What To Do: PA Hunt Cup, salutes to vets and so much more

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times

There are several events in the area this weekend with impressive numbers regarding anniversaries – lofty numbers such as 87, 58, 52, 45, and 40.

The Pennsylvania Hunt Cup (Pennsylvania Hunt Cup racecourse, Newark Road, Unionville, 484-888-6619, http://pahuntcup.org) is one of the oldest and most respected equestrian events in the Mid-Atlantic region. This year, the Hunt Cup will celebrate its 87th anniversary on November 7.

The equestrian competition will feature four open races sanctioned by the National Steeplechase Association. Three of them will feature races over fences and one will be a race on the flat.

The challenging course features 22 post and rail fences and is one of just three four-mile races sanctioned by the National Steeplechase Association. First run in 1921 over a course in Whitemarsh in Montgomery County, the race moved to the present location in Unionville PA in 1964, where it has been held annually since. Over the years the race meeting has grown so that the race day card now includes three sanctioned timber races, and the Pennsylvania Pony Hunt Cup for children.

Gates open at 10:30 a.m. The first event — the Pennsylvania Junior Hunt Cup – is scheduled to start at 11:30 a.m. followed by the National Anthem at 12:45 p.m.

There will be the traditional “Carriage Parade” at 1 p.m. followed by the Lewis C. Ledyard Memorial Foxhunters Chase at 1:30 p.m., the Arthur O. Choate Jr. Memorial Trophy race at 2:15 p.m. and the Pennsylvania Hunt Cup at 3 p.m. The final event of the day will be the Athenian Idol Races at 3:45 and 4:15 p.m.

General Admission, which is $75 per car, includes parking and admission for all occupants of one vehicle.

One of the area’s longest-running traditional events is the Delaware Antiques Show (Chase Center on the Riverfront, Wilmington, Delaware, 800-448-3883, www.winterthur.org). The event, which has been around for more than 50 years, will be held from November 5-67.

Honored as one of the nation’s most highly acclaimed antiques shows, the annual three-day event presents a large and diverse assemblage of art, antiques and design. With more than 60 top-flight dealers participating, the Delaware Antiques Show highlights the best of American antiques and decorative arts.

The 58th annual staging of the show will feature sales displays featuring furniture and decorative accessories from the 17th to the early 20th centuries, including folk art, Native American art, ceramics, needlework, quilts, jewelry, prints, paintings, and rugs.

As usual, the knowledgeable dealers will at their booths answering questions and offering advice to collectors. Visitors to the show can learn from the experts about a variety of different antiques categories, including brass, jewelry, painting, ceramics, silver, textiles and 18th and 19th century furniture.

Proceeds from the Delaware Antiques Show benefit the educational programs at Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library. Hours are from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $25 and include the show catalogue. Children under 12 are admitted free.

This weekend, the Expo Center in Oaks (100 Station Avenue, Oaks, www.lapidary.org ) will present the 2021 edition of Gemarama which is scheduled for November 6 and 7.

Visitors to the 52nd Annual Gemarama will find an amazing variety of gems on display and available for purchase. Gem specialists and dealers from all over the country will be displaying and selling their specialties at this popular gem and mineral show.

Show attendees will be able to look at gems and rare stones from all around the world — many of which are for sale and not just exhibition pieces. Visitors will be able to examine and select purchases from a huge number of collectible items ranging from fossils to precious gems.

As an added attraction, members of the Tuscarora Lapidary Society will be presenting demonstrations of various lapidary and jewelry making skills including faceting, intrasia, faceting, channel jewelry, metal craft, silversmithing, bead stringing, chain making and wirewrap jewelry.

At the “Children’s Table”, youngsters will be able to make bracelet and key chains, use informative children’s coloring books on gems and minerals and toss a bean bag to win a prize.

Also featured will be a variety of competitive exhibits with awards in the following categories — Best in Show, Best Theme Exhibit, Most Educational Exhibit, Best Non-Member Exhibit, Best Mini-Case Exhibit and Director’s Award.

Gemarama will run from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on November 6 and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on November 7. Admission is $6 for adults, $1 for children under 12 years of age; two-day adult tickets are $9. Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts in uniform and accompanied by an adult Scoutmaster are admitted free.

The 45th Annual Philadelphia Museum of Art Contemporary Craft Show, an annual event that features the work of approximately 200 talented crafters from around the country, will be held from November 5-7 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center (1101 Arch Street, Philadelphia, https://www.pmacraftshow.org/).

Visitors will be able to check out and/or buy jewelry, furniture, glassworks, ceramics and other handcrafted items at the huge three-day craft show.

The Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show was founded in 1977 and was the first retail craft show established and organized by a volunteer committee for the benefit of a non-profit institution. This trailblazing show has served as a prototype for successful subsequent shows in cities such as Washington, D.C., and Glencoe, IL among others. The Show is presented each November by the Museum’s Women’s Committee and the Craft Show Committee for the benefit of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. A portion of each year’s proceeds is dedicated to the purchase of a craft object for the Museum’s permanent collection. Funds raised are also used to underwrite education and publication projects within the Museum. Proceeds have enabled the purchase of state-of-the-art equipment for the Audio-Visual and Conservation departments and monies have been contributed to the renovation of both Museum infrastructure and galleries as well as external installations such as the Rodin Museum and Mount Pleasant, an 18th century house in nearby Fairmount Park.

In 44 years, the Show has grown from 125 to 195 of the finest craft artists in the nation selected through a highly competitive jury process. This dynamic and premier Show has always been in the forefront of craft education by presenting symposia, on-site artist demonstrations, collection and studio tours, room settings of craft furniture and accessories, and student exhibitions. In 2001 a guest artist program was added whereby artists from a single country are selected to participate. Countries that have participated thus far include Japan, England, Ireland, Germany, Finland, Canada, Israel, Korea, Scotland and Lithuania.

Funds raised are used to purchase works of art and craft for the permanent collections of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, to fund conservation and publication projects and to support exhibitions and education programs.

On November 6 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Hope Lodge (553 South Bethlehem Pike, Fort Washington, 215-646-1595, http://www.ushistory.org/hope) will host its 40th annual “1777 Whitemarsh Encampment.”

This event commemorates the time from November 2-December 11 in 1777 when General George Washington and the Continental Army were encamped in the Whitemarsh Hills.

Saturday’s activities will begin at 10 a.m. and shift into high gear at 11:30 a.m. with a skirmish re-enactment in the back field. The battle display will be followed by another skirmish re-enactment at 2:30 p.m.

There will be “Children’s Musters” at 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.

The list of all-day activities includes sutlers, open hearth cooking demonstrations, presentations by regiments, dulcimer entertainment by Lynn King and a demonstration of Colonial dressmaking.

As an added attraction, the Hope Lodge mansion will be open for self-guided tours all day (except during the skirmishes). Admission is $10.50 for adults and $5.50 for seniors (age 60 and older) and youths (ages 6-17). Children ages 5 and under are free. There is a special family (one car) admission of $26.

On November 6 and 7, the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania (300 Gap Road, Strasburg, 717-687-8628, www.rrmuseumpa.org) is presenting a special event that is sure to appeal to the patriotic spirit in everyone — an event called “Trains & Troops.”

It is a Veterans Day celebration a few days early.

“Trains & Troops” is the museum’s annual tribute to the U. S. Armed Forces — to all those who served or are serving in defense of our nation. At the annual autumn event, visitors will be able to greet our men and women in uniform — including veterans, civilians, railroaders and re-enactors from the Civil War forward. Also featured will be a large array of military and military railroad service-related posters, uniforms, equipment, field gear, maps, books and photographs on display.

The annual event is also a tribute to American railroads and their role in supporting the U. S. Armed Forces. Railroads built our nation and came to the country’s defense during times of war — both on the home front and overseas. The American Civil War marked the first major military application of railroads. The Military Railway Service was created in 1916 for World War I. In World War II, U. S. freight and passenger railroad service, both military and civilian, was huge.

There will be a salute to veterans and active-duty service personnel with the Lancaster Red Rose Honor Guard on November 6 at 11 a.m. and November 7 at 1 p.m. The Lampeter-Strasburg Community Band will present a concert on Saturday from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and the Lancaster Trombone Quartet will perform on November 7.

Tickets for “Trains and Troops” only are $10 for adults, $9 for seniors and $8 for youth (ages 3-11).

The Seventh Annual Philadelphia Veterans Parade (www.phillyveteransparade.org), a non-profit which hosts an annual parade honoring the sacrifices of our Veterans in the tri-state region, will take place on November 7 at noon with more than 150 organizations involving over 7,000 participants and 21 Veteran Service Organizations.

The parade route begins at Juniper and Market streets with a brigade of over 250 motorcyclists and continues heading east on Market Street and concluding at North Fifth Street where the Veterans Festival will take place.

Entertainment at Vet Fest includes live music by The Crazy Uncle Band, Moonshine Jasmine and a very special performance by legendary Philadelphia R&B/Soul Group, The Delfonics.

The 2021 Philadelphia Veterans Parade and Festival will run from noon-4 p.m.

The Independence Seaport Museum (211 South Christopher Columbus Boulevard, Philadelphia, https://phillyseaport.org/mobydick) is hosting a special Veterans Day celebration on November 11.

Visitors will be able to join the Independence Seaport Museum and the Chapel of Four Chaplains on November 11 at 10 a.m. for the museum’s annual Veterans Day Ceremony featuring keynote speaker Captain Dana Simon of the United States Navy.

Guests are invited to gather with the hosts aboard Cruiser Olympia as they reflect and give thanks to U.S. veterans and those currently serving in the country’s armed forces.

The event is free and open to the public.

On November 6,  the Museum of the American Revolution (101 South Third Street, Philadelphia, www.amrevmuseum.org) will host a special event  — a living history demonstration titled, “Occupied Philadelphia 2021.”

In the fall of 1777, Philadelphia – the Revolutionary capital at the time – was seized by the British and occupied for nine long months, with Independence Hall serving as a prison for American prisoners-of-war.

The Museum will recreate the dark days of the British occupation with “Occupied Philadelphia,” the Museum’s annual flagship living history event. On Saturday, the Museum will offer guided walking tours, special programming, and family-friendly activities exploring what life was like in the city while British forces controlled it.

Visitors will meet costumed historical interpreters portraying soldiers, civilians, and spies on the Museum’s outdoor plaza. Guests can complete a spy challenge to collect information on the British Army and watch street theater vignettes that bring to life dramatic moments from 1777.

The living history interpreters will also be occupying the neighborhood on November 7 but walking tours will not be available that day.

The Museum’s new special exhibition, “Liberty: Don Troiani’s Paintings of the Revolutionary War,” immerses visitors in the dramatic and research-based works of nationally renowned historical artist Don Troiani to bring the compelling stories about the diverse people and complex events of the American Revolution to life.

The exhibit also unveils Troiani’s latest canvas — a painting of the young African American sailor and Philadelphian James Forten witnessing Black and Native American troops in the ranks of the Continental Army as they march past Independence Hall on their way to Yorktown, Virginia.

Outdoor activities on the Museum’s Plaza are free and open to the public.

Walking tour tickets sold separately — General Admission (plus Museum admission), $29; General Admission (walking tour only), $12.

Longwood Gardens (Route 1, Kennett Square, 610-388-1000, www.longwoodgardens.org) is a great place to visit any time in the year and always has special attractions to add to the experience.

To celebrate the fall season, Longwood has a new attraction which runs through November 14 — “Autumn’s Colors.”

Crisp and refreshing, autumn at Longwood is a season of constant shifts in hue and texture — and ever-present beauty.

Inside, guests can celebrate fall’s quintessential flower at Longwood’s Chrysanthemum Festival, which also remains open until November 14.

Innovative plant-growing techniques and displays take center stage by way of thousands of trained chrysanthemums throughout our Conservatory.

Big, bold colors and thousands of carefully nurtured and trained chrysanthemums abound during this imaginative display serving as the largest and oldest of its kind in North America.

Throughout the Conservatory, specialty chrysanthemum forms from fanciful clouds to sculptural spirals not only showcase our horticultural savvy but help preserve an ancient Asian artform that Longwood Gardens is proud to perpetuate. New this year are two forms making their debut — umbrellas and teardrops crafted of sunny yellow Chrysanthemum × morifolium ‘Megumi’.

The display continues in our Peirce-du Pont House Conservatory, where a rotating display of dozens of bonsai chrysanthemum—also meticulously trained—beautifully punctuate the space with their vibrant flowers and artistic silhouettes.

Admission to Longwood Gardens is $25 for adults, $22 for seniors and college students and $13 for youth (ages 5-18).

Elmwood Park Zoo (Elmwood Park Zoo, 1661 Harding Boulevard, Norristown, www.elmwoodparkzoo.org)

The Elmwood Park Zoo (1661 Harding Boulevard, Norristown, www.elmwoodparkzoo.org) has a variety of special activities coming up.

The Zoo’s “Dog Days” event will be held on November 5, 7 and 10.

All guests visiting the zoo with a furry friend must complete an online waiver and submit required documents before visiting the zoo. You must upload a copy of your most recent veterinary visit, including proof of vaccine and heartworm test here. All items will be required for you to attend “Dog Days.”

The “Dog Days” event is slated to run from 1-5 p.m.

Pricing is $10.95 per dog with each additional dog at $9.95. Regular zoo admission is required for all humans.

The next few days will feature several popular annual ethnic festivals – events where you can find freshly made traditional food from Europe’s Slavic nations.

This weekend, you can get a glimpse at how holidays are celebrated in a culinary way in Eastern Europe and Russia by visiting the festival at Saint Herman of Alaska Orthodox Church (1855 North Middletown Road (Route 352), Gradyville, 610-459-5310, www.sthermansoca.org).

The annual Christmas bazaar and food festival at St. Herman is running on November 6 and 7 and again on November 13 and 14.

There will be no entertainment this year because of COVID-19 concerns.

The food will be available through online ordering or drive-through from noon-6 p.m. each day.

The menu, which is billed as a “Taste of Tradition,” offers a selection of Russian, Ukrainian, Serbian, Greek & Eastern European Cuisine.

The menu features stuffed cabbage, blini, beef stroganoff, cevapcici, kolbassi sandwiches, halushki, homemade pastries and other specialties.

Holy Ghost Ukrainian Orthodox Church (392 Charles St, Coatesville, www.holyghostuoc.org) is holding its Fall Food Sale on November 13 from 8 a.m.-1 p.m.

The fair will have an array of tasty Ukrainian food items for sale including pierogi, halupki, kielbasa, and halushki along with baked goods such as walnut, apricot, poppyseed and lecvar nut rolls.

All of the food dishes will be available for take-out only.

Curbside pickup is pre-order only and must be submitted by November 10.

The Greater Philadelphia Expo Center (100 Station Avenue, Oaks, 484-754-3976, www.phillyexpocenter.com) will host the Oaks Holiday Art and Craft Festival (http://www.artfestival.com/festivals). The popular three-day evet was formerly a Sugarloaf show.

According to the promoted, “We are breathing new life into an old favorite. Howard Alan Events proudly announces a new set of standards in art and craft shows at the Oaks. It is with great pride that we carry on this tradition that has continued for more than 30 years. The Greater Philadelphia Expo Center is a favorite amongst artists, crafters, and patrons. Browse and purchase fine arts and crafts from hundreds of local and national artists and crafters.”

The show will run from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sunday.

Adult Admission is $10 at the door and is good for all three days. Children under 12 are admitted free.

This weekend’s activities schedule in Philadelphia also features the Center City Parks District’s opening of the Rothman Orthopaedics Institute Ice Rink at Dilworth Park (1 South 15th Street, Philadelphia, http://ccdparks.org/dilworth-park),

Beginning this November, some of Philadelphia’s favorite winter traditions return to Dilworth Park. Visitors of all ages can enjoy a dramatic seasonal transformation as fountains are replaced by the Rothman Orthopaedic Institute Ice Rink and reindeer topiaries take up winter residence on the Greenfield Lawn.

In addition, a full lineup of free entertainment is planned, including the Deck the Hall Light Show, the Made in Philadelphia Holiday Market and Rothman Orthopaedic Institute Cabin.

Dilworth Park’s winter season will begin on Monday, November 1 with the opening of the Wintergarden on the Greenfield Lawn presented by TD Bank. On Friday, November 5 the Rothman Orthopaedics Ice Rink and Cabin will return.

The Rothman Institute Ice Rink at Dilworth Park is an unparalleled entertainment experience on Philadelphia’s center stage in a wonderfully urban and unique setting. Open seven days a week, the rink offers wintery fun for all ages, with a full slate of programs.

The Made in Philadelphia Holiday Market will open on November 20 with more than 40 local vendors. On November 22, Dilworth Park’s Deck the Hall Light Show will return to illuminate the west façade of Philadelphia’s historic City Hall.

Lancaster has a lively First Friday celebration every month. This month’s edition of First Friday Lancaster (https://visitlancastercity.com/first-friday) will run from 5-9 p.m. on November 5 in downtown Lancaster.

The event will feature attractive exhibitions at art galleries, artisan studios and museums. There will also be live performances presented in a variety of genres — professional theater, symphony orchestra and performing groups.

In addition to the many galleries, shops, and pop-up musicians that regularly participate in First Friday, the following venues are hosting special events and showcases.

The schedule includes Botanic Panic by Matty Geez at curio, 80 Years of Drawing, First Friday Open House with pop-up Art Show, Organic Reflections, Altana’s First Friday, Silent Movie with Organist, Richard Redmond: Rural Scapes, First Friday with PGC Member Artist Ilene Schenkel, Zoetrope Workshop with Exhibitions Director Alex Schaufele, Jeff Geib: Drawings and Sculpture and Jazz Collective Lanc Dance Bomb.

Autumn’s colors just came in and are already on their way out – especially with the cold, windy weather forecast for the next few days. There is still time to take in autumn’s annual color display by riding on a special excursion on an area tourist railroad.

The West Chester Railroad (Market Street Station, West Chester, 610-430-2233, www.westchesterrr.net) is running its special “Fall Foliage Express” trains on November 7. Trains depart at noon and 2 p.m.

The round-trip train ride travels to the village of Glen Mills and back and lasts for 90 minutes. During the brief layover in Glen Mills, riders can explore the historic Pennsylvania Railroad station and have a snack in the railroad’s picnic grove along the Chester Creek.

Tickets are $20 for adults, $18 for children ages 2-12 and free for kids under two.

The New Hope & Ivyland Railroad (32 West Bridge St, New Hope, 215- 862-2332, www.newhoperailroad.com) offers a two-hour roundtrip ride on its “Fall Excursion Trains” now through November 7.

Riders can enjoy a “Fall Excursion” experience on a heritage train, departing from the rail line’s 1891 Witch’s Hat Train Station in the center of New Hope. On this excursion, passengers will enjoy a relaxing ride through scenic Bucks County on the “New Hope Branch” route, which was originally part of the North-East Pennsylvania Railroad and later the Reading Railroad.

Passengers will ride aboard beautifully restored vintage (early 1900’s) passenger coaches while a narrator will provide them with interesting historical facts and stories of significant cultural locations along the route.

The train will travel to Buckingham, Pennsylvania where it will then change direction and return to New Hope.

Passengers can enjoy the sights of the beautiful fall scenery while riding aboard the rail line’s “First Class Bar Car,” “Antique Seat Coach” or “Open Air Car.”

Coach tickets are $72.60 for adults, $71.50 for children (ages 2-11) and $10.99 for toddlers.

Now through November 6, the Strasburg Railroad (Route 741, Strasburg, 717-687-7522, www.strasburgrailroad.com) has a very special event – “Strasburg Rail Road Productions presents…The Legacy of Sleepy Hollow: Not Everything Dies.”

Visitors will discover the true Legacy of Sleepy Hollow at the Strasburg Rail Road. The greatest ghost story ever told did not tell us the whole story.

Guests will join Isabel Crane, the great-great-granddaughter of the legendary Ichabod Crane, as she takes them on a frightful journey filled with sword fights, ghosts, and a centuries-old curse surrounding her family.

It seems that not everyone wants the truth to come out and they’ll go to any length necessary to keep their haunted past a secret. With grand special effects, live horses, and the scariest train ride of the season, this is an opportunity to learn, hear, and experience the Legacy of Sleepy Hollow aboard the historic Strasburg Rail Road.

A pre-boarding act/performance will commence 15 minutes before departure. Please plan to arrive early for check-in and then enjoy the pre-boarding performance before you embark on a memorable journey.

The Colebrookdale Railroad (South Washington Street, Boyertown, www.dynamicticketsolutions.com)  is running its “Fall Foliage Excursions” on November 6, 7, 13, 14, 20 and 21.

These rides feature views of some of the best foliage in the area. Spectacular autumn colors and the rich fragrances of fall in the Secret Valley delight the senses while locally produced autumn snacks and ciders available on board warm the soul.

The two-hour round trips departing and arriving in Boyertown.

Ticket options include Deluxe-Coach, Dining, Garden Cafe, First-Class Parlor or First-Class Lounge. Riders can also take in the crisp fall

The Wilmington & Western Railroad (2201 Newport Gap Pike, Wilmington, DE, 302-998-1930, www.wwrr.com) is running its “Autumn Leaf Special” with trains on November 6.

Trips are either a one-and-one-half hour roundtrips to the Mt. Cuba Picnic Grove or two-and-one-half hour roundtrips to Hockessin.

Tickets for the “Autumn Leaf Special” are $20 for adults, $19 for seniors (60 and older) and $12 for children (ages 2-12).

Another popular event in Delaware this weekend is “Steamin’ Days” at Auburn Heights Preserve (3000 Creek Road, Yorklyn, Delaware, 302-239-2385, http://auburnheights.org) on November 7.

“Steamin’ Days,” which is held on the first Sunday of the month through November, focuses on steam power.

During “Steamin’ Days at Auburn Heights,” the site is bustling with activity. 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.

Activities run from 12:30-4:30 p.m. each time. Combo Tickets, which cover all rides and building tours, are $20 (13 and older) and $14 (age 12 and under).

This weekend, Peddler’s Village’s will host its ultra-popular Apple Festival (Routes 202 and 263, Lahaska, 215-794-4000, www.peddlersvillage.com).

The 46th annual staging of the event will be held November 6 and 7 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. each day at the Peddler’s Village complex. It will feature a variety of artisans who will be demonstrating and selling their crafts. There will also be live music and the curiously entertaining pie-eating contests.

As expected, the free festival will be a showcase for apples served in all sorts of tasty ways — apple cider, caramel-covered apples, apple fritters, apple sundaes, apple pie and apple strudel.

Visitors will even be able to sample country apple butter cooked over an open fire. Many of the apple treats will be available for take-home as well as for eating at the festival. Additionally, visitors will be able to purchase a variety of fresh apples in bushels from the site’s orchard.

Live entertainment will be provided by Bellevue Band, Matt Gordeuk, Galena Brass Band, Lolly Hopwood, Borderline, Back Porch Jug Band, Jersey Chorus, Rendition Jazz Band, Cheddar Boys, Give & Take Jugglers, Harmonic’s Quartet, Big Chill, The Side Chicks and Bubble Magician Meadow Perry.
Just because Halloween was last weekend doesn’t mean that all the ghosts, ghouls, goblins and other scary Halloween creatures have gone into hibernation until next September. Some live on in holiday attractions with schedules that extend into November.

Another Halloween attraction is drawing crowds in the First State.

“Frightland” (309 Port Penn Road, Middletown, Delaware, 302-838-0256, www.frightland.com), which is running through November 6, features eight special themed areas — “Zombie Prison,” “Ravenwood Cemetery,” “Haunted Hayride,” “Idalia Manor,” “Fear,” “Ghost Town,” “The Attic” and “Haunted Barn.”

Frightland Haunted Attractions has been named a Top 10 Scariest Haunted Attraction in the country by Travel Channel, Forbes and Huffington Post.

The venue includes eight haunted attractions including a two-mile Haunted Hayride, four indoor haunted houses and more. The nationally acclaimed Halloween attraction also features live entertainment, carnival amusements and a daytime fall festival.

The 2021 season will go out on a high note – a very dark high note.

Frightland’s website posted this special message – “You begged us to bring it back…We listened. Frightland is proud to announce that Friday November 5 is “Frightland: BLACKOUT.” See Frightland like you’ve never seen it before: in the pitch black. You will only have a glow stick to light the way of your group.

“Frightland: BLACKOUT” is a one night only event that will leave you breathless. Enjoy our world-famous Horror Hayride and Ravenwood Cemetery before you enter our other six haunted attractions in total darkness armed with only one glow stick per small group. Idalia Manor, The Attic, The Barn of Terror, Fear, Ghost Town and Zombie Prison are all even more horrifying in the dark. You won’t know what lies before you during “Frightland: BLACKOUT.”

* This is a high intensity, high thrill experience that takes place in the dark. There are no refunds if you are too scared to finish. You have been warned! *”

Gates open at 6 p.m. and close at 9 p.m.

Participants must sign a waiver to enter “Frightland: BLACKOUT.” With a signed waiver you will get a red glow stick which allows you to participate in the extreme experience.

“Pumpkinland” at Linvilla Orchards (137 West Knowlton Road, Media, 610-876-7116, www.linvilla.com), which runs through November 7, features fairy tale characters from nursery rhymes along with a huge scarecrow and a really tall storybook.

Activities include train rides, a straw bale maze, hayrides, pick-your-own apples and pony rides.

There will also be “Harvest Hayrides” and “Autumn Moon Hayrides” starting later in September along with “Straw Bale Maze,” “Train Rides,” “Corn Maze” and “Pony Rides.”

Pumpkinland is open from mid-September through early November and takes center stage at Linvilla Orchards. Larger than life figures and scarecrows illustrate the legends and lore of the harvest season, featuring local history and some of the many stories of pumpkins and apples.

Visitors will see Linvilla’s piles of pumpkins in all colors, shapes and sizes — more than 100 tons on display.

The popular annual “Flashlight Maze” at Cherry Crest Adventure Farm in Ronks (150 Cherry Hill Road, Ronks, www.cherrycrestfarm.com) will continue every Friday and Saturday night through November 6.

The Flashlight Maze is a nice, non-scary, Halloween alternative that has appeal for people of all ages. The Flashlight Maze, which has a $12 admission fee, is open from 6:30-10 p.m. with the last entrance into the Maze at 9 p.m.

The main attraction is Cherry Crest’s “Amazing Maize Maze,” which is billed as “the world’s most dynamic and interactive corn maze.” It is a five-acre corn maze with over two-and-one-half miles of paths, scenic bridges and clues.

Participants can walk at their own pace as they encounter the “Kernels of Knowledge” along with a variety of clues, tunnel slides, and watering stations. They can also check out a bird’s eye view from the two bridges and watch everyone’s flags waving high above the corn.

The average time to complete the “Amazing Maize Maze” course is one hour.

The season concludes on November 6 with a special event called “Pumpkin Madness Festival.”

The 11th annual “Pumpkin Madness Festival” will include fun activities like the Pumpkin Smash, Pumpkin Bowling, Pumpkin Putt-Putt, Pumpkin Chucking, and a huge pumpkin drop at 5 p.m. The excitement continues after dark with a glow in the dark pumpkin drop at 7 p.m. and fireworks at 8:30 p.m.

Ticket prices start at $17.95.

Pennhurst Asylum (100 Commonwealth Drive, Spring City, 484-866-8964, www.pennhurstasylum.com), which is open through November 6, is on the site of a former mental asylum which has been shuttered for over a quarter of a century.

It has been transformed into a haunted attraction with huge sets, detailed rooms and live actors. Visitors can also explore the labyrinth of underground tunnels.

Ticket prices start at $45 with a variety of combo packages available.

For years, Eastern State Penitentiary (2124 Fairmount Avenue, Philadelphia, 888-763-NITE, www.easternstate.org) presented one of the premier Halloween attractions in Philadelphia — “Terror Behind the Walls.”

This year, the venue is trying something different – a new attraction called “Halloween Nights at Eastern State Penitentiary.”

The truly scary attraction, which is running through November 13, takes place at a penitentiary site that was once was an active prison and is now a National Historic Landmark. It is a scream-inducing event featuring laser and special-effect lighting, digital sound, sinister scents, animatronic creatures and 3-D illusions.

There is “Delirium,” a 3D Haunted House where visitors take a mind-altering trip into another dimension –a parallel, neon universe where nothing is quite as it seems. Fascinating creatures emerge from seemingly nowhere as the world you thought you knew shrinks away.

Another new attraction is “Take 13,” a Haunted House where visitors step back in time and into the golden age of Hollywood glamour. The cameras never stopped rolling on the souls that roam this hall. And now they want you to be part of the show.

“The Crypt” is another Haunted House. The creatures of The Crypt request your presence. Wade through the mist and into the lair of an ancient clan of vampires. They’ve set the table, but if you’re not careful, you might end up on their next menu.

“After Dark CB3 Tour” is a guide-led Walking Tour – a 20-minute, guide-led, flashlight tour of Cellblock 3, the Hospital Block.

Another Haunted House is the “Machine Shop.” Hidden away from the world is a long-forgotten machine shop. Evil pervades this space – an evil with one mind but with many bodies. Will visitors survive or will they become just another cog in the machine?

“Tricks and Treats” is a “Halloween Candy-Themed Cocktail Lounge. Visitors enter a fantastical world of sugar-coated trickery where they can sip on a candy-themed cocktail and mingle with the jesters and clowns of this twisted carnival for the senses.

Other attractions are “The Speakeasy at Al Capone’s Cell,” “The Bloodline Lounge,” “Gargoyle Gardens (featuring The Skeleton Crew),” “Junkyard Jams,” “The Fair Chance Beer Garden (featuring Triple Bottom Brewing Co.), “The Big Graph & Prisons Today,” “The Voices of Eastern State” Highlights Audio Tour, “Kaleidoscope Hall,” and “S’mores and Lore.”

Admission prices, which vary with the date, start at $34.

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 through November and offer an eerily entertaining evening of true ghost stories and real haunted houses.

The Ghost Tour of Philadelphia 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. Tickets are $20.

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 $18.

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 $18.

The “35th Annual Jason’s Woods” (99 Stehman Road, Lancaster, 717-872-5768, www.jasonswoods.com), which is running through November 6, is a horror show complex that features a combination of live actors, impressive animation and scary special effects.

Popular attractions include “Horrifying Hayride,” “Chamber of Horrors,” “Zombie Apocalypse,” “Lost in Jason’s Woods,” and “Carnival of Fear,” Admission prices are for combo tickets are $25 for three attractions and $40 for five.

“Valley of Fear” (300 W. Bristol Road, Feasterville, 215-942-9787, www.valleyoffear.com), which is open through November 6, features three “heart pounding attractions” — “Haunted Hayride,” “Miles Manor Haunted House,” and “Willie’s Shipwreck Cove.”

There will also be live music every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday

The attraction is billed as “America’s Most Horrifying Woods.” Admission prices start at $23.

The “27th Annual Field of Screams” (109 College Avenue, Mountville, 717-285-7748, www.fieldofscreams.com), which is open now through November 13, features four world-class Haunted Experiences and an impressive Midway Area.

Top attractions include “Horrifying Haunted Hayride,” “Den Of Darkness,” “Nocturnal Wasteland” and “Fightmare Asylum.”

Ticket prices start at $16.

Shocktoberfest (94 Park Avenue, Sinking Spring, 610-375-7273, shocktoberfest.com) features an array of natural and genetically engineered Zombies in a safe and controlled habitat.

“Schockfest Zombie World” is celebrating its 30th Year with five “Killer Experiences” — “Zombie Safari Hayride Tour,” “Prison of the Dead,” “The Unknown 3.0,” “Ground Assault” and “Midway Massacre.”

The attraction will close on November 6. Ticket prices start at $20.

For “Count’s Halloween Spooktacular at Sesame Place” (100 Sesame Place, Langhorne, 215-752-7070, www.sesameplace.com), the popular amusement park has been converted into a Halloween-themed safe venue for kids with trick or treating, pumpkin decorating, hayrides and a hay maze.

Guests will enjoy trick-or-treating around the park, Halloween-themed shows, participating in our interactive Scarecrow Scavenger Hunt, and unique photo opportunities with everyone’s favorite furry friends dressed up in costume on their Halloween-themed floats!

Featured attractions, which will continue until November 6, are “Neighborhood Street Party Halloween Parade,” “Halloween Light Show,” and “The Not-Too-Spooky Howl-O-ween Radio Show.”

Admission to the park starts at $39.99.

Anyone wanting to get into a Christmas mood early can visit Koziar’s Christmas Village (782 Christmas Village Road, Bernville, 610-488-1110, www.koziarschristmasvillage.com) which begins its 74th season on November 6.

Koziar’s Christmas Village is truly a holiday wonderland — a wintertime spectacle that delights young and old alike with a huge amount of holiday displays and special attractions. It will remain open every night through January 1 — including Christmas Eve, Christmas Night, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Night.

The tours of “Christmas Village” feature visits to a variety of displays and exhibits, including “Santa’s Post Office,” “Christmas in the Jungle,” “Manger Scene,” “Christmas Beneath the Sea,” “’Twas the Night Before Christmas,” “Olde Fashioned Bakery Shop,” “Toy Maker and his Toy Shop,” “Christmas in Other Lands” and “The Olde Church”.

Other attractions at Koziar’s Christmas Village include a huge model train display, a toy shop, a country kitchen, indoor and outdoor Christmas displays and a place to visit with Santa and even get pictures taken with the old guy in the red suit. Admission to Christmas Village is $12 for adults, $11 for seniors (65 and older) and $10 for children (ages 4-10).

The American Music Theatre (2425 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster, 800-648-4102, www.AMTshows.com) has its holiday show running from November 9 through December 30.

The AMT’s 2021 show “Winter Wonderland” is an all-new presentation of favorite sacred and secular holiday songs performed by professional artists from across the country. The show will feature spectacular vocal harmonies, lively musical arrangements, impressive dancing and the music of the AMT Orchestra.

Also featured will be elaborate scenery, elegant costumes and a theater decked out with holiday decorations.

The show will have both matinee and evening performances each week with the addition of 10:30 a.m. performances on Saturdays throughout December. Show length is two hours and 15 minutes with a short intermission. Tickets are $46.