By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times
Goshen Country Fair
Some of the area’s annual events such as the Goshen Fair and Das Awkscht Fescht have been around for a long time — a really long time.
One of the best — and longest-running – fairs is the annual Goshen Country Fair (Goshen Fairgrounds, Park Avenue, East Goshen, 610- 430-1554, www.goshencountryfair.org).
The fair, which is celebrating its 77th anniversary this season, will run now through August 1 at the Goshen Fairgrounds, which are located just off West Chester Pike three miles east of West Chester.
The free family-oriented event is held each year as a benefit for the Goshen Fire Company. It will open at 6 p.m. from Monday through Friday and at 5 p.m. on Saturday.
This is an authentic down-home country fair with all the agricultural events found at most traditional country fairs, including livestock competitions each night at 6 p.m.
The fair will also feature competitions for pies, vegetables, jams and jellies, specimen flowers, bread, cookies, flowering houseplants, cakes, flower arrangements, and candy.
Nightly attractions include live music performances, tug-of-war competitions and pie-eating contests.
The schedule for live music includes Southern Edge Band on August 1.
Das Awkscht Fescht
You can also take a trip back in time by attending Das Awkscht Fescht (Macungie Memorial Park, Main Street, Macungie, 610-967-2317, www.awkscht.com) — an event that is easy to enjoy and difficult to pronounce.
Das Awkscht Fescht, which is celebrating its 63rd anniversary this year, runs now through August 2 in Macungie, a small town just south of Allentown.
It is billed as one of the largest antique and classic car shows in the country with over 3,500 cars on display.
The popular annual event takes its name from “Der Augscht”, which is the Pennsylvania Dutch word for “August.”
Das Awkscht Fescht, which is held the first weekend of August each year, is a traditional summer festival with a full roster of family fun events.
This year’s featured car area hosts “Antique & Classic Race Cars & Motorcycles — Celebrating Race Cars featuring Donald G. Hawk (“The Hawk”).”
There will be a variety of kids’ shows and activities including jugglers, magicians, ventriloquists, clowns and a special creative activity and display center.
Kids of all ages will enjoy the Antique Toy Show, which is held inside Macungie Memorial Park.
Other attractions include daily bingo sessions, picnics in the park, a playground, a huge public swimming pool, an arts and crafts show featuring over 120 artisans and an “Antique Auto Flea Market.” There will also be fireworks spectacular Saturday at 9:30 p.m.
Admission to the festival is $10 for adults and free for children (15 and under).
Another top attraction in the Lehigh Valley is Musikfest.Bethlehem’s Musikfest (downtown Bethlehem, 610-332-1300, www.musikfest.org) is a special event — an event that is more than just another popular summertime festival in the Lehigh Valley.
Over the years, Musikfest has established itself as one of America’s top annual music festivals an event that offers big name headliners as well as a wide variety of folk, rock, pop and ethnic music acts.
It also sports some impressive numbers.
The festival, which is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year, features free music performances on most of its indoor and outdoor stages.
Musikfest, which is running now through August 9, presents more than 300 live musical performances and draws over one million people to the Lehigh Valley every August.
The main concert stage at Musikfest is the Wind Creek Steel Stage which features national touring acts with tickets required for all shows.
The following is this year’s main stage schedule – John Mulaney on August 1, Third Eye Blind on August 2, Train on August 3, “Weird Al” Yankovic Bigger & Weirder 2026 Tour on August 4, T.I. with special guest DaBaby on August 5, Bailey Zimmermann August 6, Parker McCollum on August 7, Yellowcard and Taking Back Sunday on August 8, and AJR on August 9.
There will also be a multitude of free concerts, but Musikfest is much more than just festival offering a wealth of music.
It also features interactive arts and theater activities for children along with a large number of concessions offering a wide array of food and beverage treats.
This weekend, Exton Square (260 Exton Square Pkwy Exton, cirqueitalia.com) is hosting “Cirque Italia Water Circus: Atlantis” from July 31-August 3.Vivid, dramatic and entirely European, Cirque Italia is known for its jaw-dropping acrobatics, immersive visual storytelling and animal-free performances.
The traveling troupe’s Water Circus transforms the big top into a shimmering futuristic water fountain, featuring a dazzling 35,000-gallon water stage and plenty of laser-lit aquatic twirling.
The show will include jugglers, high-flying acrobats, a Wheel of Death contortionists, and other impressive feats of human artistry.
This incredible show takes place under “Grande Tenta” — the circus’ majestic white and blue big top tent which came all the way from Italy.
Cirque Italia posted this on its Facebook page:
“Exton, you might want to start practicing holding your breath.
There’s going to be a lot of underwater exploring this weekend.
Water Circus Atlantis opens today at Exton Square Mall, welcoming you beneath the Big Top from July 31 through August 3 for a spectacular journey to the Lost City.
And don’t worry about getting wet. We can assure you our fountains aren’t programmed to spray beyond the stage…
Probably.
What will take your breath away are the breathtaking acrobatics, dazzling performances, and magical moments waiting around every corner.
Don’t miss your chance to dive into the adventure! Gather your friends, bring your family, and enjoy a night where imagination takes center stage.”
With more than 30 artists, chosen in rigorous auditions from around 25 different countries, “Cirque Italia Water Circus: Atlantis” delivers high-end entertainment at an affordable cost to nearly two million people in about 50 cities each year.
Video link for “Water Circus” — https://youtu.be/TWRFIhHzAWA.
Ticket prices start at $30.
On Saturday, Brandywine Battlefield Park (1491 Baltimore Pike, Chadds Ford, www.brandywinebattlefield.org) will present “Voices of Brandywine.”
Step back to 1777 and meet the people who lived through the Battle of Brandywine. “Voices of Brandywine” brings their stories to life through live theater with performers from the Delaware Theatre Company.
Visitors will hear from George Washington, Johann Ewald, Benjamin Rush, Polly Frazer, and others as their experiences unfold across the park’s historic homes.
Guests can spend the day exploring, walking between open houses, and discovering history brought to life.
This is a special ticketed event, and admission is required for all guests.
The Gay Street Open-Air Market (www.downtownwestchester.com ) will be open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through September 28.
The Open-Air Market gives residents and visitors more space to shop, eat, and explore the town.
Four blocks of Gay Street are closed to vehicles every weekend, so everyone can partake in al fresco dining and shopping.
The streets are closed from roughly Friday at 8 a.m. to Monday at 8 a.m.
This event is rain or shine. Shopping/dining in the street will most likely be unavailable until the bad weather passes, but Gay Street will remain closed.
For more info, visit https://www.downtownwestchester.com/openairmarket/.
In 2026, America turns 250, and Philadelphia is throwing the ultimate yearlong celebration.
After all, we’ve been first in freedom, first in innovation and first in fun for 250 years.
52 Weeks of Firsts (www.visitphilly.com/52-weeks-of-firsts) is a yearlong, citywide celebration honoring Philadelphia’s legacy of innovation produced by the Philadelphia Historic District 250th Committee.
Not only was Philadelphia the birthplace of the country, but it was also the backdrop for many other marvels.
To honor these groundbreaking inventions and firsts, the Philadelphia Historic District is holding a year’s worth of free events to celebrate the country’s 250th birthday.
52 Weeks of Firsts shines a light on different Philly-born Firsts each week through a series of free public events called Saturday Firstivals — held every Saturday of 2026, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in more than a dozen neighborhoods.
Firstival: Saturday August 1 will present “First Scientific Society of Natural History: 1812.”
Dinosaurs, dioramas, discoveries! The Academy of Natural Sciences became America’s first scientific society devoted to natural history. Curiosity and collections that still spark wonder.
Primarily utilizing spray paint and acrylic paint, Ibi Padrón Venegas translates daydreams, everyday sensations and experiences of curiosity into playful pieces of color, texture and vibrant forms. Their constant bewilderment of the natural world and its unfoldment reflects itself in their art through themes of interconnectedness and emergence. Since a very young age, public art has captivated their artistic aspirations and has naturally found itself at the heart of their practice.
The event will be held August 1 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Academy of Natural Sciences, which is located at 19th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway in downtown Philadelphia.
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 16, 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 $32 for adults, $29 and $16 for youth.
Visiting Longwood Gardens (Route 1, Kennett Square, www.longwoodgardens.org) is a real treat at any time during the year but especially sweet during the summer when the grounds are filled with vibrant colors produced by a variety of flowers.
Longwood Gardens is one of the best outdoor attractions in the area, one of the best family attractions in the state and one of the best gardens attractions in the country.
The popular illuminated fountain shows are being held throughout the summer.
On August 5, Longwood Gardens will host Americana icon Peter Rowan — founding member of the legendary bluegrass group Old & In The Way with Vassar Clements, David “Dawg” Grisman, and Jerry Garcia— with Sam Grisman and his Sam Grisman Project for this special performance.
Americana icon, Grammy Award winner, and member of the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame Rowan is a singer-songwriter with a career spanning over five decades. From his early years playing under the tutelage of Bluegrass veteran Bill Monroe, to his time in Old & In The Way and his breakout as a solo musician and bandleader, Rowan has built a devoted, international fan base through a solid stream of recordings, collaborative projects, and constant touring.
The show will take place on August 5 at 7:30 p.m. in Longwood’s Open Air Theatre.
There are times when even the very best can get better.
Each of the six districts has a distinct personality.
Chimes Tower District — A stunning hillside of rare, expertly edited plants, a historic bell tower anchored on a 50-foot waterfall, and award-winning trees beckon, all within view of the majestic Main Fountain Garden.
Conservatory District — Considered the centerpiece of Longwood Gardens, stunning 19th-century architecture works in harmony with a perpetual flower show under acres of glass. Explore dazzling displays and rare plant species through a series of breathtaking rooms.
House & Theater District — Developed with the specific purpose of display and performance, experience a vista to the early days of Longwood, taking in views that Pierre and his family enjoyed more than a century ago, including Peirce’s Park and Peirce’s Woods.
Lakes District — Open vistas, rolling green lawns, sparkling water, and splashing fountains recall a European holiday from days gone by, reminding us of the joy of fresh air, a nice walk, and an exquisite view.
Meadow & Forest District — The expansive landscape of the Meadow and Forest District harmonizes the best practices in ecological restoration with garden designs showcasing horticultural excellence and beauty while prioritizing plant and animal communities.
Main Fountain Garden District — The classical gardens and grand theatre of this district have captivated guests for more than 90 years. Inspired by Pierre S. du Pont’s travels to Europe’s great water gardens, World’s Fairs, and expositions, the Main Fountain Garden highlights horticulture, engineering marvels, and the beauty of exceptional design.
Longwood’s summer schedule features Main Fountain Garden Performances through October, Illuminated Fountain Performances Thursdays-Saturdays through October, Festival of Fountains through October, Fireworks & Fountains Shows on select dates through October, Open Air Theatre Fountain Shows daily through November, and Festive Fridays one per month.
Admission to Longwood Gardens is $38 for adults, $38 for seniors and college students, $29 for active military and $22 for youth.
The “2026 Town Tours and Village Walks” program has returned for its 32nd year with the theme of “13 Tours for 13 Colonies.”
This year’s programs will focus on the places, people, and events in Chester County that molded and defined the complex tapestry of history that shaped our nation.
In addition to the 13 tours, there will be three “Armchair Lectures.”
All are open to the public and free to attend.
On August 6, the event is billed as “Walking Tour — Primitive Hall, Ancestral Home of the Pennock Family.”
On August 20, the schedule lists “Walking Tour — Historic Yellow Springs.”
All activities are open to the public and free to attend.
Hagley Museum and Library (Route 141, Wilmington, Delaware, 302-658-2400, www.hagley.org) will host “Summer Nights at Hagley” on August 5 from 5-8 p.m. – and every Wednesday evening through August 19.
The Summer Nights at Hagley event scheduled for August 26 has been cancelled to allow Hagley to complete important preservation work in the historic powder yard.
Visitors to Hagley can enjoy an after-work hike or a picnic along Brandywine Creek’s most beautiful mile on summer Wednesday evenings from June through August.
It is a family event featuring summer fun in a beautiful outdoor setting. Guests can bring a picnic to enjoy at Hagley’s picnic pavilion on Workers’ Hill or at a picnic table along the Brandywine.
Dogfish Head craft beer and Woodside Farm Creamery ice cream are also available for purchase. You are welcome to bring your own food to “Summer Nights at Hagley,” but outside alcohol is strictly prohibited.
Admission is $5 per person and free for Hagley members and children five and under. Please note that this event is weather-dependent.
Hagley 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 the 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.
“Hagley History Tours: America 250 Edition” will be held August 1-3.
Visitors can enjoy a guided outdoor walking tour exploring Hagley’s role in shaping American and Delaware history.
This tour, held twice daily, lasts approximately one hour, involves walking on uneven ground, and costs $5 in addition to regular daily admission.
Please note this is a weather-dependent event.
Admission is $20 for Adults, $16 for Seniors (62+) and Students, and $10 for Children 6-14.
A popular event in Delaware this weekend is “Steamin’ Day” at Auburn Heights Preserve (3000 Creek Road, Yorklyn, Delaware, 302-239-2385, http://auburnheights.org) on August 2.
Visitors are encouraged to climb into an antique automobile or board one of the trains and experience what it was like to travel at the turn of the 20th century. They can also tour the magnificent 1897 mansion that was home to three generations of the Marshall family.
Also included is entry to the Marshall Steam Museum, which features the world’s largest operating collection of Stanley steam cars along with a 1930s working Lionel electric train display, a hands-on engine display, kids’ activities and exhibits and the Museum Gift Shop. Self-guided experiences will be available along a designated route to ensure one-way paths and proper spacing.
Free popcorn may be enjoyed by all visitors during “Steamin’ Day” events and Woodside Farm Creamery will be on-site with delicious ice cream available for purchase. A food truck will also be on-site at “Steamin’ Day.”
Activities run from 12:30-4:30 p.m.
Another event this weekend which looks back to a bygone era is being presented by Pottsgrove Manor (100 West King Street, Pottstown, 610-326-4014, http://montcopa.org/index.aspx?nid=930).
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.
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.
Elmwood Park Zoo (1661 Harding Boulevard, Norristown, www.elmwoodparkzoo.org) is hosting “Zoo Brew Celebration”
Participants can enjoy samplings from local favorites suc as Stateside, 2SP Brewing Company, Von C Brewing Company, Wissahickon Brewing Company and Five Saints Distilling.
Tickets for this event include Zoo admission, all-you-can-drink samples, door prizes, raffle, live music and a Zoo Brew hat.
Event Admission is $50. Non-participating guests must purchase Zoo admission.
August 1 is Establishment Day at Hopewell Furnace (2 Mark Bird Lane, Elverson, www.nps.gov) from 1-8 p.m.
The national park is inviting people to celebrate Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site’s 88th birthday and join as it commemorates 250 years of American industry.
The event will close with an iron pour — the first time iron will flow at Hopewell Furnace in 143 years.
The event starts at 1 p.m. when the charcoal pile is lit to start a summer charcoal burn.
Visitors can discover industry and history beyond Hopewell Furnace from park partners, learn the art of molding and make a miniature stove plate.
For an extra fee, guests can create their own designs in a scratch block mold and later see it poured with iron. Tickets for this activity can be purchased at the Visitor Center starting at 1 p.m.
The event is free and family friendly. It may be modified or cancelled in the event of inclement weather.
The “Sunset Park Day & Car Show” presented by Penn Township is scheduled for August 1.
The fun family event will be held from 2-6 p.m. at Penn Township Park, which is located at 260 Lewis Road in West Grove.
Musical entertainment will be provided by Radio Revolution, Jeff Dillard Bluegrass Band and CBM Productions.
Food and beverages will be available for purchase from 22 BBQ,
Taqueria Los Juarez, S.H.E by Sipp Happens Events, Crossan Kettle Corn, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee,
The Station Ice Cream Shoppe, Braeloch Brewing and Casa Carmen Wines.
Free activities will be Car Show, Jump & Slide, “Race Car” Ride, Obstacle Course, Misting Tent, Mechanical Bull, Axe Throwing and Toddler-Only Bounce House.
Additionally, there will be face painting by Kid Party Pros, “Princess Meet & Greet with Rapunzel, Cinderella & Tiana,” “Reading of the Declaration of Independence” and strolling magic by Erick Hershey.
Charlann Farms (586 Stony Hill Road, Morrisville, www.charlannfarms.com) is ready to celebrate one of summer’s favorite vegetables.
The Bucks County farm’s fourth annual Sweet Corn Festival will be held August 1 and 2 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. each day.
There will be corn-themed games and activities – cornhole games, a corn-eating contest and a corn pit for the kids.
There will be live music by The Country Mile Band along with line dance lessons by DJ Shotgun Jenny.
Guests can meet farm animals at the petting zoo, saddle up for pony rides and indulge in firefighter fantasies with “The Fantastic Fire Department Philly.”
Visitors can take care of their hunger and thirst with pay-as-you-go food from local vendors, and drinks from Broad Street Brewing and Ashlynn Distillery.
Tickets are $14.99 per person ages 2 and up. A ticket gets you entrance into the festival grounds where you can listen to live music, enjoy line dance lessons, and kids can enjoy the Jump Pad, Barrel Cart Rides, Corn Pit and other games.
Eastern State Penitentiary (2027 Fairmount Avenue, Philadelphia, easternstate.org) is hosting “Freedom Through Faith: Judaism at Eastern State and Beyond,” a closer look at how Jewish inmates exercised religious freedom inside the prison’s walls.
The exhibition shows the resilience of many Eastern European immigrants, like Jacob Forbes, who built the penitentiary’s first synagogue, and Anna Schultz Paull, who prepared holiday meals.
It also tells the story of Eastern State’s emergency hospital where the first communal gathering for prayer reportedly occurred in 1913.
Admission is $21 for adults, $19 for seniors, $17 for college students and youth and free for children age 7 and under.
The Delaware River waterfront hosts a number of cultural celebrations this summer during the PECO Multicultural Series. This weekend, the focus is on the culture of the African continent.
On August 2, the Great Plaza at Penn’s Landing (201 South Columbus Boulevard, Philadelphia, www.delawareriverwaterfront.com) will be the site of the ACANA African Festival at the Great Plaza.
The annual outdoor concert, which will run from 2-8 p.m., brings artists, groups, and dance troupes from around the African continent to perform in a free event.
The festival provides a wide range of African entertainment, from traditional dance performances to modern Afropop and reggae musical performances. The family-oriented event also features African food vendors, as well as sales booths with traditional and modern clothing, arts and crafts.
Newlin Grist Mill (219 South Cheyney Road, Glen Mills, 610-459-2359, www.newlingristmill.org) is holding its “1704 Mill Tour” on August 1 and 2.
Visitors can take a guided tour of the site’s 1704 water powered mill.
While the Mill is not currently operational, visitors on guided tours will get a rare opportunity to see the process of building a new waterwheel and waterbox.
Visitors must be on a guided tour to go inside the Grist Mill.
Cost is $10 for adults and $6 for seniors and children 12 and under.
Chaddsford Winery (632 Baltimore Pike, Chadds Ford, 610-388-6221, http://www.chaddsford.com) is presenting “Live on the Lawn” now through September 27 and “Friday Night Wine Down” now through September 25.
“Live on the Lawn” is a brand-new outdoor music series featuring local talent, great wine, and relaxed vibes every summer weekend afternoon.
“Friday Night Wine Down” offers fun games, drink specials, and extended hours on Friday evenings.
The laid-back, laugh-filled series features Quizzo trivia with fun themes and great prizes; seasonal wine slushies, PA craft beer, fresh mocktails, and the venue’s newest wine releases; and delicious bites from the winery’s new, in-house food menu including specialty weekly pizzas.
Penns Woods Winery (124 Beaver Valley Road, Chadds Ford, http://www.pennswoodswinery.com) is presenting “Live Music on the Lawn” every weekend during the summer months.
Greg Jones will play from noon-4 p.m. on August 1 and West Chester’s Nicle Zell will provide live music from 1-4 p.m. on August 2.
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).
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 1 and 2 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 rail line’s lavishly appointed early-1900’s first-class parlor cars.
Tickets are $116 (Ages 21 and older only).
This weekend, the Strasburg Railroad (Route 741, Strasburg, 717-687-7522, www.strasburgrailroad.com) is running its “Wine & Cheese Train” on August 1 and 2 at 6 p.m. on Saturday and 4 p.m. 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.
On August 1, the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum (8601 Lindbergh Boulevard, Philadelphia, www.fws.gov/refuge/John_Heinz) is presenting a special “Bird Walk with Chuck Root and Emily Dodge.”
Visitors can take an educational walk with knowledgeable volunteers. They’ll 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 meet by visitor center and be at a relaxed paced on flat surfaces. There are restrooms near the trailhead.
No registration required.
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 “Saturday Wildflower Walk” on August 1 at 11 a.m.
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, the guide will talk about whatever participants might see while they are out.
Admission to Tyler Arboretum is $18 for adults (ages 18-64), $15 for seniors (65 and older) and $10 for children (ages 3-17) and Military with valid ID.
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 start at $49.
A long-running summer music tradition in Lancaster County is the Long’s Park Summer Music Series (www.longspark.org/summer-music-series).
The free concerts, which are running now through August 23, are held at Long’s Park. The concert venue is located at Harrisburg Pike and Route 30 in Lancaster.
The concerts, which start at 7:30 p.m. are free (with donations welcomed). There will be food trucks on site.
The 2026 schedule is: August 2, J & The Causeways; August 9, Low Cut Connie; August 16, Ghost Funk Orchestra; and August 23, Hayes Carll.
On August 1, Kitchen Kettle Village (3529 Old Philadelphia Pike, Intercourse, www.kitchenkettle.com) will host “Yummie’s Birthday Party” beginning at 9 a.m.
Kitchen Kettle Village is inviting everyone to come party in Lancaster County with Yummie, the gingerbread man and all his crazy friends.
Kids of all ages will enjoy this birthday bash for Yummie, the Kitchen Kettle Village mascot.
They can join the village’s overstuffed gingerbread mascot and a few mascot friends – including Cylo from the Lancaster Barnstormers, as they celebrate a truly scrumptious day in Pennsylvania Dutch Country.
The free event features live entertainment, a “Fun Zone” and singing, dancing and birthday treats.
Peddler’s Village (Routes 202 and 263, Lahaska, 215-794-4000, www.peddlersvillage.com) is celebrating its “Peach Festival” on August 1 and 2 and “National Peach Month” throughout August.
The “Peach Festival” is a peach lovers’ paradise with plenty of peachy treats, weekend entertainment, and scenic strolls through the Village’s summer gardens.
Visitors will be able to savor the flavors of all things peach from savory to sweet at the Village’s restaurants and weekend outdoor food tent all month long.
Fresh peaches, peach pies, and peach products will be available on Saturdays and Sundays in August.
During the month of August, visitors can savor peach-themed food and drink specials served every day in Peddler’s Village’s restaurants and eateries.
Peddler’s Village shops will be open until 8 p.m. on Saturday.
Admission and parking are free. The event will be held rain or shine.
“Botany of Nations,” which will run now through February 14, 2027 at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University (1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, ansp.org), is a groundbreaking exhibition that provides a new perspective on the legendary Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery.
Co-curated with Enrique Salmón, PhD, an ethnobotanist and author of IWÍGARA: The Kinship of Plants and People, and developed with contributions from Indigenous cultural historians, Botany of Nations offers a culturally layered view of the plants of North America.
Collected on the famous expedition, some of the oldest plant specimens in the country today are housed in the Academy’s own Lewis and Clark Herbarium. Learn how the Native Nations Meriwether Lewis met on the trail shaped America’s plant knowledge long before Western scientists claimed these “discoveries.” Centering the voices of Native Nations who have protected and cared for the lands for thousands of years, Botany of Nations presents plants as portals to Indigenous storytelling and knowledge.
Admission prices are — Adults (Age 13 and above), $22; Seniors (age 65+), $19; Children (Age 2 – 12), $18.
The newest exhibition at the Brandywine Museum of Art (1 Hoffman Mill Road, Chadds Ford, brandywine.org), is “Treasures from the Family: The Gift of Betsy James Wyeth.”
Visitors can discover Betsy James Wyeth’s role as the curator and archivist of the Wyeth family’s rich history and collections in “Treasures from the Family: The Gift of Betsy James Wyeth.”
The exhibition consists of art and archival material from the major bequest she left to the Brandywine Museum of Art upon her death in 2020.
Andrew and Betsy Wyeth were long-time supporters of the Museum. From its earliest days, the Wyeths stepped in to ensure there would always be works of art in the galleries. Their role in transferring the N.C. Wyeth House and Studio, and later, the Andrew Wyeth Studio to the Museum’s care helped to transform the institution’s mission.
The couple’s vision for the future led to the creation of the Museum’s Andrew and Betsy Wyeth Study Center, which also stewards the collection of the Wyeth Foundation for American Art. In a final act of philanthropy, Betsy Wyeth planned a major gift of artworks—beyond those by Andrew Wyeth—and the family’s rich trove of archival material to the Museum.
“Treasures” highlights paintings held by the Wyeth family, many of which were on loan to Brandywine for decades. Such paintings as N.C. Wyeth’s Self-Portrait with Palette (ca. 1909-1912) or his Captain Nemo (1918) have frequently hung in the galleries but will now make Brandywine their permanent home thanks to Betsy Wyeth’s planning.
In addition to these familiar paintings, other works in the bequest showcase moments in N.C. Wyeth’s career development such as a teenage self-portrait and his experiments with impressionist brushwork. Among the gems in the exhibition are examples of his early Western work that catapulted him to the top of the illustration field.
Admission to the Brandywine Museum of Art is $20 for adults, $18 for seniors (65+) and $8 for children ages 6-18 and students with ID.
Thursdays through Sundays, Rockwood Park & Museum (4671 Washington Street Ext, Wilmington, Delaware, 4671 Washington Street Ext, Wilmington, www.newcastlede.gov/431/Rockwood-Park-Museum) is presenting “Self-Guided Museum Tours.”
Visitors will be able to explore the grandeur, history and beauty of Rockwood Mansion, home of the Shipley, Bringhurst and Hargraves families for 120 years. This tour emphasizes the magnificent mansion interiors and stories of the families that lived there.
The 2026 season is rolling along at Nemours Estate (1600 Rockland Road, Wilmington, Delaware, nemoursestate.org).
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.
Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library (Route 52, Wilmington, Delaware, 800-448-3883, www.winterthur.org) has attractions both indoors and outdoors going on right now.
There seems to be no end to what’s in bloom — and in almost every corner of the garden.
White flowers of kousa dogwoods, deutzias, and mock oranges invite you to visit Sycamore Hill. Visitors can wander the garden paths to discover the delicate beauty of pink mountain laurels and pale Pink Leda roses at the Bristol Summerhouse.
In Azalea Woods and Enchanted Woods, look for the flowers of martagon hybrid lilies opening. A few late-flowering peonies can be found in the Lower Peony Garden, while ferns cover the shady March Bank.
Admission to Winterthur is $27 for adults, $25 for seniors and students and $10 for children.
Brandywine Valley has quite a few museums and tourist sites that provide both residents and tourists with diverse ways to spend leisure time.
You can take advantage of these options with the 2026 Brandywine Treasure Trail Passport (www.visitwilmingtonde.com/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 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.
Historic Odessa (Main Street, Odessa, Delaware, 302-378-4119, www.historicodessa.org) is both a scenic and an historic site in Delaware.
Historic Odessa just reopened for spring tours and celebrated the beginning of its 2026 season.
Known in the 18th-century as Cantwell’s Bridge, Odessa played a vital role in commercial life along the Delaware River as a busy grain shipping port.
Today, visitors can stroll along tree-lined streets and admire examples of 18th- and 19th-century architecture in one of the best-preserved towns in Delaware. They can also tour a remarkable collection of antiques and Americana preserved in period room settings and quaint exhibits.
Historic Odessa is open to the public from March through December, Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and Sunday from 1-4 p.m. The site is also open Monday by reservation.
The Delaware Art Museum (2301 Kentmere Parkway, Wilmington, Delaware, www.delart.org) is currently featuring several new exhibitions.
“Living Indigenous,” which runs through August 23, celebrates the creative contributions of Indigenous artists living in and connected to Delaware, developed in partnership with the Nanticoke Indian Museum.
“Citizen Artist,” which is on display through July 19, coincides with the Semiquincentennial in 2026.
The “Citizen Artist” will meet a moment of national reflection with a celebration of artist workers in America.
“The People’s Gallery,” which runs August 7 through September 6, amplifies Delaware 250 by inviting up to 600 Delaware residents or DelArt Members to submit one work of art for exhibition in the Museum.
The Museum is open from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday and will be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Admission is $18 for adults, $16 for seniors and $6 for youth.
The 2026 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.
Rosengarten’s humor is evident in naming his home after the estate “Chanticlere” in Thackeray’s 1855 novel “The Newcomes.”
As the home of the Rosengartens, Chanticleer was beautiful and green with impressive trees and lawns. Most of the floral and garden development you see today has occurred since 1990 — designed by Chanticleer staff and consultants.
Admission to Chanticleer is $12 for adults and free for pre-teen children (12 years and under).
Andalusia Historic House, Gardens and Arboretum (1237 State Road, Andalusia, www.andalusiapa.org), which is located on a wooded promontory overlooking the Delaware River, 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.
Visitors can stroll the spectacular formal gardens and native woodlands during a self-guided garden tour at their leisure and enjoy sweeping views from the banks of the Delaware River. Picnics are allowed on the grounds (with a “carry-in, carry-out” policy).
If you enjoy walking around garden displays or 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 27th annual edition of the display opened May 23 and will remain open until September 30.
This summer, Morris Arboretum will unveil a brand-new exhibition in its popular Garden Railway – “Garden Railway: World Pollinators,” part of its new summer-long exhibition, “Bees, Butterflies & Blooms: A Pollinator Paradise.”
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 $22 for adults; $20 for seniors (65 and older); $12 for youth (ages 13-17 or with ID), active military and retired military; and free for children (under 3).
Sesame Place (100 Sesame Road, Langhorne, www.sesameplace.com) is presenting its “Summer Splash” now through September 7.
There’s nothing like summer at Sesame Place Philadelphia! It’s a great time to have fun and cool off with splashy water attractions for all ages. Enjoy Bert & Ernie’s Splashy Shores, Big Bird’s Beach, The Count’s Splash Castle, Big Bird’s Rambling River, and more.
Plus, have even more fun in the sun by enjoying our family-friendly rides like Oscar’s Wacky Taxi Roller Coaster, Elmo’s Flyin’ Fish, the Sunny Day Carousel, and the 123 Playground!
Summer is the perfect time to meet your favorite Sesame Street friends at Sesame Place! Grab one-of-a-kind pictures with your favorite furry friends! Dance and sing along with everyone at our exciting character dining experiences and shows. Don’t miss the Sesame Street Party Parade which is full of fun and promises to get the whole family singing and dancing.
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.
