What To Do: Unionville Fair is back and bigger than ever

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times

Each year, a sure sign that autumn has arrived is the weekend when the annual Unionville Community Fair (101 East Street Road, Unionville, http://www.ucfairinc.org) is held – the first weekend in October.

The fair, which is running now through October 3, is a real down-home country fair with farm equipment displays, cow pie bingo and a farm market. It serves as both a fund-raising carnival and a full-scale community event.

The 2021 edition of the fair, which is being held at the fairgrounds behind the Landhope Farms store at the intersection of routes 926 and 82, is the 97th annual staging of the event.

This year’s Unionville Community Fair will have all its traditional activities including popular attractions such as livestock displays, live entertainment, cooking and baking competitions, carnival games, mechanical bull riding, RC car demonstration and a car and truck show.

There will be an array of family-oriented attractions at the free festival include a storytelling area, a magician, arts and crafts vendors, a live auction, “Cow Pie Bingo,” a full slate of live music performances and a wide variety of demonstrations.

There will also be a number of contests, including a “Cow Milking Contest,” a “Scarecrow Making Contest”, “Baking Contest,” , “Karate School,” and a “Lip Sync Contest.”

A popular attraction will be “A Haunting at the Unionville Community Fair.” Community organizations from across southern Chester County have banded together to create a tent filled with “ghosts and ghouls.”

Additionally, live entertainment will be presented by Pleb Mahogany, Chris Esposito, the Late Ambitions Band and Ryan Mayersky.

Also, there will be a “Beer & Wine Garden” and an array of food trucks including MnM Catering, Indian Post, KJ Foods, Rita’s Water Ice, Savanna’s Tender Love and Fries, Scrape & Scoop Ice Cream, Sweet Magnolia Bakery, Kono Pizza Delaware, Buddy’s Burgers, On The Roll and Sabatino’s Grille.

Chester County Day (locations around Chester County, 610-431-5301, http://www.cchosp.com) is not quite as old as the Unionville Fair but is still one of the oldest annual events in the Brandywine Valley.

On October 2, the 2021 Chester County Day, which will be held in and around West Chester, is celebrating its 80th anniversary and is honoring the 128th anniversary of Chester County Hospital

As always, the event, which bills itself as the nation’s oldest house tour, has the Chester County Hospital as its beneficiary. Tickets are $50.

It all started back in 1936 when Mrs. William A. Limberger and her fellow auxiliary members decided to hold a house tour which featured 22 homes. The event was known as “West Chester Day” and tickets cost $1.

This year’s annual celebration of Chester County’s landscapes, art and architecture will get underway at 10 a.m. and run until 5 p.m. Participants will be able to visit old and interesting houses, gardens and historic landmarks around Chester County during the tour.

This year, Chester County Hospital in celebrating its anniversary by showcasing homes and landmarks in and around Marshall Square Park, where the original hospital once stood at its inception in 1892.

Participants can walk West Chester’s streets and alleys and enjoy the old patterned brick sidewalks and unique ambiance to visit locations of their choice. Guests are encouraged to visit as many homes as possible at their own pace.

They will also have the opportunity to continue the tour through the rolling hills of Chester County into “Ironmaster’s Country” to visit sprawling estates and learn more about how this small northwest corner of the county played a vital role in the Revolutionary War.

Chester County Day has a few ground rules which must be honored — no pets, no children under age 12, and no “babes in arms.” Visitors may take photos outside the houses. No photography or use of cell phones is permitted inside the houses.

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.

To celebrate the arrival of autumn, Longwood has a new attraction – “Autumn’s Colors.”

Crisp and refreshing, autumn at Longwood is a season of constant shifts in hue and texture — and ever-present beauty.

Visitors will be struck with Longwood’s spectacularly painted vistas as they stroll through picturesque Meadow Garden Special attractions loved by children of all ages are Pumpkin Playground (opening October 9) and the whimsical Garden Railway (opening October 2).

Inside, guests can celebrate fall’s quintessential flower at Longwood’s Chrysanthemum Festival. Beginning October 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 our 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.

Admission to Longwood Gardens is $25 for adults, $22 for seniors and college students and $13 for youth (ages 5-18).

Chaddsford Winery (Route 1, Chadds Ford, 610-388-6221, www.chaddsford.com) is presenting its “Adult Trick or Treat” event every Saturday and Sunday through October 31. Tour Times Available at noon, 1, 2, 3 and 4 p.m.

Visitors will be able to “Trick or Treat” for wine and seasonal snacks at Chaddsford’s wildly popular, adults-only Halloween program as they visit a variety of Halloween-themed pairing stations located throughout the Winery grounds.

The “Pairing Menu” features Sleepy Hollow: Chaddsford White with Kernel Clark’s Kettle Corn; Hocus Pocus: Witch’s Brew Wine Cocktail with Éclat Tahitian Vanilla Truffle; Creature from the Black Lagoon: 2018 Harbinger with Oso Sweet Negative Cookie; Frankenwine: Warm Spiced Apple with Carlino’s Mini Pumpkin Cannoli; and The Shrieking Shack: Sangria Slushie.

Advanced tickets purchased online are $35 and include the food and beverage pairings, as well as a Halloween-themed keepsake wine glass.

When an area event has been around for more than two decades, it definitely moves from the “annual event” category to the “Chester County tradition” category. The Kennett Brewfest (http://kennettbrewfest.com) has reached that plateau.

The Kennett Brewfest, which will be held this weekend in downtown Kennett Square, is celebrating its 22nd anniversary this year.

Unfortunately, there are only four words you need to know about this year’s event – tickets are sold out.

Remember this and get your tickets early next year.

The annual Dressage at Devon (Devon Horse Show grounds, Lancaster Avenue, Devon, 484-358-5510, http://dressageatdevon.org), is running now through October 3.

The popular annual event combines world class dressage competition and the world’s largest open breed show. The six-day event attracts hundreds of horses from around the world and thousands of spectators.

The event also includes the Fall Festival at Dressage at Devon, which features a large selection of vendors and an equally large number of specialty boutiques where visitors can shop for arts and crafts, clothing, horse-related items and gourmet food.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children (ages 3-12).

Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library (5105 Kennett Pike, Route 52, Wilmington, Delaware, 800-448-3883, http://www.winterthur.org) is hosting its annual Truck and Tractor Day on October 2 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Children of all ages will have the opportunity to climb on and explore more than 30 farm vehicles and trucks from the Winterthur Fire Department and interact with Winterthur’s firefighters; play “dress up” with firefighter gear and helmets, go on a hayride and milk a mechanical cow.

Autumn at Winterthur is one of the most beautiful times of year.

The colorful changing leaves on the estate give way to secret surprises in the garden — fall flowers and vibrant berries. The weather is perfect for more exploration as the comfortable temperatures encourage long walks on the trails, around the garden, and on the wooded paths.

Additionally, Winterthur is offering a variety of fun garden programs this month. On October 13, visitors can join a birder to explore some birding hot spots. At “Tailgate Tours!” on October 20, visitors can discover the language of plants on a leisurely guided stroll and then stop at a scenic tailgate spot for hors d’oeuvres along with a selection of hard and soft beverages.

Winterthur’s fees for general admission are $20 adults, $18 for seniors (62 and older) and students (12 and older) and $6 for ages 2-11.

St. Mary Coptic Church of Delaware (644 Otts Chapel Rd, Newark, Delaware, stmaryde.org) is holding its annual Egyptian Festival on October 2 and 3.

The Coptic Church was established in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ by St. Mark the Evangelist in the city of Alexandria around 43 A.D. The church adheres to the Nicenen Creed.

Fewer changes have taken place in the Coptic Church than in any other church in both ritual and doctrine aspects. Additionally, the succession of the Coptic Patriarchs, Bishops, Priests and Deacons has been continuous.

This weekend’s festival will feature such Egyptian delicacies as kofta kabob, falafel, lamb shish kabob, kobaeba, shepherd’s pie, moussaka and gyro sandwich.

There will also be sweet treats such as babousa, baklava and konafa with nuts.

Also featured at the festival will be an Egyptian gift shop, Christian items and kids’ games.

Hours are 11 a.m.-7 p.m. both days.

The Delaware Nature Society will host its annual “Native Plant Sale” on October 2 at Coverdale Farm Preserve (543 Way Road, Greenville, Delaware, 302-239-2334,www.delawarenaturesociety.org).

Some of the rare native plants available for purchase will be Tiarella cordifolia (“Running Tapestry”) as well as special asters such as Symphyotrichum ericoides (“Snow Flurry”), Symphyotrichum novae-angliae (“Purple Dome”) and Symphyotrichum oblongifolium (“October Skies”).

Please note that dogs are not permitted on this property. The nearby farm complex will not be open during sale.

The event is scheduled to run from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Admission is free.

On weekends now through October 23, the Kalmar Nyckel will be offering public sails from the Kalmar Nyckel Shipyard (1124 East Seventh Street, Wilmington, Delaware, www.kalmarnyckel.org.)

For two decades, the Kalmar Nyckel, which has its home base in Wilmington, has been hosting riders all over the world – especially in Delaware.

A ride on the Kalmar Nyckel is a totally different from most tourist water rides.

The ship is a beautiful recreation of the original Kalmar Nyckel, which was built in Holland in the 1620s. Her mainmast is taller than a 10-story building and she carries 7,600 square feet of sail area and six miles of rigging.

The original Kalmar Nyckel was a Swedish-owned, three-masted armed pinnace that sailed from Goteborg, Sweden in November of 1637 and brought the first permanent European settlers to the Delaware Valley.

Carrying 24 settlers from four countries (Sweden, Finland, Holland, and Germany), she landed on the banks of the Christina River. The site, which became known as “The Rocks”, can be visited at Fort Christina Park off Wilmington’s East Seventh Street.

The Kalmar Nyckel made four documented round-trip crossings of the Atlantic, more than any other “settlers’ ship” of the era. The original ship was lost in the late 1600s.

In 1986 a group of citizens established the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation to design, build and launch a replica of the Kalmar Nyckel at a shipyard adjacent to the original landing site.

The new Kalmar Nyckel was constructed there and was launched on September 28, 1997. She was commissioned on May 9, 1998 and now serves as Delaware’s sea-going Ambassador of Good Will. She is a fully functional sail training vessel and has represented Delaware all over the country.

Tickets are $40 for adults and $25 for youth (ages 17 and under).

Each September, “Pumpkinland” returns to Linvilla Orchards (137 West Knowlton Road, Media, 610-876-7116, www.linvilla.com). “Pumpkinland,” which runs through November 7, features fairy tale characters from nursery rhymes along with a huge scarecrow and a really tall storybook.

Other activities include train rides, a straw bale maze, hayrides, pick-your-own apples and pony rides.

There will also be “Harvest Hayrides” and “Autumn Moon Hayrides” starting later in September along with “Straw Bale Maze,” “Train Rides,” “Corn Maze” and “Pony Rides.”

Pumpkinland is open from mid-September through early November and takes center stage at Linvilla Orchards. Larger than life figures and scarecrows illustrate the legends and lore of the harvest season, featuring local history and some of the many stories of pumpkins and apples.

Visitors will see Linvilla’s piles of pumpkins in all colors, shapes and sizes — more than 100 tons on display.

It’s time to welcome autumn and one of the best ways to do this is by checking out the corn mazes at Ramsey’s Farm (Ramsey Road, Wilmington, Delaware, 302-477-1499,www.ramseysfarm.com). The farm’s event season just got underway.

Corn mazes, along with hayrides, a pumpkin patch and scarecrows, will be featured at Ramsey’s Farm, which is located in northern Delaware on Route 92 just south of the Pennsylvania-Delaware state line. The new season runs on weekends now through October 30.

Ramsey’s “Pumpkin Patch” has been in operation since 1995 and the farm’s varied mazes have been delighting and baffling visitors who return each year for the popular annual event. The owners of Ramsey’s Farm raise pumpkins, gourds, ornamental corn, popcorn, feed corn and hay.

The farm’s pumpkin field stretches over 12 acres and yields approximately 20,000 pumpkins each season. Hayrides around the farm will be offered from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. each day. Visitors will be able to shop for pumpkins and other items at the farm store. There will also be hot food and beverages available for purchase.

Tickets are $8 for the corn maze, $4 for hayrides, $4 for Spookley Trail, and $4 for pumpkin painting.

This weekend, it’s time once again for the Scarecrow Competition and Display at Peddler’s Village (Routes 202 and 263, Lahaska, 215-794-4000, www.peddlersvillage.com). Hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Visitors can stroll around the Village to see the Scarecrow Competition and Display, which showcases more than 100 creative and colorful scarecrows. The Scarecrows are on outdoor display through October 30.

The public is invited to vote for the winners. Ballots are available in all shops and restaurants. The ballot boxes are located in the Hospitality Center at the Cock ‘n Bull, Giggleberry Fair, and Buttonwood Grill.

This is the time of the year when farms in the area become a bustle activity — a time for harvest. But it is not harvest matters that are causing a bustle of activity at Cherry Crest Adventure Farm in Ronks (150 Cherry Hill Road, Ronks, 717-687-6843, www.cherrycrestfarm.com).

The farm’s popular annual “Flashlight Maze” is now underway and will continue every Friday and Saturday night through November 4. Cherry Crest Adventure Farm has reserved several weekends during the autumn months for Flashlight Maze.

This special activity allows visitors to experience the Amazing Maize Maze in total darkness. All you need are flashlights and a few friends.

The Flashlight Maze is a nice, non-scary, Halloween alternative that has appeal for people of all ages. The Flashlight Maze, which has a $12 admission fee, is open from 6:30-10 p.m. with the last entrance into the Maze at 9 p.m.

The main attraction is Cherry Crest’s “Amazing Maize Maze,” which is billed as “the world’s most dynamic and interactive corn maze.” It is a five-acre corn maze with over two-and-one-half miles of paths, scenic bridges, and clues.

Participants can walk at their own pace as they encounter the “Kernels of Knowledge” along with a variety of clues, tunnel slides, and watering stations. They can also check out a bird’s eye view from the two bridges and watch everyone’s flags waving high above the corn.

The average time to complete the “Amazing Maize Maze” course is one hour. Ticket prices start at $17.95.

This year’s 41st annual staging of the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire (Mount Hope Estate and Winery grounds, Route 72, Cornwall, 717-665-7021, www.parenfaire.com), an event that bills itself as “the most wondrous event in all the Knowne World”, is running now through October 31.

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.

Each weekend, the Faire has a themed weekend. This week, it is “Oktoberfest.”

Visitors will be able to raise a stein to German heritage with micro-brewed ales from the Faire’s very own Swashbuckler Brewing Company, the authentic food and dance of the Germanic Nations. Another note for visitors –wear your lederhosen.

The featured events will be “Topfschlagen!,” “Men in Lederhosen” and “Bar Olympics.”

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.

The following is the description of the 2021 scenario — England has finally established a colony in the New World. Sir Walter Raleigh, one of Elizabeth’s favorite privateers and newly appointed Governor of Virginia has made Mount Hope a key trade port, and the Shire has never been so prosperous.

Of course, where there’s money to be made, there will be people who want that money. The Earl whose lands Mount Hope sits upon has suddenly taken interest in the shire which he once left alone.

Now he’s come to collect his share of the bounty and perhaps set up a more permanent residence with little care if he displaces some peasants along the way.

Will Her Majesty intervene? Will the Shire ever be the same? People will become heroes, heroes will be made legends, and legends will be proven real.

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.

Single-day tickets are available at the gate for $30.95. For children (age 5-11) single-day tickets are available at the gate and online for $15.95.

On October 2 and 3, Renningers Farmers Market (740 Noble Street, Kutztown, 570-385-0104, www.renningers.net) is hosting the 2021 Pennsylvania Cannabis Festival.

The event, which features more than 250 vendors, is free to the public and leashed pet friendly.

Founded in Scranton in 2015, the festival’s mission has always been to raise awareness to end cannabis prohibition in the fifth most-populated state in America. Since its conception, Pennsylvania has legalized the use of medical cannabis and industrial hemp thanks to the hard work of the cannabis community

Activities at the festival include live music, art exhibits, cannabis culture vendors, amusement games, discussion panels, food vendors, cannacentic workshops, medical card certifications, chainsaw carving, hemp product demonstrations and live flameworks.

Philly Brick Fest will be held October 2 and 3 at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center (100 Station Avenue, Oaks, 484-754-3976, www.phillyexpocenter.com).

The huge annual event will occupy 140,000 square feet of space, making it the largest fan-created LEGO event in North America.

LEGO builders from around the globe are invited to showcase their fan-built creations, learn building techniques from one another, interact with other fans, participate in building challenges and activities, and most of all enjoy a fun-filled weekend with like-minded LEGO Maniacs.

The Philly Brick Fest experience is open to all LEGO enthusiasts, interested in connecting with other builders and having their creations on display for the public to enjoy during the weekend public hours of Brick Fest Live.

Admission to Brick Fest is $34.99.

On October 2, the Revolutionary Germantown Festival will be held from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Cliveden (6400 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, 215-329-7312,http://www.revolutionarygermantown.org).

The festival features costumed characters, live music, food and drink.

The majority of the festival’s events are centered at Cliveden, the summer home of the Chew family and the location of General George Washington’s failed attempt to liberate Philadelphia from British control in 1777.

The celebration will also take place at many other nearby sites including Concord School and Upper Burying Ground, The Germantown White House, Johnson House Historic Site, Germantown Mennonite Meeting House and Grumblethorpe – all of which are located on Germantown Avenue.

There will be a musket and artillery demonstration at 12pm during the festival. The demonstration displays some violent content including black powder demonstrations.

In accordance with City of Philadelphia mandates, visitors will be required to wear masks while on Cliveden’s grounds. .

On Saturdays and Sundays now through October 31, Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania (100 E. Northwestern Avenue, Philadelphia, www.morrisarboretum.org) is hosting its annual Scarecrow Walk.

Visitors will be able to make their own scarecrows, paint a pumpkin and sample different varieties of apples. Weaver’s Way Coop will be on hand with the season’s best local apple varieties.

Morris Arboretum’s Scarecrow Walk is back for its 14th year, and in recognition of those who show courage and care when faced with fright, this year’s theme is “Heroes!”

Visitors will be able to wander through the Arboretum and see scarecrows in honor of a beloved superhero characters, essential workers, or best friend heroes.

Throughout the month of October, more than 30 scarecrows will be on display throughout the Arboretum. Visitors will vote for their favorite scarecrow online to determine the winners. The top three scarecrows win a cash prize with a top prize of $250.

Admission to Morris Arboretum is $20 for adults, $18 for seniors and $10 for youth (ages 3-17).

On October 3, the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania (300 Gap Road, Strasburg, 717-687-8628, www.rrmuseumpa.org) is presenting its annual Garden Railway Tour.

The tour, which runs from 1-5 p.m., is a self-guided tour of Lancaster County private homes that feature impressive displays of operating model trains that have been built in landscaped gardens as well as homes with operating layouts and special model train collections.

The Garden Railway Tour, which is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, is held as a benefit for the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania’s education and preservation programs. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania’s ticket office.

A popular event in Delaware this weekend is “Steamin’ Days” at Auburn Heights Preserve (3000 Creek Road, Yorklyn, Delaware, 302-239-2385, http://auburnheights.org) on October 3.

“Steamin’ Days,” which is held on the first Sunday of the month through November, focuses on steam power.

During “Steamin’ Days at Auburn Heights,” the site is bustling with activity. Visitors are encouraged to climb into an antique automobile or board one of the trains and experience what it was like to travel at the turn of the 20th century. They can also tour the magnificent 1897 mansion that was home to three generations of the Marshall family.

Also included is entry to the Marshall Steam Museum, which features the world’s largest operating collection of Stanley steam cars along with a 1930s working Lionel electric train display, a hands-on engine display, kids’ activities and exhibits and the Museum Gift Shop.

Activities run from 12:30-4:30 p.m. each time. Combo Tickets, which cover all rides and building tours, are $20 (13 and older) and $14 (age 12 and under).

One of the best ways for everyone involved to appreciate the beauty of autumn’s annual color explosion is to ride a special excursion on an area tourist railroad.

The West Chester Railroad (Market Street Station, West Chester, 610-430-2233, www.westchesterrr.net) is running its special “Fall Foliage Express” trains on October 3, 10 and 17 and November 7. Trains depart at noon and 2 p.m.

The round-trip train ride travels to the village of Glen Mills and back and lasts for 90 minutes. During the brief layover in Glen Mills, riders can explore the historic Pennsylvania Railroad station and have a snack in the railroad’s picnic grove along the Chester Creek.

Tickets are $20 for adults, $18 for children ages 2-12 and free for kids under two.

This weekend, the Strasburg Railroad (Route 741, Strasburg, 717-687-7522, www.strasburgrailroad.com) is celebrating one of its locomotives with a series called “611 at Strasburg: The Return of an American Icon.”

The Norfolk & Western Class J 611, a National Historic Engineering Landmark by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, is known as an engineering powerhouse of steam, technology, and near mechanical perfection.

The N&W Class J 611 is the sole survivor of 14 Class J steam locomotives designed and built by the Norfolk & Western Railway. The locomotive rolled out of Roanoke’s East End Shops in 1950. Its mission was to pull the Powhatan Arrow, a 15-car passenger train, from Norfolk, Virginia, to Cincinnati, Ohio.

Now, the powerful and sleek locomotive is running the rails at the historic Strasburg Railroad in Lancaster County’s scenic Amish Country.

Offered as part of the tourist railroad’s regular daily steam train service, N&W No. 611 J will be the motive power for the day’s main train on select days. She will pull 45-minute excursion rides to Paradise, Pennsylvania on October 2 and 3.

Ticket prices range from $9.50-$45.

The New Hope & Ivyland Railroad (32 West Bridge St, New Hope, 215- 862-2332, www.newhoperailroad.com) offers a two-hour roundtrip ride on its “Fall Excursion Trains” from October 5-November 7.

Riders can enjoy a “Fall Excursion” experience on a heritage train, departing from the rail line’s 1891 Witch’s Hat Train Station in the center of New Hope. On this excursion, passengers will enjoy a relaxing ride through scenic Bucks County on the “New Hope Branch” route, which was originally part of the North-East Pennsylvania Railroad and later the Reading Railroad.

Passengers will ride aboard beautifully restored vintage (early 1900’s) passenger coaches while a narrator will provide them with interesting historical facts and stories of significant cultural locations along the route.

The train will travel to Buckingham, Pennsylvania where it will then change direction and return to New Hope.

Passengers can enjoy the sights of the beautiful fall scenery while riding aboard the rail line’s “First Class Bar Car,” “Antique Seat Coach” or “Open Air Car.”

Coach tickets are $72.60 for adults, $71.50 for children (ages 2-11) and $10.99 for toddlers.

The Wilmington & Western Railroad (2201 Newport Gap Pike, Wilmington, DE, 302-998-1930, www.wwrr.com) is running its “Autumn Leaf Special” with trains on October 9, 10, 16, 17, 20, 23, 24, 27, and 30 and November 6.

Trips are either a one-and-one-half hour roundtrips to the Mt. Cuba Picnic Grove or two-and-one-half hour roundtrips to Hockessin.

Tickets for the “Autumn Leaf Special” are $20 for adults, $19 for seniors (60 and older) and $12 for children (ages 2-12).

The W&WRR also is running its “Hayride Express” on October 1, 8, 15 and 22 at 7 and 8:30 p.m. each night. Visitors can experience a one-hour evening ride through the Red Clay Valley on an original railroad flatcar converted especially for hayrides.

Tickets for the “Hayride Express” are $15 for adults, $13 for seniors (60 and older) and $18 for children (ages 2-12).