What To Do: Jamie Wyeth’s ‘Unsettled’ at Brandywine Museum of Art

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times

Variety is the spice of life. It is also a description of the special events around the area this weekend.

There will be attractions featuring an exhibit of Wyeth art, reptiles, hot rod cars, beads, minerals, mud sales, cosplay, mansion mystery tours, a massive “garage sale,” wines and a Ukrainian festival.

The newest exhibition at the Brandywine Museum of Art (1 Hoffman Mill Road, Chadds Ford, brandywine.org), “Jamie Wyeth: Unsettled,” opened last weekend and will run through June 9.

“Jamie Wyeth: Unsettled” will trace a persistent vein of intriguing, often disconcerting imagery over the career of renowned artist Jamie Wyeth (b. 1946).

This major exhibition — organized by the Brandywine and five years in the making — features more than 50 works drawn from museum and private collections across the country that focus on the artist’s arresting, visceral imagery, revealing fascinating insight into Wyeth and the art of visual storytelling. Following its debut at the Brandywine, the exhibition will travel to four additional art museums around the United States.

“Jamie Wyeth is a renowned American painter who has created his own legacy and redefined what it means to be a Wyeth,” said Thomas Padon, the James H. Duff Director of the Brandywine Museum of Art.

“This exhibition takes a fresh look at the artist’s oeuvre and with remarkable nuance plumbs a rich vein of the uncanny throughout Wyeth’s six-decade career,”.

As the title suggests, “Jamie Wyeth: Unsettled” focuses on a single through line in Wyeth’s work — one in which ominous stillness, post apocalyptic skies, frightening shifts in scale, and strange vantage points seem to highlight the vulnerability of the human condition. With his startling compositions and a masterful use of media, color and texture, Wyeth creates an immersive, synesthetic experience that both engages and upsets visual and emotional equilibrium.

While frequently countered and even hidden by the artist’s fuller body of work — particularly his well-known coastal views, farmscapes, and portraits — a consistent thread of darker, more troubling imagery has been a constant in the artist’s work over the past 60 years. His work has evolved from the ultra-realistic visions and virtuoso brushwork of his youth into a mature expressionism in which intense color and dramatic use of paint electrify his canvases.

As this exhibition demonstrates, Wyeth is at home with uneasy subjects and a master of the unsettled mood in each of these stages of his career.

The exhibition immerses viewers into natural and supernatural worlds, from works inspired by the artist’s time spent in Maine—which frequently acknowledge the power of the sea and its fearsome ability to render humans helpless—to forest-based works from Pennsylvania that delve into the supernatural side of nature.

“Jamie Wyeth: Unsettled” is accompanied by a fully illustrated catalogue co-published by Rizzoli Electa and Brandywine.

Following its presentation at the Brandywine, the exhibition will travel to the Farnsworth Art Museum (Rockland, ME), Greenville County Museum of Art (Greenville, SC), Dayton Art Institute (Dayton, OH), and the Frye Art Museum (Seattle, WA).

Museum admission is $20 adults, $18 seniors (65+), $8 children (ages 6-18) and students with ID and free for children (ages five and under).

On March 23 and 24, the Philadelphia Mineralogical Society is presenting its “Annual Philadelphia Mineral Treasures and Fossil Fair” show and sale at the LuLu Shriners Temple (5140 Butler Pike, Plymouth Meeting, 610-828-9050, www.philamineralsociety.org).

The event will feature exhibits of outstanding specimens from society members’ personal collections. The event will also offer a variety of learning activities including a fossil dig for children, displays of local and regional finds and a mineral identification table.

Other special attractions include a fluorescent minerals room, lapidary and jewelry displays, educational materials, door prizes and a food and beverage concession.

Additionally, there will be a sales area featuring more than 30 dealers from around the country. These dealers will be selling fossils, minerals, crystals and jewelry from all over the world, along with books, decorative items and other merchandise.

Demonstrations by the Leidy Microscopical Society on Saturday and Sunday.

The show will also feature food vendors as well as door prize drawings throughout both days.

The Fair will run from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $7 for adults and $2 for children (under 12).

Now through March 24, you can get a bead on the subject by attending an event that is all about beads – the “Best Bead Show” at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center (100 Station Avenue, Oaks, 610-232-5718, www.phillyexpocenter.com). This is an event that claims to be the largest East Coast traveling display of Japanese seed beads– over 4500 variations.

Described as a bead and jewelry extravaganza, the huge annual event will feature a large vendor’ area where visitors can purchase everything from beading supplies to hand-crafted jewelry.

The “Best Bead Show” will have a variety of booths along with workshops which will be presented by experts in the bead and jewelry fields.

The hours for Bead Fest Spring are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $8 per day.

This weekend, the Expo Center will also host the “Mid Atlantic Indoor Nationals — Car, Truck and Bike Show.”

The Mid Atlantic Indoor Nationals (MAIN) is a custom car, truck and bike show featuring some of the East Coast’s best custom vehicles.

There will be more than 90 awards in categories ranging from “Weekend Drivers” to “Professional Show Vehicles.”

A variety of makes, models, and years will be on display.

Vendors, live entertainment, music and great food combine to make the event a weekend festival.

The show will run from 9 a.m.-7 p.m. on March 23 and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on March 24.

Admission is $17for adults (ages 16 and older), $10 for children (ages 11-15) and free for children (10 and under).

On March 23, the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center will also 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.

Some of the featured vendors are AZO Reptiles, Darwin’s Toybox, Blake’s Exotic Reptiles, Fowler Reptiles, Reptile Kingdom, Powder Keg Pythons, Gecko Haven, Hunger Reptiles, Just Lizards, Outback Reptiles, Monstar Reptiles, Turtle to Turtle, Delaware Valley Herpetarium, Zartopian Reptiles, BB Crested Geckos, Dan’s Chameleons, Vega Herping Kingdom and Komodo Reptiles.

The East Coast Reptile Super Expo is sponsored by RKZ Rodents. Always a well-attended event, the show will run from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. this Saturday.

Tickets are $10.

The 48th Annual Gap Fire Company Mud Sale & Auction will be held on March 22 and 23 at the Houston Run Complex (Brackbill Road and Houston Run Drive, Gap, http://www.gapfire.org).

The list of items that will be on the auction block includes antiques, nursery stock, lawn furniture, quilts, wall hangings, crafts, needlework, farm machinery and more.

The Gap Fire Company’s annual spring “Mud Sale” auction will be held on the complex (which is a half-mile west of the fire company grounds) on March 25 — starting at 4:30 p.m. followed by crafts at 5 p.m. and shrubbery and flowers at 6:30 p.m.

The Saturday auctions will start at 8 a.m.
For shoppers who get hungry, there will be Chicken Bar-B-Q, homemade soft pretzels, ice cream, strawberry pie, baked goods and other homemade food items.

Not far from the “plain people” in Gap, a colorful — and bizarre — group of people will be in Lancaster to attend Zenkaikon, which is running from May 22-24 at the Lancaster County Convention Center (25 South Queen Street, Lancaster, https://zenkaikon.com).

The stated mission of Zenkaikon is to promote knowledge and enjoyment of Japanese art, animation, and culture as well as science fiction and fantasy literature and films of all origins.

Zenkaikon was created in 2006 when two Philadelphia-area events merged — Kosaikon, an anime convention held at Villanova University, and Zentrancon, an anime and science fiction convention held on the University of Pennsylvania campus. In 2006, Zenkaikon held its first event at the Valley Forge Convention Center in King of Prussia.

The convention, which is one of the most colorful and diverse events on the Lancaster site’s annual calendar, will be a celebration Japanese animation (anime), comics (manga), and pop culture.

This year’s Zenkaikon features a wide variety of activities including anime and live action screenings, discussion panels, workshops, costume competitions, concerts by musical guests, game shows, video and table-top gaming, vendors and artists.

Some of the featured events at this weekend’s convention are Cosplay Masquerade, Anime Music Video Contest, Artemis, Artists Alley, Scavenger Hunt and autograph sessions. Other attractions are the “Dealers Room”, game shows, live action role playing, karaoke and an array of panels and workshops.

Tickets prices are $75 for “Three-day,” $65 for Saturday and Sunday combination and $35 for Sunday only.

On March 22 and 23, Rockwood Park & Museum (4671 Washington Street Ext, Wilmington,  Delaware, 4671 Washington Street Ext, Wilmington, www.newcastlede.gov/431/Rockwood-Park-Museum) is presenting a special event titled “Mayhem & Murder at Rockwood.”

There’s a different kind of “March Madness” happening at Rockwood.

Once again, murder is afoot with a brand-new “Mayhem & Murder” mystery tour which runs from 7-9 p.m.

Participating sleuths will search the house for clues that will help solve the “March Madness” theme: Whodunnit? What was the motive? Where’d it happen? What was the weapon?

Solve the case and earn the chance to win prizes! If detectives have visited our mystery tours before, come back again because, as always, this is a brand-new adventure! Past participants have described the experience as “The game of Clue meets an Escape Room!”

Please note that the tour involves walking and climbing. Flashlights and instructions are provided, just bring your wits, your investigative skills, and any detective costume you may wish to wear.

Tickets are $25.

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

On March 1, Historic Odessa reopened for spring tours and celebrated the beginning of its 2024 season.

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.

Now through March 31, Historic Odessa presents “Women of Courage, Independence and Perseverance,” as it celebrates Women’s History Month.

“Women of Courage, Independence and Perseverance,” a special petite case exhibit in the Wilson-Warner House will be offered as part of the general tour. It will explore the lives of four extraordinary Wilson and Corbit women who exemplified perseverance and courage at a time when women faced many barriers to their independence.

Another reason to take the short trip to Delaware this weekend is the Archmere Academy Mothers’ Guild Garage Sale.

This sale, which will be held on March 23 from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. at Archmere Academy (3600 Philadelphia Pike, Claymont, Delaware, www.archmereacademy.com) is really the mother of all garage sales. It fills a large gymnasium and two auditoriums with thousands and thousands of top-quality items.

The Archmere Academy Garage Sale is a huge annual sale organized by the Mothers’ Guild and Fathers’ Club. The event has been held in March every year since 1973 with all the proceeds going right back into the classrooms and campus. Items for the sale are donated by the Archmere community throughout the year. Last year the Garage Sale netted over $50,000.

Visitors to the huge annual event at Joe Biden’s alma mater (he was a standout football player and led the Auks to an undefeated season in his senior year) will be able to shop for housewares, electronics, kids’ toys and baby gear, books, sports equipment, shoes, outdoor furniture, adult and kids’ clothes and shoes, holiday decorations and lots more.

Items for sale include flat-screen TV’s, ladies’ handbags, adult and kids’ bikes, jewelry (costume and genuine), garden equipment and tools, rugs, DVDs and video games, artwork and handcrafted items.

There will also be a variety of hot and cold food items and home-baked goods for sale. Admission to the event is free.

Another attractive event is taking place along Philadelphia Pike a few miles south of Archmere’s campus.

SS. Peter & Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church (1406 Philadelphia Pike, Wilmington, Delaware, http://www.sspeterandpauluoc.org/) is hosting its 2024 Spring Bazaar.

The Ukrainian church will have a wide array of tasty food treats featuring Parish-made Pyrohy (pierogies), stuffed cabbage (holubtsi both with meat and vegan), kovbassa (kielbosi), holushki (noodles with butter and onions and fried cabbage), sauerkraut, borscht and mushroom soup, and platters to eat in or to go.

There also will be an array of food tables with dessert treats such as homemade paskas and orange cranberry breads, nut, poppy seed and apricot rolls, baklava, special cakes and khruschiki.

The free event is open from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

The American Swedish Historical Museum (1900 Pattison Avenue, Philadelphia, 215-389-1776, www.americanswedish.org) is hosting an event on March 24 called “Easter Family Day.”

Parents can introduce their little ones to Swedish Easter traditions. Children can make Swedish Easter crafts, dress up as Easter witches, and participate in an egg hunt.

The egg hunt is in two heats; one for children aged 2-5 and the second for children aged 6-12 at 3:15 pm and 3:30 pm, respectively. Egg hunts will take place outside, rain or shine.

Admission to the event, which runs from 2-4 p.m., is $10.

The Philadelphia Zoo has been a habitat for an amazing array of animals ever since its opening day in July 1874. Now, for the next two-and-one-half months, the Zoo will be home to a sextet of Trolls.

Now through April 15, the Philadelphia Zoo (3400 West Girard Avenue, Philadelphia) is hosting the East Coast debut of Thomas Dambo’s “TROLLS: Save the Humans,” produced by Imagine Exhibitions. This represents the first-ever winter feature experience at Philadelphia Zoo.

The world’s leading “recycle” artist has created these six, folklore-inspired Trolls using repurposed wood. The Trolls are on a mission to inspire humans to take better care of nature. The Trolls, ranging up to 15 feet tall, will be located throughout the Zoo’s 42-acre campus.

“TROLLS” were created by artist Thomas Dambo, who currently lives and works in Copenhagen, Denmark.  Born in Odense, Denmark in 1979, Dambo’s mission is to create art that inspires people to explore, have adventures in nature, and show that recycled goods can be turned into something beautiful.

Dambo’s colossal troll sculptures range in height from 16-50 feet and ‘live’ as permanent or semi-permanent installations in parks, greenspaces, industrial parks, and in other site-specific locations around the world. Each folklore-inspired sculpture is imbued with expression and character and is built entirely from reclaimed materials.

Each Troll has a unique name and story. There are six Trolls who will be taking up residence at the Philadelphia Zoo through April 15.

They all believe rethinking how we live our daily lives will help save the planet for all animals, including humans, and they want to share their ideas. They want all humans to reduce trash, reuse everything, and recycle when they can. The Trolls believe that these actions and others to protect wildlife and wild places are important steps to help save the planet for all animals, including humans.
The exhibition is included in admission to the Zoo. Admission prices start at $19 for adults and children. Tickets are now available on philadelphiazoo.org.

“Under the Canopy: Animals of the Rainforest,” which will run now through September 2 at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University (1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, ansp.org), is an immersive exhibition introducing visitors to the fascinating world of rainforests and the animals that inhabit them.

You can learn about unique plants and rainforest ecology as you encounter a live sloth, boa constrictor and other animals that call these habitats home. You will see the importance of rainforests to the planet as you explore interactive discovery stations, dynamic displays and engaging programming.

Presented in English and Spanish, “Under the Canopy” will engage students of all ages, with accompanying curriculums on rainforests, water cycles, the science of diversity, deforestation and soil, how kids can save the planet and so much more. Hands-on interactives are complemented by life-size, climbable animal sculptures, including a gorilla, tortoise, crocodile, red-eye tree frog and Banyan tree.

All exhibits are included with the purchase of a general admission ticket.

Admission prices are — Adults (Age 13 and above), $22; Children (Age 2 – 12), $18.

The Easter Bunny is known for hopping around but not always. Sometimes, he opts for a different form of locomotion – with real locomotives.

Sometimes, instead of bouncing along the ground, the big happy rabbit rides a train. This weekend, the holiday bunny will start his three-weekend stint of riding trains all around the area.

One of the best train rides with the Easter Bunny is the one presented by the West Chester Railroad (Market Street Station, West Chester, www.wcrailroad.com).

The special “Easter Bunny Express” trains will run on March 23, 24, 30 and 31 at noon and 2 p.m. each day.

The 75-minute journey on the trail line’s heated decorated train travels through the Chester Creek Valley. The Easter Bunny will be greeting everyone at Market Street Station and then going along for the ride to Glen Mills.

Adult fare for the West Chester Railroad trips is $30. Tickets for children (ages 2-12) are $25 while toddlers (ages 9-23 months) get to ride for $10.

The Wilmington & Western Railroad (2201 Newport Gap Pike, Wilmington, Delaware, 302-998-193, www.wwrr.com) will run its “Easter Bunny Express” on March 23, 24, 29 and 30 at 12:30 and 2:30 p.m.

The Easter Bunny hops aboard the train for a 1.5-hour round-trip ride to Ashland and hands out special treats to all of the kids onboard.

The Easter Bunny will visit everyone aboard the train and pose for pictures. This is a great way to welcome Spring and bring the family out for a fun time on the rails.

This event is powered by one of the rail line’s historic first-generation diesel locomotives.

Tickets for these trains are $27 for adults, $26 for senior citizens and $25 for children.

The New Hope and Ivyland Railroad (32 West Bridge Street, New Hope, 215-862-2332, www.newhoperailroad.com) is running its annual Easter Bunny Express beginning on March 23 with departures at starting at 11 a.m.

The Easter Bunny is going to ride onboard the train where he will visit with each child, hand out special treats and pose for pictures. Coach tickets start at $47 for adults and $45 for children (ages 12-plus) and $10 for toddlers (under 2).

The train ride departs from and returns to the New Hope Train Station. Riders can take in the sights of early spring as the Easter Bunny visits with all of the children handing out special candy treats and posing for photos taken by the railroad staff.

The Strasburg Rail Road (Route 741, Strasburg, 717-687-7522, www.strasburgrailroad.com) is running a special train on Saturdays and Sundays in March – the “Wine & Cheese Train.”

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 6 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. We are 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.

The Strasburg Rail Road is also running its “Easter Bunny Train” from March 29-31.

Every Saturday and Sunday in March and April, the Chaddsford Winery (632 Baltimore Pike, Chadds Ford, 610-388-6221, http://www.chaddsford.com) is presenting “Reserve Tastings – Wine & Cheese.”

Guests will join the CFW Crew for an intimate and educational 60-minute experience in the Barrel Room. The trained staff will guide them through a pre-selected tasting of five widely diverse and award-winning wines from across our portfolio. The selections will be paired alongside seasonal local cheeses and other accoutrements to enhance your tasting experience.

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

The 2024 Pairing Line Up is ’22 Sparkling White paired with Éclat Blood Orange Pâte de Fruits, ’22 Dry Rosé: Redux paired with Fresh Chèvre with Local Spring Honey, ’21 Harbinger paired with Sea Salt Kettle-Cooked Potato Chips with Wild Mushroom Confit, Good Vibes Only paired with Noble Brie and Small Batch Sour Cherry Spread, and Revolution (the winery’s very first port-style fortified wine).

Reserve seatings are $35 per person.

This month, Penns Wood Winery (124 Beaver Valley Road, Chadds Ford, 610-459-0808, Penns Woods Winery – HOME) is pairing wine and cupcakes.

Every weekend in March, visitors will be able to experience the winery’s highly anticipated annual pairing with out-of-the-box custom flavors developed in partnership with the Food Network’s Cupcake Wars winning shop Dia Doce!

Reservations are required to enjoy in person or you can order a Take Home Pairing Kit for a fun night in.

Tickets are $36.

Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library (Route 52, Wilmington, Delaware, 800-448-3883, www.winterthur.org) just opened its 2023 season.

Visitors are invited to celebrate the early bulb display of the March Bank with self-guided garden tours.

On Saturdays and Sundays in March, Winterthur is hosting an event called “Take a Hike!”

Hikers will be able to explore the site’s trails with Winterthur estate guides. Winterthur’s 1,000-acre estate features 25 miles of walking paths and trails and 10 miles of roads to discover.

The walk, which runs from 2:30-4 p.m., is included with admission.

Winterthur is turning blue as the glory-of-the-snow and scilla are appearing throughout the garden, especially on the East Terrace. Warmer than normal temperatures have pushed us into “early April,” and the Winterhazel Walk is budding with the lavender and pink flowers of the Korean rhododendrons along with Lenten roses and fragrant viburnums. The Quarry Garden is filled with the sunshine-yellow cornel dogwoods, daffodils, and mahonia, with forsythia bursting into bloom nearby.
The white arrow tour has returned for the season! When the Winterthur Garden was first opened to the public, Henry Francis du Pont had white wooden arrows placed in the garden to direct visitors during spring tour to the “must-see” flowers that week. The self-guided tour starts at the Visitor Center Patio and winds through the garden, highlighting the changing colors of spring and leading guests back to the Visitor Center. The path will change weekly as the color progression dictates.

Admission to Winterthur is $22 for adults, $20 for seniors (age 62 and older) and students, and $8 for children (ages 2-11).

Hagley Museum and Library (Buck Road East entrance via Route 100, 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 a popular ongoing attraction – “Nation of Inventors.”

Additionally, there will be two special events over the next few days “Science Saturdays” at 11 a.m. on March 23 and “Walking Tour” on March 25 at 11 a.m.

This edition of “Science Saturdays” has “Kitchen Chemistry as its theme.

Participants can spend a tasty afternoon learning about the chemical properties of the items they may have in their kitchen. They will also have the opportunity to make tie-dye milk art to take home.

Visitors of all ages are invited to discover solutions to science and engineering challenges. This is a drop-in activity which can be joined at any time. Activities are included in admission and free for Hagley members.

With the “Walking Tour,” participants can walk through history during an in-depth, 90-minute guided tour each Monday morning from March through December. This week’s topic is “Women’s History in the Hagley Collection.”

“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 is $20 for adults, $16 for students and seniors (62+) and $10 for children (6-14).

Longwood Gardens (Route 1, Kennett Square, 610-388-1000, www.longwoodgardens.org) is celebrating the new year with one of its annual special events – “Winter Wonder.” The attraction is getting down to its final days.

“Winter Wonder,” which runs now through March 24, celebrates the beauty of winter. It’s all about outdoor spacious, indoor oasis, and the power of story.

Outside, visitors can find a sense of peace and tranquility as they walk past textural grasses, seed heads and the dramatic silhouettes of trees that stretch up into the sky.

Inside, they can bask in a world of warmth that features an overhead garden of hanging baskets adorned with such vibrant beauties as jasmine, cape-primrose, and lipstick-plant.

Visitors will be able to enjoy a paradise of flowers and foliage, bursting with color — all in a beautiful indoor winter wonderland with a tropical twist.

Inside Longwood’s Conservatory, visitors can check out nearly 300 blooming orchids on display in the site’s Orchid House. There will also be rare blue poppies blooming in March but for only about 10 to 15 days.

Another popular attraction this year is Longwood Gardens’ “Science Saturdays” series.

Topics for Science Saturday include “Seed Science” on April 20.

Longwood custom grows a staggering 1,300 (and counting) types of plants each year for seasonal indoor displays and outdoor gardens … and each type has its own needs.

While Longwood’s team utilizes its horticulture expertise to grow this diverse palette of plants, its innovative greenhouses further the capabilities to grow them precisely and efficiently, all while attending to each plant type’s individual needs.

The gardens are open from Wednesdays through Mondays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. until Friday, March 31. Hours change in the spring.

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.

Admission to Longwood Gardens is $25 for adults, $22 for seniors (ages 62 and older) and college students, $18 for active military and veterans and $13 for youth (ages 5-18).

A popular venue where you can enjoy flowers up close is Tyler Arboretum (515 Painter Road, Media, 610-566-9134, www.tylerarboretum.org).

The arboretum’s schedule for this weekend features the “Saturday Wildflower Walk: Early Spring Edition” on March 23 at 1 p.m.

At the “Saturday Wildflower Walk,” wildflower expert Joanne Landau 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.

Admission to Tyler Arboretum is $18 for adults and $10 for children (ages 3-17) and Military with valid ID.

If you’re looking for a fun family activity – an indoor activity unaffected by the weather — Linvilla Orchards (137 West Knowlton Road, Media, 610-876-7116, www.linvilla.com) has something just for you — the miniature golf course “Fore! the Planet.”

However, if you snooze, you lose.

The mini-course is open daily from 9 a.m. -5 p.m. through March 26.

Linvilla Orchard’s “Fore! The Planet” is a highly interactive and playful museum exhibit created by the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia. This exhibition pairs important environmental issues with the fun of miniature golf.

It features nine unique educational holes explore butterfly metamorphosis, a tropical rain forest, evolution, dinosaur extinction, food chains, and more. It’s perfect for kids of all ages. The entire family will enjoy playing miniature golf while learning about our environment – every step of the way.

Tickets are $5.

Linvilla is also presenting “Rides to Bunnyland” now through March 30.

Guests will hop aboard a hayride as it carries them through the woods to visit the Easter Bunny’s house where all will have the chance to meet Linvilla’s Easter Bunny. During the visit, one of Linvilla’s Bunny’s friends will tell a magical story and provide special treats for all.

If you would like to capture your special visit, be sure to bring your camera since the Easter Bunny likes to take pictures with all special guests!

This hayride lasts approximately 20-30 minutes.

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.

Grim Philly’s “Dark Philly History Tour” (www.grimphilly.com) will be held every evening throughout the winter.

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.

On March 22, 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?

“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 Guide will be Pat Rose.

On March 24, Laurel Hill Cemetery will present “Sacred Spaces and Storied Places” walking tour at 10 a.m.

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.

The Tour Guide will be Nicole Tell.

Tickets, which must be purchased in advance, are: $15/General Admission; $13/Seniors (65 & Up); $7.50/Youth (6-12). Youth and children must be accompanied by an adult.

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 two years ago.

Wonderspaces features 14 art installations that all play with the idea of perspective.  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.

Peddler’s Village (Routes 202 and 263, Lahaska, 215-794-4000, www.peddlersvillage.com) will present the “Fifth Annual “PEEPS® in the Village” now through April 14 (except on Easter Sunday).

The popular event showcases the creative talents of regional residents–and the longstanding allure of the colorful candies. There will be more than 130 marshmallow masterpieces carefully crafted with bright bunnies and chicks in inspired, inventive settings.

The event will start at 10 a.m. each day except on Sundays when it opens at 11 a.m.

Weekday and weekday evening visits are strongly encouraged. Lines and wait times can be long on weekends.

Sesame Place (100 Sesame Road, Langhorne, www.sesameplace.com) may be closed for park rides and activities but there’s still furry fun to be had.

This weekend’s special event will be “Mardi Gras Celebration,” which will be running now through March 17.

Visitors can let the good times roll at Sesame Place’s family-friendly Mardi Gras Celebration.

Guests can join in the festivities and celebrate by dancing along with special strolling entertainment, participating in the Mardi Gras Mask Scavenger Hunt, and much more. They also can enjoy Sesame Street-themed rides and attractions for guests of all ages.

The Sesame Street Mardi Gras Parade is a celebration with everyone’s favorite Sesame Street friends dressed up and ready to shine, and features lively tunes, fancy dancing, and floats decked out in Mardi Gras colors of sparkly purple, green, and gold.

Visitors to Sesame Place can enjoy mouth-watering menu items made famous by the city of New Orleans like beignets and jambalaya.

“TreeTrails Adventures Trevose” (301 West Bristol Pike, Trevose, treetrails.com/trevose-pa) is an adventure park full of fun challenges for outdoor adventurers of all ages.

Participants can experience the rush of TreeTrails Adventures as they swing through the trees of the new adventure park. They will be able to discover the excitement of climbing and zip lining above the forest floor with family, friends, co-workers, or teammates.

The park, which is based at Phoenix Sport Club in Bucks County, offers two ways to experience climbing – TreeTrails Adventure Park and KidTrails Park. Young explorers can enjoy miniaturized courses in the adjacent KidTrails Park.

General Park Admission prices are: Main Park Adult Tickets (Ages 12+), $59; Main Park Youth Tickets (Ages 7–11), $51; KidTrails Tickets (Ages 4–7), $12.