What To Do: Ukrainian Folk Fest, Allentown Fair top busy weekend schedule

The weekend at the end of August and Labor Day Weekend always has an amazing number of annual events with long histories. Some of this weekend’s events have impressive annual numbers – 32 for a Ukrainian festival, 44 for a Renaissance event, 25 for a summer fest, 11 for a burger fest and 172 (not a typo) for the Allentown Fair.

One event has particular relevance because of the horrendous history that is being made right now.

On August 25, the Ukrainian Independence Folk Festival at the Tryzub Ukrainian American Sport Center (County Line and Lower State roads, Horsham, www.tryzub.org) will celebrate its 33rd anniversary from noon-8 p.m.

The event is billed as “A resplendent outdoor summer concert marking Ukraine’s independence, the unity of her people, their struggle for freedom and dignity and Ukraine’s entry into the family of advanced democratic nations.”

The artists (dance troupes, musicians, singers and ensembles that have performed in previous years) have created a dynamic and integrated collaborative program.

Tryzub posted this message on the festival website – “The artists (dance troupes, musicians, singers and ensembles that have performed in previous years) have created a dynamic and integrated collaborative program. Recent events in Ukraine, the Euromaidan Protest and Revolution of Dignity as well as the Ukrainian peoples’ twilight struggle against unlawful, unjustified and heinous Russian armed aggression, have forged a unified Ukrainian national identity, both in Ukraine and in the Diaspora. America’s support of Ukraine’s commitment to a self-determined democratic future — to life, liberty, freedom and justice — has created permanent bonds of friendship between the two nations. This year’s festival honors these special relationships and developments and robustly salutes the zeal, valor, and dedication of the Ukrainian people.”

The festival, which is one of the most popular late-summer ethnic festivals in the area, starts at noon with children’s activities, vendor areas with Ukrainian crafts, food booths and live music.

The live entertainment at the festival includes performances by Voloshky Ukrainian Dance Ensemble, violinist Innesa Tymochko Dekajlo, singer/songwriter Iryna Lonchyna, Vox Ethica Ensemble, and DESNA Ukrainian Dance Company of Toronto.

There also will be vendors selling a wide variety of mouth-watering Ukrainian foods such as pyrohy (pierogies), holuptsi (stuffed cabbage) and kowbasa (kielbasa). Other items available for purchase include baked goods, picnic fare and cold beverages.

If you purchase online, print out ticket and bring it with you for entry.

Admission to the festival at the gate is $15 for adults and free for children (14 and under.)

$5 of each paid admission will be donated to Humanitarian Aid for Victims of War in Ukraine.

When it comes to festivals in North America, the Allentown Fair (17th and Chew Street, Allentown, www.allentownfairpa.org) is without a doubt one of the oldest – if not the oldest. It’s an event that has been drawing large crowds ever since ’52 – that’s 1852.

The popular Allentown Fair was first staged in October 1852 when the Lehigh County Agricultural Society held its first fair. The huge annual fair in Allentown is still one of the state’s premier late-summer attractions.

Now known as “The Great Allentown Fair”, the 2024 edition runs from August 30 until September . It will be the fair’s 172nd anniversary this year.

The Allentown Fair is a fun-filled event that spans generations and appeals to people of all ages. The multi-day event at the Allentown Fairgrounds features thousands of farm, garden and home exhibits and competitions along with thrill rides, amusement games, variety acts, international food and some of the top entertainers currently on tour.

The Grandstand Stage’s 2024 schedule features Cheap Trick and Blue Oyster Cult on August 28, Blippi on August 29, Brad Paisley on August 30, Pentatonix on August 31, Jeff Dunham on September 1, and Demolition Derby on September 2.

As always, amusement games and rides are one of the fair’s main attractions. This year, the Great Allentown Fair will again feature thrilling rides and games of skill and chance presented by Powers Great American Midways.

There will also be a wide array of agricultural competitions and exhibits each day at the fair. Tickets are $10 for adults with children under 12 admitted free.

Another popular event just outside the Philadelphia Metro area is the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire (Mount Hope Estate and Winery grounds, Route 72, Cornwall, www.parenfaire.com).

This year’s 44th annual staging of the event, which bills itself as “the most wondrous event in all the Knowne World”, is running now through October 27.

The festive annual event features authentic Elizabethan food and drink, traditional crafts from the guildsmen of yore and old-time games of skill — and a cast of hundreds of colorfully costumed re-enactors.

Every summer, the Faire, which takes place at Mount Hope Estate and Winery’s authentic 35-acre recreation of a 16th-century village in Olde England, features a new story from a different year of England’s past. This year’s Faire will take you back in time to the year 1558.

More than 70 shows are scheduled throughout each day on the Faire’s numerous stages.

Without a doubt, the most popular attraction is the Jousting Arena. Visitors to the Faire flock to Bosworth Field whenever it’s time for the Ultimate Joust. Peasants lead cheers for their favorite knights while musicians pound out a heart-thumping beat. The Master of the List announces the combatants and soon an encounter of royal proportions ensues.

The Faire offers a wide variety of activities for visitors, including listening to bagpipe music, checking out handsome Lords in their colorful silks, watching a jester’s acrobatics, learning how to juggle, being the recipient of a gypsy woman’s flirtations and watching the march of Beefeater Guards.

Guildsmen’s Way is the area that features a large variety of merchants and artisans, including jewelers, candle makers, potters, herbalists, leather smiths, clothiers, and pewter makers — all offering for sale and demonstrating their ancient wares.

And there are more than 20 Royal Kitchens located around the faire with menus featuring a wide variety of food and beverage.

Each week, there are themed weekends. On August 24 and 25, it will be Pyrate Invasion.

A black flag is raised under dark skies as the ship pulls into the harbor. Pyrates have come to Mount Hope! Swashbucklers and Scallywags alike find themselves welcome, so let out a mighty “Avast!,” find some rum, and join a crew.

Featured events are Pyrate School for Nipperkins, The Captain’s Challenge (18+), Nipperkins Treasure Hunt and Red Cross Blood Drive.

Single-day tickets are available at the gate for $33.95. For children (age 5-11) single-day tickets are available at the gate and online for $17.95.

There will be more swashbuckling activity Saturday along the river near the Philadelphia Airport.

Fort Mifflin (Fort Mifflin and Hog Island roads, Philadelphia, www.fortmifflin.us) is hosting “Pirate Day” on August 24 starting at 10 a.m.

There will be pirates on Mud Island.

Visitors can learn the early history of the Fort, and why the British chose to build a fortification on Mud Island.

Merriment and mischief, hands on activities, a scavenger hunt, tours and weapons demonstrations will be featured – and possibly a pirate attack.

Guests can enjoy singing along with the Sea Dogs during their concert at 1 p.m.

Tickets for Pirate Day are $14 for adults, $12 for seniors and $10 for children and veterans.

If you travel south as few miles from Fort Mifflin, you can switch from pirates to wildlife.

One of the most popular late-summer events in southeastern Pennsylvania will take place this weekend in Lancaster County – not far from the Renaissance Faire.

The 2024 New Holland Summer Fest (New Holland Community Memorial Park, 400 East Jackson Street, New Holland, http://nhsummerfest.org) will be held August 23 and 24 and will feature the “Pennsylvania State Championship BBQ Cook-Off.”

New Holland Summer Fest, which is celebrating its silver anniversary (25 years), is a National KCBS Certified Barbecue competition. Each year, 72 teams from around the country descend upon New Holland Community Memorial Park for a weekend of competition and fun.

The Grand Champion automatically receives an entry to the American Royal Contest in Kansas City, Missouri.

The barbecue competition is a major drawing card, but the event also has all that you would expect from a country fair — food vendors, children’s activities and souvenir concession stands.

For the kids, there will be face painting, “Tag-Along,” a clown teaching how to make animal balloons and “Kid’s Q” where they can learn how to barbecue.

The family-oriented event and the Friday evening concert are free and open to the public. All proceeds from the weekend’s activities benefit Garden Spot Fire Rescue Co. and the New Holland Community Park.

On August 24, there will be a Butterfly Festival at Colonial Gardens (745 Schuylkill Rd, Phoenixville, 610-948-9755, www.colonialgardenspa.com).

The festive and colorful event, which will be held in the Garden, will feature a “Butterfly Release” of 500 butterflies with releases scheduled for 10 a.m., noon, 2 and 4 p.m.

Visitors to the annual event will be able to learn about the life cycle of Monarchs and how to create their own way station to protect the fragile insects. The festival will also feature other educational seminars about Monarch butterflies.

The event also includes local artisans, vendors, and non-profits; lush, beautiful gardens to wander; native and pollinator-friendly plants for purchase; and hayrides through the site’s woods for $5 per person.

Because this event is outdoors, there is a rain date of Sunday, August 20.

The 11th Annual Delaware Burger Battle will be held on August 24 at the Rockford Tower (2000 Lookout Drive, Wilmington, Delaware, www.deburgerbattle.com).

Every year since 2012, Delaware’s most competitive chefs have gathered their grills to battle it out for burger supremacy at the Delaware Burger Battle. In nine years, more than 30,000 burgers have been served.

The battle has welcomed more than 50 competing restaurants, 5,000 guests, thousands of beers and has raised more than $50,000 for charity.

Once you enter the arena, you’re free to go from booth-to-booth sampling burgers from all the participating restaurants. Most people can’t complete the circuit.

Tickets also include adult beverages and soft drinks.

This is a rain or shine event, as well as all ages. Free parking is available nearby, and shuttles are provided.

Tickets are $60 for adults, $30 for designated drivers and teens and $10 for children (ages 5-12).

As part of Historic Philadelphia’s celebration at Franklin Square (200 Sixth Street, Philadelphia, www.historicphiladelphia.org), the organization is illuminating the park with its annual “Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival in Franklin Square.”

Fortunately for those who have yet to visit the festival, the attraction has been extended from August 18 until August 31.

Franklin Square will come alive every night with its Chinese Lantern Festival featuring more than two dozen illuminated lanterns – all constructed by lantern artisans from China.

Chinese-inspired performances will take place in Franklin Square twice nightly. Performances, which celebrate Chinese performance art and entertainment, are 30-minutes long and are scheduled for 7 and 9 p.m.

Festival hours are 6-11 p.m. Admission is $25 for adults ($28 on Saturday and Sunday), $23 /$26 for youth and seniors, and $16 for children.

Schuylkill Banks Riverboat Tour (www.schuylkillbanks.org/events/riverboat-tours-1) presents “Secrets of the Schuylkill” now through October.

The boat ride is a one-hour family-friendly tour of Philly’s second biggest river featuring sights such as Bartram’s Garden and Fairmount Water Works.

Riders can discover the Hidden River on a fun and educational riverboat tour while seeing spectacular views of Philadelphia.

They can also learn about the past, present, and future of the tidal Schuylkill River and its impact on Philadelphia on a one-hour Secrets of the Schuylkill tour which costs $25 for adults and $15 for children (age 12 and under).

Tours depart from the Walnut Street Dock, under the Walnut Street Bridge, east bank of the Schuylkill River.

Hot Wheels are rolling into Philadelphia this weekend.

On August 24 and 25, the Wells Fargo Center (3601 South Broad Street, Philadelphia, www.wellsfargocenterphilly.com) is hoisting Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live Glow Party.

The popular family entertainment tour brings audiences the only opportunity to watch their favorite Hot Wheels Monster Trucks – Mega Wrex™, Tiger Shark™, Boneshaker™, Bigfoot® and more, plus the all-new Gunkster™ as they light up the floor in outrageous monster trucks competitions and battles.

Event performances will also feature a dazzling dance party, spectacular laser light shows and Hot Wheels toy giveaways. Plus, a special appearance from the car-eating, fire-breathing transforming robot MEGASAURUS, and the electrifying high-flyers of Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Live, Freestyle Motocross.

The exciting Crash Zone Pre-Show Party will be held 2.5 hours before every performance. The unique experience provides fans access to the competition floor to see the outrageous designs and epic size of the Hot Wheels Monster Trucks. Each pass includes an autograph card plus a souvenir pass and lanyard exclusive to Crash Zone attendees.

Show times are 12:30 and 7:30 p.m. on Saturday and 2:30 p.m. on Sunday.

Ticket prices start at $30.

An attractive eating and dining event will be held in in Bucks County at Fonthill Castle (130 East Swamp Road, Doylestown, www.mercermuseum.org).

Fonthill Castle will host its eighth annual end-of summer Beer Fest on August 26 from 2-5 p.m.

The brew-oriented event will feature quality drafts from more than 35 local and regional breweries in the beautiful outdoor setting of Fonthill Castle.

Guests at Saturday’s festival will also be able to enjoy music, dine on light fare and receive a commemorative beer tasting glass.

General admission tickets, which are $75, include unlimited beer tastings.  All guests must be 21 years of age or older and have a valid ID to attend.

Tickets are non-refundable. The event will be held rain or shine — unless weather conditions are hazardous.

Beer will also be an attraction at Hagley Museum and Library (Buck Road East entrance via Route 100, Wilmington, Delaware, 302-658-2400, www.hagley.org) which is hosting “Summer Nights at Hagley” on August 23 and 28 from 5-8 p.m. each night

Visitors to Hagley can enjoy an after-work hike or a picnic along the Brandywine’s most beautiful mile on summer Wednesday evenings from June through August.

It is a a family event featuring summer fun in a beautiful outdoor setting. Guests can bring a picnic to enjoy at Hagley’s picnic pavilion on Workers’ Hill or at a picnic table along the Brandywine.

Dogfish Head craft beer and Woodside Farm Creamery ice cream are also available for purchase. You are welcome to bring your own food to “Summer Nights at Hagley,” but outside alcohol is strictly prohibited.

Admission is $5 per person and free for Hagley members and children five and under. Please note that this event is weather-dependent.

On August 25, Hagley will present this month’s installment of “Cannon Firings.”

Guests can have a blast during their visit to Hagley by watching a demonstration of the museum’s signal cannon.

Demonstrations take place at 1, 2, and 3 p.m.

Please note that cannon firings are weather-dependent.

The “Cannon Firings” are included with admission and free for Hagley members.

The historical site also presents a special event on August 26 — a “Walking Tour.”

The “Walking Tour” on will depart at 11 a.m. on August 19.

With the “Walking Tour,” participants can walk through history during an in-depth, 90-minute guided tour each Monday morning from March through December. This week’s topic is “Trees of Hagley.”

Hagley Museum and Library is the site of the gunpowder works founded by E. I. du Pont in 1802. This example of early American industry includes restored mills, a workers’ community, and the ancestral home and gardens of the du Pont family.

High on the banks of the Brandywine River overlooking the original powder mills, E. I. du Pont, founder of the DuPont Company, built his home. For almost a century the Georgian-style home and surrounding complex of buildings and gardens served as the center of family and business life. Five generations of du Pont family members lived in the house since its completion in 1803, each leaving their mark. Today you will see it much as it was when the last family member lived there, filled with furnishings and collections of American folk art, alongside treasured family pieces and items brought with the family from France when they left in 1799.

Admission is $20 for Adults, $16 for Seniors (62+) and Students, and $10 for Children 6-14.

Historic Odessa (Main Street, Odessa, Delaware, 302-378-4119, www.historicodessa.org) is both a scenic and an historic site in Delaware.

Odessa is one of Delaware’s most historic sites.

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. General Admission: Adults, $10; Groups, Seniors, Students, $8; and Children under six are free.

The Brandywine Valley has quite a few museums and tourist sites that provide residents and tourists ideal opportunities to spend leisure time — and you can maximize your effort if you take advantage of the 2024 Brandywine Treasure Trail Passport.

The cost is $49 for an individual pass and $99 for a family pass (for up to five family members).

The John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum (8601 Lindbergh Boulevard, Philadelphia, www.fws.gov/refuge/John_Heinz) has an attractive morning event scheduled for this weekend.

On August 24, the site will host “Birds, Butterfly, and Dragonfly Walk with Cliff and Nancy Hence.

Participants can take an educational walk with the Refuge’s knowledgeable volunteers, Cliff and Nancy Hence.

They will be able to discover the 300+ species of birds that use the Refuge during their migration routes — each week guarantees different species.

Along the way, they will also be looking out for the many species butterflies and dragonflies of the refuge.

Walk will meet at the Rt. 420 entrance and be at a relaxed paced on flat surfaces. There are no bathrooms and water available, please plan accordingly. No registration required.

The event, which is scheduled for 9 a.m., is free with no registration needed.

On August 24, Laurel Hill Cemetery (3822 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia, www.thelaurelhillcemetery.org) will present “Sacred Spaces and Storied Places” 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?

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 MaryEllen Moran.

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.

Now through September 27, the Chaddsford Winery (632 Baltimore Pike, Chadds Ford, http://www.chaddsford.com) is hosting “Wine Down” on Fridays from 5-9 p.m. each night.

“Wine Down” will feature Quizzo trivia games on Fridays.

In addition to wine available by the glass, there will be food items available for purchase.

Penns Woods Winery (124 Beaver Valley Road, Chadds Ford, http://www.pennswoodswinery.com) is presenting a summer music series.

The winery will open at 11 a.m. each day and have matinee performances of live music.

There will be music by Chris Despo on August 23 from 5-7 p.m., Greg Jones on August 24 from 2-5 p.m. and Joe Vendetty on August 25 from 2-5 p.m.

On August 24, Heckler Plains Farmstead (237 Landis Road, Harleysville, www.lowersalfordtownship.org) will be the site of the 2023 Hecklerfest.

The popular annual event will start at 10 a.m. and run until 3 p.m.

Visitors will have the opportunity to spend a day in the 1800s at the Historic Heckler Plains Farmstead.

They will be able churn butter, have pie from the State’s oldest working outdoor bake oven, check out the spring house, tour the barn from the 1700s and shop local crafters.

Members of the J.S. Hancock Society will be on hand to re-create life on the farm in the 1800s and members of the Lower Salford Historical Society will be present to provide information on the history of Lower Salford Township.

A Montgomery County Park with a special event this weekend is Pottsgrove Manor (100 West King Street, Pottstown, 610-326-4014, http://montcopa.org/index.aspx?nid=930).

Every Saturday in August, Pottsgrove Manor is presenting “Open House Days.”

Visitors can see something new every Saturday as Pottsgrove Manor highlights items from the collection and welcomes Living History activities throughout the day. They will be able to discover the ins-and-outs of 18th century items with the curator and learn about the trades and skills of the past with living history interpreters.

Visitors can also find historic summer delights being created in the reproduction kitchen from period receipts.

Pottsgrove Manor’s staff and living history volunteers will demonstrate 18th-century trades, crafts, and pastimes. Many of the audience-friendly events are interactive. This event also features free admission.

Hope Lodge (553 South Bethlehem Pike, Fort Washington, 215-343-0965, http://www.ushistory.org/hope/) will be presenting a “Guided Mansion Tours” on August 25.

Hope Lodge was built between 1743 and 1748 by Samuel Morris, a prosperous Quaker entrepreneur. Morris acted as a farmer, shipowner, miller, iron master, shop owner, and owner of the mill now known as Mather Mill. Hope Lodge is an excellent example of early Georgian architecture, and it is possible that Edmund Woolley, architect of Independence Hall, offered advice in building. Samuel Morris owned the estate until his death in 1770.

The site opens at 12:30 p.m. with self-guided tours starting at 1 and 2:30 p.m. The closes at 4 p.m.

Tour admission is $8 for adults, $5 for seniors (age 65+) and for youth ages 6-17, and fee for children under 5. Hope Lodge is a Blue Star Museum which means that active-duty military personnel, including National Guard and Reserve and their families, are admitted free for regular tours from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

A popular venue where you can get close to nature is Tyler Arboretum (515 Painter Road, Media, 610-566-9134, www.tylerarboretum.org).

The arboretum’s schedule for this weekend features the “Wildflower Walk: Summer Edition” on August 24 from 1-3 p.m.

At the “Saturday Wildflower Walk,” wildflower expert Dick Cloud 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.

Admission to Tyler Arboretum is $18 for adults (ages 18-64), $15 for seniors and veterans and $10 for children (ages 3-17) and Military with valid ID.

The Elmwood Park Zoo (1661 Harding Boulevard, Norristown, www.elmwoodparkzoo.org) is hosting “Breakfast with the Giraffes” on August 26 and 27.

Guests can enjoy a delicious, socially distanced outdoor breakfast buffet, right next to the zoo’s three towering giraffes. After participants have cleared their plates, they will be invited to an exclusive giraffe feeding.

The breakfast event will get underway at 8:30 a.m.

A “Zoo Snooze” overnight campout will start at 6 p.m. on August 23 and run until 9:30 a.m. on July 10.

The “Campout” includes — Dinner (includes pizza, salad, and potato chips), Breakfast (includes pastries and fresh fruit), Flashlight tour of the zoo, Campfire & activities, educational show the next morning and Zoo admission the next day.

Tickets are $79.95.

The Zoo is also hosting its “Breakfast with Giraffes” on August 24 and 25.

Peddler’s Village (Routes 202 and 263, Lahaska, 215-794-4000, www.peddlersvillage.com) is celebrating “Peach Month” in August.

It’s a paradise for those who love shopping and/or peaches with plenty of peachy treats, weekend entertainment, and scenic strolls through the Village’s summer gardens.

Visitors will be able to savor the flavors of all things peach from savory to sweet at the Village’s restaurants and weekend outdoor food tent all month long.

On August weekends, visitors can enjoy live music while they shop and enjoy peach-themed foods and beverages.

Fresh peaches, peach pies, and peach products will be available on Saturdays and Sundays.

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.

The West Chester Railroad ( www.westchesterrr.net) is running its “Summer Picnic Specials” every Sunday now through September 18. There will be one excursion each day at noon.

Passengers can enjoy a 90-minute round trip train ride from West Chester to Glen Mills and return on a warm summer afternoon. Riders are invited to pack a lunch to have during excursion’s stop at the Glen Mills train station picnic grove.

Tickets are $17 for adults, $15 for children (2-12) and free for children (under two).

Wilmington and Western Railroad (Greenbank Station, 2201 Newport-Gap Pike, Wilmington, Delaware, www.wwrr.com) is running its “Yorklyn Limited” on Saturdays in August with departures at 12:30 p.m.

Riders can take a leisurely 1.5-hour round-trip ride up the Red Clay Valley to the Mt. Cuba Picnic Grove, where they can de-train to enjoy a half-hour layover along the banks of the Red Clay Creek to have a picnic or simply admire the natural surroundings.

For those who don’t want to get off the train at Mt. Cuba, they can remain onboard and travel further up the line through the communities of Ashland and Yorklyn. On the return trip, there will be a brief stop at Mt. Cuba to pick up the picnic passengers.

The “Yorklyn Limited” excursion is the re-branded name of the “Mt. Cuba Meteor” excursion.

These trips are powered by one of Wilmington and Western Railroad’s historic first-generation diesel locomotives.

Tickets are $18 for adults, $17 for seniors and $16 for children (ages 2-12).

The New Hope Railroad (32 Bridge Street, New Hope, www.newhoperailroad.com) is running its “Grapevine Express,” which features “Wine & Cheese Tasting” on Saturdays and Sundays in August at 5 p.m. each night.

Riders are invited to take part in a romantic “Wine and Cheese Excursion” and enjoy fine gourmet cheese, artisan crackers, meats, fruit, and our featured local wines. Additional Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic beverages are also available onboard.

Wine and cheese will be served to passengers as they travel along the same railroad line passengers did when it was built in 1891 connecting New Hope with Philadelphia. The journey travels through the beautiful hills and valleys of Bucks County, along once vital waterways and streams and across numerous trestle bridges.

The excursions will take place aboard one of the railroads lavishly appointed early 1900’s first-class parlor cars.

Tickets are $102.58 (Ages 21 and older only).

The Strasburg Railroad (Route 741, Strasburg, www.strasburgrailroad.com) is running its “Wine & Cheese Train” on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays in August at 5 p.m. on Thursdays and 7 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

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 7 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 $7 each.

In accordance with Pennsylvania law, alcohol is only served during the train ride. The rail line is not permitted to serve alcoholic beverages while the train is berthed in the station.

This popular train is available on select Friday and Saturday evenings throughout the season. Tickets are $50.

On August 23, the Colebrookdale Railroad (South Washington Street, Boyertown, www.colebrookdalerailroad.com) is running its “Secret Valley Summer Special” at 5 p.m.

The tourist rail line’s 90-minute expedition into Berks County features rides on meticulously restored century-old rail cars and visits to one of the most scenic and historic regions in the northeast.

Ticket prices start at $25.

The Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad (Reading Outer Station, Reading, www.rbmnrr-passenger.com) is running “All Day Train Excursions” every Saturday and Sunday in August and September.

Passengers can take a train excursion through Pennsylvania’s beautiful landscape to Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania. They can board the train at the Reading Outer Station, Port Clinton Station, or Tamaqua Station.

During the trip, riders will see rolling farmland, beautiful mountains, glistening lakes, and small towns along the railroad’s main line. The train will also travel through tunnels and over bridges — a highlight being the Hometown High Bridge.

Once the excursion arrives in Jim Thorpe, riders have more than 3.5 hours to explore the many shops, restaurants, and attractions before boarding the train for your return trip.

While in Jim Thorpe, they can also ride one of the rail line’s 70-minute Lehigh Gorge trains at a discounted rate.

Tickets for the all-day excursion are $39 from the Reading Outer Station and Port Clinton Station and $24 from the Tamaqua Station.

Grim Philly’s “Dark Philly History Tour” (www.grimphilly.com) will be held every evening throughout the summer.

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.

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.

Treetop Quest Philly (51 Chamounix Drive, Philadelphia, www.treetopquest.com) is an aerial adventure park that will challenge you physically and mentally as you maneuver from tree to tree through obstacles and zip-lines. Once you’re equipped, they will teach you how to operate your equipment and you’ll be able to swing through each course as many times as you want for 2.5 hours.

Each participant is outfitted with a harness and gloves. Each course has a continuous belay system — a lifeline that is impossible to detach without a staff member. The activity is self-guided, and the staff is ready to assist when needed.

Gloves are required for our activity. During this time, we encourage participants to bring their own gloves to use while up in the trees, gardening gloves are perfect for this activity.

Ticket prices are $55, adults; $48, ages 12-17; $38, ages 7-11.

“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 that is open now and will run through November 26.

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 r 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 and Main Park Youth Tickets (Ages 7–11), $51.