By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times
Spring is here with flowers in bloom everywhere. Winter is now in the rear-view mirror and, not surprisingly, the area’s schedule of special things is filled to the brim.
Three of the area’s more popular events are slated for this weekend – a film festival, a nature event and an art show.
If you’re looking for something different in films, you’ll be able to it at this weekend’s 17th Annual West Chester Film Festival (484-639-9237, www.westchesterfilmfestival.com).
The highly respected film festival will run from April 28-30 at Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts (226 North High Street, West Chester).
Tickets are $13 per two-hour block of films — $10 with Senior Citizen or valid Student I.D.
There is also an “All Film Block Pass” for $75 which lets you into as many film blocks as you can handle and an “All Festival Pass” for $140 that lets you get into all festival events.
The mission of the West Chester Film Festival is “to entertain, enlighten and educate the public through the presentation of global independent and innovative short film and interactive workshops by hosting an annual International Short Film Festival.”
The organizers’ short-term goal is to present a self-sustaining annual film festival.
The festival will feature works in a variety of film genres, including comedy, documentary, experimental/art, animation and drama. Entries have been submitted from all over the world, including works by filmmakers from Europe, Australia, Canada and the United States.
The 2023 edition of the festival will present approximately 100 independent short films — all of which are 30 minutes or less in length. The three-day event will include film screenings, interactive workshops and social events.
Activity gets underway at 5 p.m. on April 28 with the “Opening Night Party.”
The WCFF will also present “Pop Up Films,” which will be shown at locations around the borough of West Chester.
“Sheep and Wool Day” at Springton Manor Farm (860 Springton Road, Glenmoore, 610-942-2450, www.chesco.org/ccparks) is an event that has become a popular annual spring tradition in Chester County.
This year’s “Sheep and Wool Day” is a free family event that will be held on April 29 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Visitors will be able to observe demonstrations of sheep shearing along with weaving and spinning demonstrations.
The well-attended annual event will also feature a crafts area with family games, wagon rides, farm displays, artisan displays, kids’ crafts and period games and more than 20 food and craft vendors.
Visitors can also check out the young animals in Springton Manor Farm’s Great Barn and tour the Agricultural Museum to learn about seasonal tools used on Chester County farms from the 1700s to the 1900s.
Items for sale by craft vendors include jewelry, bird houses, soaps and lotions, felt and wool products, jellies, photography, tote bags and more.
Parking will be at Springton Manor Elementary School. Free busing will be provided. Handicap parking will be available at the Farm.
Yellow Springs Art Show
This is a big year for the Yellow Springs Art Show (Art School Road, Chester Springs, www.yellowsprings.org), which is celebrating its golden anniversary in 2023.
The Yellow Springs Art Show got its start back in 1973 as a free event featuring a variety of artists displaying their work on clotheslines.
It has changed immeasurably since then and has become one of the largest and most prestigious annual art shows in the Delaware Valley.
The show is still free and open to the public. The popular annual event now features close to 200 participating artists — including many artists who are new to the show this year.
The show is running April 29 through May 14 in Historic Yellow Springs Lincoln Building. Show hours are from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. daily.
The 2023 Yellow Springs Art Show will have on display more than 3,000 pieces of fine art in a wide range of media and styles – oils, watercolors, bronze sculptures, pastels, landscapes, still life, three-dimensional works, seascapes and abstract.
All proceeds benefit arts education, environmental protection and historic preservation of the 300-year-old village of Historic Yellow Springs.
The Lights
“The Lights” (thelightsfest.com) is a festival that is celebrated throughout the year at sites located all across the United States.
This weekend, the “New York/Philadelphia” edition of the event is coming to Chester County. On April 29 starting at 4:30 p.m. “The Lights” will take place at Plantation Field, which is located at 1537 West Doe Run Road in Coatesville.
“The Lights” is billed as “a magical evening that will create memories to last a lifetime.”
Participants are invited to “come celebrate as we put our inhibitions to the side and our dreams to the sky.”
According to festival organizers, in one night, you can change into what you want to become by letting go of your fears and embracing your true self.
Gates open a few hours before sunset and participants can enjoy live music, family-friendly entertainment, and local food trucks while waiting for nightfall. They can also use this time to decorate or write on their sky lanterns.
Once it is dark, everyone will all release their sky lanterns together and light the sky. The result is a breath-taking sight for young and old.
Guests are recommended to arrive early to avoid traffic and get the closest parking, your choice of spots among the tiki torches, and the best view of the stage.
Participants should bring chairs, blankets, bug spray, food, water, umbrella and a phone or camera to capture the moment. Outside drinks and food are welcome, but alcohol is not permitted.
No outside lanterns are allowed. The festival’s special event lanterns are designed for safety and close landing zones.
After the lantern launch, guests are welcome to hang out and enjoy more music during the “After Party.”
Each adult ticket includes a packet to be picked up at the event. The packet contains a lantern and a marker. Each person 13 years and older will need an adult ticket to enter. Children (three and under) and children (ages 4-12) need a kid’s ticket. They will receive a little Fun Kit and no lantern.
Tickets are $68 for adults and $15 for “Kid No Lantern” (Ages 4-12).
From April 28 through May 14, international traveling Do Portugal Circus will take up residence in the King of Prussia Mall Parking Lot (160 North Gulph Road, King of Prussia, www.doportugalcircus.com).
The international travelling show, “CIRQUE,” has been produced by Do Portugal Circus for more than 25 years.
A combination of circus talent and magic takes audiences on a journey of laughter and pure amazement. Do Portugal Circus’ athletic and passionate artists will leave patrons gasping in awe as they perform their death-defying acts.
Some of the featured acts are Juggler Carlos, Hand Balancing Eddy, Magic C Man, Hula Hoop Xena and The Circus Showgirls.
And of course, there will be a clown. No circus is complete without one and Do Portugal Circus showcases a wonderful clown that keeps audiences laughing from start to finish.
This is a professional show that delights audiences of all ages.
Ticket prices start at $15.
“Elmwood Park Zoo” (1661 Harding Boulevard, Norristown, www.elmwoodparkzoo.org) is hosting several of its ultra-popular “Dog Days” over the next week.
The Zoo’s “Dog Days” event will be held on April 28 and 30 and May 3, 5 and 7 from noon-4 p.m. each day.
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.”
Pricing is $10.95 per dog with each additional dog at $9.95. Regular zoo admission is required for all humans.
Linvilla Orchards (137 West Knowlton Road, Media, 610-876-7116, www.linvilla.com) is presenting its annual “Food Truck Frenzy” on April 29.
The site is partnering with local food trucks to bring visitors a “food-tastic event” at Linvilla.
Along with delicious treats from the trucks there will be music by The Whiskey Trail and The Ultimates and fun for the whole family – including hayrides, pony rides and train rides.
Participating food trucks will be Little Sicilian, Carmona’s, Barkley’s BBQ, Mojo Loco, Red Stone Pizza, Turk’s Head, Albie’s Burgers, Napolatano Brothers, 22BBQ, Fiesta Churros, Gotta Lotta Gelata, Cupcake Carnival, Auntie Anne’s, Bacon-on-a-Stick, Kettle Concessions, Korea Taqueria, Munchy Machine, Roasty Toasty, Sweet Thang and Waffles.
Every Saturday and Sunday in April, the Chaddsford Winery (632 Baltimore Pike, Chadds Ford, 610-388-6221, http://www.chaddsford.com) is presenting “Reserve Tastings – Wine & Cheese.”
Guests will join the CFW Crew for an intimate and educational 60-minute experience in the Barrel Room. The trained staff will guide them through a pre-selected tasting of five widely diverse and award-winning wines from across our portfolio. The selections will be paired alongside seasonal local cheeses and other accoutrements to enhance your tasting experience.
The staff will also discuss topics such as grape growing conditions at our partner vineyards and the onsite winemaking process from production to aging and bottling.
The 2023 Pairing Line Up is Greeting Wine: 2021 Sparkling White; 2021 Presage with First Light Honey Chèvre & an apple slice; 2021 Dry Rosé: Redux with Caulkins Creamery Noblette Hibiscus Petals; 2020 Maréchal Foch with Highlander and Sour Cherry spread; and Niagara with Goat Rodeo Bamboozled
Reserved seatings are $35 per person.
Gilbert & Sullivan and the Ardensingers go together like bacon and eggs — and they have the history to prove it.
The Ardensingers have been presenting the works of Gilbert & Sullivan continuously since 1948 at their historic Gild Hall (2126 The Highway, Arden, Delaware, 484-319-2350, www.ardensingers.com).
From April 28-30 and May 5 and 6, Ardensingers are performing Gilbert & Sullivan’s “Princess Ida.”
“Princess Ida” tells the hilarious tale of a princess and prince whose marriage was arranged when they were infants. Prince Hilarion has been waiting 20 years to meet his bride but learns instead that Princess Ida will not honor the commitment and has gone off to start a women’s college.
In an attempt to woo her, Hilarion and two companions dress up as maidens and sneak into the school. Violence between the two families looks certain, but true love prevails.
Ticket prices are $20 Adult, $17 Senior and $7 Child.
GoggleWorks Center for the Arts (201 Washington Street, Reading, https://goggleworks.org/), one of the country’s largest interactive art centers, will hold its Fifth Annual Iron Pour and Forge Fest on April 29.
Forge Fest will take place from noon-6:30 p.m. immediately followed by the Iron Pour from 6:30-9 p.m.
The day begins with a gathering of the local blacksmith’s association. These artisans will share their process for super heating and hammering steel into delicate ornate patterns. Experience the brute force and delicate touch necessary to make this amazing work.
As the Blacksmiths begin to cool down, dinner will heat up with fire roasted food available from Dundore & Heister. Additionally, music and entertainment provided from Pollen Consolidated will ensure the energy stays high as the Iron melting furnace reaches its top temperature and prepares to pour.
Finally, cap off an amazing evening right, with an exciting display as 2,000 pounds of iron is heated to 3,000 degrees and the molten metal is tapped for pouring.
This year’s event features even more activities beyond metalworking, including hands-on activities for kids and families, live music by performers from Albright’s Center for Fine Arts, food truck fair from Carbon y Lena Latin Kitchen, craft beers from Oakbrook Brewing Company, and artisanal ice cream from Great American Creamery.
The first 50 curious participants will have the opportunity to purchase and prepare their own mold to be later cast in molten iron.
The event features free admission and free parking.
Longwood Gardens (Route 1, Kennett Square, 610-388-1000, www.longwoodgardens.org) is now featuring one of its popular annual special events – “Spring Blooms.”
Some of the showcase blooms are Glory-of-the-snow (upward facing, sky blue flowers), Silver-squill (small, bulbous plants that are a striking dark gray with vivid green patches and a deep violet underside), Yulan Magnolia (a deciduous tree native to central and eastern China), Clivia (lightly fragrant, buttery yellow flowers with overlapping petals that produce a beautiful floral display) and Star Magnolia (early blooming deciduous with fragrant, double white flowers).
Visitors to Longwood Gardens can embark on a poignant journey with “Voices in the Landscape: Deeply Rooted with Storyteller Charlotte Blake Alston.” This is a series of 10 stops throughout the Gardens which honor the contributions of the African American community through the lens of horticulture and the power of story.
Participants will follow along as storyteller Charlotte Blake Alston honors and celebrates the strength, resilience, and contributions of the African American community through the lens of horticulture and the power of story.
Those taking the tour can hear an ancient Zulu creation myth paired with the oldest plant on Earth in the Conservatory; make their way to the Lookout Loft Treehouse and learn the story of the significance and symbolism of woods and meadows; and call out the name of an ancestor in remembrance at the Large Lake while a traditional spiritual soothes your soul.
“Voices in the Landscape” signage is at each stop. Each audio recording ranges between three and eight minutes in length. The estimated time to experience the entire Voices in the Landscape exhibit is approximately 1.5 to 2 hours.
Inside Longwood’s Conservatory, visitors can check out the towering Clerodendrum schmidtii (chains of glory) as well as nearly 300 blooming orchids on display in the site’s newly renovated Orchid House.
A new attraction this year is Longwood Gardens’ “Science Saturdays” series.
Beyond the boundaries of the formal gardens, Longwood stewards a rich variety of natural habitats. The rolling terrain of the Pennsylvania piedmont and changing ways people have used land over time provide us with diverse conditions for plant and animal life. Dr. Lea Johnson, Associate Director, Land Stewardship and Ecology, will reveal how patterns in the landscape reveal both history and potential futures for biodiversity.
As always, admission by “Timed Ticket” — tickets issued for specific dates and times. Timed ticketing limits the number of people in the Gardens at any given time and allows guests to enjoy minimal lines and a better viewing experience.
You may enter the Gardens up to 30 minutes prior and 30 minutes after your designated time. Make every effort to arrive at your designated reservation time. Earlier or later arrivals may not be accommodated.
Admission to Longwood Gardens is $25 for adults, $22 for seniors (ages 62 and older) and college students, $18 for active military and veterans and $13 for youth (ages 5-18).
The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University (1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, ansp.org) is celebrating the remarkable diversity of birds, their important role in ecosystems, and people’s relationships with our avian friends with a special exhibition, “Conversations with Birds.”
The exhibition, which runs through May 21, spotlights familiar local birds, such as house sparrows and cardinals, and goes beyond by introducing the variety of migrators that pass through on astounding epic journeys across the globe.
“Conversations With Birds” features amazing avian photography and video by local birders and wildlife photographers, including Anwar Abdul-Qawi, an Academy educator, and Tom Johnson of Cape May, N.J., a Field Guides birding tour leader; nest cam video footage of a peregrine falcon nest from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and of a bald eagle nest courtesy of HDOnTap.com and the Pennsylvania Game Commission; hands-on activities that explain the body architecture that enables birds to do what they do; gorgeous taxidermy mounts of familiar local birds and also migrators that visit the area; and BirdCast animations from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology showing live bird migration forecasts
Also featured will be bird-tracking products by Cellular Tracking Technologies that use cell towers, GPS, big birds, small birds, and what’s being used in research projects; an interactive media exhibit that shows five migratory birds that pass through the Philadelphia region on their seasonal passage between North and South America; live or video demonstrations (depending on the day) of Academy ornithologists and volunteers preparing specimens from the Bird Safe Philly project for research and storage in the Academy’s world-renowned Ornithology Collection; and informal presentations by a diverse range of regional birding groups and participatory poetry workshops by Drexel’s Writer’s Room on select Saturday afternoons.
“Conversations With Birds” opens just ahead of spring migration when millions of birds will wing through the Atlantic Flyway north to their breeding grounds. During this period, April 1–May 31, the partnership of Bird Safe Philly asks communities to participate in “Lights Out Philly” to minimize unnecessary lights by turning off, blocking or dimming artificial lights from midnight-6 a.m. to help keep birds from becoming confused by the lights and colliding with buildings.
The exhibition shows that there are engineering solutions that can go a long way to helping prevent window strikes. Visitors also will learn about local birding groups such as In Color Birding and Bird Philly, as well as birding app options for the adventurous birder and the backyard kitchen-table pigeon watcher alike.
“Conversations With Birds,” which is on view through May 21, is free with general museum admission – adults, $25; seniors, military, and students, $22; and children, $21.
This weekend, the Annual Philadelphia Show (formerly known as Philadelphia Antiques & Art Show) will be held at the Philadelphia Museum of Art (2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, thephiladelphiashow.com).
The Philadelphia Antiques & Art Show, which bills itself as “one of the best American antiques and decorative arts show in the country,” is scheduled to run from April 28-30.
Founded in 1962, The Philadelphia Show is one of the longest running antiques shows in the country. It premiered under the direction of its founder, Ali Brown, as the “University Hospital Antiques Show at the 33rd Street Armory in West Philadelphia.”
Since the beginning, the Show’s committees have worked tirelessly to organize, develop and produce one of the finest shows of Americana.
The 2023 edition of the show celebrates its 61st year as one of America’s premier shows with more than 60 exhibitors offering a vast selection of furnishings, decorative arts, and fine art for both the period and modern American home.
Admission to the show is $20.
Attendees will be able to find a wide array of jewelry selections priced very affordably at this weekend’s “International Gem & Jewelry Show” at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center (100 Station Avenue, Oaks, www.intergem.com).
The show, which is a sales and exhibition event that features gems, jewelry, fossils and stones of all sorts, is running from April 28-30 and is billed as the “world’s largest jewelry bazaar”.
Admission to the public show is $8 for adults while children (ages 9-16) are free with a paid adult ticket. The show’s policy states that children ages eight and under are not permitted to attend the show.
The “International Gem & Jewelry Show” features an amazing exhibition of gems, minerals and jewelry. Dealers will be displaying and selling every type of gemstone, as well as one-of-a-kind jewelry creations, estate jewelry, special celebrity exhibits and accessories.
The show will have more than 150 dealer booths where show attendees can select items from a wide range of categories, including beads, rings, settings, watches, necklaces, diamonds, opals, earrings, silver, gold, crystals and pearls.
The hours for the show are noon-6 p.m. on April 28, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on April 29 and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on April 30.
“Banksy Was Here” was here, is here and will be here – at least for a little while longer.
“Banksy Was Here” was scheduled to run until January 31 at a location in Fashion District Philadelphia (901 Market Street, Philadelphia, banksyexpo.com/philadelphia/). It was initially extended until April 17 and now has its closing date scheduled for May 7.
“Banksy Was Here” features the work of elusive, anonymous street artist Banksy.
Far from being elusive, the top caliber presentation is an immersive, multisensory exhibit featuring original works, projections, virtual reality and more to plunge you into Banksy’s world.
“Banksy Was Here,” the “unauthorized exhibition” features a plethora of original works and installations, as well as interactivity, in galleries that pay homage to the artist’s themes, works, and sense of chaos, satire and controversy.
Banksy, the British artist whose identity is still unknown, is considered one of the main contemporary street art icons. In Philadelphia, an “unauthorized” Banksy’s exhibition lets visitors dive into the controversial artistic universe of the most influential creator of present time.
The exhibition will include over 80 original works, sculptures, installations, videos and photos including the now classics of the artist (presumed to be British). These pieces come from private collections and – with the collaboration of Lilley Fine Art / Contemporary Art Gallery – will be exhibited in Philadelphia for the first time.
Banksy is a pseudonymous England based street artist, political activist and film director whose real name and identity remain unconfirmed and the subject of speculation.
Active since the 1990s, his satirical street art and subversive epigrams combine dark humor with graffiti executed in a distinctive stenciling technique. His works of political and social commentary have appeared on streets, walls and bridges throughout the world.
Banksy’s work grew out of the Bristol underground scene, which involved collaborations between artists and musicians. Much of his work can be classified as temporary art.
“Banksy Was Here” is running now through May 7 in Fashion District Philadelphia. Timed tickets are $37.90 for adults (ages 13 and up), $28.90 for seniors, students and military and $22.90 for kids (ages 4-12).
There is also another popular destination in the Fashion District.
Wonderspaces at the Fashion District (27 North 11th Street, Philadelphia, philadelphia.wonderspaces.com) is an experiential, interactive arts venue.
Building on the success of annual pop-up shows in San Diego, and its first permanent location in Scottsdale, Arizona, Wonderspaces opened a 24,000 square foot gallery space in Philly a year ago.
Wonderspaces features 14 art installations that all play with the idea of perspective. The artwork ranges from award-winning virtual reality short film about a dinner party-turned-alien abduction, to a room where visitors digitally paint the walls with the movement of their bodies.
New artworks are rotated in every few months, creating an ever-evolving, year-round show.
Tickets are for entry at a specific date and time. Visitors are welcome to stay as long as they please during operating hours. The average time spent experiencing the show is 90 minutes.
A few installations contain flashing lights, images, and patterns that may trigger seizures for people with photosensitive epilepsy. All visitors must sign a waiver prior to being admitted into the space. Adult supervision is required for visitors under 16.
The “FRIENDS™ Experience: The One Near Philadelphia” is running now through May 29 at the King of Prussia Mall, 640 West Dekalb Pike, King of Prussia,
Visitors can step into the iconic TV show like never before in this interactive experience.
They will be able to explore set recreations including Joey and Chandler’s apartment, Monica and Rachel’s kitchen, and Central Perk!
Visitors to the attraction can dance in front of the fountain and pose on the iconic orange couch.
Participants will be able to see a wide array of props and costumes from the show which will bring them one step closer to their favorite characters.
And they can shop exclusive items at The FRIENDS™ Experience Retail Store which features an array of clothes, accessories, collectibles and more.
The interactive exhibit is open from noon-7 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. on Saturdays and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sundays.
The exact location is at The Pavilion, which is on the third floor above Cheesecake Factory and Urban Outfitters and across from Ethan Allen)
All ages are welcome. Children 3 and younger don’t need a ticket when accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Adult ticket prices start at $32.
The newest exhibition at the Brandywine Museum of Art (1 Hoffman Mill Road, Chadds Ford, brandywine.org), “Andrew Wyeth: Home Places,” opened a few weeks ago and will run through July 13.
This exhibition is a presentation of nearly 50 paintings and drawings of local buildings that inspired Wyeth time and again over seven decades of his career.
The artworks in this exhibition are drawn exclusively from the nearly 7,000-object Andrew and Betsy Wyeth Collection of the Wyeth Foundation for American Art, now managed by the Brandywine. Many of these pieces have never before been exhibited, offering a first glimpse at a significant treasure trove that will shed new light on the collaborative creative process of Andrew and Betsy Wyeth.
“Andrew Wyeth: Home Places” shares the story of a remarkable immersive and intensive artistic practice that ranged across the full array of media Andrew Wyeth practiced. Over the course of a long and diverse career of many chapters, Wyeth repeatedly depicted a small group of historic houses in the vicinity of his hometown of Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania.
In these weathered buildings others might have overlooked or even scorned in the face of gentrification and commercial development of the region, Wyeth found layers of emotion and association. These structures—both venerable and vulnerable in a changing Brandywine Valley—served as a means of pursuing his abiding attention to that which lies beneath the surface of things.
Through living in this landscape his whole life, he engaged in an artistic practice of uncommon focus over an extended timescale, coming to know deeply the evocative buildings in a radius of just a few square miles and rendering them in an astonishing variety of compositions, handlings and approaches. As Wyeth said, “You can be in a place for years and years and not see something, and then when it dawns, all sorts of nuggets of richness start popping all over the place. You’ve gotten below the obvious.”
Among the previously unexhibited works on view are the charming early oil “The Miller’s Son,” painted when Wyeth was just 17 years old, and the stunning watercolor “Noah’s Ark Study” made at age 87—both depicting the same property, Brinton’s Mill.
That the Wyeths came to own and restore this property for use as their primary residence is among the many contributions of Betsy James Wyeth, whose distinct role in stewarding historic properties in Pennsylvania and Maine, which informed her husband’s painting practice, is a key context of this exhibition.
Museum admission is $18 adults, $15 seniors (65+), $6 children (ages 6-18) and students with ID and free for children (ages five and under).
As always, Delaware has many popular springtime destinations.
From April 28-30, Mt. Cuba Center (3120 Barley Mill Road, Hockessin, Delaware, 302-239-4244, www.mtcubacenter.org) is hosting its annual “Wildflower Celebration” from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Visitors to Mt. Cuba can enjoy a magnificent display of spring ephemerals at the Center’s annual celebration of the season. Guests can stroll through the native plant gardens at the peak of their glory and enjoy live music, gardening activities, and family programming. A variety of food selections are available for purchase.
In response to requests from Mt. Cuba Center’s visitors, a selection of native plants will be available for purchase, while supplies last.
Live Music will be provided by Alyssa Garcia and Minerva on Friday, Geoffrey Giordano and Sam & Zach on Saturday, and Genesis Z (solo) and The Honey Badgers on Sunday.
Because of the rolling terrain and mulched paths at Mt. Cuba Center, the use of wheelchairs is limited.
Ticket prices are $15 for adults, $8 for children (ages 6-17), and free for children (under 6).
Hagley Museum and Library (Route 141, Wilmington, Delaware, 302-658-2400, www.hagley.org), a 230-acre historical village on the site of the original du Pont Company gunpowder mills in northern Delaware, has opened a new attraction – “Nation of Inventors.”
“Nation of Inventors” celebrates the American spirit of ingenuity by taking visitors on a journey from the early years of the patent system, in the 1790s, through the “golden age” of American invention, in the late 1800s. The exhibit features more than 120 patent models from Hagley’s unique collection highlighting the diverse stories of inventors from all walks of life.
Patent models are scaled representations of inventions and were part of the patent application process for nearly 100 years. “Nation of Inventors” showcases patent models representing innovations in a variety of industries from transportation and manufacturing to food preservation and medical devices.
In the exhibition, visitors will enjoy engaging experiences around every corner, testing their knowledge of innovation and hearing personal accounts from inventors.
The patent models in “Nation of Inventors” were created between 1833 and 1886. “Nation of Inventors” not only features patent models submitted by inventors from the United States, but also models from inventors in England, France, Ireland, Russia, and Spain, demonstrating an international interest in America’s intellectual property system.
“Nation of Inventors” includes patent models from well-known inventors and companies like Ball (Mason Jars), Jim Beam, Bissell, Corliss, Steinway, and Westinghouse. The exhibit presents important topics and timely themes including women inventors, Black inventors, immigrant inventors, improvements in urban living, and the ways Americans learn about and understand progress and change.
“Nation of Inventors” is located on the first two floors of Hagley’s Visitor Center. Visitors can plan to spend about 30 minutes on their self-guided tour of the exhibition.
Admission to Hagley Museum is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and students and $6 for children (ages 6-14). Victorine’s Valentine activities are included with regular admission.
Nemours Estate (1600 Rockland Road, Wilmington, Delaware, nemoursestate.org) has come alive with its magnificent gardens.
Originally constructed in 1910, Nemours Mansion 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 two elk at the top of the Vista are the work of French sculptor Prosper Lecourtier (1855–1924), a specialist in animal figures. Lined with Japanese cryptomeria, pink flowering horse chestnuts and pin oaks, the Long Walk extends from the Mansion to the Reflecting Pool.
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).
The entrance is located on the campus of Nemours Children’s Health, follow signs for Nemours Estate.
Admission to Nemours is $20 for adults, $18 for seniors and $10 for children.
Historic Odessa (Main Street, Odessa, Delaware, 302-378-4119, www.historicodessa.org) is both a scenic and an historic site in Delaware.
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.
There are many other sites where nature’s spring glory is on display. Chanticleer (786 Church Street, Wayne, www.chanticleergarden.org), which just opened its 2023 season, is one of them.
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 eventually became part of Merck & Company in the 1920s.
The garden has evolved greatly since the death of the owner in 1990. 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.
There are seven horticulturists, each responsible for the design, planting, and maintenance of an area. The areas are continually evolving, each with its own feel, yet joined together as one complete unit.
The Teacup Garden and Chanticleer Terraces feature seasonal plants and bold-textured tropical and subtropical plants.
The Tennis Court, Ruin, Gravel Garden, and Pond Garden focus on hardy perennials, both woody and herbaceous.
Asian Woods and Bell’s Woodland are shady areas. The Serpentine celebrates the beauty of agricultural crops.
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.andalusia house.org) opened its gates for the 2023 season at the beginning of April.
Located on a wooded promontory overlooking the Delaware River, Andalusia 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 is one of the finest examples of Greek Revival architecture in the United States.
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 from April 4-November 2 (excluding holidays) at 10 a.m. or 1 p.m. Picnics are allowed on the grounds (with have a “carry-in, carry-out” policy).
Access to the Big House is not included with this tour, which is $20 per person. There is no charge for children 12 and under.
Big House Tours with Garden Access will be available Mondays through Wednesdays from April 4-November 2 (excluding holidays) at 10 a.m. or 1 p.m. Tickets are $30 per person. There is no charge for children 12 and under.
On April 29 at 1 p.m., Morris Arboretum & Gardens (100 East Northwestern Avenue, Philadelphia, 215-247-5777, morrisarboretum.org) is presenting “Native Bees at the Arboretum.”
Another special attraction this week will be a virtual event. On May 4, Morris will present “Virtual Tours of English Gardens” at 7 p.m.
Additionally, Morris Arboretum & Gardens is presenting its “Garden Highlights Tour: A Focus on the Environment” throughout the month of April.
Participants can join an experienced guide for Morris Arboretum’s featured tours. They will be able to celebrate spring and discover flowering trees and colorful blooms. Tours begin at Widener Visitor Center.
Some of the featured buds and blooms are yoshino cherry (Cherry Allée), Mertensia virginica (Out on a Limb), Camellia japonica “Berenice Boddy” (Visitor Center), Cercis canadensis (Oak Allée), Magnolia ‘Sayonara’ (English Park) and saucer magnolia (Magnolia Slope).
Another venue where you can enjoy flowers up close is Tyler Arboretum (515 Painter Road, Media, 610-566-9134, www.tylerarboretum.org).
The arboretum’s schedule for this weekend features the “Saturday Wildflower Walk,” on April 29 at 1 p.m.
At the “Saturday Wildflower Walk,” wildflower expert Joanne Landau will lead an informative two-hour hike that will take visitors through meadows, woods, and occasionally streamside. These walks are for those who have a love of plants, their role in ecology, or for those who want to learn more.
Another event on Saturday will be “Pink Hill Tour – Tyler’s Serpentine Barren” at 9:30 a.m.
Pink Hill is renowned as a “serpentine barren,” yet the ancient grassland there is anything but barren. Serpentine barrens are globally rare ecosystems and hotspots for biodiversity, including many imperiled species.
Of roughly 40 locations described a century ago in the eastern U.S., less than 20 remain, and all of those have lost species due to habitat shrinkage. Pink Hill showcases the only surviving serpentine barren of 10 that once existed in Delaware County.
Admission to Tyler Arboretum is $18 for adults (ages 18-64), $15 for Seniors (65+) and $10 for children (ages 3-17) and Military with valid ID.
On April 28, Laurel Hill Cemetery (3822 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia, 215-228-8200, www.thelaurelhillcemetery.org) will present “Hot Spots and Storied Plots” at 10 a.m.
The expansion of Fairmount Park in the 1860s prevented further growth of Laurel Hill, and in 1869 West Laurel Hill was established just across the river in Bala Cynwyd. This walking tour provides a wonderful overview of West Laurel Hill’s long and colorful history, including its architectural artistry, stunning trees and horticulture, and the stories of residents that encompass diverse and fascinating Philadelphia history.
“Hot Spots and Storied Plots” is the perfect introductory tour for anyone who wants to learn all that West Laurel Hill Cemetery has to offer. Experienced tour guides offer visitors a unique perspective and every Sacred Spaces tour is different.
The tour guide for this event is Steve Chawaga.
Tickets, which must be purchased in advance, are: $15/General Admission, $13/Seniors (65 & up) and Students with ID, $7.50/Youth (6-12), and $0/Child (5 & under). Youth and children must be accompanied by an adult.
You can enjoy views of nature’s springtime bounty without having to drive or hike. All you need do is take a ride on a tourist rail line train.
The Strasburg Rail Road (Route 741, Strasburg, 717-687-7522, www.strasburgrailroad.com) is running a special train – “The Wine & Cheese Train.”
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 train departs Strasburg Station on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The total trip time is 45 minutes.
“Wine & Cheese Train” boards 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.
Departures are scheduled for April 28 and 29 at 4 and 6 p.m. and April 30 at 4 p.m.
Tickets are $70.
The Colebrookdale Railroad (South Washington Street, Boyertown, www.colebrookdalerailroad.com) is running its “Secret Valley Expedition” on April 29 and 30 at 1:30 p.m. each day.
The Colebrookdale ride is billed as “your ticket to a verdant land lost in time.”
Passengers board one of the railroad’s meticulously restored century-old rail cars for a two-hour expedition into one of the most scenic and historic regions in the northeast.
Deluxe coach fares are $45 for adults (13-64), $35 for children (2-12), $42 for seniors (65 and older) and $10 for toddlers.
The Northern Central Railway (2 West Main Street, New Freedom, www.northerncentralrailway.com) is running its “Hanover Junction Flyer” on April 29 at 1 p.m.
The “Hanover Junction Flyer” will run through the beautiful Heritage Rail Trail County Park and southern York County countryside on this trip to Hanover Junction. The excursion includes a 20-minute stopover at the Hanover Junction Museum.
Tickets are $36.99 for adults and $24.99 for children (ages 2-12).
The New Hope Railroad (32 West Bridge Street, New Hope, 215-862-2332, www.newhoperailroad.com) is running its “Traditional Excursion” on April 29 and 30.
The rides, which are billed as a “Traditional American Railroad Experience,” will be powered by a diesel locomotive.
Excursions will depart at 11 a.m., noon, 1, 2 and 3 p.m. both days.
The NHRR is also running its “Grapevine Express” on Saturday and Sunday. Trains will depart at 5 p.m. each day.
Riders can choose premium parlor or lounge cars for an intimate one-hour (approximately) excursion through the wooded foothills of Bucks County. On the journey, they will be able to enjoy food and beverage service from the friendly and attentive parlor car attendants.
Each couple will receive an assortment of crudités, a lush charcuterie board, and a sweet treat to wrap up the experience. In addition, guests over 21 years of age will receive their choice of wine, beer, or whiskey flight from Bucks County.
Ghost Tour of Philadelphia (215-413-1997, www.ghosttour.com), Ghost Tour of Lancaster (717-687-6687, www.ghosttour.com) and Ghost Tour of Strasburg (717-687-6687, www.ghosttour.com) operate throughout the winter and offer an eerily entertaining evening of true ghost stories and real haunted houses.
The Ghost Tour of Philadelphia, which is based on the book, “Ghost Stories of Philadelphia, PA.,” is a candlelight walking tour along the back streets and secret gardens of Independence Park, Society Hill, and Old City, where ghostly spirits, haunted houses, and eerie graveyards abound.
Participants can discover the ghost lore of America’s most historic and most haunted city with stories from the founding of William Penn’s colony to present-day hauntings.
The activity is open year-round – weekends, December-February; every night, March-November. Tickets are $24.
The Ghost Tour of Lancaster and the Ghost Tour of Strasburg are based on the book, “Ghost Stories of Lancaster, PA.”
Participants in the Ghost Tour of Lancaster explore the long-forgotten mysteries of one of America’s oldest cities, with haunting tales of otherworldly vigils, fatal curses, and star-crossed lovers. The tour provides the opportunity to experience 300 years of haunted history from the Red Rose City’s thorny past. Tickets are $20.
The Ghost Tour of Strasburg is a candlelight walking tour of the quaint and historic town of Strasburg in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country. Visitors will experience an entertaining evening with a costumed tour guide spinning tales of haunted mansions, eerie graveyards, and spirits that roam the night … in a town lost in time. Tickets are $20.
Grim Philly’s “Dark Philly History Tour” (www.grimphilly.com) will be held every evening throughout the winter.
Participants can walk with tour guides from the grounds of America’s first White House, Congress, and Liberty Bell to homes and sites of Hamilton, Washington, Franklin, Adams, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, and more than 10 other Founding-Fathers. The surprising dirt of espionage, murder, sexual license and blackmail highlight the secrets of 1776 with a ghost story or two along the way. This tour is highly researched. And your guide is a historian.
Tickets are $35.
Sesame Place (100 Sesame Road, Langhorne, www.sesameplace.com) will be presenting “Elmo’s Springtacular” every weekend now through June 18.
“Elmo’s Springtacular” at Sesame Place is filled with furry fun and exciting events – including an exciting line up of meet & greets, music, magic, pirate adventures, and fireworks.
This weekend will feature “Blippi Meet & Greet” on April 29 and 30.
Kids can enjoy an action-packed day with their favorites.
Blippi and Meekah love visiting new places and meeting new friends.
Kids will be able to say hello and get their pictures taken with everybody’s best friend and on-air talent actors — Blippi (Clayton Grimm) and his kind-hearted, cartwheel-loving BFF, Meekah (Kaitlin Becker).
Activity will take place at Abby’s Paradise Theater.
