What To Do (4th of July edition): Fun, fireworks and more!

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times
Downingtown Good Neighbor Day
This is Fourth of July weekend and that means it is time for parties, festivals, picnics and a lot of fireworks displays.
The 45th Annual Downingtown Good Neighbor Day (www.GoodNeighborDay.com) will be held on July 4 at Kerr Park in Downingtown from 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Activities will get underway with a “Prayer and Flag...
What To Do: Paranormal Cirque continues local run of shows

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times
The weekend obviously will get off with a bang this week with Fourth of July fireworks displays — and other Independence Day holiday celebrations — all around the area.
But this is July and that means there is a slew of special events and annual traditions filling the calendar – events that have nothing to do with the Fourth of July holiday.
The...
What To Do: Summertime and schedule of events is massive

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times
As usual, there is a wide array of special events on this weekend’s calendar – diverse enough to include a canal fest, a massive Celtic festival, a birthday party for an orangutan, a Chinese Lantern festival, an ice cream festival, tasting sessions at wineries and Wawa Welcomes America’s headlong rush in next weekend’s Independence Day holiday...
What To Do: Summertime is time for outdoor festivals

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times
Community Festival
The arrival of summer is here and so is the arrival of a plethora of fun outdoor family events.
Now through June 21, the sights, sounds and smells of a summertime fair will be filling the air in Downingtown when Saint Joseph Church (338 Manor Avenue, Downingtown, 610-269-8294, www.stjoesfestival.com) hosts its 17th annual “Community...
Helicopter Museum to host ‘PRIDE: LGBTQ+ Voices in Aviation!’ June 28

The American Helicopter Museum and Education Center (AHMEC) will be hosting PRIDE: LGBTQ+ Voices in Aviation! on Saturday, June 28, from 1 – 4pm.
The event will feature a number of aviation, academic, and community LGBTQ+ groups, including the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, the Association of Flight Attendants, PFLAG – West Chester Chapter, West Chester University’s Center...
What To Do: Balloon Festival, St. Joe’s Festival and Juneteenth events

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times
Balloon Festival
Many “out of the normal” things are happening right now on this very busy final weekend of Spring 2025.
The weekend gets underway on June 13 – a.k.a. “Friday the 13th.”
The weekend wraps up on June 15 with celebrations of Fathers’ Day.
A few days later, there will be events and activities celebrating Juneteenth.
In...
AAA honors outstanding school Safety Patroller

Left to right) Deb Rooney, Bradford Heights Elementary School Advisor; Andi Hardin, Bradford Heights Elementary School 2025 AAA Outstanding School Safety Patrol Award Recipient; Jana Tidwell, Manager, Public and Government Affairs, AAA Mid-Atlantic.
AAA announced that Andi Hardin, a fifth grader at Bradford Heights Elementary School (Chester County), is this year’s Outstanding School Safety Patroller...
Local official shares story of hair donation to Wigs for Kids

By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times @mikemcgann.bsky.social
A newly shorn Valley Township Supervisor Casey Leidy shows off the ponytails he donated this week to Wigs for Kids.
It all started as a idea to get a little girl to brush her hair, but it ended this week when a local elected official donated his lengthy locks to help kids battling various forms of cancer, illness and injury.
Valley Township...
Volunteer at the Chester County Food Bank to commemorate National Pennsylvania Day Friday, July 18

Volunteers prepare meals. Photo Credit: Brandi Levine
The Chester County Food Bank will offer a variety of volunteer opportunities for Pennsylvania Day on Friday, July 18 in partnership with America250 PA Chester County. Volunteers can help prep and package colorful and nutritious prepared meals, sort, clean, and pack fresh produce for distribution, or help in the warehouse packing Senior Food Boxes...
CCIU hosts inaugural PSEL Esports Expo with Rocket League tournament

Student competing in the 2025 PSEL Esports Tournament at the Chester County Intermediate Unit.
Over 40 educators and coaches, along with 25 students and 12 sponsors, gathered on Monday, June 2, for the inaugural Pennsylvania Scholastic Esports League (PSEL) Esports Expo at the Chester County Intermediate Unit (CCIU). The event featured a Rocket League tournament and offered a full day of exploration...