What To Do: African American Cultural Fair returns to Coatesville

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times 

Africa will be in the spotlight at two special area events this week – a festival in Coatesville and a concert at Longwood Gardens.

The African American Cultural Alliance is inviting everyone to come to Coatesville this weekend.

Now through July 30, the group is presenting the Second Annual African American Cultural Fair of Coatesville.

The Fair features a series of cultural events and activities that highlight some of the favorite features of African American Cultural, including African American music, food, dance, visual artists, children’s activities, and fashion.

There will also be a full midway of carnival rides and fair food.

The African American Cultural Alliance will be presenting a similar event in Lancaster in Early September.

The “African American Cultural Fair-Lancaster” will be held from September 6-10 at Reservoir Park, which is located at 832 East Orange Street in Lancaster.

Longwood Gardens (Route 1, Kennett Square, www.longwoodgardens.org) is always a special place to visit – especially during the run of its annual “Festival of Fountains.”

Over the next few days, Longwood will be an extra-special place to visit with three live performances on the schedule of events.

Longwood Gardens will present a very impressive musical event on August 3 when it hosts a concert by Angelique Kidjo.

Kidjo, a native of Benin, is one of Africa’s premier world music superstars.

In 1991, Kidjo released her Island Records debut album, “Logozo,” which included the world music hits “We We” and “Batonga.” She made her first area appearance that year at the long-since-closed Equator Club in Olde City Philadelphia.

Since then, she has released more than 20 albums, the most recent of which is “Mother Nature,” which was released a year ago.

On “Mother Nature,” Kidjo joins forces with many of her musical progeny, including some of the most captivating young creators of West African music, Afrobeat, Afro-pop, dancehall, hip-hop, and alt-R&B.

With her most recent work, including 2018’s “Remain in Light” (her highly acclaimed track-by-track reimagining of Talking Heads’ landmark 1980 album), Kidjo has collaborated with the likes of Philip Glass, Alicia Keys, Bono, and Carlos Santana and performed with a host of international orchestras and symphonies.

Kidjo, whose full name is Angélique Kpasseloko Hinto Hounsinou Kandjo Manta Zogbin Kidjo, was described as “Africa’s premier diva” by Time magazine and “the undisputed queen of African music” by the London Telegraph.

The show at Longwood Gardens’ Open Air Theatre will start at 7:30 om August 3.

Ticket prices range from $38-$58 for reserved seating and include all-day Gardens Admission.

If you visit Longwood Gardens this weekend, you can be “off to see exhibits” or you can be “off to see the Wizard.”

On July 29 and 30, Brandywiners, Ltd. is performing the award-winning show, “The Wizard of Oz” in Longwood’s beautiful Open Air Theatre.

Frank Baum’s classic novel comes to life in “The Wizard of Oz.” This engaging and fun summer production, presented by The Brandywiners Ltd., features all the most beloved songs and moments from the 1939 classic film, brought to life onstage.

Young Dorothy Gale is swept away by a tornado from her Kansas farm to the magical land of Oz. There, she encounters a host of whimsical characters: good witches, bad witches, animals that talk, scarecrows that walk, and things magical to behold.

To find her way home, she must journey along the Yellow Brick Road to see the mysterious and all-powerful Wizard of Oz in Emerald City. Along the way, she makes new friends, but must also brave many dangers, including the Wicked Witch of the West, who will stop at nothing to get her hands on Dorothy’s magical ruby slippers.

To make it home safely, Dorothy must learn an important lesson — there’s no place like home.

For Brandywiners Ltd., there’s no place like home – as long as home is Longwood Gardens.

Every summer, the company presents a large-scale musical production at Longwood Gardens and contributes the proceeds to cultural, educational and civic causes throughout the Delaware Valley.

Performances at Longwood Gardens are set for July 29 and 30 at 8 p.m. each night.

Tickets are $33 for general admission and include all-day Gardens Admission.

The 2022 “Festival of Fountains” opened in May and is running through September 26.

This summer is even more special because of light. More specifically because of “Light: Installations by Bruce Munro,” which is artist Bruce Munro’s illuminating new installation at Longwood Gardens.

The exhibit had its debut two weeks ago and will be on view Thursday through Sunday evenings until October 30.

“Light” is an extravagant exhibit that includes eight installations comprising more than 18,000 glowing lightbulbs across Longwood’s outdoor areas and indoor conservatory.

From the luminous “Field of Light” stretching across the Large and Small Lake landscape … to a flamboyance of 1,000 flamingoes wading near the Chimes Tower … to an immersive sensory environment inspired by the Waterlily Display in the Exhibition Hall, the exhibit showcases eight installations spanning Longwood Gardens’ indoor spaces and outdoor vistas.

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.

The 30-minute show is slated for Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 9:15 p.m.

The Main Fountain Garden Show fountain performance that begins with a touch of narrated history and concludes with dynamic choreography marrying music and the site’s newest fountain features.

These displays will be presented daily at 1:15 a.m., 1:15, 3:15 p.m. and 5:15. There will also be performances on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 6:15, 7:15 and 8:15 p.m.

The “Illuminated Fountain Performance” will be staged Thursdays through Sundays at 9:15 p.m.

Live music can be heard in the Beer Garden, where live instrumental music from traditional Celtic tunes to Caribbean steel pan grooves sets the tone Thursday through Saturday evenings.

Beer Garden performances are scheduled through August 28 from 5:30-8:30 p.m. They will also be held in September from 5-8 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.

As always, admission by “Timed Ticket” — tickets issued for specific dates and times. Timed ticketing limits the number of people in the Gardens at any given time and allows guests to enjoy minimal lines and a better viewing experience.

You may enter the Gardens up to 30 minutes prior and 30 minutes after your designated time. Make every effort to arrive at your designated reservation time. Earlier or later arrivals may not be accommodated.

Video link for “Festival of Fountains” — https://youtu.be/AHsC2YuFerY.

Admission to Longwood Gardens is $35 for adults, $32 for seniors (ages 62 and older) and college students, $27 for active military and veterans and $19 for youth (ages 5-18).

This is the time of the year for outdoors festivals such as country fairs, festivals honoring a particular fruit or vegetable and outdoor concerts.

One of the best — and longest-running — is the annual Goshen Country Fair (Goshen Fairgrounds, Park Avenue, East Goshen, 610- 430-1554, www.goshencountryfair.org). The fair, which is celebrating its 73rd anniversary this season, will run from August 1-6 at the Goshen Fairgrounds, which are located just off West Chester Pike three miles east of West Chester.

The free family-oriented event is held each year as a benefit for the Goshen Fire Company. It will open at 6 p.m. from Monday through Friday and at 5 p.m. on Saturday.

This is an authentic down-home country fair with all the agricultural events found at most traditional country fairs, including livestock competitions each night at 6 p.m..

The fair will also feature competitions for pies, vegetables, jams and jellies, specimen flowers, bread, cookies, flowering houseplants, cakes, flower arrangements, and candy. Nightly attractions include live music performances, tug-of-war competitions and pie-eating contests.

The schedule for live music includes Cherry CrushBand on August 1, Johnny “Cash” Barnett Band on August 2,

West Chester Swing Kings on August 3, Charlie Gracie on August 4, Chester County Lawmen Band on August 5

and Southern Edge Band on August 6.

If you enjoy country fairs, you should check out the Annual Kimberton Community Fair (Kimberton Fairgrounds, Route 113, Kimberton, 610-933-4566, http://kimbertonfair.org) which is running now through July 30.

The Kimberton Community Fair, which was first staged in 1929, is one of the oldest community fairs in the state — and one of the last “free admission” fairs operating in the Pennsylvania State Association of County Fairs. The Kimberton Fair is a “free admission fair with parking by donation.”

As always, the fair offers a huge array of free attractions — a festive midway with amusement rides, live entertainment shows, nightly contests, exhibit buildings and livestock displays.

The fair will be held at the Kimberton Fairgrounds on Route 113 approximately one mile south of Phoenixville. The non-profit event, which lists the volunteer Kimberton Fire Company as its beneficiary, attracts over 60,000 people each year.

There will also be open class and 4-H competitions along with a full midway of rides by Reithoffer Shows.

The Kimberton Fair is a “rain-or-shine” event – more or less.

According to the event’s website, they never officially “close” the fair as a result of rain because they must remain “open” to adhere to Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture operating guidelines.

The indoor attractions stay open even in inclement weather, but the festival may shut down any amusement ride if the weather causes safety issues.

This a great time of year to experience the classic tourist attractions of the Brandywine Valley and surrounding areas.

In addition to Longwood Gardens, there are many great sites that combine nature and history – many of which offer both indoor and outdoor attractions.

One of the best ways – and most economically feasible — to explore them is to purchase a Brandywine Treasure Trail Passport.

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 2022 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 Brandywine Treasure Trail Passport is good for one-time admission to Wilmington and the Brandywine Valley’s top attractions now through October 31.

A family pass, which includes one-day admission to each of 12 sites, can bring a savings of more than $200 for the holders — especially since many of the participating institutions have regular admission fees in double figures.

The list of locations covered by the Brandywine Treasure Trail Passport includes Longwood Gardens, Delaware Museum of Nature and Science, Brandywine River Museum, Delaware Art Museum, Delaware History Museum, Hagley Museum and Library, Delaware Center for Contemporary Arts, Nemours Mansion & Gardens, Read House and Garden, Mt. Cuba Center, Rockwood Museum and Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library.

For more information, call (800) 489-6664 or visit www.visitwilmingtonde.com/bmga/.

The Brandywine River Museum (Route 1, Chadds Ford, 610-388-2700, http://www.brandywinemuseum.org) will be open from 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. with admission to the galleries including two featured exhibitions, “Gatecrashers: The Rise of the Self-Taught Artist in America” and “Dawoud Bey: Night Coming Tenderly, Black.”

“Gatecrashers: The Rise of the Self-Taught Artist in America,” which is running now through September 5, examines how, after World War I, artists without formal training “crashed the gates” of major museums in the United States, diversifying the art world across lines of race, ethnicity, class, ability, and gender.

Included are over 50 works by celebrated painters such as Horace Pippin, Anna Mary Robertson “Grandma” Moses and John Kane, as well as by fifteen artists who are lesser known now but were recognized in their day, including Josephine Joy, Morris Hirshfield, Lawrence Lebduska, Patrick Sullivan, and others.

“Dawoud Bey: Night Coming Tenderly, Black,” which is running through August 31, is a selection of photographs from Bey’s critically acclaimed series from 2017.

Regarded as one of the most important photographers working today, Dawoud Bey (b. 1953) is recognized for his compelling, large-scale portraits and street photographs of marginalized people and communities that he began in the 1970s. Inspired by artist Roy DeCarava (1919—2009), Bey has been photographing the Black community in Harlem where he was born, and Queens where he grew up, for over four decades.

Hagley Museum and Library (Route 141, Wilmington, Delaware, 302-658-2400, www.hagley.org) presents a special event called “Cannon Firings” on July 31.

Guests can have a blast during their visit to Hagley with 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.

Admission is $15 Adults, $12 Seniors (62+) and Students, and $8 Children 6-14.

Hagley will host “Bike & Hike & Brews” on August 3 from 5-8 p.m. – and every Wednesday evening through August 31.

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 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 “Bike & Hike & Brews,” 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.

Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library (5105 Kennett Pike, Wilmington, Delaware, 800-448-3883, www.winterthur.org) is featuring a Guided Exhibition Tour – “Jacqueline Kennedy and Henry Francis du Pont: From Winterthur to the White House” – now through January 8, 2023.

Visitors can explore the friendship between the First Lady and H. F. du Pont and their work to restore the White House in this guided tour of the special exhibition.

In 1961, an unusual partnership was formed when the youngest First Lady in American history, Jacqueline Kennedy, appointed a reserved octogenarian collector from Delaware, Henry Francis du Pont, to lead her project to restore the White House interiors. Du Pont brought credibility to Kennedy’s efforts and vision, and her enormous popularity lifted him onto the national stage and validated his life’s work.

Together, they transformed the White House from a mere public residence into a museum, and along the way, they engaged with some of the most celebrated interior designers of the 20th century.

For the first time, the story of this historic partnership will be told at Winterthur, the inspiration for Mrs. Kennedy’s project. Through artifacts, archives, and images, this exhibition will invite visitors to experience the behind-the-scenes collaboration between the two during this captivating period in American history.

Their partnership culminated in a televised tour of the White House, led by Jacqueline Kennedy, which became the most watched program in American history. The former First Lady will forever be remembered as the person who restored history and beauty to the White House.

Their “restoration” of America’s most famous house became a history lesson for the country and awakened an interest in preservation and interior design that is still felt today.

A related event will be “Terrific Tuesdays” – a special activity that is running every Tuesday through the end of August.

Visitors are invited to drop in for crafts, games, and demonstrations inspired by Jacqueline Kennedy’s White House restoration in the 1960s. Activities will introduce design, history, art, cultural conservation, and architectural preservation to kids ages 3–10 and the adults they bring with them.

The schedule for “Terrific Tuesdays” is: August 2, Children’s Rooms: Pets and Play; August 9, Red Room: Fantastic Fabrics; August 16, Blue Room: Contrasting Compositions; August 23, East Room: Entertainment Extravaganza; and August 30, Diplomatic Reception Room: Parley and Printmaking.

Admission to Winterthur is $22 for adults, $20 for seniors and students and $8 for children.

Another site with impressive gardens can be found just across the Pennsylvania-Delaware state line.

Nemours Estate (850 Alapocas Drive, Wilmington, Delaware, www.nemoursestate.org) is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Reservations are not required and there is no timed entry.

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.

The Gardens is one of the estate’s prime attractions.

The two elk at the top of the Vista are the work of French sculptor Prosper Lecourtier (1855–1924), a specialist in animal figures. Lined with Japanese cryptomeria, pink flowering horse chestnuts and pin oaks, the Long Walk extends from the Mansion to the Reflecting Pool.

The 157 jets at the center of the one-acre pool shoot water 12 feet into the air; when they are turned off, the entire “Long Walk” is reflected in the pool. The pool, five and a half feet deep in its deepest section, holds 800,000 gallons of water and takes three days to fill. The Art Nouveau-style, classical mythology-based “Four Seasons” around the pool are by French-born American sculptor Henri Crenier (1873–1948).

Admission to Nemours is $20 for adults, $18 for seniors and $10 for children.

The Delaware Art Museum (2301 Kentmere Parkway, Wilmington, Delaware, www.delart.org) is presenting “Indigenous Faces of Wilmington.”

Indigenous People have built vibrant and diverse cultures — safeguarding land, language, spirit, knowledge, and tradition across generations. This exhibit opens a dialogue to re-introduce, re-discover, and re-educate individuals about the vibrant and intersecting cultures of indigenous people in northern Delaware.

Exhibition photographer Andre’ L. Wright. Jr., who identifies his ancestry as Nanticoke, shares his vision for the exhibit. “Identity is how you and the world see you, and beauty is a combination of qualities that provide a perceptual experience. My heritage and lineage have given me the opportunity to share the story of authentic consciousness, narrative, and beauty of Indigenous People through the art of photography.”

Participants of the ‘Indigenous Faces of Wilmington” exhibit include India Colon Diaz (Taína of Boriken Nation of PR), Rosa Ruiz (Aztec), El Indio (Boricua Taino), Jose Avila Macias and Susana Amador Hernandez (Chichimeca), Olakunle Oludina (Seminole and Cherokee), Abundance Child (Cherokee, Lumbee, Muscogee/Creek), Andre’ L. Wright, Sr. (Cherokee) Sharon L Street Wright (Nanticoke), Jea Street (Nanticoke), Jonathan Whitney (Afro-Indigenous), and Ashanti Morales (Arawak Taína of Boriken).

Additionally, the Delaware Art Museum has a new exhibit that will run through September 11 – “Stan Smokler: Steel in Flux.”

The Delaware Art Museum celebrates the career of Stan Smokler with this Distinguished Artist exhibition. His celebrated found object, steel sculptures continue the trajectory of modernist abstraction.

Smokler completed his Master of Fine Arts degree at Pratt Institute in 1975, and he continued to work in New York on his own sculpture as well as in art conservation and interior design before relocating to the Brandywine Valley in 1999.

In addition to participating in numerous solo and group exhibitions throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast United States, Smokler established his Marshall Bridge Workshop in 2004. The Workshop is an immersive training opportunity for artists of all levels interested in working with welded steel, and Smokler has been praised for his supportive approach to teaching.

“Stan Smokler: Steel in Flux” includes work from the late 1970s through 2020 along with several of the artist’s charcoal and pastel drawings of his completed sculptures. Examples of Smokler’s largescale work will be on view in the Museum’s Copeland Sculpture Garden with an extended showing through October 30, 2022.

With his commitment to exploring the possibilities of steel and mentoring students through his numerous Marshall Bridge workshops and years at the Delaware College of Art and Design, Smokler has guided the trajectory of contemporary abstract sculpture.

Admission to the Delaware Art Museum is $14 for adults, $7 for students, and $6 for youth (ages 7-18).

More art in Delaware can be found in the quaint town of Odessa.

The Historic Odessa Foundation (Main Street, Odessa, Delaware, www.historicodessa.org)  is now presenting its newest exhibition of acrylic paintings — “Color Secrets: Paintings by Jan Crooker.”

The exhibit of colorful acrylics by the talented Kutztown artist is on display now through August 28 in the Historic Odessa Visitor Center Gallery.

For Crooker, who is well-known for her vibrant images of still life, flowers and local scenes and landscapes, color has always been a focus of her artistic expression.

According to Crooker, “I think my love of color harkens back to my early exposure to art at the children’s classes at the Toledo Museum of Art in Ohio. While some kids had favorite stars or athletes, I had favorite artists. My first favorite artist was Vincent Van Gogh.”

Crooker researched the master colorist’s use of color and read his thoughts on the subject. Although she admires other colorist artists, Van Gogh has been the greatest influence on her color use.

Crooker earned a bachelor’s degree in art education from Toledo University, and a Master of Fine Arts from Penn State University.

Another good option can be found in the Allentown-Bethlehem area.

Lehigh Valley Passport to History’s flagship event, “Passport to History Month” (lvhistory.org/passport-to-history-month) is held every July.

More than three dozen historic sites have signed on to open their doors for free tours, activities and programs for visitors of all ages.

The event, which originally began as a one-day event in 2019, has quickly grown in popularity. By the second year, it turned into a weekend event, and now it’s a month-long event.

“Passport to History Month” is a celebration of local history, stories, and the community that brings Lehigh Valley history to life. The event gives an opportunity for visitors, regardless of family size or income, to explore local history through a variety of museum tours, interactive exhibits, children’s activities, and more.

Participating sites this weekend are Alburtis LockRidge Historical Society, Coopersburg Historical Society (July 30 only), Forks Township Historical Society, Horner Cemetery (July 30 only), National Museum of Industrial History, Whitehall Historical Preservation Society with The 153rd Civil War Reenactors (10 a.m.-4 p.m.), and 1803 House.

There are many other area sites that offer a combination of nature and history.

Glen Foerd (5001 Grant Avenue, Philadelphia, www.glenfoerd.org/events) is hosting a guided tour on July 31 at 11 a.m.

Participants can explore the historic Main House with a member of Glen Foerd’s staff. They can also discover how Torresdale came to be and where the name Glen Foerd originated.

Glen Foerd is an 18-acre public park and historic site located along the Delaware River in Philadelphia. Built in 1850 and enlarged in 1902-03, the estate—consisting of historic gardens, an Italianate-Classical Revival style mansion, and multiple additional structures—was saved from potential development through the activism of dedicated neighbors in 1983.

The grounds of Glen Foerd are open daily from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Access to Glen Foerd is only restricted during private events and after dark. The Glen Foerd mansion is open for public visitation, free of charge, on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 10 a.m-1 p.m. Visiting the mansion includes access to areas on all four floors of the house, where pieces from Glen Foerd’s historic collection are on display alongside installations by Artists in Residence.

Tickets for the tour are $10.

Historic Rock Ford (Rockford Road, Lancaster, www.discoverlancaster.com) is presenting a new exhibit “Long Rifles of the American Revolution: How Lancaster Craftsmen Helped Win the War.” The exhibit will remain open until October 30.

Historic Rock Ford is collaborating with guest curator John Kolar on the exhibit which will showcase approximately 30 rifles.

The rifles featured in the exhibit are being loaned by museums and private collectors from across the nation and will be used to describe the pivotal role played by the long rifle in winning American independence.

Visitors will be able to examine different rifles while also engaging in the story of the war by highlighting their use in several key battles including the siege of Boston, the battle of New York, Trenton, Saratoga, Kings Mountain and the Miller Block House as well as on the Frontier.

Admission to Rock Ford is $12 for adults, $11 for seniors and youth (ages 6-17).

The American Swedish Historical Museum (1900 Pattison Avenue, Philadelphia, 215-389-1776,www.americanswedish.org) is hosting a special event this weekend called “Smörgåsbeer.”

At Smörgåsbeer, visitors can spend a gorgeous summer evening at the American Swedish Historical Museum in FDR Park enjoying regional and international beers alongside Swedish-inspired eats.

Smörgåsbeer participants can play trivia and lawn games as well as a traditional Swedish “tipsrunda” or quiz walk through the museum. There will also be dancing to music provided by DJ Robert Drake. Amazing prizes will also be raffled throughout the evening.

Tickets to SmörgåsBeer are $35 in advance and $40 at the door, with a special designated driver price of $15. The ticket price includes a commemorative event sampling glass, drink samples, food, and museum admission.

The museum also has a new exhibit “Art for All: The Swedish Experience in Mid-America,” which just opened and will run through February 19, 2023.

“Art for All: The Swedish Experience in Mid-America” is an exhibition of paintings and sculptures by Swedish-American artists in the late-19th and early-20th centuries.

This colorful and emotive impressionist art reflects its own time, interprets nature and landscape, and is independent of artificial conventions while keeping Swedish folk traditions alive.

The American Swedish Historical Museum is proud to present Art for All: The Swedish Experience in Mid-America, an exhibition of paintings and sculptures by Swedish-American artists in the late-19th and early-20th centuries. This colorful and emotive impressionist art reflects its own time, interprets nature and landscape, and is independent of artificial conventions while keeping Swedish folk traditions alive.

This exhibition features many Swedish artists who studied and absorbed the democratic philosophies of “art for all,” espoused by Anders Zorn and the Artist’s League. These young artists immigrated to America to forge new career paths. “Art for all” became a catchphrase in Kansas by the 1930s, stemming from efforts of local artists to offer affordable paintings and prints so that every citizen could have original art in their own homes for a richly cultured way of life.

“Art for All: The Swedish Experience in Mid-America” was conceived and developed by the Birger Sandzén Memorial Gallery and the Hillstrom Museum of Art.

There are also many sites to visit if you want to focus more on nature and outdoor settings.

The John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum (8601 Lindbergh Boulevard, Philadelphia, www.fws.gov/refuge/John_Heinz) has several attractive events scheduled for this week.

“Dragonfly & Bird Walk” with Lynn Roman and Dale Harris will be held on July 30 at 10 a.m.

Participants will discover the dragonflies and birds of the Refuge.

The walk will meet at the Visitor Center and be at a relaxed paced on flat surfaces.

“Family Fishing Night” is scheduled for August 4 at 5 p.m.

Visitors can enjoy free “Family Fishing Nights” and let the volunteers and staff help you get a start on fishing.

Limited rods and bait will be available, or visitors can bring their own. No fishing license needed.

Another 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 “Saturday Evening Wildflower Walk,” on July 30 from 5-7 p.m. and the “Bluebird Nesting Box Tour,” which is slated for 1-2 p.m. on July 31.

At the “Saturday Evening 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.

The “Bluebird Nesting Box Tour” obviously will have its focus on bluebirds.

For the past 50 years, volunteers at Tyler Arboretum have been monitoring the nesting activities of the Eastern Bluebird. Tour participants can join in this “Bluebird Nesting Box Tour” to share this tradition.

The staff and guests will walk the succession field and check on quite a few bluebird boxes where they expect to see bluebirds, active nests of bluebirds and other cavity-nesting birds, eggs, and young nestlings. This family-friendly program ends by providing you with a chance to catch up on the progress of our new nest box live camera program.

Admission to Tyler Arboretum is $15 for adults (ages 18-64), $13 for Seniors (65+) and $9 for children (ages 3-17) and Military with valid ID.

Morris Arboretum (100 Northwestern Avenue, Chestnut Hill, www.morrisarboretum.org) is opening a new season exhibit – “Bloomin’ Bubbles.”

Every Tuesday through August, Morris Arboretum is presenting “Bloomin’ Bubbles” from 11 a.m.-noon starting at the Azalea Meadow – weather permitting.

There are more than flowers in bloom this spring and summer at the Morris Arboretum. Visitors are invited to join the arboretum staff for “Bloomin’ Bubbles,” when the Azalea Meadow is transformed into a magical flurry of bubbles for children to play with, play in and pop before lunch.

Guests can celebrate opening day of “Bloomin’ Bubbles” with a “Fairy Parade on the Meadow.”

The parade will begin at the Visitor Center and work its way down to the Azalea Meadow where, if everyone sings loud enough, they might encounter a new Arboretum phenomenon — a flurry of bubbles coming seemingly out of nowhere. This year, the Arboretum has a new bubble-machine.

Participants are encouraged to come dressed as an enchanted woodland creature to dance and play, and then join Melissa in crafting their very own magical wand. They are reminded to not forget their fairy wings, gnome hats, dragon scales, and whatever else they might need to be their most magical selves.

The Morris Arboretum also is offering its “Garden Highlights Tour” this month.

Experienced guides will share both the history and current highlights of the Arboretum during a one-hour walking tour.

Tours depart from the Visitor Center at 1 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday. These tours are small groups and space is very limited.

This reservation is good for admission to the Arboretum as well as for the tour itself. The tour is weather permitting. If the tour is cancelled, your ticket is still good for admission.

Another attraction at Morris Arboretum is the ultra-popular Garden Railway Display, which has become a major summer attraction at the site. The annual edition of the display will remain open until October 10.

The railway has a quarter mile of track featuring seven loops and tunnels with 15 different rail lines and two cable cars, nine bridges (including a trestle bridge you can walk under) and bustling model trains.

The buildings and the display are all made of natural materials – bark, leaves, twigs, hollow logs, mosses, acorns, dried flowers, seeds and stones – to form a perfectly proportioned miniature landscape complete with miniature rivers.

Philadelphia-area landmarks are all meticulously decorated for the holidays with lights that twinkle. There is even a masterpiece replica of Independence Hall are made using pinecone seeds for shingles, acorns as finials and twigs as downspouts.

This year the tracks are surrounded by miniature replicas of “Wonders of the World.” Visitors will be able to see the Eiffel Tower, Hagia Sophia, the Egyptian Pyramids, the Wall of China and more.

Admission is $20 for adults; $18 for seniors (65 and older); $10 for students (ages 13-17 or with ID), active military and retired military; and free for children (under 3).

Hope Lodge (553 South Bethlehem Pike, Fort Washington, 215-343-0965, http://www.ushistory.org/hope/) will be presenting a “Guided Mansion Tours” on July 24.

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.

Chaddsford Winery (Route 1, Chadds Ford, 610-388-6221, www.chaddsford.com) will be presenting “Taste of Summer Reserve Tastings” on select Saturdays and Sundays through July 31.

Visitors are invited to join the winery’s staff for an intimate and educational 60-minute experience in the newly renovated Barrel Room tasting some of Chaddsford’s latest wine releases.

The trained staff will guide you through a pre-selected tasting of five widely diverse wines from across the portfolio.  The selections will be paired alongside local cheeses and other accoutrements to enhance your tasting experience.

The staff will also discuss topics such as grape growing conditions at partner vineyards and the onsite winemaking process from production to aging and bottling.

The “pairing lineup” is Greeting Wine: 2019 Sparkling White, 2021 Vidal Blanc with Yellow Springs Farm’s Lil Chardy, 2020 Harbinger with Smoked Gouda Chip, 2021 Vignoles with Covina Dorada chili lime tortilla chips and fresh guacamole and Sunset Blush with Gemelli Gelato’s rosé infused sorbetto.

Reserve Tastings are $35 per person. There are three seatings each day – noon, 2 and 4 p.m. Advanced reservations are required and are non-refundable.

The Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen is staging one of its biggest and oldest annual craft fairs this weekend — but, ironically, not in Pennsylvania.

The Guild presents several craft fairs throughout the Keystone State each year, including the Annual State Craft Fair — an event that had its origin almost 70 years ago. A few years ago, the Guild’s popular mid-summer fair moved from Lancaster to Wilmington’s Riverfront. It’s still the biggest and oldest but it now is known as the Pennsylvania Guild Fine Craft Fair.

The 2022 Pennsylvania Guild Fine Craft Fair (717-431-8706, www.pacrafts.org) features more than 200 top-flight crafters from all over the Mid-Atlantic region. It will be held on July 30 and 31 at the Chase Center on the Riverfront, which is located on Justison Street in Wilmington, Delaware.

This indoor shopping experience boasts a unique array of beautiful items that are all handmade in America, ranging from one-of-a-kind clothing, jewelry, ceramics, glass, sculpture, artisan furniture and more.

As an added attraction, there will be a number of demonstrations presented by a diverse group of featured artists both days. S

Show hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on July 30 and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on July 31.

Tickets are $8 for adults. Children (17 and under) will be admitted free. There will also be free parking.

Sesame Place (100 Sesame Road, Langhorne, www.sesameplace.com), a family-friendly amusement park in Langhorne, is hosting “Summer Fun Fest” now through September 4. Guests will be able to rock out with Elmo, Abby Cadabby, Cookie Monster and Count von Count.

On July 30 and 31, it will be time for “Sesame Place’s 42nd Birthday.”
It’s Sesame Place’s birthday and they are throwing a party full of furry fun.

Guests can celebrate with a special interactive “Birthday Bash Dance Party,” find all the party balloons in a fun, whimsical scavenger hunt, and take photos with your Sesame Street friends dressed in their birthday attire.
The celebration will include a special firework display on July 30 at 8 pm.

Ticket prices for Sesame Place start at $49.99.

Peddler’s Village (Routes 202 and 263, Lahaska, 215-794-4000, www.peddlersvillage.com) is presenting “Bluegrass & Blueberries” in July — a month-long celebration of bluegrass and blueberries.

July will be Blueberry Month at Peddler’s Village.

Every day, the site will offer special blueberry-themed food and drinks at its restaurants and eateries, and also present live bluegrass and country entertainment on weekends. On Saturdays and Sundays, you can also enjoy made-to-order sandwiches and burgers at the Water Wheel Food Tent.

Many of the village’s shops will be hosting sidewalk sales and special offers throughout the month.

From 6-8 pm on August 2, Peddler’s Village will host a free community event presented by the Buckingham Township Police Department in partnership with Peddler’s Village – National Night Out.

Guests can meet local officers and their K-9 companions, enjoy music, live entertainers, games with prizes, food trucks, and free hot dogs, sodas, and cotton candy.

Fire truck, police car, and motorcycles will be on display, and a SWAT team and a K-9 unit will perform demos. There will also be a helicopter flyover. The restored antique carousel at Giggleberry Fair will be open and free.

Participating food trucks will be Empanada Guy, Meat Wagon BBQ and G’Day Gourmet.

The Lititz Outdoor Fine Art Show celebrated its golden anniversary and few years ago and is still going strong.

is well into its second half-century.

On July 30, the Lititz Art Association will present the 56th Annual Lititz Outdoor Fine Art Show at Lititz Springs Park (Route 501, Lititz, http://www.lititzartassociation.com).

The free event, which is always held the last Saturday in July — and always held rain or shine — will run from 9 a.m-5 p.m. at the park, which is located between the Square and the railroad track next to Wilbur’s Chocolate Factory.

It is a juried art show presented by the Lititz Art Association that is open to all fine artists over the age of 17. The show’s organizers stress that this is an art show and not a craft show and that there will be no jewelry, photographs, Christmas decorations, needlework, or other non-art items featured in the exhibition/sale.

There is never a shortage of fun things to do in Philly.

“Shark Day” at Please Touch Museum (4231 Avenue of the Republic, Philadelphia, www.pleasetouchmuseum.org) is scheduled for July 30 beginning at 10 a.m.

This Shark Week celebration is all about the fearsome ocean predators. The day features events such as Shark Tooth Dig, River Adventures, Shark Storytime, and Ocean-Themed Art Workshops.

Workshops run every hour beginning at 10:30 a.m., running through 3:30 p.m. in the Albert M. Greenfield Makerspace.

Museum admission is $22 for all ages.

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

Now through August 7, Franklin Square (http://historicphiladelphia.org/chineselanternfestival/) 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 6-10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 6-11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Admission is $20 for adults, $18 for youth, seniors and military, and $12 for children (ages 3-12).

“Franklin Square’s “Sweet Sixteen Celebration” will take place on July 31 from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Franklin Square (200 North Sixth Street, Philadelphia, historicphiladelphia.org).

Historic Philadelphia, Inc., the non-profit that funds, manages, and operates Franklin Square, celebrates the Sweet Sixteenth Birthday of this beautiful public space with free daytime fun.

The celebration will be filled with family fun and lots of free activities. There will be free Parx Liberty Carousel tickets, the premiere of a brand-new Franklin Square Fountain Show, Once Upon A Nation Storyteller, free activities for kids, and much more.

Free activities including goodie bag decorating, free temporary tattoos, and birthday hat decorating. Show your decorated party hat to pick up free candy and Franklin Square mementos.

At 11:30 a.m., visitors will be able to meet Ben Franklin and enjoy free TastyKakes.

At noon, they can catch the debut of the brand-new Franklin Square Fountain Show, choreographed to “Levitating” by Dua Lipa.

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.

The Philadelphia Comic-Con, which is scheduled to run from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on July 31 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 roster of top-flight vendors includes veteran dealers and relative newcomers.

As an added attraction, there will be hourly door prizes beginning at 11 a.m. with $100 in show cash to be given away.

On July 30, the Tuner Evolution Car Show will be held at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center (100 Station Avenue, Oaks, http://www.tuner-evolution.com) from noon-8 p.m.

This show is a full automotive lifestyle event that showcases many aspects of the aftermarket automotive industry. It features some of the hottest customized vehicles in the country, vendors showing off their latest and greatest products, graffiti artists, eating contests, bikini contest, celebrity appearances, models and entertainment acts including bands, hip hop artists, skating and BMX demos.

However, the main attraction at Tuner Evolution is the vehicles with many of the country’s top builders competing for the elusive Best of Show award. It allows visitors to see more of the elite cars and amazing custom builds that they won’t usually see on the streets or at meets.

Admission is $30 at the door.

On July 31, more than 125 classic, antique, muscle, custom and show cars, trucks and motorcycles will take over East Passyunk Avenue for the 2022 Car Show and Street Festival (www.visiteastpassyunk.com).

The 16th annual staging of free annual event, which is a huge block party, will take place from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Visitors will be able to enjoy tasty food and drink items, live music and lots of sparkling cars.

The festival, which is centered along East Passyunk Avenue between Broad and Dickinson streets, also features a craft show, food trucks, a moon bounce and a variety of family activities.

The event, which runs from 11 a.m.-4 p.m., is free and open to the public.

The 28th annual Moonlight Memories Car Show (http://www.hatborocarshow.com), which is sponsored by the Greater Hatboro Chamber of Commerce, will take place July 30 on York Road between Summit Avenue and Horsham Road from 5-10 p.m.

Downtown Hatboro will be the center of attention when more than 500 cars roll into town for the annual Moonlight Memories Car Show.

The free car show, which historically draws more than 75,000 visitors, will have a wide array of cars lining both sides of York Road in downtown Hatboro. The event will feature antique cars, classic cars, modified cars, “muscle” and specialty vehicles and more.

On July 29, Laurel Hill Cemetery (3822 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia, 215-228-8200, www.thelaurelhillcemetery.org) will present “Hot Spots and Storied Plots” walking tour at 10 a.m.

In life and in death, we all have stories to tell, and what better place to hear tales of wonder than Philadelphia’s most famous home of the dead?

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.

“Hot Spots and Storied Plots” is the perfect introduction for anyone who enjoys beautiful art, scenic nature, and fascinating history. An experienced graveyard guide will offer a unique perspective. No two “Hot Spots and Storied Plots” are alike.

The tour will take place on July 10 at 10 a.m. — departing from Laurel Hill Cemetery’s Gatehouse entrance at 3822 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia. The tour Guide will be Bill Linhart.

Tickets, which must be purchased in advance, are: $12/General Admission, $10/Seniors (65 & Up), $10/Students with ID, $7/Members, $6/Youth (6-12), and $0/Child (5 & Under). Youth and children must be accompanied by an adult.

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.

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.

There is no need for giraffes at area zoos to dine alone.

The Philadelphia Zoo (3400 West Girard Avenue, Philadelphia, www.philadelphiazoo.org) has opened a new “Giraffe Feeding Encounter.”

Now guests can get up close to the zoo’s giraffe trio in this all-new feeding experience. “Giraffe Encounter” is scheduled from 10:00 a.m. to noon and 1-4 p.m. daily.

General admission for the Giraffe Encounter is $6; Individual, Dual, Family, and Family Plus members is $5; and Family Deluxe and above is $4. Each guest gets one piece of browse to feed. Browse is vegetation, such as twigs and young shoots, eaten by animals. Depending on the day, guests can feed our giraffes acacia browse (which is what giraffes eat in the wild) or another variety like mulberry or honeysuckle.

Considered the tallest land animals in the world, male giraffes can reach up to 18 feet tall and weigh close to 3,000 lbs. Listed as “vulnerable” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with scientists estimating there are fewer than 100,000 surviving in the wild, giraffe are affected by poaching and habitat destruction, with populations decreasing more than 40% over the last three decades.

The Elmwood Park Zoo (1661 Harding Boulevard, Norristown, www.elmwoodparkzoo.org) is hosting “Breakfast with the Giraffes” on July 30 and 31.

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 will get underway at 8:30 a.m.

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.

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; Main Park Youth Tickets (Ages 7–11), $51; KidTrails Tickets (Ages 4–7), $12.

Several tourist rail lines will be running special excursions this weekend.

The West Chester Railroad ( www.westchesterrr.net) is running its “Summer Picnic Specials” every Sunday now through Sept 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 July 30 at 12:30 p.m. and July 31 with departures at 12:30 and 2:30 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).

On July 30, the Colebrookdale Railroad (South Washington Street, Boyertown, www.colebrookdalerailroad.com) is running its “Secret Valley Expedition” at 3 p.m. and again on July 31 at 1 p.m.

The tourist rail line’s two-hour expedition into the Secret Valley features rides on meticulously restored century-old rail cars and visits one of the most scenic and historic regions in the northeast.

The railroad will be offering a lunch and dinner aboard the Secret Valley Expedition to all dining class passengers.

Additionally, and a la carte menu is available in all cars and all passengers have access to the open car for near 360-degree views of the Secret Valley.

The New Hope Railroad (32 Bridge Street, New Hope, www.newhoperailroad.com) is running its “Grapevine Express,” which features “Wine & Cheese Tasting” on July 30 and 31 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).

This weekend, the Strasburg Railroad (Route 741, Strasburg, www.strasburgrailroad.com) is running its “Wine & Cheese Train” on July 29 and 30 at 7 p.m. each night.

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.