so many “untold stories” from over 300 years of history at Yellow Springs.
Parking will be available at 1701 Art School Road in Chester Springs.
This month’s edition of the 2025 Kennett Underground Railroad Bus Tours (www.kennettundergroundrr.org) is scheduled for August 17.The popular, family-friendly bus tours are led by a knowledgeable local guide.
Riders will have the opportunity to visit documented Underground Railroad sites, historic homes and Quaker Meetinghouses while learning about local abolitionists and anti-slavery activity in the Kennett Square area.
The popular, family-friendly bus tours are led by a knowledgeable local guide.
The tour also presents the contributions of local African Americans and their faith communities in the quest for freedom from slavery houses while learning about local abolitionists and anti-slavery activity in the Kennett Square area.
The tour, which departs at 1 p.m., also presents the contributions of local African Americans and their faith communities in the quest for freedom from slavery.
Tours begin at the Brandywine Valley Tourist Information Center, which is located at 120 North Union Street in Kennett Square.
Tickets are $25.
Summer Biergarten
The Village of Sugartown (690 Sugartown Road, Malvern, 610-640-2667, http://www.historicsugartown.org), is hosting its final “Summer Biergarten” this year is on August 21.
The Village’s biergartens will offer craft beer from Locust Lane Craft Brewery. As an added attraction, Chaddsford Winery will be onsite selling its top-rated wine.
There will also be food trucks cooking delicious food for guests to purchase. Participating food trucks are Humpty’s Dumplings and Pizzeria La Familia.
Music will be provided by The Geezers and Shake Down, a Biergarten favorite.
Visitors to the event will also have the opportunity to explore Sugartown’s historic buildings with their friends and watch paper marbling demonstrations by the bookbinders of Sugartown’s Bindery Shop.
Historic Sugartown, Inc. is dedicated to the preservation of 11 structures and 9.2 acres within the Sugartown National Historic Register District. Historic Sugartown has meticulously restored the village and connects the community to America’s past through engaging programs, events, art shows and workshops that explore rural 19th-century village life.
In 1804, Eli Shugart opened a tavern to serve weary travelers. Though he only stayed two years, the village became known as “Shugart’s Town.”
Tickets are $10. Children (aged 18 under) will be admitted free.
Visitors have been flocking all summer to Kennett Square to enjoy the “Festival of Fountains” at Longwood Gardens (Route 1, Kennett Square, www.longwoodgardens.org).
The “Festival of Fountains” will run until September 28.
Longwood Gardens’ Open Air Theatre and Italian Water Garden fountains are popular attractions as are the Square Fountain, Round Fountain (Flower Garden Walk), Sylvan Fountain (Peirce’s Park), and Children’s Corner fountains.
This is a special weekend at Longwood Gardens – a time to celebrate Abba.
On August 15, 16, and 17 from 5-10 p.m., it’s time for Longwood’s “All-ABBA Fountain Fest Weekend” – an event full of glittering fountains, feel-good tunes, themed concessions, and nonstop groove. Whether you’re a dancing queen or just along for the ride, the energy is electric, and the music is iconic.
Longwood’s posting for this weekend’s special events is:
Spotlight Tours (5 and 7 p.m.)
During our free, 30-minute guided Spotlight Tours, delight in the diversity of our aquatic plant collection in the renewed Waterlily Court.
During our free, 30-minute guided Spotlight Tours, delight in the diversity of our aquatic plant collection in the renewed Waterlily Court.
Chimes Tower Hours (5 and 7 p.m.)
Climb to the top of the Chimes Tower for a stunning view of Longwood’s 62-bell carillon and the surrounding landscape.
Climb to the top of the Chimes Tower for a stunning view of Longwood’s 62-bell carillon and the surrounding landscape.
Family Activity in the Pumphouse Plaza (6-8 p.m.)
Stop by our Pumphouse Plaza and pick up a self-guided activity themed to this Fountain Fest Weekend.
Stop by our Pumphouse Plaza and pick up a self-guided activity themed to this Fountain Fest Weekend.
Live Music in the Beer Garden (6-8:45 p.m.)
On It Productions DJ and Live Music
On It Productions DJ and Live Music
Organ Demos (6:30 and 7:30 p.m.)
Carillon Music (7:30 p.m.)
Carillon Music (7:30 p.m.)
Illuminated Fountain Performances (9:15 p.m.)
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 West Chester Railroad (610-430-2233, www.wcrailroad.com) is running its “Summer Picnic Specials” every Sunday now through September 21 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).
The focus will be on something little at a special event this weekend at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center (100 Station Avenue, Oaks, phillyexpocenter.com) – an event billed as “For Lovers of the Strange, Unusual & Bizarre — The Oddities & Curiosities Expo.”The Oddities & Curiosities Expo, which will run from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on August 16 and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on August 17, showcases hand selected vendors, dealers, artists and small businesses from all over the country with all things weird.
Show attendees will find items such as taxidermy, preserved specimens, original artwork, horror/Halloween inspired pieces, antiques, handcrafted oddities, quack medical devices, creepy clothing, odd jewelry, animal skulls/bones, funeral collectibles and much more.
The show promoters claim, “We truly have something weird for everyone at our shows. All items you see at our shows are legal to own.”
The O&C Expo provides a safe place for anyone to come and discover new artists, meet new friends and be surrounded by an amazing community of like-minded people.
Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 on the day of the show.
Monster-Mania Con 64 will be held now through August 17 at the Doubletree By Hilton (2349 Marlton Pike West, Cherry Hill, New Jersey, monstermania.net).
One of the nation’s premier horror film conventions, Monster-Mania Con features an impressive list of celebrities who will be appearing this weekend, including David Harbour, David Arquette, David Katims, Paul Kratka, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Judge Reinhold, Saraya and Joseph Whipp.
Visitors to the convention will be able to meet the stars, get autographs, browse vendor rooms and enjoy films and special events all weekend long.
Activities get underway at 4 p.m. on August 15 and at 10 a.m. on August 16 and 17.
Admission is $40 each day.
On August 21, the Brandywine Zoo is hosting one of its summertime “Sip & Stroll” events.
Visitors to the Zoo can “Sip & Stroll” through the zoo at the family friendly happy hour series, which runs June through September. Each “Sip” will feature a local food vendor and live music, along with adult beverages, including craft beer and wine.
Plus, the concession stand will be open with snacks and soft drinks. Drink and food purchases are sold separately. Drink tickets ($6) and silicone cups can be purchased at the ticket window or snack bar.
Live music will be provided by Zach & Sam, and the featured food vendor will be Posh Platters.
Admission is $10 for adults and $7 for youth.
On August 16, it will be time for “Space Day at the Please Touch Museum (4231 Avenue of the Republic, Philadelphia, www.pleasetouchmuseum.org).
There will be a confluence of imagination and science at Philadelphia’s popular children’s museum.
The Please Touch Museum will have a full day of galaxy-inspired activities. Guests can take a journey through time and space to learn about the age of the dinosaurs — and the asteroid that took them all out — during a hands-on fossil workshop.
The University of Pennsylvania Physics Outreach Group will present two programs – “Zoom Across the Universe!” and “Sun Viewing with a Solar Telescope.”
Other special activities are Creative Art Studio Workshops’ “Nebula Spin Paintings” and Slimetopia Playland Workshops’ “Galaxy Slime.”
Admission is $24.
On August 17, there will be a guided tour of Gloria Dei Old Swedes’ Church (916 South Swanson Street, Philadelphia, preserveoldswedes.org) at noon.
On June 2, 1700, Philadelphia’s Gloria Dei (Old Swedes’) Church had its “grand opening.”
Guests can celebrate its 325th anniversary with a guided tour led by historian and archivist Jeanette Woehr.
It is easy to imagine the past when visiting Gloria Dei Church. Located on nearly five acres of green space, this national historic site predates the arrival of William Penn and the founding of Pennsylvania.
The present-day church was built between 1698 and 1703 to serve a parish of European settlers who lived along the banks of the Schuylkill and Delaware rivers.
Today it serves as a link to a nearly forgotten history. Woehr will describe the history of this church, from its founding to the present day, and talk about many important historical figures who worshipped here or are buried in the graveyard.
Tour participants will meet inside the church building at noon. The tour should take about an hour. Rain or Shine. Tickets are $15 each. Advanced registration is required.
On August 15, Friends of Historic Riverview Cemetery and The Cemetery Chronicles will present “A Picnic at the Mausoleum with Poe” at Riverview Cemetery (3300 North Market Street, Wilmington, riverviewcem.com).
The public is invited to join the Historic Riverview Cemetery for readings of Edgar Allen Poe’s stories and poems on the lawn of Delaware’s first public mausoleum.
Guests are requested to bring a picnic with favorite foods, a blanket or lawn chair, and a most curious spirit — and then settle in with friends and family for an enchanting summer evening among the tombstones.
All ages are welcome but alcoholic beverages are not.
The free event will run from 6-8 p.m.
Guests are invited to visit the Shofuso Japanese House and Garden (Lansdowne Drive and Horticultural Drive, Philadelphia, www.japanesehouse.org) on August 16 for the 2025 “Obon Lantern Floating Ceremony – Mukaebi.”
Observed every August, Obon is a Buddhist festival welcoming home one’s ancestors.
Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia continues this important Shofuso tradition, to light lanterns and float them on Shofuso’s pond for Obon.
This night of remembrance and commemoration is dedicated to those no longer with us. Each registered participant will be able to choose if they would like to launch floating lanterns on Shofuso’s pond or simply observe the serenity of the experience.
Obon is a series of summer events in Japan based on Buddhist and ancestral worship that enshrine and celebrate the spirits of ancestors.
Typically, people return to their hometowns to celebrate Obon each year. Families gather, clean their graveyard and the shrine in their house, and light lanterns to welcome the spirits home.
Mukaebi is the welcoming fire and opening night of Obon.
After the spirits spend a few days with family, the Bon-Odori dancers form a circle under the lanterns to guide the spirits back to the otherworld. This is the Okuribi, or culmination of Obon when the ancestors are sent back to the spirit world.
The event on Saturday will start at 7:30 p.m.
Now through August 24, the Chaddsford Winery (632 Baltimore Pike, Chadds Ford, 610-388-6221, http://www.chaddsford.com) is presenting “Reserve Tastings — Something Sweet.”
Guests can savor some sweetness in the Barrel Room. The winery’s latest pairing experience highlights wines that are brimming with flavor and decadence.
The trained staff will guide visitors through a pre-selected tasting of five widely diverse wines from across the winery’s portfolio alongside artisan cheeses and other accoutrements.
The “Pairing Line Up” is Greeting Wine: Berry Spritzer featuring Good Vibes Only, Sunset Blush with fresh Chevre and Hot Honey, White Sangria with Mango Salsa, Red Sangria with a Lemon Macaron and Niagara with Birchrun Blue Cheese.
Chaddsford Winery is also hosting “Wine Down” on Fridays now through September 26 from 5-9 p.m. each night.
“Wine Down” will feature Quizzo trivia games on Fridays.
Penns Woods Winery (124 Beaver Valley Road, Chadds Ford, http://www.pennswoodswinery.com) is presenting a summer music series.
The winery will open at 11 a.m. each day and have matinee performances of live music.
There will be music by Paul Wilkinson from 5-7:30 p.m. on August 15, Chris Despo from 2-5 p.m. on August 16 and Adam McCue from 1-4 p.m. on August 17.
The 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).
Tours depart from the Walnut Street Dock under the Walnut Street Bridge on the east bank of the Schuylkill River. Tours are scheduled for August 17, 21, 24 and 28 There will also be tours on September 14 and 28.
There are also numerous kayak and moonlight kayak tours scheduled throughout the summer.
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.
There will be two very different but equally attractive ethnic festivals this weekend at Penn’s Landing (Delaware Avenue, Philadelphia, www.delawareriverevents.com).
Both of the free festivals deal with Indians — but not the Native American kind.
West Indian or East Indian — both will be featured this weekend.
Penn’s Landing will host the annual Festival of India on August 16 and the annual Caribbean Festival on August 17.
The Festival of India, which is sponsored by the Council of Indian Organizations of Greater Philadelphia, is a festive event that features a day full of food, music, dancing and crafts.
Visitors can celebrate India with various cultural organizations, as well as Northern and Southern-style Indian cuisine such as chicken tikka masala, lassi, vada pav, dosa, as well as classical and Bollywood performances, music, shopping, henna tattoos, and tons of fun. The festival is presented by Indian Organizations in Greater Philadelphia (CIO).
The event will host a variety of vendors who will be selling a wide array of traditional Indian arts and crafts including clothes, jewelry, music, and other cultural items. Traditional Mahandi work (artistic design) will be available to be done on both hands and feet. Mahandi or hands painting is an old Indian custom still have been practiced by most of the Indian women.
A wide selection of food items from both North and South India will be available for purchase, including such taste treats as tandoori chicken, tikka masala, kolkata rasgulla, gujarati dohkla, chennai idli, korma and an array of Indian breads including chapatti, poori and nan.
The free festival will run from noon-7 p.m.
Penn’s Landing will host the 39th Annual Caribbean Festival (https://phillycaribbeanfestival.com) on August 17.
Sunday’s festival, which is free and open to the public, is a celebration of the culture of 14 Caribbean Islands. The event, which runs from noon-8 p.m., features live island entertainment including drumming, dancing and music.
As always, the festival will have cultural booths where people can get information about the islands of the Caribbean. There will also be a marketplace with vendors selling Caribbean arts and crafts, fashion items and souvenirs.
Island cuisine will be well represented with a number of vendors offering Caribbean delicacies such as Jamaican jerk-chicken and hard-dough bread, escovitched fish and festival cakes, codfish fritters, Jamaican Patties, curried goat and rice & peas.
In addition to the events focusing on East Indians and West Indians, there is also a festival this weekend honoring the Indians of North America.
On August 16 and 17, the Museum of Indian Culture (2825 Fish Hatchery Road, Allentown, 610-797-2121, http://museumofindianculture.org) is hosting the 45th Annual Roasting Ears of Corn Festival.
The 2025 event, which is Eastern Pennsylvania’s oldest American Indian festival, is a showcase for American Indian drumming, singing, dancing and food.
Visitors can watch demonstrations of Native American cooking, flintknapping and arrow making, experience throwing a tomahawk or see what it’s like using an atlatl (spear thrower). There will be a special crafts area for kids where they can make sand art pictures and weave dreamcatchers.
The festival features a wide array of Native American entertainment.
Crystal Shawanda will return to the area to perform at this weekend’s festival. Performance times are 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily. Also performing will be Sicanni Purizaca.
Other live music and dance performances include American Indian singers, Aztec Fire Dancers, hoop dancers, and American Indian dancers, singers and performers from all over Canada and the U.S.
Festival attendees will be able to shop at the Marketplace for Native American jewelry, fine arts, and clothing. There will also be food vendors with Indian burgers, frybread, buffalo stew, Indian tacos and fire-roasted corn.
Tickets for the festival are $10 for adults, $7 for seniors (age 62 and older) and youth (age 12-17) and free for children (age 11 and under).
On August 16 and 17, the small town of Mount Gretna comes to life with the 51st Annual Mount Gretna Outdoor Art Show (Route 117 and Pennsylvania Avenue, Mount Gretna, www.mtgretnaarts.com).
The annual event features art, music, and food — all displayed on the historic grounds of the Pennsylvania Chautauqua.
Mt. Gretna is a small Victorian community founded in the late 1800s as a summer resort. Initially, the only way for residents to reach their cottages in the woods was to travel by train. The streets in Mt. Gretna were footpaths until automobiles became the regular mode of travel.
Many of the original cottages surround the Mt. Gretna Playhouse, an open-air theater where numerous cultural events are held. The quaint atmosphere attracts many visitors every summer for music, theater, miniature golf, a walk in the woods, a ride on the rail-trail, a hike to Governor Dick (an observation tower on top of the mountain), a visit to the Jigger Shop (a local ice cream parlor), and the Art Show.
Live entertainment will be provided by Woods’ Song, Paul Colombo Quartet, Mount Gretna Marching Band, Bobbi Carmitchell and The Fourth Planet, featuring vibraphonist Tony Miceli.
Proceeds from the Art Show are used to support cultural programs of the Pennsylvania Chautauqua and to maintain the Chautauqua’s historic buildings and grounds. Media is sponsored in part by a grant from the Lebanon County Commissioners. The show also contributes substantially to the Mt. Gretna Volunteer Fire Company and funds a variety of community projects throughout Mt. Gretna.
The Art Show has an admission charge of $15 for adults and is free for children under 12. The admission fee includes parking in designated parking locations. Please note that no pets are permitted on the Art Show grounds.
Another popular event just a few miles from Mount Gretna is the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire (Mount Hope Estate and
Winery grounds, Route 72, Cornwall, 717-665-7021, www.parenfaire.com).
This year’s 46th annual staging of the event, which bills itself as “the most wondrous event in all the Knowne World”, is running now through October 26.
The festive annual event features authentic Elizabethan food and drink, traditional crafts from the guildsmen of yore and old-time games of skill — and a cast of hundreds of colorfully costumed re-enactors.
Every summer, the Faire, which takes place at Mount Hope Estate and Winery’s authentic 35-acre recreation of a 16th-century village in Olde England, features a new story from a different year of England’s past. This year’s Faire will take you back in time to the year 1558.
The theme for this weekend is “Fairies & Fantasy.”
More than 70 shows are scheduled throughout each day on the Faire’s numerous stages.
Without a doubt, the most popular attraction is the Jousting Arena. Visitors to the Faire flock to Bosworth Field whenever it’s time for the Ultimate Joust. Peasants lead cheers for their favorite knights while musicians pound out a heart-thumping beat. The Master of the List announces the combatants and soon an encounter of royal proportions ensues.
The Faire offers a wide variety of activities for visitors, including listening to bagpipe music, checking out handsome Lords in their colorful silks, watching a jester’s acrobatics, learning how to juggle, being the recipient of a gypsy woman’s flirtations and watching the march of Beefeater Guards.
Guildsmen’s Way is the area that features a large variety of merchants and artisans, including jewelers, candle makers, potters, herbalists, leather smiths, clothiers, and pewter makers — all offering for sale and demonstrating their ancient wares.
And there are more than 20 Royal Kitchens located around the faire with menus featuring a wide variety of food and beverages.
Single-day tickets are available at the gate for $34.95. For children (age 5-11) single-day tickets are available at the gate and online for $18.95.
For an annual event with a completely different vibe, head west to Lancaster County this weekend.
This year’s 77th Annual Thresherman’s Reunion, which is being held now through August 16 at the Rough and Tumble site (4977 Lincoln Highway East, Kinzers, www.roughandtumble.org), is the 75th annual staging of the event.
The Rough and Tumble Engineers Historical Association’s annual Thresherman’s Reunion, which is billed as “The Most Complete Steam & Gas Show in the East,” has become a cherished tradition in Pennsylvania Dutch country. It is not only a “complete show,” it is an old show — one of the oldest continually running events in the state.
The daily schedule starts with breakfast at 7 a.m. at the R&T Multi-Purpose. The day’s activities include a sawmill in operation, a “Pageant of Threshing”, a shingle mill in operation, a “Parade of Power” and threshing machine demonstrations.
There will also be displays featuring steam traction engines, antique tractors, threshing machines, Hit & Miss Gas engines, two steam railroads, shingle mill, large gas engines, model engines, sawmill, barker fan, stone crusher, antique cars, stationary bailers, antique wagons and the “Stationary Steam Engine Museum”.
Daily tickets for the Diamond Anniversary Reunion are $15 for adults and $10 for children (ages 6-12).
Hagley Museum and Library (Route 141, Wilmington, Delaware, 302-658-2400, www.hagley.org) presents a special event called
“Walking Tour” on August 18 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 topic is “Sights, Sounds and Smells.”
In this walking tour of the powder yard, guests experience an in-depth, behind the scenes look at the black powder manufacturing process at the DuPont Company and can try their hand at graining some powder.
The tour ends with explosive demonstrations of black powder.
This tour involves walking on uneven ground and is approximately 90 minutes in duration.
Hagley Museum and Library is the site of the gunpowder works founded by E. I. du Pont in 1802. This example of early American industry includes restored mills, a workers’ community, and the ancestral home and gardens of the du Pont family.
High on a bank of the Brandywine River overlooking the original powder mills, E. I. du Pont, founder of the DuPont Company, built his home. For almost a century the Georgian-style home and surrounding complex of buildings and gardens served as the center of family and business life. Five generations of du Pont family members lived in the house since its completion in 1803, each leaving their mark. Today you will see it much as it was when the last family member lived there, filled with furnishings and collections of American folk art, alongside treasured family pieces and items brought with the family from France when they left in 1799.
Admission is $20 for Adults, $16 for Seniors (62+) and Students, and $10 for Children 6-14.
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 August 16 and 17 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 lavish early 1900’s first-class parlor cars.
Tickets are $99 (Ages 21 and older only).
The Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad (Reading Outer Station, Reading, www.rbmnrr-passenger.com) is running “All Day Train Excursions” every Saturday and Sunday in August and September.
Passengers can take a train excursion through Pennsylvania’s beautiful landscape to Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania. They can board the train at the Reading Outer Station, Port Clinton Station, or Tamaqua Station.
During the trip, riders will see rolling farmland, beautiful mountains, glistening lakes, and small towns along the railroad’s main line. The train will also travel through tunnels and over bridges — a highlight being the Hometown High Bridge.
Once the excursion arrives in Jim Thorpe, riders have more than 3.5 hours to explore the many shops, restaurants, and attractions before boarding the train for your return trip.
While in Jim Thorpe, they can also ride one of the rail line’s 70-minute Lehigh Gorge trains at a discounted rate.
Tickets for the all-day excursion are $39 from the Reading Outer Station and Port Clinton Station and $24 from the Tamaqua Station.
On August 16, the Colebrookdale Railroad (South Washington Street, Boyertown, www.colebrookdalerailroad.com) is running its “Secret Valley Expedition” at 6 p.m.
The tourist rail line’s two-hour expedition into Berks County features rides on meticulously restored century-old rail cars and visits to one of the most scenic and historic regions in the northeast.
On August 17, the tourist rail line is running its “Ironstone Express.” Departures are at 11 a.m. and 1 and 3 p.m.
Riders can get an impressive view of nature in the Secret Valley in the Diplomat Car, Dining Car, Beaver Car, or Lounge Car.
All passengers have access to the Ironstone Express’ open car for near 360-degree views.
The Northern Central Railway (2 West Main Street, New Freedom, www.northerncentralrailway.com) is running its “Tails on the Rails” excursion on August 16 at 11 a.m. And 1 p.m.
Riders can bring their four-legged friends on the Northern Central Railway line for a one-hour train ride.
The ride follows the route of the original Northern Central Railroad through the scenic Heritage Rail Trail County Park.
Passengers can learn about the history of the towns and villages they pass along the way.
The Northern Central Railway will have a tent at the “Dogs’ Day in the Park” event at Marge Goodfellow Park where riders can check in and receive their tickets.
The train boarding is located at Margegood Fellow Park for this event.
Tickets are $28.99 for adults and $19.99 for children. A portion of your ticket revenues will be donated to The Animal Rescue, Inc.
This weekend, the Strasburg Railroad (Route 741, Strasburg, 717-687-7522, www.strasburgrailroad.com) is running its “Wine & Cheese Train” on August 15, 16 and 17 at 4 and 6 p.m. each night.
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 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 $79.
If you like to look at model railroad layouts in addition to experiencing live trains, 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).
Glen Foerd (5001 Grant Avenue, Philadelphia, https://www.glenfoerd.org/events) is presenting its “Third Thursday at Glen Foerd” event from 6-8:30 p.m.
On the third Thursday of every month from May through September, the site offers an evening of family fun.
This month, there will be food from Federal Donuts, live music by Philly Roda de Samba e Choro, lawn games, and an arts and crafts table for visitors of all ages. Drinks will also be available for purchase.
Visitors are invited to bring a blanket or some chairs and enjoy the grounds and Main House, which will be open for free self-guided tours.
This event is pay-what-you-wish (recommended donation amount is $10). Your donations help continue these free community events and many others which are offered throughout the year.
Glen Foerd is an 18-acre public park and historic site located along the Delaware River in Philadelphia. Built in 1850 and enlarged in 1902-03, the estate, which features consisting of historic gardens, an Italianate-Classical Revival style mansion, and multiple additional structures, was saved from potential development through the activism of dedicated neighbors in 1983.
Today, Glen Foerd focuses on welcoming a diverse community through a wide array of programs for all ages.
Every Saturday in August, Pottsgrove Manor is presenting “Open House Days.”
Visitors can see something new every Saturday as Pottsgrove Manor highlights items from the collection and welcomes Living History activities throughout the day. They will be able to discover the ins-and-outs of 18th century items with the curator and learn about the trades and skills of the past with living history interpreters.
The themed Open House Days are: August 16 – Historic foodways demonstrations; August 23 – Music from the 18th century with musician Betsy Chapman; August 30 – Colonial fun and games.
Pottsgrove Manor’s staff and living history volunteers will demonstrate 18th-century trades, crafts, and pastimes. Many of the audience-friendly events are interactive.
This event also features free admission with a $2 suggested donation.
Hope Lodge (553 South Bethlehem Pike, Fort Washington, 215-343-0965, http://www.ushistory.org/hope/) will be presenting a “Guided Mansion Tour” on August 17.
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.
The Brandywine Valley has quite a few museums and tourist sites that provide residents and tourists with ideal opportunities to spend leisure time — and you can maximize your effort if you take advantage of the 2025 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/.
The 2025 season is in full swing 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.
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.
Admission to Nemours is $23 for adults, $21 for seniors and $10 for children.
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.
There will be several “Self-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 August 15 and 16 from noon-4 p.m. each day, emphasize the magnificent mansion interiors and stories of the families that lived there.
This self-guided alternative allows you to enjoy Rockwood your own way. This tour invites you to explore the first and second floors of the museum at your own pace. Additionally, staff and signage will be nearby to answer any questions.
Tours involve stairs. Reservations are suggested. Tickets for the self-guided tour are $10.
Chanticleer (786 Church Street, Wayne, www.chanticleergarden.org) in in the middle of its summer celebration.
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).
Stoneleigh: A Natural Garden (1829 East County Line Road, Villanova, stoneleighgarden.org/garden/home/) will present a “Home and Garden Tour” on August 9 at 10:30 a.m.
Formerly a Main Line country estate, Stoneleigh: A Natural Garden opened to the public in 2018.
Dazzling displays of native plants, ancient trees, landscape designs by the Olmsted Brothers, and myriad habitats are highlighted on this guided exploration of Stoneleigh.
This tour will highlight the transition from beloved family home to public garden through a guided exploration of breathtaking historical landscapes, majestic trees, and the more than 2,000 varieties of native plants.
Guests can learn how the staff created gardens that are beautiful, biodiverse, and beneficial to wildlife.
Tickets for the tour are $15.
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.
On August 16, the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum (8601 Lindbergh Boulevard, Philadelphia, www.fws.gov/refuge/John_Heinz) will present “Bird Walk with Mary Ellen Krober.”
Visitors can take an educational walk with this knowledgeable volunteer. They will be able to discover the 300-plus species of birds that use the Refuge during their migration routes – each week guarantee different species.
The walk will depart from the visitor center at 10 a.m. and be at a relaxed pace on flat surfaces.
On August 17, there will be a “Plant Walk with Dick Cloud” at 1 p.m.
Cloud, a veteran horticulturist, will discuss the variety of plants found at the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum.
There will also be a “Bat Night Walk” on August 15.
Visitors can learn about different bat species found at the refuge on this special free and kid-friendly twilight walk, which will run from 7:30-9 p.m.
Another venue where you can get close to nature 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” on August 16 at 1 p.m.
At the “Saturday Wildflower Walk,” wildflower expert Dick Cloud will lead an informative two-hour hike that will take visitors through meadows, woods, and occasionally streamside.
These walks are for those who have a love of plants, their role in ecology, or for those who want to learn more.
Admission to Tyler Arboretum is $18 for adults and $10 for teens (ages 12-17) and Military with valid ID.
The nature events are very natural. There are other special events in the area that deal with the supernatural.
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.
Treetop Quest Philly (51 Chamounix Drive, Philadelphia, www.treetopquest.com) is an aerial adventure park that will challenge you physically and mentally as you maneuver from tree to tree through obstacles and zip-lines. Once you’re equipped, they will teach you how to operate your equipment and you’ll be able to swing through each course as many times as you want for 2.5 hours.
Each participant is outfitted with a harness and gloves. Each course has a continuous belay system — a lifeline that is impossible to detach without a staff member. The activity is self-guided, and the staff is ready to assist when needed.
Gloves are required for our activity. During this time, we encourage participants to bring their own gloves to use while up in the trees, gardening gloves are perfect for this activity.
Ticket prices are $54.99, adults; $40.99, ages 6-11.
“TreeTrails Adventures Trevose” (301 West Bristol Pike, Trevose, treetrails.com/trevose-pa) is an adventure park full of fun challenges for outdoor adventurers of all ages that is open now and will run through November 26.
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+), $66 and Main Park Youth Tickets (Ages 7–11), $58.
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. 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 story time and get one-of-a-kind photos with everyone’s furry friends in their fabulous new birthday attire.
Ticket prices for Sesame Place start at $42.99.
