By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times
This is a special time of year in Kennett Square – the time for a popular annual event known as the Kennett Winterfest. Usually, tickets are already sold out by this time but this year some tickets remain.
The Seventh Annual Kennett Winterfest (http://kennettwinterfest.com/) will be held on February 23 from 12:30-4 p.m. in a tented area near 600 South Broad Street in Kennett Square.
Visitors are invited to enjoy winter brews from 67 unique craft breweries. Admission to the festival includes unlimited tastings of delicious craft beer.
Once again, the festival will feature a food truck selection instead of a food ticket. Food is available on a pay-as-you-go basis and is not included in the price of admission.
The line-up of food trucks participating in Saturday’s event are Abuelita’s Empanadas, Dia Doce, Natalie’s Fine Food, Ka’Chi Food Truck, and Southbound BBQ.
The long list of participating breweries includes 2SP Brewing, Argilla Brewing, Avery, Big Hill Ciderworks, Conshohocken Brewing, Dogfish Head, Tuned Up Brewing, Unee Annee, Urban Village Brewing, Abomination Brewing, Artillery Brewing, Bald Birds Brewing Company, Black Mammoth Brewing, Free Will Brewing, Kennett Brewing Co., Aston Abbey, Ship Bottom Brewery, Singlecut Beersmith, Southern Tier, Victory Brewing, Guinness, Yards, Zero Day Brewing,Bog Turtle Brewery, Braeloch Brewing, Brothers Kershner Brewing Company, and Cape May Brewing.
Also featured will be Charm City Meadworks, Connecticut Valley Brewing Company, Blueprint Brewing, Lancaster Brewing, Levante Brewing, Locust Lane Brewery, Hidden River, Hollow Earth, Imprint Beer Co., La Cabra Brewing, McKenzie Brew House, Mispillion River Brewing, Rebel Seed Cider, River Horse, Round Guys, Mainstay Independent Brewery, McKenzie’s Hard Cider, Oliver Brewing Co., Platform Beer Company, Rebel Hill Brewing Company, and Rotunda Brewing Company.
The diverse list also includes Saranac Brewery, Dressler Estate, Fegley’s Brew Works, Flying Fish Brewing Company, Founders Brewing Co., Graft Cider, Great Lakes Brewing Co, Haymaker Meadery, Highway Manor Brewing, Hitchhiker Brewing Co., Wilmington Brew Works, Workhorse Brewing Company, Lake Placid Craft Brewing, Tired Hands Brewing Company, Twin Lakes Brewing Co. Two Roads Brewing Co., Liquid Hero Brewery, Stolen Sun Brewing Company, Suburban Brewing Co.,
No one without a ticket and proper photo identification will be allowed to enter. No one under the age of 21will be admitted including babies. Pets are also on the “not welcome” list.
The Winterfest is a rain or shine event. Tickets are $70 general admission and $15 for designated drivers.
From February 24-March 3, Kennett Square will continue in a celebratory mood with Kennett Square Restaurant Week.
All week long, restaurants around Kennett Square will be featuring Prix Fixe menus.
The roster of participating establishments includes Grain, Kennett Square Inn, La Verona, Lily Asian Cuisine, Portabellos, The Creamery, Kennett Brewing Company, The Market at Liberty Place, Mary Pat’s Provisions, Kaboburritos, Rump Roasters, Paradocx Vineyard, Sunrise Café, Michoacana Grill, Talulas Table, and Victory Brewing Company.
Chestnut Hill Restaurant Week will be held from February 24-March 1 in downtown Chestnut Hill.
This event will also feature a wide array of restaurants offering special Prix Fixe menus at 15 of the neighborhood’s popular restaurants. Participating spots include Paris Bistro & Jazz Cafe, Tavern on the Hill and Mica.
Fans of blues music have two special events to look forward to this weekend – “Blues and Brews” in West Chester and “Roots and Blues’ in Lancaster.
On February 22, the Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center (236 North High Street, West Chester, https://uptownwestchester.org/) is presenting “Blues N’ Brews at Uptown!” featuring Victory Brewing Company.
The event, which runs from 6:30- 10 p.m., will feature sets of live blues music performed by Steve Guyger Trio, Tommy Froelich Band , Little Rooster Blues Band and other acts TBA.
Each ticket gets you a souvenir “Blues N’ Brews at Uptown!” cup, raffle entry for giveaways at the event, craft beer all night, one water, one soda, and entry to see all musical acts. A food truck will be onsite with tasty festival food available for purchase
Tickets are $25 in advance (plus $3 service fee) and $30 at the door (plus $3 service fee).
“Lancaster Roots & Blues – A Festival of Music and Art” will be held from February 22-24.
More than 70 artists will take the stage at eight venues over three days at the 2019 Lancaster Roots & Blues festival.
The shows will be spread over eight venues, including the Chameleon, Tellus 360, the Convention Center and the Federal Taphouse.
The diverse list of blues entertainers includes such top-flight acts as Albert Cummings, Carey Morin, Clarence Spady, Dr. Harmonica and Rockett 88, Garland Jeffries, Greg Piccolo, and the Nighthawks.
The 2019 Festival will also feature a dynamic Arts Expo in the Commonwealth Ballroom with 24 booths.
For a family event that is both fun and educational, it’s hard to top the annual Pancake Breakfast and Maple Sugaring Celebration at the Tyler Arboretum (515 Painter Road, Media, 610-566-9134, www.tylerarboretum.org).
The popular wintertime event will be held on February 23 from 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
The Pancake Breakfast brings visitors to the arboretum site on a Saturday morning in February each year to dine at an all-you-can-eat pancake and sausage breakfast — a hearty morning meal featuring hot pancakes, savory sausage, fresh maple syrup, coffee, tea and juice.
After enjoying the tasty morning meal, visitors can go out into the arboretum to learn how real maple syrup — not maple-flavored pancake syrup — is made. Demonstrations and maple sugaring tours are presented throughout the morning at the old-fashioned maple sugaring festival. The tours show how authentic maple sugar is made — a process that involves tapping the trees and boiling down the sap.
If you’ve ever wondered why real maple syrup is such an expensive item, look at the numbers. It takes about 40 gallons of maple sap to make one gallon of syrup and it takes about 30 years for a sugar maple tree to grow large enough to tap.
Tickets for the Pancake Breakfast are $16 for adults and $10 for children (ages 3-12).
On February 23 and 24, the Lancaster County Park Environmental Center (1 Nature’s Way, Lancaster, https://apm.activecommunities.com/LancasterCountyParks, 717-295-2055) will present a special program titled “Maple Sugaring.”
Visitors can join County Park Naturalists for ongoing maple sugaring demonstrations in the sugar bush of Lancaster County Central Park. They will be able to see trees tapped, sap boiled to syrup, and candy made from the syrup. Maple products will be on sale. Guests can drop in anytime during the program hours for an educational tour of the maple syrup making process.
Maple Sugar Day
On February 23, there will be another maple sugar event worth checking out when Wissahickon Environmental Center (300 West Northwestern Avenue, Philadelphia, 215-685-9285) hosts its annual Maple Sugar Day.
There will be ongoing maple sugaring demonstrations, pancakes with real maple syrup, a taste test of different pancake toppings, and freshly made maple candy to taste. Pennsylvania Maple Syrup products will be available for purchase.
The all-ages event is free and will run from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
There will more pancakes being flipped this Sunday in Delaware.
Also on February 24, the Delaware Nature Society will host a “Maple Sugaring And Pancake Breakfast” at the Ashland Nature Center (3511 Barley Mill Road, Hockessin, www.delawarenaturesociety.org)
Visitors to the Nature Center can learn about the maple sugaring process, boil sap and taste it. Then, they will be able to warm up with a pancake breakfast complete with maple syrup. The event will be led by Lauren Powell.
The event, which will run from 10 a.m.-noon, is $14 for adults ($9 for members of the Delaware Nature Society) and free for children (five and under).
Another good destination in Delaware this weekend will be the 18th Annual Hockessin Art Festival. The event, which is scheduled for February 23 and 24, will be held at the Hockessin Memorial Hall, (606 Yorklyn Road, Hockessin, Delaware, 302-998-1930, www.wwrr.com).
The Wilmington & Western Railroad’s Hockessin Art Festival is a fundraising effort to benefit the railroad, now entering its 53rd year of tourist service. The W&WRR operates steam and diesel trains year-round on 10 miles of track through the scenic Red Clay Valley.
The festival features more than 20 artists who will be displaying and selling original works of art. Refreshments will be available and door prizes will be awarded. On February 22, there will be a special “Friday Evening Preview” from 5-8 p.m. featuring light hors’ doeuvres and a cash bar.
As an added attraction, the Wilmington & Western Railroad will be running its “Festival Express” on Saturday and Sunday. The railroad’s vintage 1929 railcar will depart from the station behind Memorial Hall for 40-minute round trips through the towns of Yorklyn and Ashland.
The trains depart from behind the Hockessin Memorial Hall in Hockessin. Tickets are $5 and departure times are 11 a.m., noon, 1, 2 and 3 p.m. both days.
Admission to the festival is $5 for adults and free for children (under 12). Tickets for the train ride are $5 for everyone.
The Mummers Mardi Gras Parade is scheduled for February 23. Starting at noon, Mummers musical groups will be performing at the 2300 Arena (2300 South Swanson, Street, Philadelphia, www.mrmummer.com).
The daylong festival will feature stage performances and live music inside and out from Philadelphia Mummers String Bands.
The day will also include family-friendly activities including photo opportunities with costumes and props, a variety of vendors, giveaways, authentic Philly food trucks and much more.
Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day
On February 23, the Franklin Institute (271 North 21st Street, Philadelphia, 215-448-1200, www.fi.edu) is presenting an event titled “Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day” from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
The event will be celebrating the national movement dedicated to demonstrating to girls that engineering is creative and collaborative and how being an engineer can help change and improve our world.
The Franklin Institute joins the initiative to engage girls in all aspects of manufacturing and design and inspire them to consider careers in engineering with a day full of hands-on activities exploring the various branches — including mechanical, electrical, chemical, and more.
The IMAX movie “Dream Big: Engineering our World” will transform how young minds think about engineering. Featuring a diverse group of engineers from around the world, this film will inspire audiences to think about their own future in engineering to solve problems that are close to their own worlds.
Visitors on this day will also have the opportunity to meet local female engineers and understand the significant role they have in shaping our future.
The event is in recognition of National Engineers Week (February 17-23), dedicated to ensuring a diverse and well-educated future engineering workforce by increasing understanding of and interest in engineering and technology careers.
Additionally, now through March 3, the museum is hosting an expansive exhibition titled, “Vikings: Beyond the Legend.”
Visitors to the exhibition will be able to Journey back to Scandinavia and experience the Viking Age.
“Vikings: Beyond the Legend” reveals the captivating story of the explorers who set sail from Scandinavia centuries ago and brings the Viking Age to life through a wealth of artifacts, multimedia, and interactive elements.
The exhibition features 600 artifacts; three full-size replica Viking Ships; “Augmented Reality” experiences; ornate jewelry, coins, and weapons; authentic Viking games; and background on Norse Mythology.
Fees to view “Vikings,” which include general museum admission are $35 for adults and $31 for children (ages 3-11).
This weekend, the Delaware Children’s Museum (550 Justison Street, Wilmington, Delaware, 302-654-230, delawarechildrensmuseum.org) is presenting a special event for children that is both fun and educational.
On February 23, the activity-driven kids’ museum is hosting is annual STEM Expo from noon-3 p.m.
Kids of all ages are invited to jump into science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEM) during the DCM’s annual Expo.
The event will be presented by STEM Ambassador students from the Charter School of Wilmington and DescriptionEngage.
Anther event at the museum on Saturday is “The Aquarium: Lunch and Learn” at 12:30 p.m.
Tickets to visit the Delaware Children’s Museum are $8.75 for general admission.
On Saturdays in February and March, Hagley Museum and Library (Route 141, Wilmington, Delaware, 302-658-2400, www.hagley.org) presents a special event called “Science Saturday.”
Visitors of all ages are invited to discover solutions to science and engineering challenges. Science Saturdays are drop-in activities, so visitors are free to stop by at any time during the event hours.
The program on February 23 will be “Science Saturday: Pump It Up!”
For this Saturday’s activity, visitors will have fun with fluid dynamics and hydraulics. Visitors of all ages are invited to discover solutions to science and engineering challenges.
On February 22, Berks Nature (The Nature Place, 575 Saint Bernardine Street, Reading, 610-372-4992, https://www.berksnature.org) is hosting “Family Science Night.”
Families are invited to visit The Nature Place for a fun night of guided experiments with the center’s staff. There will even be some experiments that kids of all ages will be able to recreate at home later.
The event will get underway at 6 p.m. Admission is $20 per family.
In other museum activity geared for youngsters, the Garden State Discovery Museum: (2040 Springdale Road, Cherry Hill, New Jersey, 856-424-1233,www.discoverymuseum.com) is presenting special programs on selected weekends now through the end of March.
On February 24, the program will be “Storybook Showcase.”
Let your child’s imagination soar as our Discovery Players tell the stories of your favorite Storybook Princesses. Filled with singing and dancing, this is a child-oriented musical adventure filled with fun and fantasy.
Admission to the museum is $14.95 for adults and children (12 months and over) and $13.95 for seniors. Children visiting the museum must be accompanied by an adult 18 or older.
Forget the snow and ice and get a break from winter by visiting Longwood Gardens (Route 1, Kennett Square, 610-388-1000, www.longwoodgardens.org) as it celebrates the one of the world’s most popular plants – the orchid.
At the beginning of every year, Longwood Gardens turns its focus to the ultra-popular plant during “Orchid Extravaganza” — an annual event that is running through March 24.
The celebration of the orchid species features thousands of orchid blooms along with a variety of displays and special exhibits throughout its four-acre conservatory. “Orchid Extravaganza” will also feature stunning displays of orchids in planting beds, containers and innovative exhibits.
The largest family of flowering plants in the world is the orchid — a flower that is acclaimed as one of the most beautiful, delicate and graceful flowers in the world. The Royal Botanical Gardens of Kew list over 20,000 accepted species with about 800 new species added each year. Additionally, horticulturists have more than 100,000 hybrids and cultivars.
The celebration of the orchid species features thousands of orchid blooms along with a variety of displays and special exhibits throughout its four-acre conservatory. “Orchid Extravaganza” will also feature stunning displays of orchids in planting beds, containers and innovative exhibits.
As one of the first plant collections at Longwood, orchids have held a place of distinction since 1922. The site’s talented horticulturists celebrate the beauty and variety of orchids with an artful display that includes a towering 12-foot-tall archway, a spectacular orchid curtain, and hundreds of vibrant Vanda orchids adorning the Silver Garden.
Approximately 5,000 colorful orchids hang from baskets, create inspiring arrangements and adorn unique forms throughout “Orchid Extravaganza.” Those who visit the floral extravaganza in March will have the opportunity to see Longwood Gardens’ rare sky-blue poppies in bloom in the Conservatory during Longwood’s inaugural Winter Blues Festival.
Admission to Longwood Gardens is $23 for adults, $20 for seniors and $12 for students.
Even though only a few remnants of Valentine’s Day 2019 still exist — such as deeply-discounted candy in heart-shaped boxes at drug stores and supermarkets — chocoholics can still celebrate in the final days of February.
The Chaddsford Winery (632 Baltimore Pike, Chadds Ford, 610-388-6221, http://www.chaddsford.com) is hosting Wine & Chocolate Pairings every Saturday and Sunday in February from 1-5 p.m.
The event features a walking wine-and-chocolate tour of Chaddsford Winery. Visitors can explore several areas of the historic property as they visit five stations featuring artisan chocolates carefully paired with the winery’s award-winning wines.
The “Wine & Chocolate Pairing” line-up, which features gourmet chocolates by Éclat Chocolate and Gemelli Gelato, includes Passion Fruit Chocolate with 2017 Presage, Star Anise Chocolate with 2016 Artisan Series Traminette, Aleppo Chili Chocolate with Sunset Blush, 73% Dark Chocolate with The Red Standard and Gemelli’s Single-Origin Dark Chocolate Gelato infused with Chaddsford Red.
Tickets are $25 per person.
The “Wine and Chocolate Pairings” at Penns Wood Winery (124 Beaver Valley Road, Chadds Ford, 610-459-0808, http://www.pennswoodsevents.com) are being held every Saturday and Sunday in February from 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
In addition to its regular tastings, the winery is offering special tastings to celebrate February because February is the month of wine, chocolate, romance and fun.
Penns Wood is adding new and exciting items to its wine and chocolate pairings this year featuring four of its wines and one beer selection carefully paired with local chocolate treats.
Some of the featured wines will be Chardonnay Reserve, Chambourcin, Traminett and Penns Woods Gruner Veltliner.
Tickets cost $25 per person in advance and reservations are required. Cancellations must be made within 72 hours or ticket holders will be charged the full amount of the tasting. Reservations are made and kept on the hour.
Black Walnut Winery (3000 Lincoln Highway, Sadsburyville, 610-857-5566, www.blackwalnutwinery.com) will have “February Wine and Chocolate Pairings” on February 23 and 24.
The special days will feature a pairing of five of Black Walnut’s wines with gourmet chocolates from Bridge Street Chocolates of Phoenixville. Wine and Chocolate pairings will take place at the top of hour at 1, 2, 3 and 4 p.m.
The sessions will also be held same dates and same times at the winery’s location in Phoenixville at 260 Bridge Street.
Cost is $25 per person and includes a Black Walnut logo wine glass. Guests can choose to upgrade their pairing to include a Port tasting as well (two port style wines) for $30 per person.
February is African American History Month and the National Constitution Center National Constitution Center (525 Arch Street, Independence Mall, Philadelphia, 215-409-6700, www.constitutioncenter.org) is honoring it with a number of special events and attractions that are running now through the end of February.
During the month of February, the National Constitution Center will pay tribute to the achievements and the courageous sacrifices made by African Americans throughout history as they strived to become recognized as an integral part of “We the People.”
Activities at the Center will feature interactive programming designed for visitors of all ages. There will be artifacts highlighting important moments in African American history including a rare printing of the Emancipation Proclamation which was signed by President Abraham Lincoln.
The integral document is also featured in the “Decoding the Document: Emancipation Proclamation Document Workshop,”
Visitors are able to take a closer look at the museum’s rare printing of the Emancipation Proclamation to learn more about its history, the history of the Civil War, and the background of the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments.
The “Breaking Barriers Show” looks at the lives of Thurgood Marshall, Bessie Coleman, Jackie Robinson, and other extraordinary African Americans throughout history to provide insight into the issues they faced and the rights they secured for all Americans.
On the “Self-Guided African American History Tour”, visitors can tour the Center’s main exhibition “The Story of We the People” and discover important moments in African American history through historical artifacts.
Some of the featured attractions on the tour are rare, signed copies of the Thirteenth Amendments and Emancipation Proclamation, President Obama inauguration artifacts, The American National Tree (featuring influential African Americans including Paul Robeson, Fannie Lou Hamer, Ward Connerly and Muhammad Ali) and an original printing of the Supreme Court’s controversial Dred Scott decision.
As part of the museum’s interactive daily programming in February, visitors can test their knowledge of African American history at the museum’s “Giant Game Board.” Children and families compete to see who can cross the finish line first. Participants serve as game pieces as they roll the giant dice, answer questions and work their way across the board.
As an added attraction, the Center is offering a special “Winter Sale” on admission. Now through March 31, tickets are only $10 for adults and $7.50 for children.
On February 23, the Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles (85 South Walnut Street, Boyertown, http://boyertownmuseum.org) is hosting “Hoods Up Weekend.”
The event, which runs from 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m., will provide visitors with the opportunity to see early and experimental engines from Pennsylvania vehicles built right here in the museum’s backyard.
Docents will be available throughout the gallery and carriage factory to answer any questions visitors might have.
This event is included with regular admission which is $10 for adults, $9 for seniors and free for children under 15.
The Mummers Mardi Gras Parade is scheduled for February 23. Starting at noon, Mummers musical groups will be performing at the 2300 Arena (2300 South Swanson, Street, Philadelphia, www.mrmummer.com).
The daylong festival will feature stage performances and live music inside and out from Philadelphia Mummers String Bands.
The day will also include family-friendly activities including photo opportunities with costumes and props, a variety of vendors, giveaways, authentic Philly food trucks and much more.
General Admission is $10 and Includes access to the event with live entertainment, food trucks, liquor sampling, vendors, family fun, the Mummers String Bands, and more!
VIP Admission is $25 and Includes everything with General Admission PLUS early access to the event at noon, reserved seating area (first come first serve), one free drink ticket, and one free snack item.
From February 22-24, the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center (100 Station Road, Oaks, www.phillyexpocenter.com) will host the Philadelphia Fishing Show.
Fans of fishing will enjoy the three-day celebration of all things piscatorial.
Visitors will be able to find fishing-related things in a wide array of topics — guides, lodges, rods, reels, lures, tackle, gear, apparel, art, marine, and more.
There will be free seminars by guides and captains daily on each of the three days.
This show is geared for fishing enthusiasts of all degrees from enthusiastic novice to experienced professional. The show offers something for everyone to learn and discover.
Show hours are noon-7 p.m. on February 22, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on February 23 and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on February 24.
