What To Do: It’s National Dog Show time!

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times 

Cynophobia is the fear of dogs.

On November 15 and 16, the National Dog Show will be held at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center – from 8 a.m.-7 p.m. each day.

The Kennel Club of Philadelphia has presented dog shows for more than 125 years.

The show is now the only benched show in America, which means that all breeds can be found in designated locations throughout the day both Saturday and Sunday.

There will be more than 2,000 of the top American Kennel Club sanctioned dogs from across the country. 205 breeds and varieties are eligible to compete for best of Breed, First in Group and the coveted title of Best in Show. Each day brings different competitions and attractions.

The show’s sponsor – the Kennel Club of Philadelphia – will host two all-breed dog shows with completely different competitions each day. The annual event is one of only a handful of “benched” events in the United States.

Many who are not familiar with competitive dog shows may find themselves wondering what the difference is between a benched dog show and a non-benched dog show.

A benched show is where the participating dogs are required to be on assigned benches when they are not being shown in competition.

This allows all interested spectators, breeders, handlers and attendees to meet all the participating dogs, interact, ask questions, and share information about the various breeds present at the show. A non-benched dog show does not require all dogs to remain “benched” throughout the competition.

The National Dog Show, which has been held annually since 1933, is one of the four remaining (and the oldest) benched dog shows in the United States.

Visitors to the show will be able to check out a multitude of the top American Kennel Club sanctioned dogs from across the country.

Saturday is The National Dog Show Presented by Purina, taped for telecast nationwide on Thanksgiving Day by NBC. It is the most widely viewed dog show in America.

Sunday’s show offers more canine competitions, enhanced athletic dog exhibitions plus family-friendly activities and hands-on fun.

There will be a full schedule of events each day, including breed judging and demonstration events. The exhibitors at the show will be competing for prizes in categories in seven main groups — terrier, toy, working, sporting, hound, non-sporting and herding.

The area will also feature dog-themed face painting, caricatures and more.

Admission either day is $20 for adults, $10 for children (ages 4-12) and free for children (3 and under).

West Chester Holiday Shop & Stroll will be held on November 16 from 1:30-5 p.m.

Visitors will be able to get a head start on holiday shopping and support local businesses at the same time at the inaugural West Chester Holiday Shop & Stroll.

Shop, Sip & Stroll: A Downtown West Chester Shopping Trail will visit seven stores — each offering exclusive discounts, treats, and surprises.

The event will kick off at Pine + Quill at 1:30 p.m. and wrap up around 4:30 p.m. at True by Kristy.

The Shopping Trail includes Pine + Quill (15% off one item), Bookmarks (10% off + a mystery gift with every purchase), Tish & Tish Kids (15% off your purchase), Phineas Gage (15% off your purchase), La Chic Boutique (20% off your purchase) and True by Kristy Jewelry (15% off your purchase).

Participants who visit all seven will be entered to win a Grand Raffle Basket that is packed with more than $300 in gifts and gift cards.

Grand Raffle Basket Includes $25 Pine + Quill gift card + Geometry tea towel, $50 Bookmarks gift card, $50 Tish & Tish Kids gift card, $50 Phineas Gage gift card, La Chic Boutique gift card + special gift and
$50 True by Kristy gift card + earrings.

This is a free community event celebrating small businesses and good company.

On November 15 and 16, the Olde Fort Mifflin Historical Society will celebrate the 248th Anniversary of the “Siege & Bombardment of Fort Mifflin.”

There will be two days of activities commemorating the historic siege and bombardment of Fort Mifflin (Fort Mifflin and Hog Island roads, Philadelphia, 215-685-4167, www.fortmifflin.us) that took place in 1777. The event gets underway each day at 10 a.m. and continues until 4 p.m.

Four full scripted battles will tell the story of the greatest bombardment of the Revolutionary War.

Fort Mifflin, which was originally called Fort Island Battery, was commissioned in 1771. It was also known as Mud Island Fort because it sits on Mud Island (also known as Deep Water Island) on the Delaware River near the Philadelphia International Airport. During the American Revolutionary War, the British Army bombarded and captured the fort as part of their conquest of Philadelphia in autumn 1777.

During the siege, 400 American soldiers held off more than 2,000 British troops and over 250 ships that had been responsible for launching an endless barrage of cannonballs into the fort. After five days of holding off the British, the American troops evacuated the fort after having successfully denied the British Navy free use of the Delaware River.

Activities at this weekend’s commemoration will depict life in the 18th century and feature weapons demonstrations, tactical demonstrations, musket drills for youngsters and a scavenger hunt. There will be military re-enactors portraying both American and British forces as they commemorate the largest bombardment that took place in the entire American Revolution.

A “skirmish” will be staged at 1:30 p.m. each day.

Tickets are $16 for adults, $14 for seniors, $12 for veterans and $10 for children (ages 6-12).

On November 15, Laurel Hill Cemetery (3822 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia, 215-228-8200, laurelhillphl.com) will present “Pocket of Paradise Neighborhood Tour” at 1 p.m.

This is a walking tour that covers both the history of the area, as well as the more recent past as it has been experienced firsthand by neighborhood residents.

Highlights include this history of original settlers, rise and fall of Dobson Mills, as well as the second phase of the industrial revolution that included household names such as Pep Boys, Tastykake and Penn Reels.

Tours will be led by area residents and the Friends of Laurel Hill. Tour will begin at Laurel Hill East.

Tickets are $17 for general admission, $15 for seniors, and $8.50 for youth.

The UniverSoul Circus (52nd Street and Parkside Avenue, Philadelphia, 800-345-7000, www.universoulcircus.com), will run through November 16, is offering something different for circus fans.

The performances, which will be held in the UniverSoul Big Top at 3901 West Girard Avenue in Philadelphia, blend traditional circus attractions with urban culture, hip hop tunes and world beat music.

Celebrating its 26th anniversary in Philadelphia, UniverSoul Circus has come full circle in its influence in the international entertainment marketplace — garnering the distinction of being known as a one-of-a-kind, must see attraction.

Since its first performance in 1994, UniverSoul Circus has presented more than 12,000 performances to live audiences and has been seen in more than 60 million households on both local and national television networks.

UniverSoul Circus connects with progressive, upwardly mobile, urban pop cultures from around the world. Celebrating more than two decades under the big top, UniverSoul Circus features music, theatrical performances and incredible circus acts.

UniverSoul Circus is rated as one of the top two circuses along with Cirque du Soleil.

The circus will be in town now through November 16 at its site across from the Philadelphia Zoo. Ticket prices start at $33.

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

Longwood’s Chrysanthemum Festival is running through November 16.

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

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

Throughout the Conservatory, specialty chrysanthemum forms from fanciful clouds to sculptural spirals not only showcase our horticultural savvy but help preserve an ancient Asian artform that we are beyond proud to perpetuate.

Daily performances in the Main Fountain Garden will feature more than 1,700 spinning jets that spin dance to various music programs. These are no little jets as some shoot up as high as 175 feet in the air.

Admission to Longwood Gardens is $35 for adults, $31 for seniors (ages 62 and older) and college students, $26 for active military and veterans and $20 for youth (ages 5-18).

A good location for a nature walk is Tyler Arboretum (515 Painter Road, Media, 610-566-9134, www.tylerarboretum.org).

The arboretum’s schedule for this weekend features a “Saturday Wildflower Walk” on November 15.

With 650 protected acres of beautiful woodland, seasonally charming meadows, and a lively program of seasonal events and activities, Tyler Arboretum is a delight for nature lovers, birders, botanists, and those who want rediscover the natural world.

Dating to 1681, making it one of the oldest public gardens in the United States, and home to eight generations of three families, Tyler Arboretum connects visitors to the region’s rich culture and history while preserving, developing, sharing, and celebrating Pennsylvania’s priceless horticultural heritage.

“Saturday Wildflower Walk,” which runs from 1-3 p.m., features wildflower expert Dick Cloud on an informative two-hour hike that will take guests 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.

Although the focus is on plants, Cloud will also talk about whatever else is seen on the tour. Walkers should wear comfortable hiking shoes and bring a camera and/or a wildflower guide, for this botanical-filled walk.

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.

Chaddsford Winery (Route 1, Chadds Ford, 610-388-6221, www.chaddsford.com) is presenting “Reserve Tastings – Festive Faves” on Saturdays in November and December.

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 its 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.

Tickets are $38 per person.

The Philadelphia Comic-Con, which is scheduled to run from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on November 16 at the Clarion Hotel Conference Center (76 Industrial Highway, Essington, 856-217-5737, www.philadelphiacomic-con.com), features comic books, trading cards and other collectibles — both modern and vintage.

The event, which has an admission fee of $4, also features a number of special autograph guests.

The popular collectibles event, which is the area’s longest running comic convention, will host dealers from all over the Northeast with sales booths featuring Gold & Silver Age comics, action figures, non-sport cards (including Topps “Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens”).

Also featured will be Japanese Manga, gaming cards such as Pokemon and Magic the Gathering, original artwork and all the latest issues of today’s popular comic book series.

The Colebrookdale Railroad (South Washington Street, Boyertown, www.colebrookdalerailroad.com) is running its “Autumn Splendor Fall Foliage Excursions” on November15 and 16.

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

The two-hour round trips depart and arrive in Boyertown.

Ticket options include Deluxe-Coach, Dining, Garden Cafe, First-Class Parlor or First-Class Lounge.

Tickets are $35 for adults and $30 for children and seniors.

The Northern Central Railway (2 West Main Street, New Freedom, www.northerncentralrailway.com) is running its “Fall Foliage Trains” on November 16.

Riders can enjoy the beauty of fall in Southern York County as the train follows the original Northern Central Railroad, a mainline in operation since 1838, through the scenic Heritage Rail Trail County Park.

Motive power will be the William H Simpson No. 17 replica steam locomotive or the 6076 PRR GP9 historic diesel locomotive. The conductor and brakeman will tell riders about the history and growth of the towns and villages they pass along the way.

Ticket prices start at $32.99.

“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.

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 start at $47.

Halloween is fading in the rear-view mirror, but there is one Halloween event still going.

The “33rd Annual Field of Screams” (109 College Avenue, Mountville, 717-285-7748, www.fieldofscreams.com), which is open now through November 15, features four world-class Haunted Experiences and an impressive Midway Area.

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

Ticket prices start at $55.

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 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.

Get ready — it’s time for the annual onslaught of Christmas events. This is the first weekend. Next weekend, everything slams into high gear.

Nemours Estate will be closed now until November 17 for holiday decorating. Guests can resume visiting when Nemours reopens for its “Noël at Nemours Estate,” which will run from November 18 through December 30.

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.

Candlelight Dinner Theatre (2208 Millers Road, Arden, Delaware, www.candlelighttheatredelaware.org) is celebrating Opening Night for its annual holiday show .

“Christmas by Candlelight” will open on November 15 and run through December 21.

There’s no place like home for the holidays so the Candlelight is thrilled to welcome audiences “home” to the barn for its heartwarming celebration of the yuletide season back by popular demand.

The show features favorite seasonal and sacred tunes, as well as some new surprises, brought to life by some of the theater’s most popular cast and staff.

Tickets, which include dinner and show, are $77.50 for adults and $35 for children (ages 4-12). “Show Only” tickets, which have limited availability, cost $35.

Anyone wanting to get into a Christmas mood early can visit Koziar’s Christmas Village (782 Christmas Village Road, Bernville, 610-488-1110, www.koziarschristmasvillage.com) which began its 77th season on last week.

Koziar’s Christmas Village is truly a holiday wonderland — a wintertime spectacle that delights young and old alike with a huge amount of holiday displays and special attractions. It will remain open every night through January 3 — including Christmas Eve, Christmas Night, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Night.

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

Other attractions at Koziar’s Christmas Village include a huge model train display, a toy shop, a country kitchen, indoor and outdoor Christmas displays and a place to visit with Santa and even get pictures taken with the old guy in the red suit. Admission to Christmas Village is $13 for adults, $12 for seniors (65 and older) and $11 for children (ages 4-10).

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

The AMT’s 2025 show “Deck the Halls” is an all-new presentation of favorite sacred and secular holiday songs performed by professional artists from across the country.

The show will feature spectacular vocal harmonies, lively musical arrangements, impressive dancing and the music of the AMT Orchestra.

The show features incredible singers, astonishing dancers, wondrous costumes, breathtaking sets, and all the endearment of a perfect fireside family moment. Patrons can bask in the beauty of the season and cherish the stories of spirit and love.

The show will have both matinee and evening performances each week with the addition of 10:30 a.m. performances on Saturdays throughout December. Tickets are $59 for adults, $57 for seniors and $30 for children.

“Christmas Candylane,” which is the annual holiday event at Hersheypark (100 West Hersheypark Drive, Hershey, 800-HERSHEY, www.hersheypark.com), is running now through January 4.

Visitors to Hershey can also experience the winter wonderland called “Hershey Sweet Lights, A Holiday Drive-Thru Spectacular.” The attraction is a two-mile drive through wooded trails featuring approximately 600 illuminated, animated displays.

Admission prices for “Christmas Candylane” start at $46.99.

“A Very Furry Christmas at Sesame Place” (100 Sesame Road, Langhorne, www.sesameplace.com) is a festive, family-friendly celebration with everyone’s favorite Sesame Street friends live and in-person at the amusement park in Langhorne.

The annual event, which runs through January 4, offers a wide array of family holiday activities.

Visitors to the park can sing along at three special Christmas shows and a spectacular music and light show at our giant 1-2-3 Christmas Tree, take a train ride tour through the Twiddlebugs’ Gingerbread Cookie Factory on the Sesame Place Furry Express, take part in the Neighborhood Street Party Christmas Parade, and have the opportunity to meet Lightning, the adorable reindeer from the movie “Elmo Saves Christmas.”

As an added attraction this year, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is spending the holiday season at Sesame Place. The lovable reindeer along with his friends Clarice and Bumble, will be available for photos with guests.

Tickets for “A Very Furry Christmas” start at $29.99.

Now that Christmas activities have begun, Peddler’s Village (Routes 202 and 263, Lahaska, http://peddlersvillage.com) is starting its celebration and that means there will be a lot of activity at the site over the next few weeks.

Visitors to the Village can join special guest Mrs. Claus for festive fun and mini-lightings in a different Village neighborhood each night leading up to the Village-wide Grand Illumination Celebration. Village shops will be open until 9 p.m. with a distinctive assortment of merchandise, special promotions and refreshments.

The 25th Annual Grand Illumination celebration will showcase thousands of tiny white lights outlining the Village’s buildings, colorful lights with less-than-common colors (teal, peach, and fuscia) adorning the trees and shrubs and a landscaped backdrop featuring a group of reindeer glowing in white light.

Santa will arrive to turn on the lights and officially mark the beginning of the event. After the lights go on, visitors will be treated to free cider and toasted marshmallows.

November 14 also marks the start of Peddler’s Village “Gingerbread House Competition and Display.” Slated to run through January 5, the “Gingerbread House Competition” features over $2,000 in cash prizes in such categories as Traditional and Authentic Reproduction of a Significant Building.

The holiday lights will be on display every evening through January 18. Shops will be open until 10 p.m. There will be free admission and free parking.

If you take a trip to the Lehigh Valley, you can check out two very impressive holiday lights displays.

Bethlehem, which is known as the “Christmas City,” presents Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem (PNC Plaza at SteelStacks, 645 East First Street, Bethlehem, 610-332-1300, http://www.christmascity.org) every Friday, Saturday and Sunday now through December 22.

Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem showcases aisles of exquisite handmade works by the nation’s finest artisans. The market also features live performances of Christmas music and vendors with an amazing variety of tasty food items.

Other special attractions include ice carving, glassblowing demonstrations, “Breakfast with St. Nicholas,” outdoor artisan huts, fire pits and igloos in the Outdoor Village, and Käthe Wohlfarht with handmade ornaments, nutcrackers and collectibles from Germany.

Admission fee is $14.50.

The “Illumination at Coca-Cola Park” opens on November 14 at the Lehigh Valley IronPigs Baseball Stadium – Coca-Cola Park (1050 IronPigs Way, Allentown, illuminationlv.com ).

“Illumination at Coca-Cola Park” will take place nightly from 6-9 p.m. and feature more than one million  holiday lights. Every 15-20 minutes, a dazzling synchronized music and light show will take place featuring a breathtaking display where the stadium lights come alive in harmony with the holiday music.

Building on a wildly successful debut, “Illumination” has added various new entertainment options in addition to the spectacular lights show to help create the greatest holiday experience in the Lehigh Valley.

Guests will now be able to take part in a traditional carousel ride or even take a hayride with Mrs. Claus during their visit. For those with a competitive side, or even those looking for a truly unique experience, curling lanes have been added and are available for rent.

Joining Mrs. Claus as nightly new characters will be the Grinch and Cousin Eddie. Guests will have even more opportunities to snap the perfect flick for their holiday cards with additional sELFie stations.

Building on a successful debut, the food menu at Illumination will also feature new additions with even more holiday treats. Plus, a new large heated dining tent will be available for guests to relax and enjoy their food.

Admission prices start at $11.

Winter Light Spectacular will be held at the Lehigh Valley Zoo (5150 Game Preserve Road, Schnecksville, www.lvzoo.org) from November 14-January 3.

The Lehigh Valley Zoo celebrates the most magical time of the year during the annual Winter Light Spectacular, beginning Friday, November 14, through Saturday, January 3, 2026.

Guests can bundle up and enjoy the beauty of nature as they stroll through tree-lined paths lit up by more than 1.2 million twinkling lights and themed animated displays.

They will be able to warm up next to the cozy outdoor fire pits, while enjoying hot cocoa and Stuffed Puffs® Classic Milk Chocolate Filled Marshmallow s’mores.

And there are plenty of photo opportunities to capture the children’s delight when they encounter Santa, Anna, Elsa, Belle, and Cinderella.