By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times
Kennett Symphony at Winterthur
Sunday is Mother’s Day which means there will be a wide array of special events to celebrate the occasion – and that it will be virtually impossible to get reservations at area restaurants at this late date.
Winterthur (Route 52, Wilmington, Delaware, 302-888-4600,www.winterthur.org) will welcome mothers on Mother’s Day with an array of floral and horticultural attractions – especially the colorful azaleas.
Two of master gardener Henry Francis du Pont’s favorites – “Magnifica,” white with a strawberry blotch, and clear lavender “Winterthur” — are blooming on Oak Hill and Sycamore Hill as well as at the Reflecting Pool.
Deciduous azaleas provide a lovely mix of pink, yellow, and orange, along with a sweet fragrance, in the Pinetum and on Oak Hill. Japanese primroses are in full flower in the Quarry Garden, and the Peony Garden is also blooming.
On May 11 at 11 a.m., Winterthur will present “Mother’s Day Concert with the Kennett Symphony.”
The Kennett Symphony (kennettsymphony.org) will present a special Mother’s Day concert at Winterthur’s Copeland Lecture Hall under the direction of Music Director, Michael Hall.
The “Mother’s Day Weekend Chamber Music Concert” is scheduled for Saturday at 11 a.m. (Winterthur Museum, 5105 Kennett Pike, Winterthur, Delaware).
In celebration of Mother’s Day and the upcoming Transformations: Contemporary Artists at Winterthur exhibition, this special concert explores how the old can influence the new, infusing classical music with modern jazz elements and riffing on classical forms.
Members of the Kennett Symphony will perform chamber music selections by Franz Joseph Haydn, Caroline Shaw, and George Gershwin.
Tickets, which are $25 ($10 for students), must be purchased directly from Winterthur (www.winterthur.org/calendar/mothers-day-concert). Ticket price includes the concert and general admission to visit and enjoy the garden and galleries after the concert.
Winterthur will host “Bourbon and Bluegrass’ will be held on May 10 from 5-8 p.m.
From Point-to-Point to Derby Day, Winterthur is off to the races in the month of May. Guests can celebrate when Winterthur brings Kentucky Derby style to Delaware with bourbon tastings and live bluegrass.
$65. Includes four tastings of bourbon, a mint julep cocktail, Winterthur rocks glass, a Southern-inspired snack box, live music and access to the garden. $35 for designated driver and student (includes one non-alcoholic beverage, snack box, live music and access to the garden). Free for kids under 12 (excludes food and drink).
Food and drink available for purchase. This is an outdoor event in the grass, with no seating provided. Please bring your own seats and blankets. Tickets are non-refundable within five days of the event and may not be exchanged for another date and time.
Another event on May 10 from 5:30-8 p.m. will be “Wine & Design: Mother’s Day Arrangement.”
Each participant will create a beautiful floral piece in a custom Winterthur wine tote, guided by Christina Benton, floral designer. This ticket admits two. Each person will take home their own arrangement.
Chaddsford Winery
On May 11, 12, 18 and 19, the Chaddsford Winery (632 Baltimore Pike, Chadds Ford, 610-388-6221, http://www.chaddsford.com) is presenting “Mimosas with Mom.”
The winery is honoring mom and mimosa lovers with bubbly pours and seasonal specials. This intimate 60-minute experience takes place in the Barrel Room and provides access to some of its latest wine releases.
Each session will begin with a brief classroom-style presentation by a Chaddsford Wine Educator. After the pairings are introduced and explained, your group will have an hour to enjoy the carefully curated selections while raising a well-deserved toast to all the matriarchs in your life.
Each ticket includes one Mimosa, featuring either Sparkling White -or- Sparkling Apple wine, along with a selection of fresh juices and one handcrafted sweet -or- savory Scone from Oso Sweet Bakery and Café.
Outside food is not permitted during this program but guests can enjoy food truck fare from Common Good Pizza.
This program is $23/person with hourly seatings from noon-5 p.m.
Advanced reservations are required and are non-refundable. Guests under 21 years old are not permitted to attend.
Penns Woods Winery (124 Beaver Valley Road, Chadds Ford, http://www.pennswoodswinery.com) will present “Mother’s Day Market at the Vineyard” on May 11 and 12 – from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on Sunday.
Visitors are invited to “unWINed with mom at the vineyard with a day full of premium wine, live music, food trucks and an open air market with the best local artisans.”
Market Vendors will be Melmo’s Dog Treats, The Jawnery, Lady of Knots, La Chic Boutique, Crafts and Company LLC, Pure Bliss Home Decor, YogaSix, Buttercup Baking Co, Cass on the Rocks, Kim Lucas Art, Earths Treasures and more.
Live music will be performed by Rick Caldwell on Saturday and Bill Hake on Sunday.
Outdoor Wine Bar will be open for wine by the glass & bottle, local beer & cider & local cheeses/snack items.
Usually, the Wilmington Flower Market, which is held in early May every year, is an event that almost always seems to bring wet weather. This year looks to be iffy at best.
This year, the 103rd Annual Wilmington Flower Market returns to Rockford Park (Park Drive, Wilmington, Delaware, 302-995-5699, www.wilmingtonflowermarket.org) for a three-day run through May 12.
The Flower Market, which always runs in conjunction with Mother’s Day, benefits over 50 children’s charities in Delaware.
The 2024 Wilmington Flower Market, which is free and open to the public, will be held Friday from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. each day.
As is the tradition, the event features crafts, booths, rides, food, fun, live entertainment and plenty of flowers.
Elmwood Park Zoo (1661 Harding Boulevard, Norristown, www.elmwoodparkzoo.org) is presenting a pair of “Mother’s Day Brunches” this weekend.
The special culinary events will be held May 11 and 12. Three time slots are available each day.
Families can treat mom to an all-you-can-eat brunch buffet — and a day at the zoo. Your ticket includes admission to the Zoo, brunch, and an animal meet and greet.
Some of the featured items are Salmon in dijon Mustard, Ravoli in Blush Sauce, New York Strip, Turkey and Gravy, Shrimp, Garden Salad and Waffle Bar with Fried Chicken.
Ticket prices start at 99.95 for a table of two.
The Zoo in Norristown will also be hosting several of its ultra-popular “Dog Days” over the next week.
The Zoo’s “Dog Days” event will be held on May 10, 12, 15, 17 and 19 from noon-4 p.m. each day.
All guests visiting the zoo with a furry friend must complete an online waiver and submit required documents before visiting the zoo. You must upload a copy of your most recent veterinary visit, including proof of vaccine and heartworm test here. All items will be required for you to attend “Dog Days.”
Pricing is $12.95 per dog. Regular zoo admission is required for all humans.
If you’re looking for a way to celebrate Mother’s Day with your mom and you want to do something that is fun – and different – consider taking a special Mother’s Day excursion on one of the area’s tourist railroads.
The West Chester Railroad (610-430-2233, www.wcrailroad.com) is running its “Mother’s Day Express” on May 12 at noon and 2 p.m.
Families can take mom on a 90-minute round trip train ride from West Chester to Glen Mills and return on her special day.
During the brief layover in Glen Mills, riders will be able to explore the historic Glen Mills train station as well as the rail line’s picnic grove along Chester Creek. All Moms ride for a special reduced fare.
Tickets are $22 for adults, $15 for children (ages 2-12) and $5 for moms.
The New Hope Railroad (32 West Bridge Street, New Hope, 215-862-2332, www.newhoperailroad.com) is running its “Mother’s Day Special” on May 11 and 12.
The train ride departs from and returns to the New Hope Train Station at 9 a.m., noon and 3 p.m. each day.
While riding on a tour of the quaint woodlands of Bucks County, guests will share “breakfast charcuterie” – a delectable smattering of fruits, breads, and goodies sure to satisfy your brunchtime cravings. All guests ages 21 and older will receive their choice of Mimosa or Bloody Mary. Non-alcoholic refreshments are included. Additional bar service available.
The railroad’s parlor car staff will attend to needs throughout your experience. Breakfast will be served on the train at the historic 1891 New Hope station, before departing on a one-hour journey through the beautiful springtime landscape of Bucks County.
Wilmington and Western Railroad (Greenbank Station, 2201 Newport-Gap Pike, Wilmington, Delaware, www.wwrr.com) is running its “Mother’s Day Special” on May 14 at 12:30 and 2:30 p.m.
Families can celebrate Mother’s Day by treating mom to a leisurely 1½-hour round-trip train ride to the rail line’s Mt. Cuba Picnic Grove. They can add to the celebration by packing a picnic lunch to enjoy with mom during the ½-hour layover at the picnic grove.
This event is powered by one of the railroad’s historic first-generation diesel locomotives.
Tickets are $20 for adults, $19 for seniors, and $10 for children (ages 2-12). All mothers ride for $10.
The Northern Central Railway (2 West Main Street, New Freedom, www.northerncentralrailway.com) is running its “Mother’s Day Brunch Express to Ale Craft Brewery” on May 12 at 11 a.m.
The “Glen Rock Express” will travel to Glen Rock and back with the historic PRR GP9 Diesel Locomotive built-in 1959. The ride will be on a former Pennsylvania Railroad mainline that has been in operation since 1838.
The Colebrookdale Railroad (South Washington Street, Boyertown, www.colebrookdalerailroad.com) is running its “Mother’s Day Tea Excursion” on May 11 and 12.
The Colebrookdale ride, which is billed as “your ticket to a verdant land lost in time,” will provide a fun experience for mothers and their families.
“Mother’s Day Tea” with Colebrookdale Railroad features butler-style dining class service including tea sandwiches, pastries, scones, and premium teas.
Dining class seating is available in Lounge Car or Dining car. There is also First Class Parlor Car with 5-star service or Deluxe Coach with light A La-Carte fare. First Class Parlor Car tickets include a complementary tapas plate, a dessert, and the beverage of your choice.
Passengers board one of the railroad’s meticulously restored century-old rail cars for a two-hour expedition into one of the most scenic and historic regions in the northeast.
The excursions depart at 2 p.m. each day.
The Strasburg Rail Road (Route 741, Strasburg, 717-687-7522, www.strasburgrailroad.com) is running three special holiday trains this weekend.
The “Mother’s Day Dinner Train” is scheduled for May 11 and 12. Departures on Saturday will be at 4 and 6 p.m. and the Sunday train will leave at 4 p.m.
This special experience is designed to give you and your mother an upscale dining experience on either the Lee E. Brenner Dining Car. You and your mom will indulge in a select menu prepared by the Executive Chef and Sous Chef of Café 1832 and personally presented by a member of the Café’s Executive Team.
The 45-minute train ride through the picturesque Amish Country includes one complimentary mimosa, or bellini, a non-alcoholic drink of your choice, per person. Additional alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks will be available for purchase.
Peddler’s Village (Routes 202 and 263, Lahaska, peddlersvillage.com) is hosting a “Mother’s Day Brunch” on May 11 at Sweet Occasions.
The theme will be “Mom and Me Tea Party” for the brunch, tea and cookie decorating event which runs from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Visitors can treat their moms to a special tea party filled with delicious treats, refreshing drinks, and a cookie decorating activity. It is billed as “the perfect event for anyone of any age.”
One ticket is $75 and includes entry for a mother and child to the event. Additional tickets can be purchased for additional children at $20.
Sesame Place (100 Sesame Road, Langhorne, www.sesameplace.com) will be presenting “Elmo’s Springtacular” every weekend now through June 16.
“Elmo’s Springtacular” at Sesame Place is filled with furry fun and exciting events – including an exciting line up of meet & greets, music, magic, pirate adventures, and fireworks.
This weekend will feature “Mother’s Day Dine” and “Mommy & Me Dance Party” on May 11 and 12.
Other Mother’s Day special events will be “Mother’s Day Craft for Kids,” “Mother’s Day Sticker Giveaway” and “Mother’s Day Storytime.”
Kids can enjoy an action-packed day with their favorites.
Activity will take place at Sesame Studio.
On any given weekend – Mother’s Day or not — there are many worthwhile events and attractions in Delaware.
The Kalmar Nyckel Shipyard (1124 East Seventh Street, Wilmington, Delaware, www.kalmarnyckel.org) has begun its 2024 season of live sails.
Sailing season returns with river cruises in Wilmington and tall ship sails in Historic New Castle. Tickets for day sails plus private ship rentals are now available.
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.
If you’re in the mood for a fun, family-oriented carnival, you can find two of them just south of the Pennsylvania-Delaware state line.
Now through May 12, the Concord Mall (4737 Concord Pike, Wilmington, Delaware, www.theleadfest.com) is the site of the L.E.A.D. Fest.
L.E.A.D. Fest, which will start at 5 p.m. on Friday and 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, is the official event of L.E.A.D.
In addition to providing fun for kids, L.E.A.D. provides protection.
L.E.A.D. stands for Law Enforcement Against Drugs. It is a non-profit supported by dedicated police officers committed to protecting our youth and communities from the proliferation of drugs, drug-related crimes, peer-to-peer cyberbullying and violence.
The carnival will feature amusement games, food vendors and rides. The Midway is provided by Reithoffer Shows.
Historic Odessa (Main Street, Odessa, Delaware, 302-378-4119, www.historicodessa.org) is both a scenic and an historic site in Delaware.
On May 11, Odessa will present “Saturdays at the Hearth: Fresh From the Garden” from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Visitors to “Fresh From the Garden” will be able to explore the Collins-Sharp House and working kitchen garden with a guide as costumed interpreters capture the sights and flavors of authentic 18th century cooking.
Guests can savor the aromas of dishes cooked over an open fire using the tools, recipes and techniques commonly found in colonial Odessa.
The Odessa staff will be focusing its cooking on crops growing in the site’s kitchen garden.
Admission is included in the general tour.
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.
The Delaware Art Museum (2301 Kentmere Parkway, Wilmington, Delaware, delart.org) currently is featuring four exhibitions.
This will be the final weekend for “The Artistic Legacy of James E. Newton: Poetic Roots,” which is running through May 12.
Many of our members and visitors knew Dr. James Newton as a beloved member of our arts community. Dr. Newton was a University of Delaware professor integral to the establishment of UD’s Black American Studies department, a Wilmington leader who helped found the Mitchell Center for African American Heritage and served on the boards of YWCA and DelArt, a historian for Aesthetic Dynamics who guided the groundbreaking 2021 exhibition Afro-American Images 1971: The Vision of Percy Ricks, and a distinguished artist himself.
This exhibition celebrates the artistic life and legacy of this celebrated painter, printmaker, scholar, and professor. Presented in collaboration with the University of Delaware, it showcases Newton’s vibrant compositions, which explore social justice and American history. DelArt’s exhibition will feature Newton’s early work from his time in graduate study through his exploration of abstraction and emergence of figuration.
“In Focus: Photography from the Collection” is running through June 23.
This exhibition spotlights the work of female photographers in the Museum’s collection, bringing together more than 40 photographs representing a range of techniques and subjects. Highlights include Susan Fenton’s extraordinary hand-painted silver prints and a complete portfolio of Eva Rubinstein’s photographs from 1970s. Other featured artists are Gertrude Käsebier, Imogen Cunningham, Berenice Abbott, Donna Ferrato, and Kristin Capp.
“There Is a Woman in Every Color: Black Women in Art” is running through May 26.
This exhibition examines the representation of Black women over the past two centuries and makes visible Black women’s presence in American art history. This major traveling exhibition was organized by the Bowdoin College Museum of Art and curated by art historian Elizabeth S. Humphrey. Selected artists include Edmonia Lewis, Elizabeth Catlett, Alma Thomas, Carrie Mae Weems, Mickalene Thomas, and LaToya Ruby Frazier. There Is a Woman in Every Color provides an opportunity to place art by Black women in conversation with one another, showcasing their exploration of personhood, issues of identity, and resistance to certain modes of representation or classification.
DelArt invited Ms. Humphrey, now a Ph.D. candidate in Art History at the University of Delaware, to expand the exhibition with examples from DelArt’s permanent collection. Her selections date from the 1940s through 2021, and include compelling works by Sonya Clark, Edward Loper Sr., Faith Ringgold, and Joyce J. Scott. Bringing together 60 works of art from the two institutions, the dynamic display in DelArt’s Fusco Gallery will feature paintings, photographs, sculptures, textiles, and a variety of printmaking techniques.
“Give Me My Flowers – Soft Petals: exploring the mother wound” will be on display through September 24.
Responding to the special exhibition There Is a Woman in Every Color: Black Women in Art, Shakira Hunt presents the latest iteration of her ongoing photographic series, “Give Me My Flowers – Soft Petals”. Hunt’s installation transforms Orientation Hallway and invites viewers to embark on a journey of introspection, healing, and empowerment.
Through her lens, Hunt captures the essence of Black womanhood—the resilience, strength, and softness embodied in every petal. Hunt’s use of mixed materials reflects and honors the multifaceted nature of Black women, reclaiming space and agency over their narratives. As Hunt reflects on her own upbringing and familial dynamics, she invites viewers to confront their own experiences of the mother wound—her term for the emotional scars inflicted by maternal relationships. Hunt’s exploration of identity, trauma, and joy takes her installation beyond a visual experience to serve as a catalyst for collective healing and self-discovery. Through the process of documentation and adornment, “Soft Petals” affirms that every bloom carries within it the seeds of transformation and renewal.
Additionally, the Delaware Art Museum will host “Family 2nd Sunday” on May 12 starting at 10 a.m.
Children of all ages and their families can experience an activity that explores a new medium or technique each month from a professional teaching artist. Sign up for a time slot and create a work of art inspired by a piece in our collection.
The 2024 season is underway at Nemours Estate (1600 Rockland Road, Wilmington, Delaware, nemoursestate.org). The entrance is located on the campus of Nemours Children’s Health, follow signs for Nemours Estate.
Originally constructed in 1910, Nemours Estate 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 named the estate Nemours, after the French town that his great-great-grandfather represented in the French Estates General. While looking to the past and his ancestors for inspiration, Alfred also ensured that his new home was thoroughly modern by incorporating the latest technology and many of his own inventions.
The Gardens 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).
Admission to Nemours is $23 for adults, $21 for seniors and $10 for children.
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 a “Walking Tour” on May 13 at 11 a.m.
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 “Workers’ World.”
“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).
