What To Do: Honoring our veterans

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times

November 11 is Veterans Day, and many area attractions will honor veterans in a variety of ways.

The motto for the day is the Latin phrase, “Nos salutant vos,” which translates to “We salute you” in English.

The theme for Veterans Day 2024 is “A Legacy of Loyalty and Service”, and this year’s winning poster was designed by Myisha Godette, a retired, disabled Army Veteran from Queens, New York.

Veterans Day (originally known as Armistice Day) is a federal holiday in the United States observed annually on November 11, for honoring military veterans of the United States Armed Forces (who were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable).

There will be a special wreath laying ceremony in Coatesville on November 11 at 10:45 a.m. at Veterans Park – also known as Gateway Park.

The site’s location is First Avenue at Lincoln Highway in Coatesville. Visitors are invited to gather in the park for a wreath laying ceremony hosted by the Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 1777 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 287.

The 10th Annual Philadelphia Veterans Day Parade will be held on November 10 starting at 21st Street and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

The Philadelphia Veterans Parade has a new route for 2024. It will kick off at noon at 21st and the Parkway and finish up just past the Philadelphia Art Museum at Eakins Oval.

The Philadelphia Veterans Day Festival takes place from noon-4 p.m. at Eakins Oval. Some of the participating food trucks are Farina Pasta & Noodle, Deke’s BBQ, Federal Donut and Grubaholics.

There will be another Veterans Day Parade in the area on Monday November 11.

Media’s 2024 Veterans Day Parade will get underway at 11 a.m. on State Street. The Grand Marshall will be Master Sgt. Tanya Harris.

Hagley Museum and Library (Route 141, Wilmington, Delaware, 302-658-2400, www.hagley.org) will celebrate Veterans Day Weekend on November 9 and  with free admission for current military members, veterans, and their families.

Hagley is also presenting a special event called “Science Saturday” on November 9.

Visitors of all ages are invited to discover solutions to science and engineering challenges. Science Saturdays are drop-in activities, so visitors are free to stop by at any time during the event hours – noon-4 p.m.

The program on November 9 will be “Science Saturday:  Robotics Roundup.”

Participants will be able to learn how robots are built and programmed. They can also visit with a local robotics team to test out their designs.

On November 9, Hagley will present this month’s installment of “Cannon Firings.”

Guests can have a blast during their visit to Hagley by watching a demonstration of the museum’s signal cannon.

Demonstrations take place at 1, 2, and 3 p.m.

Please note that cannon firings are weather-dependent.

The “Cannon Firings” are included with admission and free for Hagley members.

Admission is $20 Adults, $16 Seniors (62+) and Students, and $10 Children (6-14.).

The Wilmington & Western Railroad (2201 Newport Gap Pike, Wilmington, DE, 302-998-1930, www.wwrr.com) is running its special “Salute to Veterans” excursions on November 9.

The W&W honors our military and their service to our country with a ceremony at Greenbank Station, followed by the Yorklyn Limited train rides to Yorklyn.

Veterans ride free on the Yorklyn Limited excursion this day.

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

The Yorklyn Limited excursion is a relaxing and fun way to spend an afternoon with family or friends. This is the re-branded name of the Mt. Cuba Meteor excursion.

The ceremony is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. and the excursions will depart at 12:30 and 2:30 p.m.

Train ride tickets are $18 for adults, $17 for seniors, $16 for children and free for all military veterans.

Elmwood Park Zoo (Elmwood Park Zoo, 1661 Harding Boulevard, Norristown, www.elmwoodparkzoo.org) also has a financial treat for veterans this weekend.

In honor of Veterans Day, veterans of the United States Armed Forces receive free zoo admission, along with one free guest on November 9 and 10.

On November 9, it will host an Observance of US Marine Corps Founding. The event will run from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Visitors can commemorate the founding of the Marine Corps at the graveside of General Jacob Zeilin, 7th Commandant of the Marine Corps during the Civil War.

The commemoration will be followed by a Veterans’ Day tour of those killed in action and buried at Laurel Hill.

Laurel Hill will also present “Hot Spots and Storied Plots” walking tour at 10 a.m.

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

This tour provides an informative overview of Laurel Hill’s long history, which includes many of the marble masterpieces, stunning views, and legendary stories about Laurel Hill.

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

The Tour Guide will be Peter Howell.

Tickets are $15 for general admission, $13 for seniors, and $7.50 for youth.

On November 9 and 10, Historic Yellow Springs (1685 Art School Road, Chester Springs, yellowsprings.org) is hosting its “Fine Arts & Crafts Show” from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sunday.

This meticulously curated event features an impressive selection of artworks, including paintings in various mediums, ceramics, glasswork, woodcraft, paper art, fiber arts, exquisite jewelry and more.

The HYS members’ booth showcases a wide range of arts and crafts crafted by our talented members and our exceptional Chester Springs Studio faculty.

There will be an opening reception on November 8 from 5-8 p.m. Tickets will be available at the door for $10, with free admission for HYS members. It’s a fantastic opportunity to be the first to shop at this year’s attractive show.

The show continues on Saturday and Sunday. Admission is $5 at the door.

Monster-Mania Con 61 will be held now through November 10 at the Expo Center in Oaks (100 Station Avenue, Oaks, phillyexpocenter.com or monstermania.net).

One of the nation’s premier horror film conventions, Monster-Mania Con features an impressive list of celebrities who will be appearing this weekend, including Alec Baldwin.

There will be “Alien” and “Terrifier Scream” reunions each day.

Also featured on the roster of guests this weekend are Eli Roth, Paul Reiser, Kathryn Metcalf, Laurie Metcalf and Daniel Roebuck.

Daily passes start at $30 and three-day passes start at $65.

Linvilla Orchards (137 West Knowlton Road, Media, 610-876-7116, www.linvilla.com) is presenting its “Food Truck Frenzy” on April 27.

The site is partnering with local food trucks to bring visitors a “food-tastic event” at Linvilla.

Along with delicious treats from the trucks there will be music by The McChords and Chameleon and fun for the whole family – including hayrides, pony rides and train rides.

Participating food trucks will be 22BBQ, Albie’s Burgers, Anthony’s Hot Dogs, Auntie Anne’s, Barkely BBQ, Cousins Maine Lobster, House of Cupcakes, Korea Taqueria, Little Sicilian, Napolatono Bros, Sweet Thang, Waffles, 22BBQ, Dos Hermanos and Red Stone Pizza.

The roster also includes Delhi St Bakery, Munchy Machine, On the Roll, Dominic’s Tavern, Roasty Toasty, Chank’s Pizza Cone, Rivalry on State, Humpty Dumplings, Bacon on a Stick, Dixie’s Downhome, Plum Pit, Crepe Truck, Fiesta Churros and Thats alota Gelata.

A good location for a nature walk 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” on November 9.

With 650 protected acres of beautiful woodland, seasonally charming meadows, and a lively program of seasonal events and activities, Tyler Arboretum is a delight for nature lovers, birders, botanists, and those who want rediscover the natural world.

Dating to 1681, making it one of the oldest public gardens in the United States, and home to eight generations of three families, Tyler Arboretum connects visitors to the region’s rich culture and history while preserving, developing, sharing, and celebrating Pennsylvania’s priceless horticultural heritage.

“Saturday Wildflower Walk,” which runs from 1-3 p.m., features wildflower expert Dick Cloud on an informative two-hour hike that will take guests 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.

Although the focus is on plants, Cloud will also talk about whatever else is seen on the tour. Walkers should wear comfortable hiking shoes and bring a camera and/or a wildflower guide, for this botanical-filled walk.

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.

This weekend, you can get a glimpse at how holidays are celebrated in a culinary way in Eastern Europe and Russia by visiting the festival at Saint Herman of Alaska Orthodox Church (1855 North Middletown Road (Route 352), Gradyville, 610-459-5310, www.sthermansoca.org).

The annual Christmas bazaar and food festival at St. Herman is running on November 9 and 10.

The food will be available through online ordering or drive-through from noon-5 p.m. each day.

The menu, which is billed as a “Taste of Tradition,” offers a selection of Russian, Ukrainian, Serbian, Greek & Eastern European Cuisine.

The menu features stuffed cabbage, blini, beef stroganoff, cevapcici, kolbassi sandwiches, halushki, homemade pastries and other specialties.

The West Chester Railroad (Market Street Station, West Chester, 610-430-2233, wcrailroad.com) is running its annual “Fall Foliage Express” trains on November 10. Trains depart at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m.

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

Tickets are $30 for adults and $25 for children.

The Colebrookdale Railroad (South Washington Street, Boyertown, www.colebrookdalerailroad.com) is running its “Autumn Splendor Fall Foliage Excursions” on November 10, 16, 17, 23 and 24.

These rides feature views of some of the best foliage in the area. Spectacular autumn colors and the rich fragrances of fall in the Secret Valley delight the senses while locally produced autumn snacks and ciders available on board warm the soul.

The two-hour round trips depart and arrive in Boyertown.

Ticket options include Deluxe-Coach, Dining, Garden Cafe, First-Class Parlor or First-Class Lounge.

Tickets are $35 for adults and $30 for children and seniors.

The Northern Central Railway (2 West Main Street, New Freedom, www.northerncentralrailway.com) is running its “Fall Foliage Trains” on November 9 and 10.

Riders can enjoy the beauty of fall in Southern York County as the train follows the original Northern Central Railroad, a mainline in operation since 1838, through the scenic Heritage Rail Trail County Park.

Motive power will be the William H Simpson No. 17 replica steam locomotive or the 6076 PRR GP9 historic diesel locomotive. The conductor and brakeman will tell riders about the history and growth of the towns and villages they pass along the way.

Ticket prices start at $32.99.

The Strasburg Railroad (Route 741, Strasburg, www.strasburgrailroad.com) is running its “Wine & Cheese Train” on November 9 and 10 at 4 and 6 p.m. on Saturday and 4 p.m. on Sunday.

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.

Tickets are $70.

The Historic Odessa Foundation (Main Street, Odessa, Delaware, 302-378-4119, http://www.historicodessa.org) is presenting a new exhibition now through December 29 — “Art Exhibit: The Colorful Paintings of Lee Kolbach (1928-2023).”

Visitors can encounter the richly colorful paintings of the talented Delaware artist Lee Kolbach (1928-2023) from her private collection – several of which are on display publicly for the first time.

The Historic Odessa Foundation is privileged to exhibit a selection of her still life and landscape paintings that commemorate her artistic vocation.

Kolbach studied art in New York City at the Pratt Institute and the Art Students League, as well as the Barnes Foundation in Merion, PA.  She also painted for over 35 years with the renowned Wilmington artist Edward Loper, Sr.  As an award-winning artist Kolbach exhibited her paintings throughout the greater Philadelphia and Wilmington areas.

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 more than a dozen art installations that all play with the idea of perspective.

The artwork ranges from award-winning virtual reality short film about a dinner party-turned-alien abduction, to a room where visitors digitally paint the walls with the movement of their bodies.

New artworks rotate in every few months, creating an ever-evolving, year-round show.

Tickets are for entry at a specific date and time. Visitors are welcome to stay as long as they please during operating hours. The average time spent experiencing the show is 90 minutes.

A few installations contain flashing lights, images, and patterns that may trigger seizures for people with photosensitive epilepsy. All visitors must sign a waiver prior to being admitted into the space. Adult supervision is required for visitors under 16.

When it comes to celebrating favorite holidays, some people simply refuse to let go – especially when that holiday is Halloween.

Halloween is fading in the rear-view mirror, but some Halloween events are still going.

The “32nd Annual Field of Screams” (109 College Avenue, Mountville, 717-285-7748, www.fieldofscreams.com), which is open now through November 16, features four world-class Haunted Experiences and an impressive Midway Area.

Top attractions include “Horrifying Haunted Hayride,” “Den of Darkness,” “Nocturnal Wasteland” and “Frightmare Asylum.”

Ticket prices start at $16.

For years, Eastern State Penitentiary (2124 Fairmount Avenue, Philadelphia, www.easternstate.org ) presented one of the premier Halloween attractions in Philadelphia — “Terror Behind the Walls.”

Now, it has morphed into an event called “Halloween Nights at Eastern State Penitentiary.”

The truly scary attraction, which is running through November 9, takes place at a penitentiary site that was once was an active prison and is now a National Historic Landmark.

It is a scream-inducing event featuring laser and special-effect lighting, digital sound, sinister scents, animatronic creatures and 3-D illusions.

Admission prices, which vary with the date, start at $44.

Shocktoberfest (94 Park Avenue, Sinking Spring, 610-375-7273, shocktoberfest.com) features an array of natural and genetically engineered Zombies in a safe and controlled habitat.

“Shockfest Zombie World” is celebrating its 33rd year with five “Killer Experiences” — “Zombie Safari Hayride Tour,” “Prison of the Dead,” “The Unknown 3.0,” “Ground Assault,” “Zombie Experience,” and “Midway Massacre.”

The attraction will close on November 9. Ticket prices start at $30.

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

Participants can walk with tour guides from the grounds of America’s first White House, Congress, and Liberty Bell to homes and sites of Hamilton, Washington, Franklin, Adams, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, and more than 10 other Founding-Fathers. The surprising dirt of espionage, murder, sexual license and blackmail highlight the secrets of 1776 with a ghost story or two along the way. This tour is highly researched. And your guide is a historian.

Tickets are $35.

Ghost Tour of Philadelphia (215-413-1997, www.ghosttour.com), Ghost Tour of Lancaster (717-687-6687, www.ghosttour.com) and Ghost Tour of Strasburg (717-687-6687, www.ghosttour.com) operate throughout the winter and offer an eerily entertaining evening of true ghost stories and real haunted houses.

The Ghost Tour of Philadelphia, which is based on the book, “Ghost Stories of Philadelphia, PA.,” is a candlelight walking tour along the back streets and secret gardens of Independence Park, Society Hill, and Old City, where ghostly spirits, haunted houses, and eerie graveyards abound.

Participants can discover the ghost lore of America’s most historic and most haunted city with stories from the founding of William Penn’s colony to present-day hauntings.

The activity is open year-round – weekends, December-February; every night, March-November. Tickets are $24.

The Ghost Tour of Lancaster and the Ghost Tour of Strasburg are based on the book, “Ghost Stories of Lancaster, PA.”

Participants in the Ghost Tour of Lancaster explore the long-forgotten mysteries of one of America’s oldest cities, with haunting tales of otherworldly vigils, fatal curses, and star-crossed lovers. The tour provides the opportunity to experience 300 years of haunted history from the Red Rose City’s thorny past. Tickets are $20.

The Ghost Tour of Strasburg is a candlelight walking tour of the quaint and historic town of Strasburg in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country. Visitors will experience an entertaining evening with a costumed tour guide spinning tales of haunted mansions, eerie graveyards, and spirits that roam the night … in a town lost in time. Tickets are $20.

In reality, Halloween is over, and Thanksgiving is not a holiday with a lot of special events.

That can only mean that it’s time for the annual onslaught of Christmas events.

Anyone wanting to get into a Christmas mood early can visit Koziar’s Christmas Village (782 Christmas Village Road, Bernville, 610-488-1110, www.koziarschristmasvillage.com) which begins its 76th season on November 2.

Koziar’s Christmas Village is truly a holiday wonderland — a wintertime spectacle that delights young and old alike with a huge amount of holiday displays and special attractions. It will remain open every night through January 1 — including Christmas Eve, Christmas Night, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Night.

The tours of “Christmas Village” feature visits to a variety of displays and exhibits, including “Santa’s Post Office,” “Christmas in the Jungle,” “Manger Scene,” “Christmas Beneath the Sea,” “’Twas the Night Before Christmas,” “Olde Fashioned Bakery Shop,” “Toy Maker and his Toy Shop,” “Christmas in Other Lands” and “The Olde Church”.

Other attractions at Koziar’s Christmas Village include a huge model train display, a toy shop, a country kitchen, indoor and outdoor Christmas displays and a place to visit with Santa and even get pictures taken with the old guy in the red suit. Admission to Christmas Village is $13 for adults, $12 for seniors (65 and older) and $11 for children (ages 4-10).

The American Music Theatre (2425 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster, 800-648-4102, www.AMTshows.com) has its holiday show running now through December 30.

The AMT’s 2024 show “Joy to the World” is an all-new presentation of favorite sacred and secular holiday songs performed by professional artists from across the country. The show will feature spectacular vocal harmonies, lively musical arrangements, impressive dancing and the music of the AMT Orchestra.

The show features incredible singers, astonishing dancers, wondrous costumes, breathtaking sets, and all the endearment of a perfect fireside family moment. Patrons can bask in the beauty of the season and cherish the stories of spirit and love.

The show will have both matinee and evening performances each week with the addition of 10:30 a.m. performances on Saturdays throughout December. Tickets are $49 for adults and $25 for children.

“Christmas Candylane,” which is the annual holiday event at Hersheypark (100 West Hersheypark Drive, Hershey, 800-HERSHEY, www.hersheypark.com), is running now through January 1.