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 Annual Kennett Winterfest (http://kennettwinterfest.com/) will be held on February 24 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 more than 60 unique craft breweries. Admission to the festival includes unlimited tastings of delicious craft beer.
Some of the featured breweries will be Kennett Brewing Co., Victory Brewing Company, First State Brewing, Farmers and Bankers Brewing, Wilmington Brew Works, Mainstay Independent, Midnight Oil Brewing, Be Here Brewing, Bellefonte Brewing, Big Oyster Brewing, Brew Gentlemen, Rural City Beer, and Three 3’s Brewing.
The roster also features Chatty Monks Brewing, Iron Hill Brewery, Urban Village Brewing, Von C Brewing, Well Crafted Beer, Sly Fox Brewing Company, Dew Point Brewing Company, Zero Day Brewing, 1937 Brewing Company, Ten7 Brewing, Ever Grain Brewing, Levante Brewing, Hidden River, Artillery Brewing, Be Here Brewing, Tired Hands Brewing Company, Von Trapp Brewing, Double Nickel Brewing, and East Branch Brewing Company.
There will be live music performed by Dylan Zangwill.
The Kennett Winterfest is a fund-raising event for Kennett Collaborative, which works to make the community thrive through placemaking, events, and community development initiatives. The organization’s placemaking programs, including Christmas in Kennett and Kennett Blooms and Floral Flash, reimagine and reinvent public spaces through seasonal initiatives that make Kennett a fun and beautiful place to live, work, and visit.
Other popular Kennett Collaborative programs and events include the Kennett Square Holiday Village Market, Kennett Brewfest and Winterfest, the KSQ Farmer’s Market, Summerfest, and Third Thursdays on State Street. Kennett Collaborative’s weekly Around the Square newsletter brings fresh stories about local merchants, events, nonprofit organizations, economic development, placemaking, and more—as well as information and links to local initiatives and events—to subscribers every week. Kennett Collaborative also works in partnership with other organizations to support events such as Clover Market, Juneteenth celebrations, the Memorial Day Parade, Día de los Muertos, Tinsel on the Town, and the Holiday Light Parade.
The Kennett Winterfest is intended to be an opportunity to sample some of the best regional and national craft beers accompanied by great food, great music, and great people. Anyone displaying malicious, violent, or otherwise inappropriate behavior will be removed from the festival grounds without refund.
No one without a ticket and proper photo identification will be allowed to enter. No one under the age of 21 will be admitted including babies. Pets are also on the “not welcome” list.
Winterfest is a rain or shine event. Tickets are $60 general admission and $15 for designated drivers.
West Chester’s “Restaurant Week” for 2023 (www.downtownwestchester.com/event/west-chesters-restaurant-week) will start on February 24 and run through March 3.
This fun filled week is the perfect opportunity for area residents to support your favorite restaurants or explore something new.
West Chester’s culinary masters will be creating special multi-course prix fixe menus that will be featured for one week only. There will be dine-in and takeout options available.
Participating restaurants are Barnaby’s of West Chester, Dolce Zola, Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant, Manjé Caribbean Cuisine, Kildare’s Irish Pub, Mae’s West Chester, Mas Mexicali Cantina, Pietro’s Prime, Saloon 151 Whiskey Bar & Grill, Santino’s Tap & Table and Slow Hand Restaurant and Bar.
Also participating will be Sterling Pig Brewery, Stove & Tap, Mediterranean, Taco Mar, The Social, Sedona Taphouse, Side Bar & Restaurant, Spence Café, Ryan’s Pub & Restaurant, Greystone Oyster Bar, Mercato Ristorante and Bar, Limoncello Restaurant, Bar Avalon and Opa Taverna.
The Greater Philadelphia Expo Center (100 Station Avenue, Oaks, 484-754-3976, www.phillyhomeandgarden.com) is hosting Philly Home + Garden Show now through February 26.
There will be exhibitors in a wide range of topics including flooring, heating and cooling, home appliances, construction, financing, home décor, pools, windows and doors, roofing and automotive.
The show allows visitors to explore a full hall of gardens and outdoor exhibitors that are sure to inspire backyard creations. They can stroll through inspirational gardens showcasing new gardening techniques, ideas and trends then stop by and relax in the Wine Garden brought to you by the Renegade Winery.
There will also be a flower shop, garden market, and succulent bar to take home some spring inspired goods.
Experts from gardening to home design will be presenting tips throughout the entire weekend.
Tickets are $12 for adults with children (12 and under) admitted free.
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 was supposed to be held on February 17 from 8 a.m.-noon. The snowy weather forced cancellation so the event will be held on February 24 during the same hours.
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 so expensive, 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 $20 for adults and $12 for children (ages 3-12).
“Maple Sugaring at Peter Wentz Farmstead” (2030 Shearer Road, Lansdale, peterwentzfarmstead@montgomerycountypa.gov) will take place on February 24 from 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Visitors can join the site’s farmers as they create maple sugar from trees right here at the Farmstead.
Guests can watch as they tap the trees, collect the sap, and create the syrup.
They can also learn about the Indigenous origins of maple sugaring and how the process has continued through to today.
Waffles and syrup will be available at Philly Waffle Cabin’s food truck.
This free all-ages event is weather dependent — if the temperature isn’t just right the sap may not flow.
On February 24 and 25 and March 3, 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.
Newlin Grist Mill (219 South Cheyney Road, Glen Mills, newlingristmill.org) and Wild Birds Unlimited (Glen Mills) have teamed up to explore the wonderful world of bird life.
Starting on February 24, they will present “Bird Walks” — monthly naturalist-led walks through the 160-acre park at Newlin Grist Mill.
Participants will meet year-round residents, visit exciting migrants, and learn the basics of bird identification and biology.
Families and beginners are welcome for these free bird walks.
A limited number of binoculars are available for use, but participants are encouraged to bring their own if they have them.
The next “Bird Walk” after this weekend will be on March 30.
Participants should meet in front of the Visitor Center.
Hagley Museum and Library (Buck Road East entrance via Route 100, 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 a popular 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 is $20 for adults, $16 for students and seniors (62+) and $10 for children (6-14).
“Under the Canopy” had its Opening Weekend at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University (1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, ansp.org) last week.
“Under the Canopy: Animals of the Rainforest,” which will run now through September 2, is an immersive exhibition introducing visitors to the fascinating world of rainforests and the animals that inhabit them.
You can learn about unique plants and rainforest ecology as you encounter a live sloth, boa constrictor and other animals that call these habitats home. You will see the importance of rainforests to the planet as you explore interactive discovery stations, dynamic displays and engaging programming.
Presented in English and Spanish, “Under the Canopy” will engage students of all ages, with accompanying curriculums on rainforests, water cycles, the science of diversity, deforestation and soil, how kids can save the planet and so much more. Hands-on interactives are complemented by life-size, climbable animal sculptures, including a gorilla, tortoise, crocodile, red-eye tree frog and Banyan tree.
All exhibits are included with the purchase of a general admission ticket.
Admission prices are — Adults (Age 13 and above), $22; Children (Age 2 – 12), $18.
Now through February 25, the town of Lititz is hosting its annual Fire & Ice Festival (lititzfireandice.com).
Featured attractions will be live ice carvings around town and sculptures out for view all over Broad Street and Main Street (which will be closed to vehicular traffic).
Food trucks will be located around town and retailers will be open late for shopping.
Ice sculptures are available for viewing from dawn to dusk in the Lititz Springs Park and throughout downtown Lititz.
Guests are invited to walk around downtown Lititz and enjoy the ice sculptures, dine at local restaurants, and shop at the local stores.
Every Saturday and Sunday in February, the Chaddsford Winery (632 Baltimore Pike, Chadds Ford, 610-388-6221, http://www.chaddsford.com) is presenting “Reserve Tastings – Wine & Chocolate.”
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 the 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 2024 Pairing Line Up is: Sparkling White paired with Spiced Pear Bonbon; Dry Rosé: Redux paired with Passion Fruit Bonbon; Harbinger Red Blend paired with Star Anise Bonbon; Good Vibes Only paired with Pennsylvania Dutch Dark Chocolate Pretzel Bar; and Revolution (fortified, port-style wine) paired with Bolivian Nacional Bonbon.
Reserved seatings are $35 per person.
The “Wine & Chocolate Pairings at Penns Woods” at Penns Wood Winery (124 Beaver Valley Road, Chadds Ford, 610-459-0808, http://www.pennswoodswinery.com) provide a nice way for visitors to enjoy a winter weekend day.
Penns Woods Winery is featuring a pairing which includes a tasting of four wines perfectly paired with four handcrafted chocolates from Good Good Chocolates.
The mouth-watering tastings will be held every weekend in February from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturdays and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sundays.
Tickets cost $36 per person and reservations are required.
Harvest Ridge Winery (1140 Newark Road, Toughkenamon, harvestridgewinery.com) is hosting a “PA Music Bingo” event on February 23 at 6 p.m.
The winery’s invitation is — Come out and enjoy a glass of wine with every ticket purchased, music, and maybe even win some cool prizes.
Harvest Ridge Winery will also present live music to accompany its tastings on February 24.
Max & Denise will perform favorite tunes from the 60’s from 4:30-7:30 p.m.
The Strasburg Rail Road (Route 741, Strasburg, 717-687-7522, www.strasburgrailroad.com) is running a special train on February 24 and 25 – 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 at 6 p.m. and the total trip time is 45 minutes.
“Wine & Cheese Train” boarding is 30 minutes before the scheduled departure. Riders must be 21 or older and have their photo ID ready when they board.
Featured wines are carefully selected from Waltz Vineyards, and cheeses are paired accordingly. Beer and select non-alcoholic beverages are also available for purchase upon request. Riders can purchase a souvenir wine glass on board the train if desired. Glasses are $8 each.
In accordance with Pennsylvania law, alcohol is only served during the train ride. We are not permitted to serve alcoholic beverages while the train is berthed in the station.
This popular train is available on select Friday and Saturday evenings throughout the season. Tickets are $65.
Longwood Gardens (Route 1, Kennett Square, 610-388-1000, www.longwoodgardens.org) is celebrating the new year with one of its annual special events – “Winter Wonder.”
“Winter Wonder,” which runs now through March 24, celebrates the beauty of winter. It’s all about outdoor spacious, indoor oasis, and the power of story.
Outside, visitors can find a sense of peace and tranquility as they walk past textural grasses, seed heads and the dramatic silhouettes of trees that stretch up into the sky.
Inside, they can bask in a world of warmth that features an overhead garden of hanging baskets adorned with such vibrant beauties as jasmine, cape-primrose, and lipstick-plant.
Visitors will be able to enjoy a paradise of flowers and foliage, bursting with color — all in a beautiful indoor winter wonderland with a tropical twist.
Inside Longwood’s Conservatory, visitors can check out nearly 300 blooming orchids on display in the site’s Orchid House. There will also be rare blue poppies blooming in March but for only about 10 to 15 days.
Another popular attraction this year is Longwood Gardens’ “Science Saturdays” series.
Topics for Science Saturday events are “Longwood Research, Down to a Science” on February 24, “Managing Our Natural Lands” on March 9 and “Seed Science” on April 20.
Longwood custom grows a staggering 1,300 (and counting) types of plants each year for seasonal indoor displays and outdoor gardens … and each type has its own needs. While Longwood’s team utilizes its horticulture expertise to grow this diverse palette of plants, its innovative greenhouses further the capabilities to grow them precisely and efficiently, all while attending to each plant type’s individual needs.
The gardens are open from Wednesdays through Mondays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. until Friday, March 31. Hours change in the spring.
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 Philadelphia Zoo has been a habitat for an amazing array of animals ever since its opening day in July 1874. Now, for the next two-and-one-half months, the Zoo will be home to a sextet of Trolls.
Now through April 15, the Philadelphia Zoo (3400 West Girard Avenue, Philadelphia) is hosting the East Coast debut of Thomas Dambo’s “TROLLS: Save the Humans,” produced by Imagine Exhibitions. This represents the first-ever winter feature experience at Philadelphia Zoo.
The world’s leading “recycle” artist has created these six, folklore-inspired Trolls using repurposed wood. The Trolls are on a mission to inspire humans to take better care of nature. The Trolls, ranging up to 15 feet tall, will be located throughout the Zoo’s 42-acre campus.
“TROLLS” were created by artist Thomas Dambo, who currently lives and works in Copenhagen, Denmark. Born in Odense, Denmark in 1979, Dambo’s mission is to create art that inspires people to explore, have adventures in nature, and show that recycled goods can be turned into something beautiful.
Dambo’s colossal troll sculptures range in height from 16-50 feet and ‘live’ as permanent or semi-permanent installations in parks, greenspaces, industrial parks, and in other site-specific locations around the world. Each folklore-inspired sculpture is imbued with expression and character and is built entirely from reclaimed materials.
Each Troll has a unique name and story. There are six Trolls who will be taking up residence at the Philadelphia Zoo through April 15.
They all believe rethinking how we live our daily lives will help save the planet for all animals, including humans, and they want to share their ideas. They want all humans to reduce trash, reuse everything, and recycle when they can. The Trolls believe that these actions and others to protect wildlife and wild places are important steps to help save the planet for all animals, including humans.
The exhibition is included in admission to the Zoo. Admission prices start at $19 for adults and children. Tickets are now available on philadelphiazoo.org.
Throughout the month of February, the Betsy Ross House (239 Arch Street, Philadelphia, historicphiladelphia.org) will offer free programming on weekends celebrating the contributions Black Americans have made throughout our nation’s history.
On February 24 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m., the program will be “Meet the History Makers.”
Each Saturday in February, visitors can meet Black residents of Colonial Philadelphia and learn about their lives, times and the contributions they made to our nation in its early days.
If you’re looking for a fun family activity – an indoor activity unaffected by the weather — Linvilla Orchards (137 West Knowlton Road, Media, 610-876-7116, www.linvilla.com) has something just for you — the miniature golf course “Fore! the Planet.”
Linvilla Orchard’s “Fore! The Planet” is a highly interactive and playful museum exhibit created by the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia. This exhibition pairs important environmental issues with the fun of miniature golf.
It features nine unique educational holes — explore butterfly metamorphosis, a tropical rain forest, evolution, dinosaur extinction, food chains, and more. It’s perfect for kids of all ages. The entire family will enjoy playing miniature golf while learning about our environment – every step of the way.
The mini-course is open daily from 9 a.m. -5 p.m. through April 1. Tickets are $8.
“TreeTrails Adventures Trevose” (301 West Bristol Pike, Trevose, treetrails.com/trevose-pa) is an adventure park full of fun challenges for outdoor adventurers of all ages.
Participants can experience the rush of TreeTrails Adventures as they swing through the trees of the new adventure park. They will be able to discover the excitement of climbing and zip lining above the forest floor with family, friends, co-workers, or teammates.
The park, which is based at Phoenix Sport Club in Bucks County, offers two ways to experience climbing – TreeTrails Adventure Park and KidTrails Park. Young explorers can enjoy miniaturized courses in the adjacent KidTrails Park.
General Park Admission prices are: Main Park Adult Tickets (Ages 12+), $59; Main Park Youth Tickets (Ages 7–11), $51; KidTrails Tickets (Ages 4–7), $12.
On February 23, Laurel Hill Cemetery (3822 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia, 215-228-8200, www.thelaurelhillcemetery.org) will present “Hot Spots and Storied Plots” walking tour at 10 a.m.
In life and in death, we all have stories to tell, and what better place to hear tales of wonder than Philadelphia’s most famous home of the dead?
“Hot Spots and Storied Plots” is the perfect introduction for anyone who enjoys beautiful art, scenic nature, and fascinating history. An experienced graveyard guide will offer a unique perspective. No two “Hot Spots and Storied Plots” are alike.
The Tour Guide will be Jessica Heichel.
Tickets are $15 general admission, $13 seniors, and $7.50 for youth.
On February 24, Laurel Hill Cemetery will present “Sacred Spaces and Storied Places” walking tour at 10 a.m.
This tour provides an informative overview of Laurel Hill’s long history, which includes many of the marble masterpieces, stunning views, and legendary stories about Laurel Hill.
The Tour Guide will be Pamela McMahon.
Tickets, which must be purchased in advance, are: $15/General Admission; $13/Seniors (65 & Up); $7.50/Youth (6-12). Youth and children must be accompanied by an adult.
A good destination in Delaware this weekend will be the 21st Annual Hockessin Art Festival. The event, which is scheduled for February 24 and 25, 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 58th 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 23, there will be a special “Friday Evening Preview” from 5-8 p.m. featuring light hors d’oeuvres 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 $10 for adults and $5 for children. 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).
Sesame Place (100 Sesame Road, Langhorne, www.sesameplace.com) may be closed for park rides and activities but there’s still furry fun to be had.
This weekend’s special event will be “Mardi Gras Celebration,” which will be now through March 17.
Visitors can let the good times roll at Sesame Place’s family-friendly Mardi Gras Celebration.
Guests can join in the festivities and celebrate by dancing along with special strolling entertainment, participating in the Mardi Gras Mask Scavenger Hunt, and much more. They also can enjoy Sesame Street-themed rides and attractions for guests of all ages.
The Sesame Street Mardi Gras Parade is a celebration with everyone’s favorite Sesame Street friends dressed up and ready to shine, and features lively tunes, fancy dancing, and floats decked out in Mardi Gras colors of sparkly purple, green, and gold.
Visitors to Sesame Place can enjoy mouth-watering menu items made famous by the city of New Orleans like beignets and jambalaya.
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.
Blue Cross RiverRink (Market Street at the Delaware River, Philadelphia, www.riverrink.com) is a great place to enjoy a pleasant winter skate.
Unlike most of the suburban ice rinks, RiverRink features public skating. Ice skating is the only use of this ice rink.
This winter, RiverRink takes the ice-skating experience on the Delaware River waterfront to another level by once again transforming the annual rink into a bona fide winter wonderland.
For three decades, Winterfest has been Philadelphia’s favorite Winter tradition on the Delaware River Waterfront, inviting visitors for a chance to indulge in flights of fancy under thousands of sparkling lights in a winter wonderland with spectacular views of the Delaware River, complete with comforting warming cabins, physically distanced fire pit stations, games for the young and young-at-heart, delicious food and refreshing drinks, the signature holiday tree and — of course — ice skating on an NHL-sized rink.
Another ice-skating option in downtown Philadelphia is Center City Parks District’s Rothman Orthopaedics Institute Ice Rink at Dilworth Park (1 South 15th Street, Philadelphia, http://ccdparks.org/dilworth-park).
It 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.
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 rotate 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.
