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 celestial news, the Strawberry Moon just appeared in the sky this week and Summer Solstice is just a week away.
June 14 promises to be a day of abnormally high levels of energy — both positive and negative.
Trump’s birthday parade – a.k.a. U.S. Army’s 250th Birthday Parade — will be held in Washington D.C. on June 14. This is being met with hundreds of protests nationwide known as “No Kings Rally.”
The Philadelphia edition of the “No Kings Rally” is the flagship event for anti-Trump rallies across the United States, Canada, Mexico and Europe on Saturday.
High levels of energy will be on the ground and in the air in Kennett Square this weekend.
When there are hot air balloons floating in the sky over your head, you’re going to stop whatever you’re doing and turn your gaze skyward.
Three things guaranteed to make you look up are helicopters, bald eagles and hot air balloons.
If you want to experience the sensation of checking out hot air balloons in the sky above you, then you should plan on attending this weekend’s Annual Chester County Balloon Festival (Willowdale Steeplechase, 101 East Street Road, Kennett Square, http://ccballoonfest.com) which runs from June 13-15.
It’s always an awe-inspiring sight when a large hot air balloon floats untethered through the air.
Watching one balloon floating above you is a lot of fun. Watching more than 20 huge, multi-colored balloons filling the airspace over your head counts as a thrilling experience.
Activity at the Balloon Festival begins on June 13 with the gates opening to the public at 4 p.m.
Festivities scheduled for all three days are “Wine & Beer Garden,” “Kids’ Zone,” “Balloon Launch” and a “Balloon Glow.”
During the glow, balloons inflate at dusk, remain tethered, and light their burners in a synchronized fashion.
Other fun activities at this year’s festival are tethered balloon rides, karate demonstrations, craft and food vendors and a children’s area featuring kid-friendly attractions.
All hot air balloon related events are weather permitting. Hot air balloons cannot fly or even be inflated in excessive wind conditions, rain or thunderstorms. As always, safety for the pilots, passengers and festival goers is always a priority.
Admission to the festival is $30 for adults and $10 for children (ages 6-12).
Attendees can purchase tickets for hot air balloon rides and tethered balloon rides for an additional fee.
Community Festival
From June 17-21, 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 18th annual “Community Festival.”
The event will feature all the traditional things associated with a summer festival — including exciting rides and amusement games.
There will also be food concessions with all the standard festival fare — cotton candy, ice cream, hot dogs, hamburgers, popcorn, corn dogs, soft pretzels and cheese fries along with mozzarella sticks, tomato pie and hot roast beef sandwiches.
The roster of music acts includes De La Salle String Band, Downingtown School of Rock, Yesterday’s News Band, Tinn Angel and the Red Satins.
Downingtown Summer Jam (Kerr Park, 28 East Pennsylvania Avenue, Downingtown, downingtownmainstreet.com) will fill the air with music on June 14 from 4-9 p.m.
This family-friendly community concert, which is presented by Downingtown Main Street Association, features free admission and is open to the public.
Guests can listen to free live music while enjoying delicious food plus drinks from the beer garden — all held in the field next to the gazebo in Kerr Park.
No outside alcohol or food is permitted, but “bring your own water” is encouraged.
Live music will be provided by opening act Cordelia Blue and headlining act The Flying Komorowski Brothers.
Participating food trucks will Cousins Maine Lobster, The Munchy Machine, Shimpy’s BBQ, Bop Truck, Mini Millie’s Pasta, The Farmhouse Coffee & Espresso Bar and The Creamery at the Farmhouse.
The 38th Annual Clifford Brown Jazz Festival will be held in Rodney Square (11th and Market streets, Wilmington, 302-576-3095, www.cliffordbrownjazzfest.com) from June 18-21.
The free festival will start on June 18 with a celebration of black joy and friends and music by Ingrid Jensen.
The lineup for June 19 includes Victor Wooten and the Wooten Brothers and Sullivan Fortner & His Galactic Friends.
On June 20, the acts will be Chante Moore and Eric Benet.
Acts performing on June 21 will be Lili Anel, Carmen Lundy and Maya Belardo.
There is no admission charge on any day.
One of Delaware’s most popular events is St. Anthony’s Italian Festival (St. Anthony of Padua Church, 901 North DuPont Street, Wilmington, Delaware, sapde.org/italianfestival).The festival, which runs now through June 14, features cafes, carnival rides, live Italian music and amusement games.
This festival, which is celebrating its 51st anniversary this year, is more than just a carnival with rides and food. It also is an educational experience with a focus each year on a different cultural region in Italy.
Over the past several years, the festival has focused on the art, architecture, food, and traditions of various regions.
It will celebrate all that makes Italy and the Italian lifestyle the envy of much of the world.
There will be culinary highlights from various regions at the cafes and vendor locations, handcrafted Italian home decor items and Italian classical and contemporary music at concerts in the church and on the festival’s entertainment stages.
The St. Anthony’s Festival has become famous for its array of tasty Italian food.
Visitors will be able to enjoy such taste treats as spezzato, pizza, sausage and peppers, panzarotti, porkette, clams and spaghetti, pasta fagioli, pizza frita, meatball sandwiches, mozzarella sticks, calamari rings, spaghetti dinners and fresh espresso and cappuccino.
There is a $7 admission fee for all visitors ages 14-61. Seniors (age 61 and older) and children (age 13 and under who are accompanied by a parent or guardian 18 or older) will be admitted free.
The focus will be on dad this Sunday – Father’s Day.
Father’s Day is a day set aside for honoring one’s father, as well as fatherhood, paternal bonds, and the influence of fathers in society.
Penns Woods Winery (124 Beaver Valley Road, Chadds Ford, http://www.pennswoodswinery.com) is hosting “Father’s Day at the Vineyard” this weekend from June 13-15.
Guests can enjoy wine by the glass & bottle, live music and a special “Wine & Beer Pairing Bar.”
Reservations are highly recommended.
Reservations are highly recommended.
On Friday, there will be a Cigar Lounge and live music by Ryan Laliberte.
On Saturday, the “Beer & Wine Pairing Bar” features three wines perfectly paired with local beers. Live music will be performed by 400 Bears.
On Sunday, there will be a program called “Wine & Whiskey Cocktail Making.” This is a hands-on workshop with Dad’s Hat Distillery creating custom cocktails that complement a curated selection of wines. Live music will be performed by Adam McCue.
A comfortable way to sit back and enjoy Father’s Day is to take a ride on a tourist rail line train.
The West Chester Railroad (610-430-2233, www.wcrailroad.com) is running its “Father’s Day Express” on June 15 at noon and 2 p.m.
Kids can take dad on a relaxing train ride from West Chester to Glen Mills and return on his special day. During a brief layover in Glen Mills, riders will be able to explore the historic Glen Mills train station as well as the WCRR’ s picnic grove along Chester Creek.
Tickets are Adults, $25; children (ages 2-12), $20; children (under two), free. All dads ride for a special reduced fare – $5.
The Colebrookdale Railroad (South Washington Street, Boyertown, www.colebrookdalerailroad.com) is running its “Father’s Day Beef & Beer” on June 14 and 15 at 1 p.m. each day.
The rail line’s Dining and Lounge car will feature a handcrafted roast beef sandwich, creamy coleslaw, oven-roasted potatoes, and one complimentary beer of your choice (21 and older), or soda for those younger than 21.
Children on board will be served chicken fingers with macaroni-and-cheese.
À la carte beverage service and light fare will be available for purchase throughout the train.
Tickets are $45 for adults, $40 for seniors and $25 for children.
The Northern Central Railway (2 West Main Street, New Freedom, www.northerncentralrailway.com) is hosting a very special event this Father’s Day weekend – “Anniversary Celebration! Glen Rock Express with No. 85.” It is an all-ages one-hour ride powered by the No. 85 Steam Locomotive.
Riders will travel to Glen Rock and back with “MACK” Steam Goal burning steam engine, #85 on the former Pennsylvania Railroad mainline that has been in operation since 1838.
The excursion follows the route of the original Northern Central Railroad through the scenic Heritage Rail Trail County Park. Passengers will be able to learn about the history of the towns and villages they pass along the way.
Departures are 11:30 a.m., 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. on June 15 and 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. on June 16.
Tickets are $29.99 for adults and $19.99 for children.
The New Hope Railroad (32 West Bridge Street, New Hope, 215-862-2332, www.newhoperailroad.com) is running its “Father’s Day Express” on June 14 and 15.
Riders will embark on a nostalgic journey, immersing themselves in the elegance and grandeur of America’s golden age of railroads.
They will ride in premium parlor and lounge cars for an intimate, approximately one-hour journey through the scenic woodlands and rolling foothills of Bucks County.
The attentive parlor car attendants will ensure guests comfort throughout the trip, providing exceptional food and beverage service.
Guests will be indulged with a decadently rich cheese and charcuterie board that balances with the wine and spirits experienced on their journey.
Departure times are 11 a.m. and 1 and 3 p.m.
Tickets are $99.
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 “Father’s Day Weekend Fan Fest” on June 14 and 15.
Kids can cheer for dad this weekend with a sports fan fest at Sesame Place. Visitors can come to Sesame Place to meet some of their favorite sports team mascots.
Then, they can stomp and clap along with performances from the West Powelton Steppers and Drum Squad. Plus, treat Dad to an all-you-can-eat buffet at our Father’s Day character dine.
On June 14, the Cherry Street Pier (South Columbus Boulevard, Philadelphia, www.delawareriverwaterfront.com) will be the site of the Islamic Heritage Festival.
The event, which is part of PECO’s annual multicultural series at Penn’s Landing, will feature a colorful parade and live performances featuring the Islamic culture.
The Islamic Heritage Festival, which runs from 2-8 p.m., is free and open to the public.
ٱلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ, — “Assalamu Alaikum” (“peace be with you” in Arabic).
This is the weekend for “Dads and Grads” with Father’s Day and graduation celebrations. It is also the weekend for Juneteenth celebrations.
Juneteenth is a Federal Holiday that marks the date in 1865 when word reached Texas, more than two years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, that slavery had been abolished and those enslaved were free. Now, there are Juneteenth celebrations all around the Delaware Valley.
Kennett Square’s Juneteenth Jubilee (www.juneteenthkennettsquare.com) will be held on June 19 from 5-9 p.m. along State Street in uptown Kennett Square.
Thus year, it coincides with Third Thursday, a popular monthly tradition hosted by Kennett Collaborative. State Street is transformed into a vibrant pedestrian hub filled with dining in the streets, live music, and community spirit.
Local organizations joined forces to plan this year’s Juneteenth Jubilee in Kennett, including members from Kennett Heritage Center, Kennett Underground Railroad Center, Kennett Flash, Kennett Area Community Services, Kennett Library, New Garden UAME Church, Martin Luther King Community of Greater Kennett Area, Kennett Area Park Authority, and Kennett Collaborative.
The Juneteenth celebration will offer engaging hands-on activities, traditional foods prepared by local black-owned food vendors, a variety of clothing and crafts to purchase, and the opportunity to make meaningful community connections with local nonprofits.
Musician and DJ Wayne James, known for his jazz performances throughout Kennett Square, has prepared a special Juneteenth set for the celebration.
Other Juneteenth celebrations scheduled for Chester County will be held in Coatesville on June 15, West Chester on June 19 and Phoenixville on June 22.
If you’re looking for a great fun, family Juneteenth event this weekend, a good place to look is Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library (5105 Kennett Pike, Wilmington, Delaware, 800-448-3883, www.winterthur.org)
On June 15 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., visitors will be able to celebrate Juneteenth Freedom Day with the Wilmington Ballet at Winterthur and with a performance of “Celebration of Black Joy” at Winterthur.
Another family event this weekend will be “Enchanted Summer Day” on June 14.
“Enchanted Summer Day” is the day when Winterthur’s Enchanted Woods celebrates its anniversary.
Enchanted Summer Day features crafts displays, live entertainers and food concessions.
There will be an array of family activities, including storytelling, face painting, kids’ games and strolling entertainment.
Hoop chasing, ring toss, and the Game of Graces will be played on the lawn north of Enchanted Woods.
There will be live musical entertainment by Silly Joe, storytelling by Terry Colonna, performances by magician Chris Fabiano, and the Give & Take Jugglers.
Enchanted Woods is a unique children’s garden at Winterthur — a three-acre area where the “fairy folk” have created a magical garden for children of all ages.
The site, which is situated under a canopy of majestic oak trees, features attractions such as the Tulip Tree House, Green Man’s Lair, the Troll Bridge and the Faerie Cottage.
Enchanted Woods is located within the larger 60-acre garden at Winterthur, the former country estate of Henry Francis du Pont.
At “Celebration of Black Joy,” storytellers, musicians, dancers, and vendors will fill Enchanted Woods and Copeland Lecture Hall with performances enriched by and deeply rooted in African American arts and culture.
The day will also include a World Marketplace in Enchanted Woods featuring A Flicker of Daisy, Created by LA, CreationsbyT, and Soleil Dancewear. Events are included with general admission.
“A Celebration of Black Joy” will be performed at 11 a.m. in Copeland Lecture Hall.
The schedule also features African dance demonstrations at 11:30 a.m. and 12:15 p.m., “Lift Every Voice” at 12:45 pm., Drum circle at 12:50 p.m., storytelling at 1:15 p.m. and Community dance jam at 2 p.m.
Glen Foerd (5001 Grant Ave, Philadelphia, www.glenfoerd.org) will host its “Second Saturday Guided Tour” on June 14 at 11 a.m.
This engaging and relaxing walk will provide insight into local history while connecting participants to the natural space of the Delaware River watershed.
Guests can learn how this area of Philadelphia has developed from the Lenape to the Gilded Age – and get a glimpse of the two families that called Glen Foerd home from 1850 to 1971.
Glen Foerd will welcome the official start of summer at its Third Thursday Celebration on June 19 from 6-8:30 p.m.
This month, there will be food from Thai Jai Dee, live music by Moustapha Noumbissi, lawn games, and an arts and crafts table for visitors of all ages. Drinks will also be available for purchase.
The grounds and Main House will be open for free self-guided tours.
This event falls on an important holiday, Juneteenth, a significant holiday commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States.
This event is pay-what-you-wish (recommended donation amount is $10).
Glen Foerd is an 18-acre public park and historic site located along the Delaware River in Philadelphia. Built in 1850 and enlarged in 1902-03, the estate—consisting of historic gardens, an Italianate-Classical Revival style mansion, and multiple additional structures—was saved from potential development through the activism of dedicated neighbors in 1983.
Hope Lodge (553 South Bethlehem Pike, Fort Washington, http://www.ushistory.org/hope/) will be presenting a “Guided Mansion Tour” on June 15.
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.
Brandywine Valley has quite a few museums and tourist sites that provide both residents and tourists with diverse ways to spend leisure time.
You can take advantage of these options with the 2025 Brandywine Treasure Trail Passport (www.visitwilmingtonde.com/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 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.
A sure sign that summer is just around the corner is the opening of the “Festival of Fountains” at Longwood Gardens (Route 1, Kennett Square, www.longwoodgardens.org).
The “Festival of Fountains” opened for the season on May 9 and will run until September 28.
Longwood Gardens’ Open Air Theatre and Italian Water Garden fountains has sprung to life as has the Square Fountain, Round Fountain (Flower Garden Walk), Sylvan Fountain (Peirce’s Park), and Children’s Corner fountains.
The season of renewal and growth has started. 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.
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. Other dining options at Longwood are 1906 Fine Dining and The Café.
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 $35 for adults, $31 for seniors and college students, $26 for active military and $20 for youth.
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.”
“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 acclaimed collection highlighting the diverse stories of inventors from all walks of life.
In the exhibition, visitors will enjoy engaging experiences around every corner, testing their knowledge of innovation and hearing personal accounts from inventors.
“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.
There are three special events coming up — Science Saturday, Blacksmithing and Walking Tour.
At this weekend’s Science Saturday event, which will be held Saturday at 11 a.m., participants will have a chance to build a ballon-powered car and test how much cargo it can carry across a finish line.
It will be an opportunity to witness Newton’s Third Law of Motion in motion.
Visitors of all ages are invited to discover solutions to science and engineering challenges. This is a drop-in activity and is included in admission and free to members.
The Blacksmithing event, which will take place on June 7 at 1 p.m., is a special demonstration of metalworking by John Bangor.
On July 9, the Walking Tour will begin promptly at 11 a.m. at Hagley’s Visitor Center. This week’s theme is “Workers’ World.”
Admission to Hagley is $20 for adults, $16 for students and seniors (62+) and $10 for children (6-14).
Thursdays through Sundays, Rockwood Park & Museum (4671 Washington Street Ext, Wilmington, Delaware, 4671 Washington Street Ext, Wilmington, www.newcastlede.gov/431/Rockwood-Park-Museum) is presenting “Self-Guided Museum Tours.”
Visitors will be able to explore the grandeur, history and beauty of Rockwood Mansion, home of the Shipley, Bringhurst and Hargraves families for 120 years. This tour emphasizes the magnificent mansion interiors and stories of the families that lived there.
The 2025 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 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.
Historic Odessa (Main Street, Odessa, Delaware, 302-378-4119, www.historicodessa.org) is both a scenic and an historic site in Delaware.
At the beginning of March, 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.
The 2025 season is in full swing at Chanticleer (786 Church Street, Wayne, www.chanticleergarden.org).
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. Davids area to build their country retreat. The family’s pharmaceutical firm would become part of Merck & Company in the 1920s.
The Rosengartens hired architect and former classmate Charles L. Borie to design the house, which was completed in 1913. Landscape architect Thomas Sears designed the terraces as extensions of the house. A 1924 addition converted the summer home into a year-round residence and the family moved here permanently.
Admission to Chanticleer is $15 for adults and free for pre-teen children (12 years and under).
Andalusia Historic House, Gardens and Arboretum (1237 State Road, Andalusia, www.andalusiapa.org) is located on a wooded promontory overlooking the Delaware River.
It 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 — one of the finest examples of Greek Revival architecture in the United States — provides an unparalleled look into our nation’s past, while also offering a glimpse into the life of a family that helped to shape its future.
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 through November 4 (excluding holidays) at 10 a.m. or 1 p.m.
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.
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.
If you like to look at model railroad layouts, then you should definitely check out the Garden Railway Display at the Morris Arboretum & Garden (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 26th annual edition of the display had its official season opening in late May and now will remain open until September 30.
This summer, Morris Arboretum will unveil a brand-new exhibition in its popular Garden Railway – “Garden Railway: Dinos!”
With more than 15 different rail lines running along a third of a mile of track, visitors will enjoy a spectacular display of dinosaurs including Triceratops, and Velociraptor, as well as other Mesozoic creatures—all made out of natural materials such as bark, leaves, and twigs.
As one of the largest outdoor miniature train displays in the United States, the Garden Railway will delight and amaze visitors of all ages.
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 are made using pinecone seeds for shingles, acorns as finials and twigs as downspouts.
Visitors will be able to see miniature replicas of iconic structures at some of America’s most famous public gardens including the Climatron at Missouri Botanical Garden, Torii Gate and Pavilion at Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Science Pyramid at Denver Botanic Gardens, and so much more.
The Garden Railway is celebrating 25 years with a new addition — 300 feet of track. This is the largest expansion of the Garden Railway since it was installed in 1998. The new looping section of track extends the total model rail trackage to a third of a mile, making it one of the largest outdoor model train displays in the country.
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).
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
“Weekend Bird Walk with In Color Birding” on June 14 at 8 a.m.
On its website, the Arboretum offered this invitation –
“
Please join In Color Birding on Saturday, June 14th, from 8 to 11 a.m. at Tyler Arboretum as we round out spring migration and welcome in the warm months and breeding birds of summer. The garden is in bloom, and the day should be lovely.
Admission is free, and ride-share reimbursement is available. Binoculars will be provided. Restrooms available. We will be working at a slow birders’ pace along paved pathways with low to medium inclines. ICBC board members and Tyler Arboretum staff will lead us. Come find some bird joy with us!”
Admission to Tyler Arboretum is $18 for adults (ages 18-64), $15 for seniors (65 and older) and $10 for children (ages 3-17) and Military with valid ID.
On June 14, Laurel Hill Cemetery (3822 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia, www.laurelhillphl.com) will present “Hot Spots and Storied Plots” at 10 a.m.
In life and 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 introductory tour provides an informative overview of Laurel Hill East’s long history, which includes many marble masterpieces, stunning views, and legendary stories.
An experienced graveyard guide will offer you their unique perspective on beautiful art, scenic nature, and fascinating history.
Tour Guide will be Lora Lewis.
Tickets are $15, General Admission (Ages 13 and up); $13, Seniors (Ages 65+); and $7.50, Students with ID.
If it’s June 16 in Philadelphia, it’s time for Bloomsday.
On June 16, Rosenbach Museum & Library (2008-2010 Delancey Place, Philadelphia, 215-732-1600, https://rosenbach.org) is presenting Bloomsday 2025 from 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
The annual event, which is free, is a commemoration of Leopold Bloom and James Joyce’s novel “Ulysses.”
Lauded as the greatest novel of all time, “Ulysses” tells the story of a day in the life of everyman Dubliner Leopold Bloom.
The action of the story takes place on June 16, 1904, hence the selection of June 16 for Bloomsday, the annual international holiday celebrating “Ulysses” and its creator.
As the home of Joyce’s manuscript of the novel, Rosenbach has observed Bloomsday in grand fashion for more than 20 years.
The site celebrates the occasion with a day-long, public reading of the novel, inviting international literati, local artists, and public figures to read.
The readings are accompanied by musical performances, and the combination of word and song brings the novel to exhilarating life in the open air.
