What To Do: PA Hunt Cup celebrates 88th Anniversary

By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times

There are several events in the area this weekend with impressive numbers regarding anniversaries – lofty numbers such as 88, 75, 53, 47 and 41 – numbers marking the events’ anniversaries.

The Pennsylvania Hunt Cup (Pennsylvania Hunt Cup racecourse, Newark Road, Unionville, 484-888-6619, http://pahuntcup.org) is one of the oldest and most respected equestrian events in the Mid-Atlantic region. This year, the Hunt Cup will celebrate its 88th anniversary on November 6.

The equestrian competition will feature four open races sanctioned by the National Steeplechase Association. Three of them will feature races over fences and one will be a race on the flat.

The challenging course features 22 post and rail fences and is one of just three four-mile races sanctioned by the National Steeplechase Association. First run in 1921 over a course in Whitemarsh in Montgomery County, the race moved to the present location in Unionville PA in 1964, where it has been held annually since. Over the years the race meeting has grown so that the race day card now includes three sanctioned timber races, and the Pennsylvania Pony Hunt Cup for children.

Gates open at 10 a.m. The first event — the Pennsylvania Junior Hunt Cup – is scheduled to start at 11 a.m. followed by the National Anthem at 12:30 p.m.

There will be the traditional “Carriage Parade” at 12:45 p.m. followed by the Lewis C. Ledyard Memorial Foxhunters Chase at 1:30 p.m., the Arthur O. Choate Jr. Memorial Trophy race at 2:15 p.m. and the Pennsylvania Hunt Cup at 3 p.m. The final event of the day will be the Athenian Idol Races at 3:45 and 4:15 p.m.

General Admission, which is $100 per car, includes parking and admission for all occupants of one vehicle.

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 75th season on November 5.

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 $12 for adults, $11 for seniors (65 and older) and $10 for children (ages 4-10).

This weekend, the Expo Center in Oaks (100 Station Avenue, Oaks, www.lapidary.org) will present the 2022 edition of Gemarama which is scheduled for November 5 and 6.

Visitors to the 53rd Annual Gemarama will find an amazing variety of gems on display and available for purchase. Gem specialists and dealers from all over the country will be displaying and selling their specialties at this popular gem and mineral show.

Show attendees will be able to look at gems and rare stones from all around the world — many of which are for sale and not just exhibition pieces. Visitors will be able to examine and select purchases from a huge number of collectible items ranging from fossils to precious gems.

As an added attraction, members of the Tuscarora Lapidary Society will be presenting demonstrations of various lapidary and jewelry making skills including faceting, intrasia, faceting, channel jewelry, metal craft, silversmithing, bead stringing, chain making and wirewrap jewelry.

At the “Children’s Table”, youngsters will be able to make bracelet and key chains, use informative children’s coloring books on gems and minerals and toss a bean bag to win a prize.

Also featured will be a variety of competitive exhibits with awards in the following categories — Best in Show, Best Theme Exhibit, Most Educational Exhibit, Best Non-Member Exhibit, Best Mini-Case Exhibit and Director’s Award.

Gemarama will run from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on November 6 and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on November 7. Admission is $6 for adults, $1 for children under 12 years of age; two-day adult tickets are $9. Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts in uniform and accompanied by an adult Scoutmaster are admitted free.

This weekend, Peddler’s Village will host its ultra-popular Apple Festival (Routes 202 and 263, Lahaska, 215-794-4000, www.peddlersvillage.com).

The 47th annual staging of the event will be held November 5 and 6 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. each day at the Peddler’s Village complex. It will feature a variety of artisans who will be demonstrating and selling their crafts. There will also be live music and the curiously entertaining pie-eating contests.

As expected, the free festival will be a showcase for apples served in all sorts of tasty ways — apple cider, caramel-covered apples, apple fritters, apple sundaes, apple pie and apple strudel.

Visitors will even be able to sample country apple butter cooked over an open fire. Many of the apple treats will be available for take-home as well as for eating at the festival. Additionally, visitors will be able to purchase a variety of fresh apples in bushels from the site’s orchard.

The Hot Club Philadelphia, Nikki Briar Band, Galena Brass Band, Lolly Hopwood, Back Porch Jug Band, Jersey Harmony, Rendition Jazz Band, Give & Take Jugglers, The Big Chill, The Side Chicks, Love? Said the Commander, GO! With YOYO and Keith Crabbs Magic Show.

On November 5 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Hope Lodge (553 South Bethlehem Pike, Fort Washington, 215-646-1595, http://www.ushistory.org/hope) will host its 41st annual “1777 Whitemarsh Encampment.”

This event commemorates the time from November 2-December 11 in 1777 when General George Washington and the Continental Army were encamped in the Whitemarsh Hills.

Saturday’s activities will begin at 10 a.m. and shift into high gear at 11:30 a.m. with a skirmish re-enactment in the back field. The battle display will be followed by another skirmish re-enactment at 2:30 p.m.

There will be “Children’s Musters” at 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.

The list of all-day activities includes sutlers, open hearth cooking demonstrations, presentations by regiments, dulcimer entertainment by Lynn King and a demonstration of Colonial dressmaking.

As an added attraction, the Hope Lodge mansion will be open for self-guided tours all day (except during the skirmishes). Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for seniors (age 60 and older) and youths (ages 6-17). Children ages 5 and under are free.

The Eighth Annual Philadelphia Veterans Parade (www.phillyveteransparade.org), a non-profit which hosts an annual parade honoring the sacrifices of our Veterans in the tri-state region, will take place on November 6 at noon with more than 150 organizations involving over 7,000 participants and 30 Veteran Service Organizations.

The parade route begins at Juniper and Market streets with a brigade of over 250 motorcyclists and continues heading east on Market Street and concluding at North Fifth Street where the Veterans Festival will take place.

Entertainment at Vet Fest includes live music by Sensational Soul Cruisers along with Face Painting and Balloon Animals, Stilt Walkers, Rocky! and Captain America!

Participating Food Trucks are Many Hands Coffee, Philly Fry Food Truck, Goodfellas Food Truck, and Urban Village Brewing.

On November 5 and 6, the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania (300 Gap Road, Strasburg, 717-687-8628, www.rrmuseumpa.org) is presenting a special event that is sure to appeal to the patriotic spirit in everyone — an event called “Trains & Troops.”

It is a Veterans Day celebration a few days early.

“Trains & Troops” is the museum’s annual tribute to the U. S. Armed Forces — to all those who served or are serving in defense of our nation. At the annual autumn event, visitors will be able to greet our men and women in uniform — including veterans, civilians, railroaders and re-enactors from the Civil War forward. Also featured will be a large array of military and military railroad service-related posters, uniforms, equipment, field gear, maps, books and photographs on display.

The annual event is also a tribute to American railroads and their role in supporting the U. S. Armed Forces. Railroads built our nation and came to the country’s defense during times of war — both on the home front and overseas. The American Civil War marked the first major military application of railroads. The Military Railway Service was created in 1916 for World War I. In World War II, U. S. freight and passenger railroad service, both military and civilian, was huge.

There will be a salute to veterans and active-duty service personnel with the Lancaster Red Rose Honor Guard on November 5 at 11 a.m. and November 6 at 1 p.m. The Lampeter-Strasburg Community Band will present a concert on Saturday and the Lancaster Trombone Quartet will perform on November 7.

Tickets for “Trains and Troops” only are $10 for adults, $9 for seniors and $8 for youth (ages 3-11).

On November 5 and 6,  the Museum of the American Revolution (101 South Third Street, Philadelphia, www.amrevmuseum.org) will host a special event  — a living history demonstration titled, “Occupied Philadelphia 2022.”

In the fall of 1777, Philadelphia – the Revolutionary capital at the time – was seized by the British and occupied for nine long months, with Independence Hall serving as a prison for American prisoners-of-war.

The Museum will recreate the dark days of the British occupation with “Occupied Philadelphia,” the Museum’s annual flagship living history event. On Saturday, the Museum will offer guided walking tours, special programming, and family-friendly activities exploring what life was like in the city while British forces controlled it.

Visitors will meet costumed historical interpreters portraying soldiers, civilians, and spies on the Museum’s outdoor plaza. Guests can complete a spy challenge to collect information on the British Army and watch street theater vignettes that bring to life dramatic moments from 1777.

Outdoor activities on the Museum’s Plaza are free and open to the public.

Longwood Gardens (Route 1, Kennett Square, 610-388-1000, www.longwoodgardens.org) is a great place to visit any time in the year and always has special attractions to add to the experience.

Longwood’s Chrysanthemum Festival began at the start of October and is running through November 13. Innovative plant-growing techniques and displays take center stage by way of thousands of trained chrysanthemums throughout our Conservatory.

Big, bold colors and thousands of carefully nurtured and trained chrysanthemums abound during this imaginative display serving as the largest and oldest of its kind in North America.

Throughout our Conservatory, specialty chrysanthemum forms from fanciful clouds to sculptural spirals not only showcase our horticultural savvy but help preserve an ancient Asian artform that we are beyond proud to perpetuate.

Daily performances in the Main Fountain Garden will feature more than 1,700 spinning jets that spin dance to various music programs. These are no little jets as some shoot up as high as 175 feet in the air.

The 30-minute show is slated for Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 9:15 p.m.

The Main Fountain Garden Show fountain performance that begins with a touch of narrated history and concludes with dynamic choreography marrying music and the site’s newest fountain features.

These displays will be presented daily at 1:15 a.m., 1:15, 3:15 p.m. and 5:15. There will also be performances on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 6:15, 7:15 and 8:15 p.m.

The “Illuminated Fountain Performance” will be staged Thursdays through Sundays at 9:15 p.m.

Admission to Longwood Gardens is $35 for adults, $32 for seniors (ages 62 and older) and college students, $27 for active military and veterans and $19 for youth (ages 5-18).

Longwood Gardens is also hosting two installments of its Indoor Performance Series.

On November 4, there will be a concert by Arturo O’Farrill Quintet

O’Farrill, a six-time Grammy-Award winning jazz pianist, composer, and educator showcases his vibrant Afro-Latin sound. The son of Afro-Cuban jazz composer, arranger, and trumpeter Chico O’Farrill, O’Farrill’s professional career began with the Carla Bley Band and continued as a solo performer with Dizzy Gillespie, Lester Bowie, Wynton Marsalis, Harry Belafonte and more.

On November 6, Longwood will present “Shades of Django with the Stephane Wrembel Quartet.” In this concert,  French-born guitarist and composer Stephane Wrembel celebrates the music of gypsy jazz creator Django Reinhardt.

Both performances will start at 8 p.m. in The Ballroom.

On November 5, Laurel Hill Cemetery (3822 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia, 215-228-8200, www.thelaurelhillcemetery.org) will present “Accessible 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 Lora Lewis.

Laurel Hill will have another special event on November 6 – “Family Fun Day.”

The event, which runs from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., features hayrides through the cemetery, face painting, fall craft stations, story time with the Free Library of Philadelphia, interactive music with Mister John’s Music, lawn games with Rutabaga Toy Library, tours, festive snacks, prizes and more.

Attendees are also invited to bring their own picnic, and children are encouraged to show off their best Halloween costumes. This program is recommended for children ages 4-12 and their caretakers.

Chaddsford Winery (Route 1, Chadds Ford, 610-388-6221, www.chaddsford.com) is presenting “Reserve Tastings – Festive Faves” on select Saturdays and Sundays in November and December.

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 2022 Pairing Line Up — Greeting Wine: 2021 Sparkling Apple; ’21 Presage with Farm at Doe Run 7 Sister Cheese; ’21 Dry Rosé: Redux with Calkins Creamery Noblette Cheese and Strawberry Lavender Jam; ’20 The Red Standard with Èclat Chocolate Coffee and Cardamom Bar; and Spiced Apple with Partake’s Soft Baked Pumpkin Spice Cookie.

Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library (Route 52, Wilmington, Delaware, 800-448-3883, www.winterthur.org) is featuring a Guided Exhibition Tour – “Jacqueline Kennedy and Henry Francis du Pont: From Winterthur to the White House” – now through January 8, 2023.

Visitors can explore the friendship between the First Lady and H. F. du Pont and their work to restore the White House in this guided tour of the special exhibition.

In 1961, an unusual partnership was formed when the youngest First Lady in American history, Jacqueline Kennedy, appointed a reserved octogenarian collector from Delaware, Henry Francis du Pont, to lead her project to restore the White House interiors. Du Pont brought credibility to Kennedy’s efforts and vision, and her enormous popularity lifted him onto the national stage and validated his life’s work.

Together, they transformed the White House from a mere public residence into a museum, and along the way, they engaged with some of the most celebrated interior designers of the 20th century.

For the first time, the story of this historic partnership will be told at Winterthur, the inspiration for Mrs. Kennedy’s project. Through artifacts, archives, and images, this exhibition will invite visitors to experience the behind-the-scenes collaboration between the two during this captivating period in American history.

Their partnership culminated in a televised tour of the White House, led by Jacqueline Kennedy, which became the most watched program in American history. The former First Lady will forever be remembered as the person who restored history and beauty to the White House.

Their “restoration” of America’s most famous house became a history lesson for the country and awakened an interest in preservation and interior design that is still felt today.

Admission to Winterthur is $22 for adults, $20 for seniors and students and $8 for children.

Elmwood Park Zoo (Elmwood Park Zoo, 1661 Harding Boulevard, Norristown, www.elmwoodparkzoo.org) is presenting its “Dog Days” event  on November 4, 6, 9, 11, 13 and 16.

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.”

The “Dog Days” event is slated to run from 1-5 p.m.

Pricing is $10.95 per dog with each additional dog at $9.95. Regular zoo admission is required for all humans.

Lancaster has a lively First Friday celebration every month. This month’s edition of First Friday Lancaster (https://visitlancastercity.com/first-friday) will run from 10 a.m.-9 p.m. on November 4 in downtown Lancaster.

The event will feature attractive exhibitions at art galleries, artisan studios and museums. There will also be live performances presented in a variety of genres — professional theater, symphony orchestra and performing groups.

In addition to the many galleries, shops, and pop-up musicians that regularly participate in First Friday, the following venues are hosting special events and showcases.

The schedule includes Monstro Collaborative Works by James Brook and Jason Herr, First Friday Artist Reception, First Friday at Freiman Stoltzfus Gallery, Free First Friday at the Lancaster Science Factory, “Jeff Schaller: Buy Now” exhibit, P.Y.O. Poster, Pop-Up Art Gallery, “Art Exhibition: Show Your Work,” “David Brumbach: Field of Vision and “First Friday Artist Reception for Dee Jenkins, William Kocher and Gene Shaw.”

Also featured will be Central Market Flowers on Queen “First Friday Happiness Hour,” Guild Store First Fridays, Kenneth Jackson’s Art Opening, “John Gerdy: A Retrospective,” November First Friday Photography Show, We The People First Friday, Speed Networking Event and “First Friday: Organic Thanks.”

The next few days will feature several popular annual ethnic festivals – events where you can find freshly made traditional food from Greece and three of Europe’s Slavic nations.

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 5 and 6 and again on November 12 and 13.

There will be no entertainment this year because of COVID-19 concerns. 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 2022 Greek Food Fest at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church (229 Powell Lane, Upper Darby, /saintdemetrios.org) is scheduled for November 5 and 6.

The event, which will run from 11 a.m.-midnight on Saturday and 11 a.m.-8 p.m. on Sunday, will feature a wide array of tasty Greek treats such as souvlaki, shish-ka-bob, moussaka, pastitsio and gyros and baklava.

Other festival activities are areas featuring vendors with crafts and Greek items.

Live Greek music and dancing will be presented both days including a bouzouki performance by Laika Varadia on Saturday at 8 p.m.

Holy Ghost Ukrainian Orthodox Church (392 Charles St, Coatesville, www.holyghostuoc.org) is holding its Fall Food Sale on November 12 from 8 a.m.-2 p.m.

The fair will have an array of tasty Ukrainian food items for sale including pierogi, halupki, kielbasa, soup and halushki along with baked goods such as walnut, apricot, poppyseed and lecvar nut rolls.

All of the food dishes will be available for take-out only.

Curbside pickup is pre-order only and must be submitted by November 9.

The Church Bazaar at Saints Peter and Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church (1406 Philadelphia Pike, Claymont, Delaware, 302-798-4455, www.sspeterandpauluoc.org) on November 5.

The menu of food items which can be eaten onsite or purchased to go includes Holubtsi (Ukrainian stuffed cabbage rolls), Kovassa (Ukrainian-style kielbasa), Halushki (cabbage and noodle), Pyrohy (Ukrainian pierogies), Borscht (beet soup), Mushroom Soup and authentic handmade Ukrainian bakery items such as nut rolls, Pascha and poppy rolls.

There will also be church tours, pysanka for sale and a variety of other vendors with cultural and religious items for sale. The free event runs from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

A “Pierogi Festival” will be held on November 5 and 6 at St. Nicholas Eastern Orthodox Cathedral (817 North Seventh Street, Philadelphia, https://www.stnicholaseoc.org/).

The church’s 2022 “Pierogi Festival” will feature homemade pierogi (traditional potato cheese, kapusta, cherry, cheesesteak and pulled pork), halupki, kielbasa, halushki, pelmeni, blini, soups and more.

The event opens at noon each day. The beer garden and outdoor seating with live music in our tent will close at 9 p.m. on Saturday and 5 p.m. on Sunday.

The event features free admission with parking lot and street parking available.

Autumn’s colors just came in and are already on their way out – especially with the cold, windy weather forecast for the next few days. There is still time to take in autumn’s annual color display by riding on a special excursion on an area tourist railroad.

The West Chester Railroad (Market Street Station, West Chester, 610-430-2233, www.westchesterrr.net) is running its annual “Fall Foliage Express” trains on November 6. Trains depart at 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 $20 for adults, $18 for children ages 2-12 and $8 for kids under two.

The Wilmington & Western Railroad (2201 Newport Gap Pike, Wilmington, DE, 302-998-1930, www.wwrr.com) is running its “Autumn Leaf Special” on November 5 and 6.

Trips are either a one-and-one-half hour roundtrips to the Mt. Cuba Picnic Grove or two-and-one-half hour roundtrips to Hockessin.

Tickets for the “Autumn Leaf Special” start at $18.

The Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad (Reading Outer Station, Reading, www.rbmnrr-passenger.com) is running its 2022 “Fall Foliage Rail Diesel Car Excursions” on November 5 and 6.

Passengers can enjoy a train ride to experience the fantastic fall colors that Pennsylvania has to offer.

They will travel over the rails to Historic Jim Thorpe for the town’s annual fall festival after boarding the train at Reading Outer Station or Port Clinton Station.

Passengers will have time to explore historic Downtown Jim Thorpe during the layover.

Tickets for the all-day excursion are $49.

The New Hope Railroad (32 Bridge Street, New Hope, www.newhoperailroad.com) is running its “Grapevine Express,” which features “Wine & Cheese Tasting” on November 5 and 6 at 4 p.m. each day.

Riders are invited to take part in a romantic “Wine and Cheese Excursion” and enjoy fine gourmet cheese, artisan crackers, meats, fruit, and our featured local wines. Additional Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic beverages are also available onboard.

Wine and cheese will be served to passengers as they travel along the same railroad line passengers did when it was built in 1891 connecting New Hope with Philadelphia. The journey travels through the beautiful hills and valleys of Bucks County, along once vital waterways and streams and across numerous trestle bridges.

The excursions will take place aboard one of the railroads lavishly appointed early 1900’s first-class parlor cars.

Tickets are $102.58 (ages 21 and older only).

Now through November 5, the Strasburg Rail Road (Route 741, Strasburg, 717-687-7522, www.strasburgrailroad.com) has a very special event – “Strasburg Rail Road Productions presents…The Legacy of Sleepy Hollow: Not Everything Dies.”

Visitors will discover the true Legacy of Sleepy Hollow at the Strasburg Rail Road. The greatest ghost story ever told did not tell us the whole story.

Guests will join Isabel Crane, the great-great-granddaughter of the legendary Ichabod Crane, as she takes them on a frightful journey filled with sword fights, ghosts, and a centuries-old curse surrounding her family.

It seems that not everyone wants the truth to come out and they’ll go to any length necessary to keep their haunted past a secret. With grand special effects, live horses, and the scariest train ride of the season, this is an opportunity to learn, hear, and experience the Legacy of Sleepy Hollow aboard the historic Strasburg Rail Road.

A pre-boarding act/performance will commence 15 minutes before departure. Please plan to arrive early for check-in and then enjoy the pre-boarding performance before you embark on a memorable journey.

Please note: Due to the subject matter of this event and its presentation, this event is recommended for ages 8 and older. Parental discretion is advised.

The Northern Central Railway (2 West Main Street, New Freedom, www.northerncentralrailway.com) is running its “Fall Foliage Trains” on November 5 and 6.

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 $34.

Another popular railroad related event this weekend is “Steamin’ Days” at Auburn Heights Preserve (3000 Creek Road, Yorklyn, Delaware, 302-239-2385, http://auburnheights.org) on November 6.

“Steamin’ Days,” which is held on the first Sunday of the month through November, focuses on steam power.

During “Steamin’ Days at Auburn Heights,” the site is bustling with activity. Visitors are encouraged to climb into an antique automobile or board one of the trains and experience what it was like to travel at the turn of the 20th century. They can also tour the magnificent 1897 mansion that was home to three generations of the Marshall family.

Also included is entry to the Marshall Steam Museum, which features the world’s largest operating collection of Stanley steam cars along with a 1930s working Lionel electric train display, a hands-on engine display, kids’ activities and exhibits and the Museum Gift Shop.

Activities run from 12:30-4:30 p.m. each time. Combo Tickets, which cover all rides and building tours, are $20 (13 and older) and $14 (age 12 and under).

There is another popular attraction just south of the Pennsylvania-Delaware state line.

Nemours Estate (850 Alapocas Drive, Wilmington, Delaware, www.nemoursestate.org) is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Reservations are not required and there is no timed entry.

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 is 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 $20 for adults, $18 for seniors and $10 for children.

Another interesting First State attraction will draw the attention of art and history buffs.

The Historic Odessa Foundation (Main Street, Odessa, Delaware, 302-378-4119, http://www.historicodessa.org) is presenting a new exhibition — “Petite Exhibit: MAKING AN IMPRESSION: Early American Butter Prints.”

At the exhibit, which will run from October 18-December 31, visitors will encounter some relics of the past in the form of early American butter prints which are on exhibit in a display case at the National Historic Register Wilson Warner House.

These notable pre-industrial 19th century objects are highlighted from the HOF museum collection of nearly 7,000 objects.

These lovely little objects were created to stamp a decorative impression on home-made butter thus decorating one’s butter dish. The prints were also used to brand and identify produce from local farms thus helping consumers to associate quality and insure product loyalty for the farm.

Typically, the prints were made of lathe turned pine wood with knob like handles and carved symmetrical pictures which often featured flowers, fruits, animals, and geometric patterns. The stamp or mold would be in reverse so that it would come out the correct way round when the butter pat or pound was turned out.

There were five distinct types of butter prints created to include single piece flat prints or stamps for jar or dining table decoration; two-piece circular ejector prints or plungers that push the butter out; two-piece molds that push together to create a three-dimensional figure; rollers with carved patterns used for rolling around the sides of blocks of butter; and cup or brick molds in the form of domes or hollow rectangles for producing blocks of patterned butter.

This showcase petite exhibit is included with general HOF admission – Adults, $10; Seniors and Students, $8; Children (under six), free.

For the next few months, the American Swedish Historical Museum (1900 Pattison Avenue, Philadelphia, 215-389-1776, www.americanswedish.org) is presenting an exhibit “Art for All: The Swedish Experience in Mid-America,” which just opened and will run through February 19, 2023.

“Art for All: The Swedish Experience in Mid-America” is an exhibition of paintings and sculptures by Swedish-American artists in the late-19th and early-20th centuries.

This colorful and emotive impressionist art reflects its own time, interprets nature and landscape, and is independent of artificial conventions while keeping Swedish folk traditions alive.

The American Swedish Historical Museum is proud to present Art for All: The Swedish Experience in Mid-America, an exhibition of paintings and sculptures by Swedish American artists in the late-19th and early-20th centuries. This colorful and emotive impressionist art reflects its own time, interprets nature and landscape, and is independent of artificial conventions while keeping Swedish folk traditions alive.

This exhibition features many Swedish artists who studied and absorbed the democratic philosophies of “art for all,” espoused by Anders Zorn and the Artist’s League. These young artists immigrated to America to forge new career paths. “Art for all” became a catchphrase in Kansas by the 1930s, stemming from efforts of local artists to offer affordable paintings and prints so that every citizen could have original art in their own homes for a richly cultured way of life.

“Art for All: The Swedish Experience in Mid-America” was conceived and developed by the Birger Sandzén Memorial Gallery and the Hillstrom Museum of Art.

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 14 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.

If crisp fall weather puts you in the mood for an energetic outdoor activity, you have two good options.

Treetop Quest Philly (51 Chamounix Drive, Philadelphia, www.treetopquest.com) is an aerial adventure park that will challenge you physically and mentally as you maneuver from tree to tree through obstacles and zip-lines. Once you’re equipped, they will teach you how to operate your equipment and you’ll be able to swing through each course as many times as you want for 2.5 hours.

Each participant is outfitted with a harness and gloves. Each course has a continuous belay system — a lifeline that is impossible to detach without a staff member. The activity is self-guided, and the staff is ready to assist when needed.

Gloves are required for our activity. During this time, we encourage participants to bring their own gloves to use while up in the trees, gardening gloves are perfect for this activity.

Ticket prices are $55, adults; $48, ages 12-17; $38, ages 7-11.

“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.

Halloween events have been taking place for more than a month. Now, even though Halloween and El Dia de Los Muertos have passed, some of them have refused to die.

“Lincoln Mill Haunted House” (4100 Ridge Avenue, Manayunk, www.lincolnmillhaunt.com) is Philadelphia’s newest haunted attraction. The attraction takes guests on a journey through an interactive living story featuring more than 40 live scare-actors, production quality sets, props, animatronics, and breath-taking special effects.

The attraction is intended to be very scary during evening hours. The owners want it to be the scariest haunted house in the greater Philadelphia region. Mission accomplished — it is scary.

While most haunted house attractions have a lot of room for props and actors, Lincoln Mill has a limited area. As a result, the 20-minute walk through the attraction features many tight spaces, sharp turns, sections that are pitch black, scary props and a slew of live-scare actors doing what they do best.

The attraction’s backstory emerged from a tragic event that occurred in 2021. On September 2, 2021, Hurricane Ida struck Philadelphia and flooded the Mill to historic water levels.
The flood significantly damaged the mill’s interior and revealed a hidden chamber located below the basement level. Countless bodies were found, and a dark truth was discovered about the mill’s past.

Local authorities determined that during the 1930’s, Viktor Kane, the mill owner, tormented and experimented on his workers. Countless workers lost their lives, and their spirits continue to haunt the mill. Construction has since been halted and the mill will open up for guests to experience its dark past for themselves.

Lincoln Mill Haunted House has issued a challenge — explore the Chamber, if you dare.

The main haunted house event will run at night Thursday, Friday, and Saturday now through November 5. Tickets are sold in hour time slots from 6:45-11:45 p.m. For those that aren’t into very scary attractions, there will be a more family-oriented event every Saturday from noon-4 p.m. with no scare actors.

Saturday daytime tickets are $24 each from noon-4 p.m. and general admission for other times is $29. VIP tickets start at $55. One dollar from each ticket will be donated to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

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 12, 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.

There is “Delirium,” a 3D Haunted House where visitors take a mind-altering trip into another dimension –a parallel, neon universe where nothing is quite as it seems. Fascinating creatures emerge from seemingly nowhere as the world you thought you knew shrinks away.

“The Crypt” is another Haunted House. The creatures of The Crypt request your presence. Wade through the mist and into the lair of an ancient clan of vampires. They’ve set the table, but if you’re not careful, you might end up on their next menu.

“Big Top Terror” is a Haunted House which is new for 2022. Visitors step out of the center ring and head backstage through the carnival grounds where menacing performers will do anything it takes to carve out their moment in the spotlight.

“Nightmares” is another Haunted House which is new for 2022. As sleep paralysis sets in, there’s no escaping the terrors that lurk in the shadows. Mr. Sandman conjures up a menagerie of frightening personalities all dead set on trapping you in your worst nightmares… forever.

Another Haunted House is the “Machine Shop.” Hidden away from the world is a long-forgotten machine shop. Evil pervades this space – an evil with one mind but with many bodies. Will visitors survive or will they become just another cog in the machine?

Other attractions are “The Speakeasy at Al Capone’s Cell,” “The Bloodline Lounge,” “The Big Graph & Prisons Today,” “The Voices of Eastern State” Highlights Audio Tour, “Kaleidoscope Hall,” and “S’mores and Lore.”

Admission prices, which vary with the date, start at $34.

Pennhurst Asylum (100 Commonwealth Drive, Spring City, 484-866-8964, www.pennhurstasylum.com), which is open through November 5, is on the site of a former mental asylum which has been shuttered for over a quarter of a century.

It has been transformed into a haunted attraction with huge sets, detailed rooms and live actors. Visitors can also explore the labyrinth of underground tunnels.

Tickets are $50 for a combo pass valid for all three Haunted Attractions at Pennhurst: Pennhurst Asylum, The Morgue & The Tunnels.

Each September, “Pumpkinland” returns to Linvilla Orchards (137 West Knowlton Road, Media, 610-876-7116, www.linvilla.com). “Pumpkinland,” which runs through November 6, features fairy tale characters from nursery rhymes along with a huge scarecrow and a really tall storybook.

Other activities include train rides, a straw bale maze, hayrides, pick-your-own apples and pony rides.

There will also be “Harvest Hayrides” and “Autumn Moon Hayrides” starting later in September along with “Straw Bale Maze,” “Train Rides,” “Corn Maze” and “Pony Rides.”

“Pumpkinland” is open from mid-September through early November and takes center stage at Linvilla Orchards. Larger than life figures and scarecrows illustrate the legends and lore of the harvest season, featuring local history and some of the many stories of pumpkins and apples.

Visitors will see Linvilla’s piles of pumpkins in all colors, shapes and sizes – more than 100 tons on display.

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.

A fun maze can be found at Cherry Crest Adventure Farm in Ronks (150 Cherry Hill Road, Ronks, 717-687-6843, www.cherrycrestfarm.com).

The farm’s popular annual “Flashlight Maze” is now underway and will continue every Friday and Saturday night through November 5. Cherry Crest Adventure Farm has reserved several weekends during the autumn months for Flashlight Maze.

This special activity allows visitors to experience the Amazing Maize Maze in total darkness. All you need are flashlights and a few friends.

The Flashlight Maze is a nice, non-scary, Halloween alternative that has appeal for people of all ages. The Flashlight Maze, which has a $12 admission fee, is open from 6:30-10 p.m. with the last entrance into the Maze at 9 p.m.

The main attraction is Cherry Crest’s “Amazing Maize Maze,” which is billed as “the world’s most dynamic and interactive corn maze.” It is a five-acre corn maze with over two-and-one-half miles of paths, scenic bridges, and clues.

Participants can walk at their own pace as they encounter the “Kernels of Knowledge” along with a variety of clues, tunnel slides, and watering stations. They can also check out a bird’s eye view from the two bridges and watch everyone’s flags waving high above the corn.

The average time to complete the “Amazing Maize Maze” course is one hour. Ticket prices start at $19.

The “37th Annual Jason’s Woods” (99 Stehman Road, Lancaster, 717-872-5768, www.jasonswoods.com), which is running through November 6, is a horror show complex that features a combination of live actors, impressive animation and scary special effects.

Popular attractions include “Horrifying Hayride,” “Chamber of Horrors,” “Zombie Apocalypse,” “Lost in Jason’s Woods,” and “Carnival of Fear.”

New attractions this year are “Twisted Integrated Motion Thrill Ride,” “Grinder,” “Earthquake” and “Wrecking Machine.”

Admission prices are for combo tickets are $25 for three attractions and $40 for five.

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.

“Valley of Fear” (300 W. Bristol Road, Feasterville, 215-942-9787, www.valleyoffear.com), which is open through November 6, features three “heart pounding attractions” — “The Orginal Haunted Hayride,” “Miles Manor Haunted House,” and “Escape from the Shipwreck Cove.”

There will also be live music every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday

The attraction is billed as “America’s Most Horrifying Woods.” Admission prices start at $27.

It’s time once again for the Annual Scarecrow Festival at Peddler’s Village (Routes 202 and 263, Lahaska, 215-794-4000, www.peddlersvillage.com). The festival, which is celebrating its 43rd anniversary this year, will run now through October 31.

It is the perfect time to visit and take in the bright, brilliant hues of fall and admire the more than 100 spectacular scarecrows on display. These larger-than-life, colorful, creative scarecrows will line the red brick paths throughout the village’s 42 picturesque acres.

Visitors can vote for their favorites in seven categories: Traditional 1960s Style, Quite the Character, Once Upon a Time, Fright Night, Funny Bones and Kids Only.

“Frightland” (309 Port Penn Road, Middletown, Delaware, 302-838-0256, www.frightland.com) features eight special themed areas — “Ravenwood Cemetery,” “Haunted Hayride,” “Idalia Manor,” “Fear,” “Zombie Town,” “The Attic,” “Zombie Prison” and “Haunted Barn.”

Frightland Haunted Attractions has been named a Top 10 Scariest Haunted Attraction in the country by Travel Channel, Forbes and Huffington Post.

The venue includes eight haunted attractions including a two-mile Haunted Hayride, four indoor haunted houses and more. The nationally acclaimed Halloween attraction also features live entertainment, carnival amusements and a daytime fall festival.

The venue will remain open through November 5. Ticket prices start at $40.

Canal-O-Ween will get started this weekend at Yardley’s Rivermawr neighborhood (North Edgewater Avenue, the Canal Path from Afton to Fuld, Yardley, www.experienceyardley.com).

Visitors are invited to enjoy the warm and welcoming spirit of Halloween at the week-long celebration, “Canal-O-Ween.”

The event kicks off with the annual “Carve-O-Thon,” a family-friendly event where folks gather to carve more than 300 Jack-O-Lanterns — all in about three hours.

In the evenings, guests will be able to enjoy the “Jack-O-Lantern Stroll” along the historic Delaware Canal guided by the warm light of hundreds of uniquely carved Jack-O-Lanterns flickering along the way for more than a quarter mile.

The free event, which runs from October 30-November 6 is billed as “an old-fashioned, low-tech, magical way to celebrate Halloween.”

The “27th Annual Field of Screams” (109 College Avenue, Mountville, 717-285-7748, www.fieldofscreams.com), which is open now through November 13, 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.

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.

“Schockfest Zombie World” is celebrating its 32nd Year with five “Killer Experiences” — “Zombie Safari Hayride Tour,” “Prison of the Dead,” “The Unknown 3.0,” “Ground Assault” and “Midway Massacre.”

The attraction will close on November 6. Ticket prices start at $20.For “Count’s Halloween Spooktacular at Sesame Place” (100 Sesame Place, Langhorne, 215-752-7070, www.sesameplace.com), which runs now through November 6, the popular amusement park has been converted into a Halloween-themed safe venue for kids with trick or treating, pumpkin decorating, hayrides and a hay maze.

Guests will enjoy trick-or-treating around the park, Halloween-themed shows, participating in our interactive Scarecrow Scavenger Hunt, and unique photo opportunities with everyone’s favorite furry friends dressed up in costume on their Halloween-themed floats!

Featured attractions, which will continue for the next six weeks, are “Neighborhood Street Party Halloween Parade,” “Halloween Light Show,” and “The Not-Too-Spooky Howl-O-ween Radio Show.”

Admission to the park starts at $42.99.

Are you ready for Christmas events?

Ready or not — they’re back.

In addition to Koziar’s Christmas Village, two other Christmas events are getting underway already.

This weekend’s activities schedule in Philadelphia features the Center City Parks District’s opening of the Rothman Orthopaedics Institute Ice Rink at Dilworth Park (1 South 15th Street, Philadelphia, http://ccdparks.org/dilworth-park),

Beginning this November, some of Philadelphia’s favorite winter traditions return to Dilworth Park. Visitors of all ages can enjoy a dramatic seasonal transformation as fountains are replaced by the Rothman Orthopaedic Institute Ice Rink and reindeer topiaries take up winter residence on the Greenfield Lawn.

In addition, a full lineup of free entertainment is planned, including the Deck the Hall Light Show, the Made in Philadelphia Holiday Market and Rothman Orthopaedic Institute Cabin.

Dilworth Park’s winter season will begin on November 1 with the opening of the Wintergarden on the Greenfield Lawn presented by TD Bank. On Friday, November 4 the Rothman Orthopaedics Ice Rink and Cabin will return.

The Rothman Institute Ice Rink at Dilworth Park is an unparalleled entertainment experience on Philadelphia’s center stage in a wonderfully urban and unique setting. Open seven days a week, the rink offers wintery fun for all ages, with a full slate of programs.

The Made in Philadelphia Holiday Market will open on November 19 with more than 40 local vendors. On November 21, Dilworth Park’s Deck the Hall Light Show will return to illuminate the west façade of Philadelphia’s historic City Hall.

The American Music Theatre (2425 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster, 800-648-4102, www.AMTshows.com) has its holiday show running from November 8 through December 30.

The AMT’s 2022 show “Home for the Holidays” 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.

Also featured will be elaborate scenery, elegant costumes and a theater decked out with holiday decorations.

“Home for the Holidays” is inspired by the warm, cherished memories of family Christmases spent together with loved ones. It opens on the joyous gathering of family and friends who celebrate with a rich tapestry of song, dance, and holiday traditions.

Next, it visits Santa’s Candy Factory where the audience will be transported to a dream world of bright colors and Candy Elves. Finally, there will be a “midnight” candlelight service with songs of worship, traditional carols, and the powerful, harmony-filled rendition of “O Holy Night.”

Hear some of your favorite sacred and secular holiday songs and the outstanding musical arrangements of the AMT Orchestra. Witness the new set designs, fresh color palette, and a gorgeous array of new costumes, designed exclusively for AMT.

Outside, you’ll be greeted with cheery adornments of candy cane wraps, green-lit garland swags, and natural wreaths tied with bright red bows. Inside, the festive decor continues, including the larger-than-life Christmas lobby featuring three Christmas trees exquisitely designed for AMT. Then, as audience members make their way into the theatre, ushers will be handing out a special holiday gift just for the kids.

The show will have both matinee and evening performances each week with the addition of 10:30 a.m. performances on Saturdays throughout December. Show length is two hours and 15 minutes with a short intermission. Tickets are $46 for adults and $23 for children.