By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times
SEPOS Orchid Show and Sale
It’s hard to imagine more than two or three weeks going by without there being an event at this convention center in Montgomery County that matches one or more of your interests.
The Greater Philadelphia Expo Center (100 Station Avenue, Oaks, 610-232-5718, www.phillyexpocenter.com) hosts many events throughout the year representing a wide array of interests.
This weekend, visitors to the large complex could spend the day looking at and enjoying the vibrant colors of orchids or they could return from the venue near Valley Forge National Park with a handful of rare trading cards featuring politicians, Star Wars scenes and Garbage Pail Kids.
The Expo Center is hosting the “SEPOS Orchid Show and Sale” now through April 6.
SEPOS (Southeastern Pennsylvania Orchid Society) is a non-profit organization featuring a diverse group of individuals who share a common interest in the large and intriguing plant family known as Orchidaceae … the orchids.
The group is one of more than 400 affiliates of the American Orchid Society (AOS) and traces its origin to the 1940’s in suburban Philadelphia.
The organization’s main focus is orchid culture, education and conservation. Membership is open to anyone with an interest in orchids.
“SEPOS Orchid Show and Sale” features thousands of orchids on display, international vendors, free guided tours, free lectures, fragrance judging and flower arranging competition.
Hours are noon-6 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $15.
Philly Non-Sports Card Show
The Expo Center in Oaks is also hosting the Philly Non Sports Card Show on April 5 and 6.
There is a big event for specialized memorabilia collectors this weekend — the 82nd Philly Non-Sports Card Show.
The event will be held on April 5 and 6 at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center (Station Avenue, Oaks, http://phillynon-sportscardshow.com)
There are two basic categories of trading cards — sports cards and non-sports cards.
Sports cards depict athletes at all levels. Non-sport cards offer so much more. There are card sets dealing with music, movies, politics, nature, pop culture and history.
For more than a century, non-sport trading cards have documented trends in pop culture – providing people with history lessons provided by small, rectangular pieces of cardboard.
Twice each year, collectors from across the country come together in eastern Pennsylvania for this very special event. The event is the oldest show of its kind in the country.
Many of the hobby’s top manufacturers will have exhibit booths at this weekend’s show and will be distributing free promo cards. There will be a huge array of non-sport cards, sets, singles, wrappers, chase cards, promos, and related memorabilia.
Some of the artists who will be featured guests are Smokin’ Joe, David Gross and Joe Simko.
Admission is $12 for one day or $20 for two days. Show Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday.
The Brandywine Valley has established a reputation for being horse country. It is an area with many horse farms and an annual calendar filled with equestrian events.
The local schedule of annual equestrian events features a variety of top-flight horse shows, dressage events, Grand Prix events and point-to-point races.
Brandywine Hills Point-To-Point Races
The 2025 season will shift into gear this weekend with the 82nd Annual Brandywine Hills Point-To-Point Races, which will be held April 6 on the grounds of the Brandywine Valley Association’s 318-acre Myrick Conservation Center (1760 Unionville-Wawaset Road, Unionville, 610-793-1090, www.brandywinewatershed.org).
The Brandywine Valley Association’s popular annual early-spring event is a family-oriented event which also features an array of activities for youngsters, including crafts activities.
Gates will open at 11 a.m. with children’s activities.
The steeplechase racing event features a challenging three-mile course with 17 timber jumps. The Brandywine Hills Point-to-Point races are sponsored by the Radnor Hunt.
The races begin at noon with the Junior Field Master Chase. It is followed by the children’s races, with the adult Ladies Timber Race resuming at 1:45 after the parade of hounds.
The Amateur Apprentice Timber Race is at 2:15 p.m.; the Novice Timber Race is at 2:45 p.m.; the Open Timber Race is at 3:15 p.m.; and the Side Saddle Timber Race closing out the day at 3:45.
There will also be a vendor area featuring dealers with a wide variety of horse and racing items as well as vendors with hot and cold food items and beverages. Another special attraction this year will be a raffle with an array of impressive prizes.
Tickets for the well-attended annual event are $25 per car.
On April 6, SRUTI (www.sruti.org) will present a Carnatic Vocal Concert by Amrutha Venkatesh at E.N. Peirce Middle School (1314 Burke Road, West Chester).
SRUTI, The India Music and Dance Society is a non-profit, volunteer-run organization. Every year, around 10 or more world class music and dance recitals are presented during the Spring and Fall seasons by SRUTI in the Greater Philadelphia area.
Venkatesh is a trend setting Musician, performer, teacher and composer who has made her mark as a thinking musician who blends seamlessly the old and new. Her ever-expanding repertoire and attention to nuances have made her a sought-after performer and Guru.
Her distinctive style, which has evolved over the years, bears the influence of her Gurus Vidushi Parassala B.Ponnammal, Prince Rama Varma, Vidushi Charumathi Ramachandran and Vidwan M.T.Selvanarayana. She is a recipient of the Top grade from All India Radio and Doordarshan.
She will be accompanied by L. Ramakrishnan on violin, S.J. Arjun Ganesh on mridangam and G. Chandrasekara Sharma on ghatam.
The mridangam is a percussion instrument of ancient origin. It is the primary rhythmic accompaniment in a Carnatic music ensemble. During a percussion ensemble, the mridangam is often accompanied by the ghatam.
The ghatam is one of the most ancient percussion instruments of India. It is a clay pot with a narrow mouth. From the mouth, it slants outwards to form a ridge.
Made mainly of clay backed with brass or copper filings with a small amount of iron filings, the pitch of the ghatam varies according to its size. The pitch can be slightly altered by the application of plasticine clay or water.
The concert on April 5 will start at 4:30 p.m.
Tickets are $40 for adults, $25 for seniors and $20 for children.
Longwood Gardens (Route 1, Kennett Square, 610-388-1000, www.longwoodgardens.org) is now featuring one of its popular annual special events – “Spring Blooms.”
Visitors can enjoy free Spotlight Tours explore Longwood’s iconic Flower Garden Walk then be enchanted by Peirce’s Woods, the site’s native woodland garden, during a free 30-minute Spotlight Tours. April 2–May 4 Daily at 11:30 am, 12:30 pm, and 2 pm.
There will also be free Evening Spotlight Tours Explore that explore the new Bonsai Courtyard, a contemplative space where meticulous artistry and the beauty of nature converge, during our free 30-minute evening Spotlight Tours.
April Tulips are expected to be on display in Mid-April.
Other activities during Spring Blooms include Family Nature Strolls, Open Organ Console Day, Youth Workshop: Jump Start Your Garden and Member Appreciation Day.
As always, admission by “Timed Ticket” — tickets issued for specific dates and times. Timed ticketing limits the number of people in the Gardens at any given time and allows guests to enjoy minimal lines and a better viewing experience.
You may enter the Gardens up to 30 minutes prior and 30 minutes after your designated time. Make every effort to arrive at your designated reservation time. Earlier or later arrivals may not be accommodated.
Admission to Longwood Gardens is $32 for adults, $28 for seniors (ages 62 and older) and college students, $23 for active military and veterans and $17 for youth (ages 5-18).
A popular venue where you can enjoy flowers up close is Tyler Arboretum (515 Painter Road, Media, 610-566-9134, www.tylerarboretum.org).
The arboretum’s schedule for this weekend features the “Saturday Wildflower Walk” on April 5 at 1 p.m.
At the “Saturday Wildflower Walk,” wildflower expert Dick Cloud will lead an informative two-hour hike that will take visitors through meadows, woods, and occasionally streamside. These walks are for those who have a love of plants, their role in ecology, or for those who want to learn more.
Admission to Tyler Arboretum is $18 for adults, $15 for seniors and $10 for children (ages 3-17) and Military with valid ID.
Just down the road from Tyler Arboretum is a site featuring an event that is good for kids of all ages.
Newlin Grist Mill (219 South Cheyney Road, Glen Mills, 610-459-2359, www.newlingristmill.org) will celebrate “Trout Fishing Opening Day” from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on April 5.
E. Mortimer Newlin, founder of the Nicholas Newlin Foundation, was an enthusiastic fly fisherman who immediately recognized the possibilities of the trout stream – the West Branch of the Chester Creek – that runs through the property. Trout fishing has become a well-loved and enjoyable feature of the park.
The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) established a single, statewide Opening Day of Trout Season that will occur annually on the first Saturday in April beginning in 2022.
The trout fishing season opens at 8 a.m. on April 5 for all anglers in the 18 southeastern regional counties – including Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lancaster, Lehigh, Montgomery, Philadelphia, and York.
From April 5 through Labor Day, anglers may keep five trout — each at least seven inches long, per day.
Both pond and stream fishing are available starting on opening day of the Delaware County, Pennsylvania trout fishing season. Pond fishing remains open through October 31, and stream fishing is open through December 31st (conditions permitting).
The Chaddsford Winery (632 Baltimore Pike, Chadds Ford, 610-388-6221, http://www.chaddsford.com) is presenting
“Reserve Tasting – Spring Sips” on Saturdays and Sundays, now through April 19.
The 2025 Pairing Line Up is: Greeting Wine: Pinkette; The White Standard with Goat Rodeo’s fresh Chèvre and Honey;
Chardonnay with Calkins Creamery Noble Brie and Small Batch Kitchen’s Fig Jam; Harbinger with Doe Run Hickory on the Hill cheese washed with Blueberry Wine Lees; and Sangria with a Lemon Macaron.
Reserve seatings are $35 per person.
Harvest Ridge Winery (1140 Newark Road, Toughkenamon, www.harvestridgewinery.com) will present “Live Music with A.J. Love” on April 4 at 4:30 p.m. and “Live Music with Five Foot Nothin’” on April 5 at 4:30 p.m.
The event will feature live acoustic music that will let you sit back and relax while sipping on wine.
There will also be a “PA Mead & Cheese Pairing” on April 6 at 1 p.m.
Tickets for the event, which starts at 1 p.m., are $25.
Highland Orchards (1000 Marshallton-Thorndale Road, West Chester, www.highlandorchards.net) is presenting “Hayrides to Easter Bunny” now through April 20.
Participants can enjoy a leisurely hayride to visit the Easter Bunny, hear a story about spring and receive an egg with a coupon for a treat to be redeemed back in the Market.
The event takes about 30 minutes with wagons leaving about every half hour. Event hours are from 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. each day.
The bunny doesn’t come out in the rain! Hayrides run weather permitting. No refunds, but you can visit a different day.
Reservations are encouraged but not required.
Tickets can be purchased in the Farm Market on the day or in advance. The cost is $8 per person.
Linvilla Orchards (137 West Knowlton Road, Media, 610-876-7116, www.linvilla.com) will be presenting “Hayrides to Bunnyland” on April 5, 6 and 12-19.
There’s no place quite like Bunnyland at Linvilla Orchards.
Visitors can hop aboard a hayride as it carries them through the woods to visit the Easter Bunny’s house where they will have the chance to meet Linvilla’s Easter Bunny.
One of Linvilla’s Bunny friends will tell a magical story, and guests will receive a special treat.
As an added attraction, the Easter Bunny likes to take pictures with all special guests.
This hayride lasts approximately 20-30 minutes.
Tickets are $13 for ages 5 and up and $10 for ages 1-4.
The Historic Grange Estate (143 Myrtle Ave., Haverford Township, https://thegrangeestate.org) will celebrate its 50th season with the “Spring Opening of Grange Estate” this month.
Tours of the mansion are 1-4 p.m., most Saturdays and Sundays, through October, with the last tour beginning at 3:30 p.m.
Tours are conducted by volunteers, and admission is $5 for adults, $1 for children 5-10 and free for those under the age of 5.
The Grange Estate’s Gift Shoppe will also be open during tour hours and is brimming with hand-crafted “Made-in-America” gifts.
On April 6, there will be an “Vintage Shop and Mansion” from 1-4 p.m.
Hours are 8 a.m.-noon on Saturday and 9 a.m.-noon on Sunday.
Hope Lodge (553 South Bethlehem Pike, Fort Washington, 215-343-0965, http://www.ushistory.org/hope/) will start its season of “Guided Mansion Tours” on April 6.
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. all three days.
Tour admission is $8 for adults, $5 for seniors (age 65+) and for youth (age 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.
Elmwood Park Zoo (1661 Harding Boulevard, Norristown, www.elmwoodparkzoo.org) will have an “Easter Brunch” on April 5 and 6.
Visitors are invited to hop on over to the Zoo’s special Easter brunches with appearances by the Easter Bunny.
They can enjoy a delicious breakfast, participate in our Easter activities, and meet one of our beloved education animals.
They can also grab a photo with the Easter Bunny and then spend more time exploring the Zoo.
There are multiple brunch sessions: 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Tickets are $125 for a table of two.
On April 5 and 6, Rockwood Park & Museum (4671 Washington Street Ext, Wilmington, Delaware, 4671 Washington Street Ext, Wilmington, www.newcastlede.gov/431/Rockwood-Park-Museum) is presenting “Guided Museum Tours.”
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. Reservations are suggested. Tour involves stairs. All ages.
Tickets for the 90-minute guided tour are $10.
Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library (Route 52, Wilmington, Delaware, 800-448-3883, www.winterthur.org) just opened its 2023 season.
Visitors are invited to celebrate the early bulb display of the March Bank with self-guided garden tours.
On Saturdays and Sundays in March, Winterthur is hosting an event called “Take a Hike!”
Hikers will be able to explore the site’s trails with Winterthur estate guides. Winterthur’s 1,000-acre estate features 25 miles of walking paths and trails and 10 miles of roads to discover.
The walk, which runs from 2:30-4 p.m., is included with admission.
Warmer than normal temperatures have pushed us into “early April,” and the Winterhazel Walk is budding with the lavender and pink flowers of the Korean rhododendrons along with Lenten roses and fragrant viburnums. The Quarry Garden is filled with the sunshine-yellow cornel dogwoods, daffodils, and mahonia, with forsythia bursting into bloom nearby.
The white arrow tour has returned for the season!
When the Winterthur Garden was first opened to the public, Henry Francis du Pont had white wooden arrows placed in the garden to direct visitors during spring tour to the “must-see” flowers that week. The self-guided tour starts at the Visitor Center Patio and winds through the garden, highlighting the changing colors of spring and leading guests back to the Visitor Center. The path will change weekly as the color progression dictates.
Admission to Winterthur is $25 for adults, $23 for seniors (age 62 and older) and students, and $8 for children (ages 2-11).
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 unique collection highlighting the diverse stories of inventors from all walks of life.
Patent models are scaled representations of inventions and were part of the patent application process for nearly 100 years. “Nation of Inventors” showcases patent models representing innovations in a variety of industries from transportation and manufacturing to food preservation and medical devices.
In the exhibition, visitors will enjoy engaging experiences around every corner, testing their knowledge of innovation and hearing personal accounts from inventors.
The patent models in “Nation of Inventors” were created between 1833 and 1886. “Nation of Inventors” not only features patent models submitted by inventors from the United States, but also models from inventors in England, France, Ireland, Russia, and Spain, demonstrating an international interest in America’s intellectual property system.
“Nation of Inventors” includes patent models from well-known inventors and companies like Ball (Mason Jars), Jim Beam, Bissell, Corliss, Steinway, and Westinghouse. The exhibit presents important topics and timely themes including women inventors, Black inventors, immigrant inventors, improvements in urban living, and the ways Americans learn about and understand progress and change.
“Nation of Inventors” is located on the first two floors of Hagley’s Visitor Center. Visitors can plan to spend about 30 minutes on their self-guided tour of the exhibition.
Admission to Hagley is $20 for adults, $16 for students and seniors (62+) and $10 for children (6-14).
The 2025 season has begun 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.
A special event at Nemours this week will be “Cherry & Magnolia Meander” on April 9.
Guests are invited to join Nemours staff in this special “pop-up” stroll to welcome spring to Nemours Estate.
They can catch Nemours’ cherry and magnolia trees in peak bloom while enjoying a leisurely stroll between the Colonnade and Temple of Love.
The tour will be led by Certified Nature & Forest Therapy Guide and Master Naturalist Shelli Smith.
“Cherry & Magnolia Meander” will get underway at noon.
Tickets are $28.
Originally constructed in 1910, Nemours Estate is one of Delaware’s grandest buildings and includes the largest formal French garden in North America.
Nemours Estate comprises an exquisite, 77-room mansion, the largest formal French gardens in North America, a Chauffeur’s Garage housing a collection of vintage automobiles, and 200 acres of scenic woodlands, meadows and lawns.
Nemours was the estate of Alfred I. duPont.
Alfred named the estate Nemours, after the French town that his great-great-grandfather represented in the French Estates General. While looking to the past and his ancestors for inspiration, Alfred also ensured that his new home was thoroughly modern by incorporating the latest technology and many of his own inventions.
The Gardens are one of the estate’s prime attractions.
The two elk at the top of the Vista are the work of French sculptor Prosper Lecourtier (1855–1924), a specialist in animal figures. Lined with Japanese cryptomeria, pink flowering horse chestnuts and pin oaks, the Long Walk extends from the Mansion to the Reflecting Pool.
The 157 jets at the center of the one-acre pool shoot water 12 feet into the air; when they are turned off, the entire “Long Walk” is reflected in the pool. The pool, five and a half feet deep in its deepest section, holds 800,000 gallons of water and takes three days to fill. The Art Nouveau-style, classical mythology-based “Four Seasons” around the pool are by French-born American sculptor Henri Crenier (1873–1948).
Admission to Nemours is $23 for adults, $21 for seniors and $10 for children.
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 2025 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.
March 26 was the opening date for 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.
Rosengarten’s humor is evident in naming his home after the estate “Chanticlere” in Thackeray’s 1855 novel “The Newcomes.”
Adolph and Christine gave their two children homes as wedding presents. They purchased a neighboring property for son Adolph, Jr. and his bride Janet Newlin in 1933. It is now the site of the Ruin. Daughter Emily’s house, located at today’s visitor entrance, was built for her in 1935. It is presently used for offices and classrooms.
Adolph, Jr., bought his sister’s portion of the estate following her death in the 1980s. He didn’t move into the main house but used it for entertaining and kept it as it was when the family lived there. The house is open for tours by reservation.
Adolph, Jr., left the entire property for the enjoyment and education of the public following his death in 1990. A nine-member Board of Directors, six of whom are Rosengarten relatives, oversees The Chanticleer Foundation. The garden opened to the public in 1993. There are
20 full-time staff, of whom two manage facilities and 14 are gardeners and groundskeepers.
The garden has evolved greatly since the death of the owner in 1990. As the home of the Rosengartens, Chanticleer was beautiful and green with impressive trees and lawns. Most of the floral and garden development you see today has occurred since 1990 — designed by Chanticleer staff and consultants.
There are seven horticulturists, each responsible for the design, planting, and maintenance of an area. The areas are continually evolving, each with its own feel, yet joined together as one complete unit. The Teacup Garden and Chanticleer Terraces feature seasonal plants and bold-textured tropical and subtropical plants. These areas change greatly from year to year. Non-hardy plants overwinter in greenhouses and basements.
The Tennis Court, Ruin, Gravel Garden, and Pond Garden focus on hardy perennials, both woody and herbaceous. The Tennis Court builds on the idea of foliar display introduced in the Teacup. The Ruin is a folly, built on the foundation of Adolph Rosengarten, Jr.’s home. It is meant to look as if the house fell into disrepair. The Gravel Garden is hot and dry, a touch of the Mediterranean in Pennsylvania. The Pond area is exuberantly floriferous.
Asian Woods and Bell’s Woodland are shady areas. The former features natives of China, Korea, and Japan; the latter, plants of eastern North America. The Serpentine celebrates the beauty of agricultural crops. The cut flower and vegetable gardens produce flowers for arrangements and food for the table.
Chanticleer Garden is open Wednesday–Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. now through November 9 with special early access at 8 a.m. on the first Saturday of each month (which is tomorrow) and extended hours until 8 p.m. on Fridays from May 2-August 29.
Admission to Chanticleer is $12 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) had its “Season Opening” at the start of this month.
Located on a wooded promontory overlooking the Delaware River, Andalusia 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.
Visitors can stroll the spectacular formal gardens and native woodlands during a self-guided garden tour at their leisure and enjoy sweeping views from the banks of the Delaware River. Picnics are allowed on the grounds (with a “carry-in, carry-out” policy).
Admission is $15.
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.
Grim Philly’s “Dark Philly History Tour” (www.grimphilly.com) will be held every evening throughout the winter.
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.
Sesame Place (100 Sesame Road, Langhorne, www.sesameplace.com) may be closed for park rides and activities but there’s still furry fun to have.
The amusement park in Bucks County will celebrate Elmo’s Eggstravaganza now through April 21.
Guests can visit Sesame Place Philadelphia for a hoppin’ good time with exciting rides, entertaining shows, the Sesame Street Party Parade and special Easter fun with everyone’s favorite furry friends.
Visitors can enjoy soaring, spinning, whirling and twirling on Sesame Street-themed rides, get photos with your favorite friends in their Eggstravaganza attire, meet and take photos with the Easter Bunny, go on a scavenger hunt for Easter Eggs around the park, and so much more.
They also will be able to dance and sing along to the Sesame Street Party Parade, the Furry Friends Bunny Hop Dance Party and The Magic of Art.
Park admission and parking fees are not required for entry.
Peddler’s Village (Routes 202 and 263, Lahaska, 215-794-4000, www.peddlersvillage.com) will present the “Sixth Annual “PEEPS® in the Village” now through April 27 (except on Easter Sunday).
The popular event showcases the creative talents of regional residents–and the longstanding allure of the colorful candies. There will be more than 130 marshmallow masterpieces carefully crafted with bright bunnies and chicks in inspired, inventive settings.
The event will start at 10 a.m. each day except on Sundays when it opens at 11 a.m.
Weekday and weekday evening visits are strongly encouraged. Lines and wait times can be long on weekends.
The Easter Bunny is known for hopping around but not always. Sometimes, he opts for a different form of locomotion – with real locomotives.
Sometimes, instead of bouncing along the ground, the big happy rabbit rides a train. This weekend, the holiday bunny will be riding trains all around the area.
One of the best train rides with the Easter Bunny is the one presented by the West Chester Railroad (Market Street Station, West Chester, www.wcrailroad.com).
The special “Easter Bunny Express” trains will run on April 12, 13 and 19 at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. each day.
The 90-minute journey on the trail line’s heated decorated train travels through Chester Creek Valley. The Easter Bunny will be greeting everyone at Market Street Station and then going along for the ride to Glen Mills.
During our brief stop at the historic Glen Mills station there will be plenty of opportunities for you to take a brief photo with the Easter Bunny and explore the historic station. Greg Wright and Friends will be playing live music, singing all of your favorite Easter songs
Adult fare for the West Chester Railroad trips is $30. Tickets for children (ages 2-12) are $25 while toddlers (ages 9-23 months) get to ride for $10.
The New Hope and Ivyland Railroad (32 West Bridge Street, New Hope, 215-862-2332, www.newhoperailroad.com) is running its annual Easter Bunny Express on Saturdays and Sundays through April 20.
The Easter Bunny is going to ride onboard the train where he will visit with each child, hand out special treats and pose for pictures. Coach tickets start at $58 for adults, $56 for children (ages 12-plus) and $11 for toddlers (under 2).
The train ride departs from and returns to the New Hope Train Station. Riders can take in the sights of early spring as the Easter Bunny visits with all of the children handing out special candy treats and posing for photos taken by the railroad staff.
The Strasburg Rail Road (Route 741, Strasburg, 717-687-7522, www.strasburgrailroad.com) is running its “Easter Bunny Train” on April 18, 19 and 20 at 11 a.m., noon, 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m., 4 p.m, 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Tickets are $35 for adults and $25 for children..
Welcome to the Strasburg Rail Road Easter Bunny Train, a unique and memorable way to celebrate the holiday with family and friends. This train is extra special because the conductor is none other than Peter Cottontail.
As you travel, the Easter Bunny will hop from car to car spreading Easter happiness to the little ones on board. And while seeing the Easter Bunny always brings a smile, it’s the special Easter surprise that makes the little ones happy.
New for the 2025 Easter event is the “Candy Drops” activity hosted by the Easter Bunny and his friends. It will take place on the hour from noon until 5 p.m. at a designated location along the pedestrian mall area.
Children aboard the train will receive a colored wristband that will grant them access to a specifically timed Candy Drop, which will begin 15 minutes after the train returns to the station.
The Strasburg Rail Road is also running a special train on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in April – the “Wine & Cheese Train.”
Passengers can enjoy the luxurious, climate-controlled first-class accommodations and a tasting of select wine, cheese, and crackers as they travel in style down the tracks from Strasburg to Paradise and back. The train departs at 6 p.m. and the total trip time is 45 minutes.
“Wine & Cheese Train” boarding is 30 minutes before the scheduled departure. Riders must be 21 or older and have their photo ID ready when they board.
Featured wines are carefully selected from Waltz Vineyards, and cheeses are paired accordingly. Beer and select non-alcoholic beverages are also available for purchase upon request. Riders can purchase a souvenir wine glass on board the train if desired. Glasses are $7 each.
In accordance with Pennsylvania law, alcohol is only served during the train ride. We are not permitted to serve alcoholic beverages while the train is berthed in the station.
This popular train is available on select Friday and Saturday evenings throughout the season. Tickets are $79.
The Northern Central Railway (2 West Main Street, New Freedom, www.northerncentralrailway.com) is running its “Eggspecially Fun Bunny Run!” on April 12, 13, 19 and 20.
The special excursion will take passengers to Glen Rock and back – allowing them to take in views of the scenic Heritage Rail Trail County Park. The Easter Bunny’s Helper will be on the train for photo ops.
After returning to New Freedom, children can participate in an egg hunt (weather permitting). Each child will receive a free treat bag, including a bunny pretzel donated by Smittie’s Soft Pretzels.
Departure times are 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
The coaches are pushed and pulled by the rail line’s vintage PRR GP9 Diesel Locomotive, built-in 1959.
This is a one-hour excursion. Tickets will be printed and available for pick up at the ticket booth on the day of the excursion.
Tickets are $28.99 for adults and $19.99 for children.
The Colebrookdale Railroad (South Washington Street, Boyertown, www.colebrookdalerailroad.com) is running its “Easter Eggs-press” on April 12, 13 and 19.
A good way for families to make Easter memories that will last a lifetime is to join Peter Cottontail aboard this special ride on the Colebrookdale Railroad!
Kids can visit with the Easter Bunny outside and join other children as they search for Easter eggs. Children will enjoy a complimentary Easter themed coloring book and 10 prefilled Easter eggs.
Tickets are $35.
The Middletown & Hummelstown Railroad (136 Brown Street, Middletown, 717-944-4435, www.mhrailroad.com) will be running its
“Easter Bunny Express” trains on April 12, 13, 18 and 19.
The trains will depart at noon each day.
The Easter Bunny has a special surprise for all kids aged 11 and under – and will also be posing with children for keepsake photos of the event.
The ride is a 1.5-hour round trip.
Ticket prices are Adults (Ages 12+), $23; Children (Ages 2-11), $18; and Infant (Under 2 years, lap-held), $6.
The Allentown and Auburn Railroad (35 Railroad Street, Kutztown, 570-778-7531, https://allentown-and-auburn-railroad.square.site/) is running Easter Bunny Trains on April 5, 6, 12, 13, 18 and 19.
The Easter Bunny will be riding on all the trains which depart Kutztown Station at 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
The Easter Bunny will be hopping down the train as it travels through the Berks County countryside – and he will be handing out treats to the kids.
Tickets are $18 for adults, $16 for seniors and $12 for children.
On April 5, the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania (300 Gap Road, Strasburg, 717-687-8628, www.rrmuseumpa.org) is presenting a special event called “Rails &Ales,” a craft beer tasting event that will take place among the museum’s amazing historic trains.
Participants are invited to enjoy an evening of responsible adult fun, featuring breweries, food trucks and live music.
Some of the participating breweries at this year’s fourth annual staging of “Rails & Ales” are Spirochete Brewing, Lancaster Brewing, Bespoke Brewing, Seven Sirens Brewing Company, Bierhall Brewing, Raven Beer, Troeg’s Brewing, Rubber Soul Brewing, Rehional Harrisburg Area Brewers, Voodoo Brewing and Spring House Brewing Company.
“Rails & Ales” will run from 6:30-9 p.m. General admission tickets are $40 and $15 for designated driver.
“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.
