What To Do: Only in Chester County — Blobfest

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times

There are many interesting events scheduled for the area this weekend. Some of them range from unique to common and from hysterical to historical.

Phoenixville is hosting an event that is unique — and loaded with hysterics.

Two of the most over-used and often incorrectly used worlds in the English language right now are “literally” and “unique.” “Literally” means “in a literal or strict sense” while “unique” means “being the only one of its kind.”

The annual BlobFest in Phoenixville is unique — literally. In the entire world, there is just one BlobFest and it’s held every year right here in Chester County.

“The Blob” is a low-budget horror film that was filmed at the Colonial Theatre and other locations around Phoenixville in 1958. The movie, which starred a very young Steve McQueen, has evolved over the years into a full-fledged cult classic.

“Blob” fans from all around the globe will be heading to Phoenixville to participate in the Annual BlobFest.

The Colonial Theatre (227 Bridge Street, Phoenixville, 610-917-1228, www.thecolonialtheatre.com) will host the BlobFest with a variety of special events now through July 16.

On July 14, it was time for the re-enactment of the “Running out of The Colonial” scene. The dress code is billed as “creative” so that the scene will look just like it did when that classic scene was filmed here many years ago.

On July 15, the “Blobfest Streetfair,” which begins at 11 a.m. and runs until 5 p.m., will start with a “Fire Extinguisher Parade” at 11 a.m.

Saturday’s Street Fair is free to enter and features vendors, classic cars, a performance by Dibbs & the Detonators, Costume Contest, Tinfoil Hat Contest, Kid’s Activity Table, and Blobfest Festival Merchandise.

The Colonial Theater will also host screenings of “The Blob” and other horror films this weekend.

The Sixth Annual Blobfest 5K/10K and Kids’ Fun Run is scheduled for the morning of July 16 with the first race — the BlobFest 10K — slated to go off at 8:05 a.m.

Now through July 15, the Malvern Fire Company Fair (Monument Grounds, Monument Avenue, Malvern, 610-647-0693, http://www.pa-carnivals.com) will be held from 6-10 p.m. each night.

This is the “common” event. When it comes to town, village, county and state fairs, “common” is good.

“Common” is cotton candy, a ferris wheel, games of chance, amusement rides, corn dogs, adventure houses and games of skill.

The free Malvern Fire Company Fair features rides, games and fun for the entire family and discount ride coupons will be available at local merchants.

Guests can ride an unlimited number of rides at the 2023 Malvern Fire Company Carnival for just $20 per person per day when purchased online.

A fireworks display is scheduled for July 14 with the rain date set for July 15.

The “historical” event will take place in a Chester County establishment that has been in operation for almost three centuries.

The General Warren Inne (9 Old Lancaster Road, Malvern, 610-296-3637, www.generalwarren.com) is an historic site — a site with a lot of history and a site that is still involved in history of the area.

Since 1745, the Historic General Warren Inne has been center stage for American history and a premier carriage stop for hungry travelers. The Inne was initially called the Admiral Vernon Inne and was changed to the Admiral Warren after the famed Admiral Peter Warren, a hero who defended the American colony at Louisburg, Nova Scotia during the French and Indian War.

During the time of the American Revolution, the Inne was owned by John Penn of Philadelphia, who was a loyalist and the grandson of William Penn. Situated on the main highway between Philadelphia and Lancaster, it became a popular stage stop during the Revolutionary War era — and a Tory stronghold.

The Paoli Massacre was planned and launched from the Admiral Warren Inne in September 1777. In 1825, the Admiral Warren was renamed the General Warren, to honor the American hero of Bunker Hill.

Now, the General Warren Inne annually presents a series of lectures about America’s war for independence. On the second Tuesday of each month, the Inne will host “Paoli Battlefield Lecture Series” presented by the Paoli Battlefield Preservation Fund.

This month’s installment of the Paoli Battlefield Lecture Series is “The Battle of The Clouds” on July 20.

What really happened after the Battle of Brandywine? Where was this little-known battle fought? Why did Washington cross the river to engage Howe again in the South Valley Hill area of the Great Valley? What happened here that set up the Battle of Paoli?

Find out the answers to these questions in this lecture.

Reardon will present his talk on the Battle of the Clouds starting at 6 p.m. at the General Warren. He will explain what happened after the Battle of the Brandywine and how this battle in the Great Valley area was shaping up to be another Brandywine for George Washington.

Skirmishing broke out in two different places around the battlefield and Potter’s Militia stationed near the Boot Tavern nearly captured Hessian Colonel Carl Von Donop. Find out what happened to Washington and his 10,000 troops situated on a strong position on South Valley Hill on September 16, 1777.

Tickets are $55 for a meal, soft beverages, coffee/tea and lecture. Alcoholic beverages are additional.

Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library (5105 Kennett Pike, Wilmington, Delaware, 800-448-3883, www.winterthur.org) is presenting “Artisan Market at Winterthur” on July 15 and 16.

Visitors can spend a summer day exploring Winterthur and shopping for original objects from more than 100 artisans at the Artisan Market this Saturday and Sunday.

Some of the region’s most talented craftspeople will present their outstanding wares, including antiques and collectibles, furniture and home décor, upcycled items and architectural salvage, high-quality handmade crafts, vintage clothing and jewelry, artisanal and small-batch gourmet goods, original art in a variety of media, garden items, and much more.

Artisan Market reflects the mission of Winterthur by showcasing local artisans through a variety of handmade crafts relating to art, textiles, ceramics, glass, woodworking, antiques, edibles, and gardening. Each of these categories connects to Winterthur’s past.

Winterthur is always a special place to enjoy both history and nature.

There seems to be no end to what’s in bloom — and in almost every corner of the garden.

The garden is a result of the artistic vision of its creator, Henry Francis du Pont (1880-1969) and is surrounded by nearly 1,000 acres of meadows, farmland, and waterways.

The views in every direction are important to the whole. The paths are an integral part of the overall design, curving rather than straight, following the contours of the land, passing around trees, and drawing walkers into the garden.

Visitors can explore the garden on foot, or on a narrated tram ride (March-December).
Admission to Winterthur is $22 for adults, $20 for seniors and students and $8 for children.

On July 16, Woodside Farm Creamery (1310 Little Baltimore Road, Hockessin, Delaware, www.woodsidefarmcreamery.com) is hosting its National Ice Cream Day Celebration from noon-4:30 p.m.

Visitors to the free event will be able to try new ice cream flavors, take a behind-the-scenes tour, play field games, meet one of the creamery’s Jersey cows, and take part in an ice cream eating contest.

There is a $5 registration fee for the ice cream eating contest with all the proceeds being donated to the Delaware Food Bank. Additionally, Food Bank will be accepting non-perishable food items.

The Wilmington Street Food Festival (/www.eventbrite.com/e/wilmington-street-food-festival) is coming to the Delaware Riverfront on July 15 and 16.

This spectacular event, which will be held at Tubman-Garrett Riverfront Park (80 Rosa Parks Drive Wilmington, Delaware) will feature the Wilmington area’s best restaurants and food trucks.

Food items will be priced at $5 or less in order so that guests will be able to sample as many vendors as possible.

The food is just part of the attraction. There will be live entertainment, general vendors, axe throwing, a giant beer garden, mechanical bull riding, crazy eating challenges & more.

All food items will work on a voucher system with vouchers sold in sheets of 5 for $5. There will be various voucher stations throughout the festival.

All vouchers will be used as cash at participating restaurants and food trucks with all food items priced at $5 or less. Drink vouchers can be redeemed for beer, wine, seltzers, mixed drinks, soda and water.

This weekend, Auburn Heights Mansion Tour at Auburn Heights Preserve (3000 Creek Road, Yorklyn, Delaware, 302-239-2385, http://auburnheights.org) will be open for visitation from 1-4 p.m.

On July 20, the historic site will host “Auburn Heights After Hours.”

The event, which gets underway at 5 p.m. and runs until 8 p.m., focuses on the stately mansion, which is one of the best examples of a Queen Anne style Victorian mansion in Delaware.

The mansion is the former home of the Marshall family whose legacy of industry and innovation filled the home with the antiques and furnishings there today. Visitors will get to explore two floors of Auburn Heights with a small group.

Tickets are $8 for adults and $4 for children. Parking is available in the event lot on Creek Road across from the mansion.

On June 15, the site, which features the Marshall Steam Museum and the Auburn Heights Mansion, is hosting another Mansion Tour at 1 p.m.

The featured food truck is Dixie’s Down Home Cooking. There will also be craft beer from Dew Point Brewing as well as wine, lemonade, water, sodas) from Total Wine.

No train or antique auto rides will be available during after-hours programs. Well-behaved, leashed dogs are welcome.

Admission — $6 (age 13 & up), $3 (age 6–12) — includes entry to the Marshall Steam Museum.

Blueberries will be in the spotlight this weekend.

On July 15 and 16, Highland Orchards (1000 Marshallton-Thorndale Road, West Chester, www.highlandorchards.net) will host its annual “Blueberries, Bluegrass, Beers, and BBQ Festival.”

This family friendly event, which runs from 11 a.m.4 p.m., will feature five food trucks, beer, wine & spirits, kids train, goat feeding, farm tours (weather permitting), and berry picking.

Activities include live music by Bluetrain, pick-your-own-blueberries, E. Stoltzfus Family BBQ, Lavante Beer Garden, Albie’s Burger Truck, Turk’s Head Food Truck, Philly Hots Food Truck, Kettle Express Food Truck and other local vendors.

The Bakery and Market will be open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. with fresh, local produce, pies, donuts, fudge, homemade brittle, and many local favorites.

This is a free event.

Peddler’s Village (Routes 202 and 263, Lahaska, 215-794-4000, www.peddlersvillage.com) is presenting its annual

“Bluegrass & Blueberries Festival” throughout July. this weekend.

On July 15 and 16, Peddler’s Village will be bursting with “Bluegrass and Blueberries” at the festival which runs from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. each day.

The bluegrass will arrive on July 16 with a concert by Borderline.

The weekend will include fresh local blueberries, blueberry-themed food, beverages, live bluegrass and country music, food trucks, kids’ activities, and shop specials.

Peddler’s Village shops will be open until 8 p.m. on Saturday. Admission and parking are free. Rain or shine.

During the month of July, blueberry-themed food and drink specials are being served every day in the village’s restaurants and eateries.

On select Saturday and Sundays now through July 30, the Chaddsford Winery (632 Baltimore Pike, Chadds Ford, 610-388-6221, http://www.chaddsford.com) is presenting “Reserve Tastings – Summer Sips.”

The winery staff is matching the intense heat and bold flavors of the season with exciting, crushable combinations. From delicious textures to a diverse range of fruity, floral, and herbaceous flavors, they are keeping visitors fresh and cool with these carefully curated, summer-approved pairings.

The winery’s trained staff will guide guests through a pre-selected tasting of five widely diverse wines from across the winery’s portfolio alongside artisan cheeses and other accoutrements. During this intimate and educational 60-minute experience, they will discuss topics such as grape growing conditions at partner vineyards and the onsite winemaking process from production to aging and bottling.

The “Pairing Line Up” is Greeting Wine: 2021 Sparkling White, 2022 Vidal Blanc with Goat Rodeo Chevre, 2022 Cabernet Franc with Hudson Valley Camembert with Blueberry Basil Jam, Good Vibes Only with Eclat Chocolate’s Tahitian Vanilla Truffle and Niagara with Gemelli Gelato’s Pear Gelato.

Reserve Tastings are $35 per person and offered only on select Saturdays and Sundays. There are three seatings per day – noon, 2 and 4 p.m. Advanced reservations are required and are non-refundable.

Chaddsford Winery is also hosting “Wine Down” on Thursday and Fridays now through September 2 from 5-8 p.m. each night.

“Wine Down” will feature live music on Thursday evening and Quizzo trivia games on Fridays.

In addition to wine available by the glass, there will be food items provided by Common Good Pizza.

The schedule for live music is: July 20: Colin McGetrick, July 27: Acoustic Keys, August 3: Adam Moncao, August 10: Danie Ocean, August 17: John Rossi, August 24: Chris Peace, and August 31: Caroline Quinn

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

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

There will be music by Allison Landon from 2-5 p.m. on July 15 while the concert on July 16 will feature Chris Despo from 2-5 p.m.

On July 15, the Shady Grove Music Fest will be held at Arden Gild Hall (2126 The Highway, Arden, Delaware, ardenconcerts.com).

The festival will run from noon-9 p.m. with performances by Purling Hiss, Toby Leaman (Dr. Dog), Slot, Wasted Arrows, Expo, Lizdelise, Russy, HaHa Charade, Captain’s Daughter and Righteous Jolly.

Tickets are $29.

On July 15, HopePHL is hosting the Annual Lancaster Avenue Jazz & Arts Festival at Saunders Park Green (Powelton Avenue at 39th Street, Philadelphia, www.hopephl.org/lancaster-avenue-jazz-festival.html).

​The producers have once again curated an ensemble of stellar performers highlighting jazz musicians from a variety of backgrounds and musical directions.

This year’s event features performances by Glenn Bryan and Friends, Lynn Riley & The World Mix, Dr. E. Diane Lyle-Smith & Friends, MJS Trio, and the Brent White Ensemble. The headline act is Spontaneous Creativity, led by Duane Eubanks

The day will include a juried artists’ village, food trucks, children’s village, resources and fun for the entire family.

The Eagleview Summer Concerts on the Square at Eagleview Town Center (Wharton Boulevard, Exton, www.ineagleview.com) will present Adam Ezra Group with special guest Sug Daniels on July 18, Incendio with special guest Kuf and Christine on August 1, Miko Marks with special guest Brittany Ann Tranbaugh on August 15 and Mellow Fever on August 29.

Philadelphia Expo Center (100 Station Road, Oaks, 610-529-3614, phillyexpocenter.com) is hosting two events this weekend – two very diverse events.

On July 15, the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center will host the East Coast Reptile Super Expo featuring hundreds of live snakes and reptiles.

Many people think snakes and lizards are interesting creatures and maybe even fun pets to own. If you fall into this category, you should check out the show on Saturday. A wide array of reptiles will be on display as part of the popular exhibition, which is an annual event that is closing in on its silver anniversary.

One of the show’s main attractions is a sales exhibit area featuring many vendors with live reptiles, amphibians and arachnids as well as food items, supplies, books, cages, and related accessories.

The East Coast Reptile Super Expo, which is always a well-attended event, will run from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. this Saturday. Tickets are $10 with children (under five) admitted free.

The Expo Center is also hosting “Ranger Station” on July 15 from 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

Ranger Station is the first “All Power Ranger Con” in the Philadelphia area and is billed as “made for fans by fans.”

Visitors can meet actual Power Rangers, shop fun vendors and interact with artists. They even will have an opportunity to sit on Ranger Station’s life-size Lord Zedd throne

This month’s edition of the 2023 Kennett Underground Railroad Bus Tours (www.kennettundergroundrr.org) is scheduled for July 16.

The popular, family-friendly bus tours are led by a knowledgeable local guide.

Riders will have the opportunity to visit documented Underground Railroad sites, historic homes and Quaker Meetinghouses while learning about local abolitionists and anti-slavery activity in the Kennett Square area.

The popular, family-friendly bus tours are led by a knowledgeable local guide.

The tour also presents the contributions of local African Americans and their faith communities in the quest for freedom from slavery houses while learning about local abolitionists and anti-slavery activity in the Kennett Square area.

The tour, which departs at 1 p.m., also presents the contributions of local African Americans and their faith communities in the quest for freedom from slavery.

Tours begin at the Brandywine Valley Tourist Information Center, which is located at 308 Greenwood Road in Kennett Square.

Tickets are $35.

On July 15, Cherry Crest Adventure Farm (150 Cherry Hill Road, Ronks, www.cherrycrestfarm.com) will host its “Sweet Corn Festival” — a festival dedicated to celebrating the county’s farm fresh sweet corn.

There will be special sweet corn foods available, as well as corn-themed crafts, games and activities. Cherry Crest’s themed corn maze will also be open.

The Sweet Corn Festival will feature specialty sweet corn menu items, corn crafts and games, live music, local wine and craft beers.

A popular attraction is the sweet corn eating contest — whether you’re chomping your teeth as a contestant or clapping your hands as spectator.

The free event will take place on Saturday from noon-5 p.m. while the Farm is open from 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

The Kalmar Nyckel is holding public sails this month in Historic New Castle.

The cruises will depart from the Historic New Castle Public Pier (1 Delaware Street, New Castle, Delaware, www.kalmarnyckel.org) on July 15, 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23.

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 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.

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.

Hope Lodge (553 South Bethlehem Pike, Fort Washington, 215-343-0965, http://www.ushistory.org/hope/) will be presenting a “Guided Mansion Tour” on July 16.

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.

Visitors can participate by watching a short film and then taking a tour. Guided tours of the mansion will depart at 1 and 2:30 p.m.

Tour admission is $8 for adults, $5 for seniors (age 65+) and for youth ages 6-17, and free 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.

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 “Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival in Franklin Square.”

Now through August 13, Franklin Square will come alive every night with its Chinese Lantern Festival featuring more than two dozen illuminated lanterns – all constructed by lantern artisans from China.

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

Festival hours are 6-11 p.m. Admission is $22 for adults ($25 on Saturday and Sunday), $20/$23 for youth, and $14 for children.

On July 15, Laurel Hill Cemetery (3822 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia, 215-228-8200, www.thelaurelhillcemetery.org) is presenting a special event called “Nurture with Nature: Therapeutic Horticulture.”

Working with the healing power of plants can help to decrease stress and anxiety, process grief, and improve focus, mood, and overall wellbeing. Through nurturing activities that combine plant materials with eco-mindfulness and creative tools, each session is an invitation to relax, reflect, and restore.

Visitors can join Kate Irvine, a trained horticulturist and mixed media artist with a certificate in Horticultural Therapy, for one, some, or all four sessions of this outdoor workshop series offering therapeutic practices that honor and preserve our connection with nature.

The July session is “Speaking in Flowers.”
Participants will learn to identify native plants in bloom at Nature’s Sanctuary, then harvest cuttings to create take-home flower arrangements and learn about the Victorian art of the language of flowers.

Tickets for the 3 p.m. event are $20 for adults, $18 for seniors and $10 for youth (ages 6-12).

Sesame Place (100 Sesame Road, Langhorne, www.sesameplace.com) is presenting its “Summer Splash” now through September 3.

There’s nothing like summer at Sesame Place Philadelphia! It’s a great time to have fun and cool off with splashy water attractions like Bert & Ernie’s Splashy Shores and the new tropical themed land, Big Bird’s Beach.

Other attractions are The Count’s Splash Castle and Big Bird’s Rambling River, Captain Cookie’s High C’s Adventure, Elmo’s Flyin’ Fish, and Oscar’s Wacky Taxi Roller Coaster.

This weekend’s theme is “Tango’s Gotcha Day Celebration.”

Visitors can celebrate Tango’s one-year anniversary at Sesame Place. Special attractions include “Tango’s Treat Seek,” exclusive Meet & Greets with Tango, and a fun-filled scavenger hunt.

Summer is perfect for meeting your favorite furry friends and taking bright, beautiful pictures with them — one-of-a-kind pictures with Elmo, Bert, Ernie and Count von Count in their sensational tropical beachwear and summer gear.

The park also has exciting shows, special events, parades, dance parties, character dining experiences, and other surprises lined up to give visitors even more ways to connect.

There also is a new tropical themed land — Big Bird’s Beach.

On July 20, the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum (8601 Lindbergh Boulevard, Philadelphia, www.fws.gov/refuge/John_Heinz) is presenting a special nature-based holistic event – “Mindfulness through Birding with Karin Marcus.”

Mindfulness, the art of being fully present, partners naturally with bird watching which is fundamentally the practice of savoring the moment. This will be a leisurely bird walk placing an added emphasis on awakening the senses and stilling the mind.

The walk will start at the visitor center and take place at a relaxed paced on flat surfaces. Participants are encouraged to wear comfortable shoes and dress in layers.

Binoculars are available for loan. No registration required.

The free event will run from 9-11 a.m.

A sweet place to enjoy flowers in bloom is Tyler Arboretum (515 Painter Road, Media, 610-566-9134, www.tylerarboretum.org).

The arboretum’s schedule for this weekend features a “Saturday Wildflower Walk” and a “Bluebird Nesting Box Tour” on Sunday.

“Saturday Wildflower Walk” will be held on July 15 at 3 p.m.

Visitors will join wildflower expert Dick Cloud on an informative two-hour hike that will take them through meadows, woods, and occasionally streamside. The focus will be on wildflowers of late spring and early summer.

There will also be a “Bluebird Nesting Box Tour” at 1 p.m. on July 16.

For more than 50 years, volunteers at Tyler Arboretum have been monitoring the nesting activities of the Eastern Bluebird. This is a family-friendly tour to share this tradition.

Admission to Tyler Arboretum is $18 for adults (ages 18-64), $15 for Seniors (65+) and $10 for children (ages 3-17) and Military with valid ID.

Chanticleer (786 Church Street, Wayne, www.chanticleergarden.org), which just opened its 2023 season, is one of them.

The Chanticleer estate dates from the early 20th-century, when land along the Main Line of the Pennsylvania Railroad was developed for summer homes to escape the heat of Philadelphia. Adolph Rosengarten, Sr., and his wife Christine chose the Wayne-St. David’s area to build their country retreat. The family’s pharmaceutical firm eventually became part of Merck & Company in the 1920s.

The garden has evolved greatly since the death of the owner in 1990. As the home of the Rosengartens, Chanticleer was beautiful and green with impressive trees and lawns. Most of the floral and garden development you see today has occurred since 1990 — designed by Chanticleer staff and consultants.
There are seven horticulturists, each responsible for the design, planting, and maintenance of an area. The areas are continually evolving, each with its own feel, yet joined together as one complete unit.

The Teacup Garden and Chanticleer Terraces feature seasonal plants and bold-textured tropical and subtropical plants. The Tennis Court, Ruin, Gravel Garden, and Pond Garden focus on hardy perennials, both woody and herbaceous. Asian Woods and Bell’s Woodland are shady areas. The Serpentine celebrates the beauty of agricultural crops.

Admission to Chanticleer is $12 for adults and free for pre-teen children (12 years and under).

Andalusia Historic House, Gardens and Arboretum (1237 State Road, Andalusia, www.andalusia house.org) opened its gates for the 2023 season at the beginning of April.

Located on a wooded promontory overlooking the Delaware River, Andalusia has been a stately presence on this stretch of water, just north of Philadelphia, for more than 200 years. The ancestral home of the Biddle family, Andalusia is also a natural paradise of native woodlands and spectacular gardens that have evolved over time.

Placed on the National Register of Historic Landmarks in 1966, the Big House is one of the finest examples of Greek Revival architecture in the United States.

Its surrounding gardens delight the senses all through the year, from the tumbling, brightly colored leaves of fall to the floral extravaganza of spring and the abundance and scent of summer.

Self-Guided Garden Tours will be available Mondays through Wednesdays from April 4-November 2 (excluding holidays) at 10 a.m. or 1 p.m. Picnics are allowed on the grounds (with have a “carry-in, carry-out” policy).

Access to the Big House is not included with this tour, which is $20 per person. There is no charge for children 12 and under.

Big House Tours with Garden Access will be available Mondays through Wednesdays from April 4-November 2 (excluding holidays) at 10 a.m. or 1 p.m. Tickets are $30 per person. There is no charge for children 12 and under.

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 2023 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 over $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/.

Hagley Museum and Library (Route 141, Wilmington, Delaware, 302-658-2400, www.hagley.org), a 230-acre historical village on the site of the original du Pont Company gunpowder mills in northern Delaware, has opened a new attraction – “Nation of Inventors.”

“Nation of Inventors” celebrates the American spirit of ingenuity by taking visitors on a journey from the early years of the patent system, in the 1790s, through the “golden age” of American invention, in the late 1800s. The exhibit features more than 120 patent models from Hagley’s unique collection highlighting the diverse stories of inventors from all walks of life.

Patent models are scaled representations of inventions and were part of the patent application process for nearly 100 years. “Nation of Inventors” showcases patent models representing innovations in a variety of industries from transportation and manufacturing to food preservation and medical devices.

In the exhibition, visitors will enjoy engaging experiences around every corner, testing their knowledge of innovation and hearing personal accounts from inventors.

The patent models in “Nation of Inventors” were created between 1833 and 1886. “Nation of Inventors” not only features patent models submitted by inventors from the United States, but also models from inventors in England, France, Ireland, Russia, and Spain, demonstrating an international interest in America’s intellectual property system.

“Nation of Inventors” includes patent models from well-known inventors and companies like Ball (Mason Jars), Jim Beam, Bissell, Corliss, Steinway, and Westinghouse. The exhibit presents important topics and timely themes including women inventors, Black inventors, immigrant inventors, improvements in urban living, and the ways Americans learn about and understand progress and change.

“Nation of Inventors” is located on the first two floors of Hagley’s Visitor Center. Visitors can plan to spend about 30 minutes on their self-guided tour of the exhibition.

Admission to Hagley Museum is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and students and $6 for children (ages 6-14).

The newest exhibition at the Brandywine Museum of Art (1 Hoffman Mill Road, Chadds Ford, brandywine.org), “Andrew Wyeth: Home Places,” opened a few weeks ago and will run through July 13.

This exhibition is a presentation of nearly 50 paintings and drawings of local buildings that inspired Wyeth time and again over seven decades of his career.

The artworks in this exhibition are drawn exclusively from the nearly 7,000-object Andrew and Betsy Wyeth Collection of the Wyeth Foundation for American Art, now managed by the Brandywine. Many of these pieces have never before been exhibited, offering a first glimpse at a significant treasure trove that will shed new light on the collaborative creative process of Andrew and Betsy Wyeth.

“Andrew Wyeth: Home Places” shares the story of a remarkable immersive and intensive artistic practice that ranged across the full array of media Andrew Wyeth practiced. Over the course of a long and diverse career of many chapters, Wyeth repeatedly depicted a small group of historic houses in the vicinity of his hometown of Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania.

In these weathered buildings others might have overlooked or even scorned in the face of gentrification and commercial development of the region, Wyeth found layers of emotion and association. These structures—both venerable and vulnerable in a changing Brandywine Valley—served as a means of pursuing his abiding attention to that which lies beneath the surface of things.

Through living in this landscape his whole life, he engaged in an artistic practice of uncommon focus over an extended timescale, coming to know deeply the evocative buildings in a radius of just a few square miles and rendering them in an astonishing variety of compositions, handlings and approaches. As Wyeth said, “You can be in a place for years and years and not see something, and then when it dawns, all sorts of nuggets of richness start popping all over the place. You’ve gotten below the obvious.”

Among the previously unexhibited works on view are the charming early oil “The Miller’s Son,” painted when Wyeth was just 17 years old, and the stunning watercolor “Noah’s Ark Study” made at age 87—both depicting the same property, Brinton’s Mill.

That the Wyeths came to own and restore this property for use as their primary residence is among the many contributions of Betsy James Wyeth, whose distinct role in stewarding historic properties in Pennsylvania and Maine, which informed her husband’s painting practice, is a key context of this exhibition.

Museum admission is $18 adults, $15 seniors (65+), $6 children (ages 6-18) and students with ID and free for children (ages five and under).

Longwood Gardens (Route 1, Kennett Square, www.longwoodgardens.org) is inviting visitors to enjoy the beauty of late spring.

The “Festival of Fountains” opened for the season on May 11 and will run until September 24.

Longwood Gardens’ Open Air Theatre and Italian Water Garden fountains sprang to life, as did the Square Fountain, Round Fountain (Flower Garden Walk), Sylvan Fountain (Peirce’s Park), and Children’s Corner fountains.

Dancing fountains, performances under the stars, and beautiful gardens make the Festival of Fountains at Longwood Gardens magical. The spectacular celebration of music, light, water, and nature includes distinctive garden experiences indoors and out.

Iconic Illuminated Fountain Performances dance, soar, and delight in the Main Fountain Garden Thursday–Saturday evenings. New Illuminated Fountain Performances for 2023 include “Put Me In, Coach,” featuring a variety of sports-related tunes; “Rachmaninov: Power and Passion”; “Shake It Off” by Taylor Swift; “Starman” by David Bowie; “To Infinity and Beyond” highlighting beloved songs from animated movie favorites; and “Where the Heart Is” a showcase of coming-home hits by the likes of Bon Jovi and Ed Sheeran. Illuminated Fountain Performances are free with Gardens admission.

Before the fountain performances, guests can sit under the stars and enjoy live music and refreshing brews and pub fare in Longwood’s Beer Garden. Guests can enjoy a variety of selections from Victory Brewing Company, including the Longwood Seasons series brewed with ingredients grown at Longwood. Regional artists perform live instrumental music, including Hawaiian-Inspired Steel Guitar from Slowey & The Boats, Jazz Age Blues from Drew Nugent & The Midnight Society, Traditional Cuban Son by Conjunto Philadelphia.

Select Fridays throughout Festival of Fountains bring extra family fun during Longwood’s “Festive Friday” theme nights. During these special evenings, enjoy themed fountain performances, concessions, entertainment, and more. Plus, every festive Friday brings the rare opportunity to climb to the top of the Chimes Tower for a stunning view of Longwood’s 62-bell carillon and the surrounding landscape.

“To Infinity and Beyond” on August 4 is sure to be an evening of fun for both the young and the young at heart when performers from the Philadelphia School of Circus Arts takeover the Pumphouse Plaza from 6–8 pm.

And, on September 15, the “I’m a Believer” theme for Festive Friday brings family-friendly magic with The Give and Take Jugglers in the Pumphouse Plaza from 5:30–7:30 pm. Included with Gardens Admission, visit Longwoodgardens.org for more information.

As the season unfolds, flowering trees delightfully punctuate the landscape, radiant tulips stretch toward the sun, and the delicious fragrance of wisteria floats along the breeze.

Visitors can also enjoy special exhibits at the Orchid House.

Admission to Longwood Gardens is $25 for adults, $22 for seniors and college students, $18 for active military and $13 for youth.

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

The Historic Odessa Foundation is excited to be the northern Delaware venue for an exhibition of selected works by the beloved Delaware artist Jack Lewis (1912-2012). The exhibition entitled “Everyday Lives, Everyday People: The Work of Jack Lewis” is running now through July 2 in the Historic Odessa Visitors Center Art Gallery.

The selection of paintings by Jack Lewis comes from the Nancy and Russell Suniewick Collection on loan from the Rehoboth Art League. In 2021, the Suniewicks, long-time friends of Lewis, and the executive producers of “If You Lived Here, You Would Be Home Now: A Film About Jack Lewis and Bridgeville, DE,” donated an outstanding collection of 52 paintings and various documents of the late artist to the Rehoboth Art League.

The works from the Nancy and Russell Suniewick Collection date from the 1930s to 1980s, and include portraits, domestic and foreign scenes, and an important early self-portrait.

Odessa is one of Delaware’s most historic sites.

Known in the 18th-century as Cantwell’s Bridge, Odessa played a vital role in commercial life along the Delaware River as a busy grain shipping port.

Today, visitors can stroll along tree-lined streets and admire examples of 18th- and 19th-century architecture in one of the best-preserved towns in Delaware. They can also tour a remarkable collection of antiques and Americana preserved in period room settings and quaint exhibits.

Historic Odessa is open to the public from March through December, Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m.4:30 p.m. and Sunday from 1-4 p.m.  The site is also open Monday by reservation. General Admission: Adults, $10; Groups, Seniors, Students, $8; and Children under six are free.

Nemours Estate (1600 Rockland Road, Wilmington, Delaware, nemoursestate.org) has come alive with its magnificent gardens.

Originally constructed in 1910, Nemours Mansion is one of Delaware’s grandest buildings and includes the largest formal French garden in North America.

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 Irénée du Pont was an American industrialist, financier, philanthropist and a member of the influential Du Pont family.

He 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, duPont also ensured that his new home was thoroughly modern by incorporating the latest technology and many of his own inventions.

The Gardens are 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).

The entrance is located on the campus of Nemours Children’s Health, follow signs for Nemours Estate.

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

The Delaware Art Museum (2301 Kentmere Parkway, Wilmington, Delaware, delart.org) currently is featuring three exhibitions.

“Our Red Planet: Anna Bogatin Ott” is running now through July 16.

Ukrainian-born abstract painter, sculptor, and digital artist Anna Bogatin Ott captures the sublime in nature and the complexity of human existence. This exhibition showcases her most recent work, informed by NASA images from Mars and her meditations on the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine.

“My Life, My Voice: Occupying Spaces (La vida de uno y el lugar que ocupamos)” is running now through September 24.

Cesar Viveros is transforming DelArt’s Orientation Hall with a painted mural and a series of seven screen prints, commissioned by the Museum to accompany the exhibition Estampas de la Raza: Contemporary Prints from the Romo Collection. Born in Mexico, Viveros is a renowned muralist, painter, screen-printer, clay and papier-mâché sculptor in the Philadelphia area, and a leader in the region’s Latino community and art world.

Viveros’ mural represents a bodega or tienda de la esquina—a typical corner store which serves as a daily point of encounter in Latino neighborhoods. His posters are based on conversations with members of the Hispanic American Association of Delaware and Los Abuelos, a senior group from the Latin American Community Center.

“Revision: David Meyer” is also running now through September 24.

Sculptor David Meyer uses various materials—flour, dirt, steel, or glass—to form objects that elevate our senses. For this large-scale installation, Meyer creates shapes derived from distorted photographic images. It is the moment of recognition that Meyer elicits in his sculptures.

Admission to the Delaware Museum of Art is $14 for adults, $7 for college students and $6 for youth.

The West Chester Railroad (610-430-2233, www.wcrailroad.com) is running its “Summer Picnic Specials” every Sunday now through September 17 at noon each day.

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

Tickets are $22 for adults and $15 for children (ages 2-12).

Wilmington and Western Railroad (Greenbank Station, 2201 Newport-Gap Pike, Wilmington, Delaware, www.wwrr.com) is running a special train on July 15 – the Yorktown Limited.

Riders take a leisurely 1½-hour round-trip ride up the Red Clay Valley to the Mt. Cuba Picnic Grove, where they can de-train to enjoy a ½-hour layover along the banks of the Red Clay Creek to have a picnic or simply admire the natural surroundings.

If you don’t want to get off the train at Mt. Cuba, you 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.

This departure is powered by one of our historic first-generation diesel locomotives.

Tickets are $18 for adults, $17 for seniors and $16 for youth.

The New Hope Railroad (32 Bridge Street, New Hope, 215-862-2332, www.newhoperailroad.com) is running its “Grapevine Express,” which features “Grapevine Express” on July 15 and 16 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 $96 (Ages 21 and older only).

This weekend, the Strasburg Railroad (Route 741, Strasburg, 717-687-7522, www.strasburgrailroad.com) is running its “Wine & Cheese Train” on July 14, 15 and 16 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 $65.

If you enjoy walking around garden displays or if you like to look at model railroad layouts, then you should definitely check out the Garden Railway Display at the Morris Arboretum (100 Northwestern Avenue, Chestnut Hill, www.morrisarboretum.org).

The ultra-popular Garden Railway Display has become a major summer attraction at The Gardens at Morris Arboretum. The 23rd annual edition of the display has its official season opened in May and will continue 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 made using pinecone seeds for shingles, acorns as finials and twigs as downspouts.

This year’s theme — “America’s Roadside Attractions,” features miniature replicas of some of this country’s most iconic roadside attractions including Randy’s Donuts, the Jolly Green Giant, and the World’s Oldest Largest Pecan.

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).

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 are rotated 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.

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.

Grim Philly will also be presenting “Serial Killers & Cemetery Tour” every Saturday at 2 p.m.

Participants will have the opportunity to experience unconventional sightseeing off the beaten path. They can enjoy Betsy Ross House, Christ Church, Elfreth’s Alley, and Benjamin Franklin’s Grave, together with tales of serial slayings and psychopathic killers like the Corpse Collector, Frankfort Slasher, and H.H. Holmes.

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 $18.

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 $18.

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.