What To Do: Get back to nature with Meadow Days

Plus: live music, helicopters, festivals and even more on busy summer schedule

By Denny Dyroff, Staff Writer, The Times

One of the top summertime attractions in the Brandywine Valley is the annual “Fireworks and Fountains” events at Longwood Gardens (US-1, Kennett Square, 610-388-1000, www.longwoodgardens.org).

Unfortunately, Longwood Gardens will not be holding any Fireworks & Fountains shows this summer because of its Fountain Revitalization Project. But, there are several of other special attractions guaranteed to keep visitors happy — including “Meadow Days” and “Nightscape: A Light and Sound Experience.”

“Meadow Days” offer lots of opportunities for fun and discovery. Visitors can explore the Meadow Garden along more than three miles of walking trails. Longwood’s staff and Natural Lands Trust experts will be available to help guests learn more about the many creatures and plants of our meadow habitat. They also will share tips on how to create native habitats at home and support native pollinators.

Families can enjoy the meadow with a variety of activities — an ecology seek-and-find activity that is geared for both kids and adults, “Story Time” in Lookout Loft, and scheduled hikes to explore the highlights and wildflowers of the meadow.

“Meadow Days” will be held August 15, September 19 and October 17 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. each day. “Natural Lands Trust Habitat Talks” are scheduled for 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. while the “Meadow Garden Highlights Walk” will run from 10:30-11 a.m.

The “Meadow Wildflower Hike” is slated for 11 a.m.-noon and “Meadow Story Time” (for children ages 3-7) will take place from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Lookout Loft Treehouse. 

This year visitors to Longwood will have the opportunity to enjoy visually-impressive sights at Longwood after the sun goes down, when the site presents the after-dark-only installation “Nightscape: A Light and Sound Experience.”

The installation, which is open now through October 31, brings the garden to life after dark with colorful lights and moving images that are choreographed to music. “Nightscape” will take place in various areas of the garden — Rose Arbor, Large Lake, Flower Garden Drive, Legacy Tree, Flower Garden Walk, Topiary Garden, East Conservatory and Silver Garden. The installation will be on view Wednesdays through Saturdays, and will open every day at sunset.

 Longwood will also host a variety of special events during “Nightscape,” including a new beer garden in collaboration with Victory Brewing Company. The beer garden will feature three beers on tap (including the new custom brew “Longwood Seasons: Summer Zest”).

The beer garden will also be the site of live music every Thursday from 7-10 p.m. and feature a roster of performers that includes Angela Sheik (August 20, September 17, October 22), Marc Silver (September 10, October 8 and 15), Jon Dichter (August 27, September 24, October 29) and Dani Mari (September 3, October 1).

Video link for “Nightscape: A Light and Sound Experience” — https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=PtY-nRxWzhA.

Tickets are $27 for adults, $17 for students (ages 5-18) and free for children (ages 4 and under).

Another popular summer event at Longwood Gardens is scheduled for this weekend.

The Kennett Symphony of Chester County presents “Opera Without Words” under the direction of Music Director Michael Hall at 7 p.m. on August 15 (rain date, August 16).

The program features works by Bizet, Mozart, Puccini, and Verdi including “Carmen,” “The Marriage of Figaro” and “Faust.”

Ticket prices are $40 in advance, $45 on the day of the concert and $10 for student tickets. Ticket price includes the concert, access to visit Longwood Gardens during the day on the day of the concert, free parking, and a special gift courtesy of Longwood Gardens and the Kennett Symphony. For more information, call (610) 444-6363or visit www.kennettsymphony.org.

The Chester County Old Fiddlers Picnic, which was held last weekend at Hibernia Park, has been drawing large crowds for years. Now, there is a new event that matches the same demographics — the Lanchester Fiddlers Picnic (Landis Woodland Preserve at 610 Zion Hill Road, West Sadsbury Township, 610-857-5969, www.westsadsburytwp.org).

Musicians are invited to bring their instruments and voices to the Fourth Annual Lanchester Fiddlers Picnic, which will be held at the nature site near Atglen from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. on August 15.

The event, which is free and open to the public, will feature stage performances, informal jam sessions and hayrides — and an opportunity to see the preserve. The Landis Woodland Preserve is only open for special events such as Civil War reenactments and the annual Lanchester Community Days in September.

This Saturday, people are invited to bring lawn chairs, blankets or picnics. Food vendors will be on hand with a variety of picnic offerings. There is no admission fee but there will be a parking fee of $5.

If you’re really in the mood for music this weekend, then you should head north — to Old Pool Farm in Schwenksville to check out the 2015 Philadelphia Folk Festival (Old Pool Farm, Schwenksville, 800-556-FOLK, www.pfs.org) or to Bethlehem to enjoy the final three days of the 2015 Musikfest (www.musikfest.org).

This Philadelphia Folk Festival is a music festival that is on a plateau all its own. Now in its 54th year, the festival continues to evolve with the times and, at the same time, maintain its traditional vibe. There is no other festival in the country quite like the Philadelphia Folk Festival.

Musikfest, which is held at a wide variety of venues, features more than a week of concerts covering a diverse range of music genres. Some shows are ticketed but most are free and open to the public.

The American Helicopter Museum & Education Center (1220 American Blvd., Brandywine Airport, West Chester, 610-436-9600, www.helicoptermuseum.org) will celebrate World Helicopter Day on August 15 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The event, which occurs globally on Sunday, offers a variety of unique activities.

 The schedule of events includes the MedEvac Foundation International’s hosting of its Great American Safety Drive (a cross-country event promoting medical and safety transport programs) and Penn Medicine Chester County’s Certified Chest Pain Center teaching early signs of heart attack and Hands-Only CPR.

There will also be displays and demonstrations presented by MidAtlantic MedEvac, MedTrans, Agusta Westland, Whirly-Girls International, West Chester YMCA and Goshen Fire Company.

The one-day event at the Helicopter Museum also features helicopter rides from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. along with food vendors, rides, games, Moon Bounce, trampoline, misting stations and other attractions. Admission to the Museum is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, students with ID and children (under 12) and free for children (under 2).

You can get a look back at another era by attending an event called “Civil War Living History at The Mill at Anselma” which will take place on August 15 and 16 at Mill at Anselma (1730 Conestoga Road, Chester Springs, 610-827-1906, http://anselmamill.org).

The Mill at Anselma will be celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the end of the American Civil War and Union soldiers will take over the Mill for the weekend. Programs will include “Life of the Civil War soldier,” “Music of the Civil War,” “Camp life of the Civil War soldier,” “Musket firing demonstrations,” “Food of the Civil War soldier” and “Drill & Manual Arms of the Civil War soldier.”

Visitors to the Mill will be able to enlist and learn how to drill just like a soldier. There will be a variety of hands-on activities for children. As a special attraction, children dressed as a soldier or civilian from the Civil War will receive free admission.

The event will run from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. both days. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors (60 and older) and children (ages 4-14). Active Military and children (under 4) will be admitted free.

There are several different Indian cultures — American Indians (Native Americans), East Asian Indians (natives of the Indian sub-continent) and West Indians (natives of a number of Caribbean countries.

There will be two very different but equally attractive ethnic festivals this weekend at Penn’s Landing (Delaware Avenue, Philadelphia, 215-922-2FUN, www.delawareriverevents.com). Both of the free festivals deal with Indians — but not the Native American kind.

West Indian or East Indian — both will be featured this weekend. Penn’s Landing will host the 21^st Annual Festival of India on August 15 and the 29th Annual Caribbean Festival on August 16. Both festivals are free.

The Festival of India, which is sponsored by the Council of Indian Organizations of Greater Philadelphia, is a festive event that features a day full of food, music, dancing and crafts.

The event, which runs from 1-6 p.m., will host a variety of vendors who will be selling a wide array of traditional Indian arts and crafts including clothes, jewelry, music, and other cultural items. Traditional Mahandi work (artistic design) will be available to be done on both hands and feet. Mahandi or hands painting is an old Indian custom still have been practiced by most of the Indian women.

A wide selection of food items from both North and South India will be available for purchase, including such taste treats as tandoori chicken, tikka masala, kolkata rasgulla, gujarati dohkla, chennai idli, korma and an array of Indian breads including chapatti, poori and nan. The festival will run from 1-6 p.m.

Sunday’s festival is a celebration of the culture of 14 Caribbean Islands. The event, which runs from noon-8 p.m., features live island entertainment including drumming, dancing and music.

As always, the festival will have cultural booths where people can get information about the islands of the Caribbean. There will also be a marketplace with vendors selling Caribbean arts and crafts, fashion items and souvenirs.

Island cuisine will be well represented with a number of vendors offering Caribbean delicacies such as Jamaican jerk-chicken and hard-dough bread, escovitched fish and festival cakes, codfish fritters, Jamaican Patties, curried goat and rice & peas.

The line-up of entertainment includes Sophia Brown & Band, Jah People, Faith & Favor Gospel Band, Ras Professor, Poetica, Curtis C, Dance 4Nia Repertory Ensemble, J West Project, Kenny Sykes, Philly PanStars and Sistah Mafalda & the Kuumba Dancers.

For an annual event with a completely different vibe, head west to Lancaster County this weekend.

The Rough and Tumble Engineers Historical Association’s annual Thresherman’s Reunion, which is billed as “The Most Complete Steam & Gas Show in the East,” has become a cherished tradition in Pennsylvania Dutch country. It is not only a “complete show,” it is an old show — one of the oldest continually running events in the state.

This year’s Thresherman’s Reunion, which is being held August 14 and 15 at the Rough and Tumble site (4977 Lincoln Highway East, Kinzers, 717-442-4249,

www.roughandtumble.org), is the 67th annual staging of the event. The main focus this year is on “Case Tractors with Maytag and Briggs and Stratton Gas Engines.”

The daily schedule starts with breakfast at 7 a.m. at the R&T Multi-Purpose. The day’s activities include a saw mill in operation, a “Pageant of Threshing”, a shingle mill in operation, a “Parade of Power” and threshing machine demonstrations.

There will also be displays featuring steam traction engines, antique tractors, threshing machines, Hit & Miss Gas engines, two steam railroads, shingle mill, large gas engines, model engines, saw mill, barker fan, stone crusher, antique cars, stationary bailers, antique wagons and the “Stationary Steam Engine Museum”.

Video link for the Reunion — https://youtu.be/WECWMP5vNIU.

Live entertainment will be provided on August 15 by The Summit Hill Band. Daily tickets for the Reunion are $10 for adults and $5 for children (ages 6-12).

On August 16, the Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum (2451 Kissel Hill Road, Lancaster, 717-569-0401, http://www.landisvalleymuseum.org) will host its annual “Henry K. Landis Birthday Party” from noon-4 p.m. Visitors will be able to travel back to the year 1865 and join in the celebration of the birth of the museum’s founder.

Participants will be able to roam the grounds and interact with re-enactors, learn to dance a reel, take in a lecture about what was happening in the world in 1865, take a wagon ride, play some games, learn about historic foodways, and enjoy a piece of birthday cake in Henry K. Landis’s honor.

As an added bonus, the festive event feature free admission.

On August 15, the 23rd Annual Postcard Expo will be held at the Farm & Home Center (1383 Arcadia Road, Lancaster, 717-413-6882). The event, which is sponsored by the Lancaster County Postcard Club, will have 25 dealers who will be buying and selling postcards from all eras and all locations.

The Expo, which is open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., will also feature several outstanding postcard exhibits along with a variety of food and beverage vendors. Admission is $2.50.

The Farm & Home Center will also host the K2 Collectibles Sunday Stamp Show on August 16. The popular collectors’ event will run from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Philadelphia has a lot to see in the summertime.

A great way to see the city from a different angle is to go on one of the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program’s special “Mural Tours.” Philadelphia has a huge variety of neighborhoods and most of them have buildings that are decorated with murals — some very artistic and elaborate and others more basic yet still very creative.

Fortunately, the city has a program that celebrates these artistic endeavors — The City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program’s special “Mural Tours” (901 Market Street, Philadelphia, 215-925-3633, www.muralarts.org).

The wide variety of mural tours provides guests with the opportunity to experience public art and to explore Philadelphia’s neighborhoods that are off the beaten track.

The “Love Letter Train Tour” takes place aboard SEPTA trains with a guide who shows and explains the 50 murals that make up the Love Letter project. The “Mural Arts Trolley Tour” visits a different Philadelphia neighborhood in the city each week via trolley. The “Mural Mile Walking Tour” features guided walks around Center City’s acclaimed Mural Mile. The “Segway Mural Tour” allow participants to view the murals of the Northern Liberties neighborhood of Philly by Segway.

The “Second Annual Art in the Park Craft Show” is scheduled to run on from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on August 15 at Mondauk Common Park’s Central Pavilion (1451 Dillon Road, Fort Washington, 215-654-1679, upperdublinlibrary.org) with the rain date set for August 16.

The show will feature various craft artists with a wide selection of their art — including jewelry, candles, soaps, knitted and crocheted items, digital art, photography, greeting cards, hair accessories and more.

The show is free to the public. Parking is available on site and sandwiches, snacks and cold drinks will be available for sale by The Friends of the Library. All proceeds benefit the Upper Dublin Public Library.

On August 15, “All-American Day: Diamond State Base Ball Club vs. Lewes Base Ball Club” will be presented by Hagley Museum and Library (Route 141, Wilmington, Delaware, 302-658-2400, www.hagley.org).

From 1-4 p.m., visitors will be able to enjoy a historically-accurate 19th-century “Base Ball” game between Diamond State Base Ball Club and Lewes Base Ball Club. Spectators can come early for “batting practice” and try out some other traditional 19th-century games such as hoop-and-stick and tug of war.

Ballpark food will be available for purchase and spectators are requested to bring their own seating because this game is very informal. Activities are included with admission and free for members and visitors to the game only.