By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times
For years, the first weekend in May locally has had a trio of events which are traditionally party time events – celebrating Mexico for Cinco de Mayo, cheering with friends while watching the Kentucky Derby on television and enjoying a day at the races at Winterthur Point-to-Point.Things have changed.
In an announcement on its website, Winterthur posted – “As we prepare to celebrate Winterthur’s 75th anniversary in 2026, we will pause Point-to-Point for this milestone year. Next spring, we will host a special anniversary celebration that honors Winterthur’s rich history and vibrant present. As we look beyond 2026, we are exploring fresh and exciting ways to reimagine our signature spring events for 2027 and the years to come.
Stay tuned—we can’t wait to unveil the next chapter of Winterthur traditions.”
So, the 48th annual staging of the popular equestrian event at Winterthur (Route 52, Wilmington, Delaware, 302-888-4600,www.winterthur.org) will have to wait a year.
However, there will be a special event at Winterthur this weekend – “Tailgate Tour: May Day: A Spring Awakening.”
Participants can take a leisurely stroll through the garden and estate guided by one of the staff members and hear about Winterthur’s history, design, and plants.
Then, they can stop off at the tailgate in a secret location for lively conversation and tasty treats, including hors d’oeuvres and a selection of hard and soft beverages.
The event is scheduled for May 1 from 6-7:30 p.m.
Tickets are $42.
Another annual event on the first weekend of May has changed.
Traditionally, a “Cinco de Mayo Festival” was presented by Casa Guanajuato (www.casaguanajuato.org) on May 4 outdoors on South Broad Street in Kennett Square.
Cinco de Mayo (“Fifth of May” in Spanish) is a holiday celebrating the day the Mexican army defeated France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War in 1862.
Casa Guanajuato’s celebration of Cinco de Mayo, which has been an annual area event since 2005, was a great way to honor and showcase the art, music, traditions, and humanity of the Mexican community in Kennett Square and surrounding areas.
This year, Casa Guanajuato is celebrating Cinco de Mayo with “Mitote Folklorico.”
The event, which will be held from 3-8 p.m. at Kennett High School gymnasium, starts with a program about the history of Mexico including dance presentations including a talk about colonial Mexico and the legend of the princesses.
Live entertainment will be provided by local bands and dance troops. At 6 p.m., there will be a special performance by the featured dance company — Danza Tenochli.
The event will be held from 3-8 p.m. Tickets are $15 with children 12 and under admitted free.
Fortunately, watching the Kentucky Derby on television is still an option. It will be broadcast at 7 p.m. on NBC TV.
A special event in downtown West Chester this weekend will be the May edition of First Friday.
West Chester Gallery Walk
This will be a special First Friday because it features the West Chester Spring Gallery Walk (www.downtownwestchester.com/gallerywalk ). The popular annual event will be held on May 1 from 4-8 p.m.
There will be a festival atmosphere along the streets of West Chester when area businesses feature pop-up gallery shows for local artists while several West Chester galleries will host their own art reception events.
This event celebrates the thriving community of artists and galleries that make Greater West Chester their home. Multiple galleries combine with additional “one-night-only” show hosts throughout the downtown business area to showcase some great local Chester County artists.
Attendees can discover stunning artwork, connect with fellow creatives, and find the perfect piece for their home.
Hosted by Downtown West Chester, this evening is free and open to the public with free, on-street metered parking starting at 4 p.m.
Phoenixville First Fridays (http://www.phoenixvillefirst.org) are returning this month from 5:30-8:30 p.m. with May 1 as the opening event.This year, First Fridays will operate within the weekly Bridge Street open-air closure to create an ambiance of a night market all along Bridge Street.
During the months of May, October, and November, Main Street will be closed in addition to the open-air closures taking place on Bridge Street.
There will be live musicians placed throughout downtown on Bridge and Main Streets, and handmade craft vendors and artists displaying and selling their art in the Main and Bridge Street parking lot.
Coatesville’s First Friday (downtowncoatesvillepa.com) is scheduled for May 1 from 5-9 p.m.
This First Friday is a monthly celebration showcasing Downtown Coatesville’s thriving businesses, diverse culture, and rich history.
From May to October 2026, First Friday will be staged along First to Third avenues with art, activities and community fun.
Also featured will be live entertainment, downtown shops and local vendors and food and drink specials at restaurants and food trucks.
The theme for this month is “First Friday Fiesta.”
Oxford (oxfordmainstreet.com)will celebrate “Cinco de Mayo Block Party” at Oxford Feed & Lumber and Taqueria Los Juarez.
Oxford Cinco de Mayo First Friday!” (oxfordmainstreet.com) on May 1 from 5-8 p.m.
This reimagined event will celebrate Hispanic heritage, culture, and cuisine with an evening full of flavor, community, and festivity.
Visitors are invited to “Come downtown, support local businesses, and kick off your Cinco de Mayo weekend with a night full of fun, flavor, and fiesta vibes!”
Lansdale’s 15th First Friday season (http://www.discoverlansdale.org/) gets underway on May 1 from 6-9 p.m. with the theme “April Showers Bring May Flowers.”
The roster of food vendors includes Fiesta Churros, Meat Wagon BBQ, The Little Sicilian, Surf and Turf Truck, The Clean Plate Club, The Pasta Truck, and El Limon (our FF season sponsor!).
The event will feature live entertainment on the main stage by Evans Entertainment; at Railroad Plaza, by DJ Tone Arm. Balloons by Myers Designs and face painting by Dyanna.
Lancaster’s popular First Friday (http://www.visitlancastercity.com/first-friday/) is an arts extravaganza that runs from 5-9 p.m. on May1.
Visitors to downtown Lancaster will have the opportunity to discover innovative exhibitions, performances and perhaps a few surprises as they walk the streets lined with trees and distinctive architecture.
This weekend’s event will introduce the First Friday Trolley which will be free to the public every First Friday of the month from May through October.
Guests are invited to join the staff this Friday for the first ride. The trolley will make stops within the Arts District Loop. Along the route you can find art galleries, shops, restaurants, bars, and more.
Non-traditional boutiques and excellent restaurants complement the art galleries, artisan studios, museums, performing groups, professional theater, symphony orchestra and art college.
Another First Friday event this weekend will take place May 2 in Old City Philadelphia (230 Vine Street and locations throughout Old City Philadelphia, www.oldcitydistrict.org).
On the first Friday of each month — year-round — Old City’s galleries, studios, shops and restaurants open their doors for First Friday, in an epic exhibition of the neighborhood’s vibrant arts scene.
Old City Arts Association launched First Friday in 1991 to introduce Philadelphia to the improving neighborhood and the artists and designers who were bringing it back to life.
Two decades later, Old City is a nationally recognized arts destination, named in 2013 as one of the country’s top ArtPlaces by the ArtPlace Foundation.
On the first Friday evening of every month, the streets of Old City fill with art lovers of all kinds who wander among the neighborhood’s 40-plus galleries, most of which are open from 5-9 p.m.
Malvern Business (www.malvernbusiness.com/springonking) will present “Spring on King: Jazz Fest” on May 2 on King Street in downtown Malvern.
The celebration will run from noon-4 p.m. along King Street with live music by Tina Hashemi Jazz, 3 J Blue Trio, Sean Lynch Trio, Ben Mauger’s Roaring 20’s & Dixieland Band, and Philly Accents.
Food trucks along King Street will be Bon Fromage, Good Girls on the Go, The Polish Connection, Mobile Mess Hall, Pause Cafesito and Beanie’s Coffee.
Activities include Face painters, Balloon artists, Local Artisans, Plein Air artist and Typewriter Poe.
There will also be a “Concert in the Park” in Burke Park from 4-6 p.m. featuring Mike Casey.
“Sheep and Wool Day” at Springton Manor Farm (860 Springton Road, Glenmoore, 610-942-2450, www.chesco.org/ccparks) is an event that has become a popular annual spring tradition in Chester County.
This year’s “Sheep and Wool Day” is a free family event that will be held on May 2 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Visitors will be able to observe demonstrations of sheep shearing along with weaving and spinning demonstrations.
The well-attended annual event will also feature a crafts area with family games, wagon rides, farm displays, artisan displays, kids’ crafts and period games and more than 20 food and craft vendors.
Visitors can also check out the young animals in Springton Manor Farm’s Great Barn and tour the Agricultural Museum to learn about seasonal tools used on Chester County farms from the 1700s to the 1900s.
Items for sale by craft vendors include jewelry, bird houses, soaps and lotions, felt and wool products, jellies, photography, tote bags and more.
Parking will be at Springton Manor Elementary School. Free buses will be provided. Handicap parking will be available at the Farm.
The Yellow Springs Art Show (Art School Road, Chester Springs, www.yellowsprings.org), which is one of the longest-running art shows in the state, is celebrating its 53rd anniversary in 2026.
The Yellow Springs Art Show got its start back in 1973 as a free event featuring a variety of artists displaying their work on clotheslines.
It has changed immeasurably since then and has become one of the largest and most prestigious annual art shows in the Delaware Valley.
The show is still free and open to the public. The popular annual event now features close to 200 participating artists — including many artists who are new to the show this year.
The show is running now through May 10 in Historic Yellow Springs Lincoln Building. Show hours are from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. daily.
The 2026 Yellow Springs Art Show will have on display more than 3,000 pieces of fine art in a wide range of media and styles – oils, watercolors, bronze sculptures, pastels, landscapes, still life, three-dimensional works, seascapes and abstract.
All proceeds benefit arts education, environmental protection and historic preservation of the 300-year-old village of Historic Yellow Springs.
On May 2, Laurel Hill Cemetery (3822 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia, laurelhillpl.com) will present “Stagecoaches & Omnibuses: Victorian Transport” on May 2 from 1-3 p.m.
On this tour, participants will meet the individuals responsible for Philadelphia’s transportation innovations during the 19th century. Starting with horse travel by way of wagons, stagecoaches, and omnibuses, travel by waterways in hauled barges, and graduating to steam and electricity, this tour is rich in Philadelphia history.
Tour Guide will be Jacquie Mahon.
Tickets are: $20/General Admission (Ages 13 and up), $18/Seniors (Ages 65+) and Students with ID, $10/Youth (Ages 6-12).
On May 2, one of Montgomery County’s most popular historic sites will celebrate the arrival of May.
Pottsgrove Manor (100 West King Street, Pottstown, 610- 326-4014, www.historicsites.montcopa.org) is hosting a Colonial May Fair on Saturday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
The event will feature 18th-century entertainment, including May Pole Dancing Milkmaids’ Garland Dances. The list of hands-on activities includes trap-ball (a predecessor of baseball), colonial toys and games, fortune-telling, a kid-sized Maypole, beanbag toss games, churning butter and free spring-themed make-and-take crafts.
Visitors will also be able to tour the manor house which features the early Georgian architecture that was popular with wealthy English gentry during the mid-18th century. It was built in 1752 for John Potts (ironmaster and founder of Pottstown) on a 1,000-acre plantation.
Admission to the event is free but there is a $4 suggested donation.
Starting this weekend, Chaddsford Winery (632 Baltimore Pike, Chadds Ford, 610-388-6221, http://www.chaddsford.com) has several special activities going.
“Noir Noir: A Speakeasy Experience” will be held on Friday evenings in May from 6-9 p.m.
Visitors can enjoy specialty cocktails and light bites in the hidden wine cellar as they step behind the scenes at the Friday-night speakeasy, tucked inside our historic wine cellar.
Inspired by the glamour and intrigue of the 1920s and 1930s, this intimate pop-up experience transforms the West Tank Room into a moody, art deco–inspired lounge complete with themed music, vintage touches, and low-lit ambiance.
Guests are invited to enjoy a rotating menu of specialty cocktails crafted with locally sourced spirits and Chaddsford wines, available exclusively during speakeasy hours.
A limited selection of bar bites will also be available. Themed attire is encouraged but never required.
There will also be “Mimosa Mixer Tastings” from May 2-17.
Guests can celebrate the flavors of spring with a lively and refreshing Mimosa Mixer Tasting at Chaddsford Winery.
This guided, seated experience invites guests to explore a curated flight of seasonal mimosa creations, each paired with a delicious cheese board.
“Live on the Lawn” will be held on Saturdays and Sundays from May 2-September 27 from 2-5 p.m. each day.
This is a brand-new outdoor music series featuring local talent, great wine, and relaxed vibes every summer weekend afternoon.
Visitors can bring a blanket, grab a glass, and kick back to the rhythm of live music on the scenic Vintner’s Lawn.
Each weekend showcases a rotating lineup of regional musicians and your favorite Chaddsford wines.
There will be Chaddsford wines by the glass or bottle, frozen wine slushies, fresh and seasonal mocktails, a rotating selection of Pennsylvania craft beer and an expanded, in-house food menu, including weekly pizza specials.
Harvest Ridge Winery (1140 Newark Road, Toughkenamon, www.harvestridgewinery.com) will host “Live Music with A.J. Love” on May 1 at 4 p.m.
On May 2, the winery will present “Live Music with Ken Miller” at 4 p.m.
On May 3, Harvest Ridge Winery will host a “PA Sip & Stitch” event from 1-4 p.m.
I
n 2026, America turns 250, and Philadelphia is throwing the ultimate yearlong celebration.
After all, we’ve been first in freedom, first in innovation and first in fun for 250 years.
52 Weeks of Firsts (www.visitphilly.com/52-weeks-of-firsts) is a yearlong, citywide celebration honoring Philadelphia’s legacy of innovation produced by the Philadelphia Historic District 250th Committee.
Not only was Philadelphia the birthplace of the country, but it was also the backdrop for many other marvels.
To honor these groundbreaking inventions and firsts, the Philadelphia Historic District is holding a year’s worth of free events to celebrate the country’s 250th birthday.
52 Weeks of Firsts shines a light on different Philly-born Firsts each week through a series of free public events called Saturday Firstivals — held every Saturday of 2026, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in more than a dozen neighborhoods.
Firstival: Saturday May 2 will focus on “First American-Made Piano and Sousaphone: 1895.”
From ivory keys to booming brass, Philadelphia hit all the right notes with the first American-made piano and sousaphone. Music history was composed right here in the city of harmony.
The event will be held May 2 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at Franklin Court, which is located at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, which is located at 300 South Broad Street in Philadelphia.
Longwood Gardens (Route 1, Kennett Square, 610-388-1000, www.longwoodgardens.org) is now featuring one of its popular annual special events – “Spring Blooms.”
Early spring bulbs bring the season to life, followed by flowering trees bursting into bloom. Fragrance drifts on the breeze. Radiant tulips stretch towards the sky.
A featured attraction is Florida Flame Azalea (Rhododendron austrinum).
Florida flame azalea, is a deciduous azalea native to the southeastern United States. Blooming in early spring before the leaves emerge, its fragrant yellow to orange flowers are rich in nectar and attract a range of wildlife, including hummingbirds, butterflies, and native bees.
As part of the Ericaceae family, it shares the acid-loving tendencies of other rhododendrons and azaleas. This species plays an important role in the development of modern deciduous azalea hybrids. Breeders have long used Rhododendron austrinum to introduce heat tolerance and vibrant yellow coloration into cultivated varieties, expanding the palette of garden azaleas well beyond their traditional hues.
Longwood’s selections of pastel colored azaleas create dramatic sweeps of color amongst the trees in Peirce’s Woods. It is well worth a stroll to experience the beauty and fragrance of these native treasures.
Another colorful attraction is Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florid).
The bright red berries produced in the fall, are a high-fat food source for over 36 species of birds, including wild turkeys, cardinals, and robins.
The tree supports more than 100 species of moths and butterflies, which lay their eggs on dogwood leaves—making it essential for local food webs.
Because it flowers early, it’s also a critical nectar source for pollinators just coming out of winter dormancy. In fact, its ecological value is so high that Cornus florida is often promoted in native plant gardening for habitat restoration.
While the tree is too small for lumber, dogwood wood is incredibly hard and dense. It’s been used historically for golf club heads and handles for tools and knives.
Other attractions in bloom are Carolina Silverbell, Blue Phlox, Fosteriana Tulip, Hoary Azalea, Cucumber Magnolia, Tower-of-jewels, Snowball Pincushion Cactus, Pineapple Guava, Dwarf Fothergilla, Throatwort and Ixia.
Inside Longwood’s Conservatory, visitors can check out the towering Clerodendrum schmidtii (chains of glory) as well as nearly 300 blooming orchids on display in the Orchid House.
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 $35 for adults, $21 for seniors (ages 62 and older) and $20 for youth (ages 5-18).
Another venue where you can enjoy flowers up close is Tyler Arboretum (515 Painter Road, Media, 610-566-9134, www.tylerarboretum.org).
This is a special weekend at Tyler – the weekend for the Arboretum’s “2026 Plant Sale.”
This special fundraiser, which will be open to the public on May 2 and 3, helps care for the precious natural lands, trails, and gardens at Tyler Arboretum.
It features wide plant choices in an outdoor venue, knowledgeable staff and volunteers, and ample parking.
Event hours are from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. each day.
This Saturday, the Kalmar Nyckel Shipyard (1124 East Seventh Street, Wilmington, Delaware, www.kalmarnyckel.org) is beginning its 2026 season of live sails.
Sailing season returns with river cruises in Wilmington and tall ship sails in Historic New Castle. Tickets for day sails plus private ship rentals are now available.
Visitors can celebrate the opening of the Kalmar Nyckel’s sailing season with free Kalmar Nyckel deck tours from noon-4 p.m. on behalf of Noramco, free Maritime Outdoor Adventure Course activities all day, free tours of the Copeland Maritime Center museum and free admission and parking.
The ship is a beautiful recreation of the original Kalmar Nyckel, which was built in Holland in the 1620s. Her main mast is taller than a 10-story building, and she carries 7,600 square feet of sail area and six miles of rigging.
The original Kalmar Nyckel was a Swedish-owned, three-masted armed pinnace that sailed from Goteborg, Sweden in November of 1637 and brought the first permanent European settlers to the Delaware Valley.
In 1986 a group of citizens established the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation to design, build and launch a replica of the Kalmar Nyckel at a shipyard adjacent to the original landing site.
The new Kalmar Nyckel was constructed there and was launched on September 28, 1997. She was commissioned on May 9, 1998, and now serves as Delaware’s sea-going Ambassador of Good Will. She is a fully functional sail training vessel and has represented Delaware all over the country.
On May 3 at 1 p.m., Rockwood Park & Museum (4671 Washington Street Ext, Wilmington, Delaware, 4671 Washington Street Ext, Wilmington, www.newcastlede.gov/431/Rockwood-Park-Museum) is hosting “Rockwood Paranormal Reveal.”
This program reveals the most recent paranormal happenings at Rockwood Mansion with photographic and video evidence, unexplained experiences, and answering questions about the paranormal.
The Rockwood Paranormal Experience Team will review various paranormal equipment which guests will use to investigate during the “Classic Paranormal Experience Program.”
The event is for Ages 16-and-up and tickets are $10.
Newlin Grist Mill (219 South Cheyney Road, Glen Mills, newlingristmill.org) will present its “1704 Mill Tour” on May 2 and 3.
Visitors can take a guided tour of the site’s 1704 water powered mill.
While the Mill is not currently operational, visitors on guided tours will get a rare opportunity to see the process of building a new waterwheel and waterbox.
Visitors must be on a guided tour to go inside the Grist Mill.
Cost is $10 for adults and $6 for seniors and children 12 and under.
While these events are all based on earth and what earth produces, there is another event this weekend that has its base beyond earth.
The John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum (8601 Lindbergh Boulevard, Philadelphia, www.fws.gov/refuge/John_Heinz) will host “Bird Walk with Cliff and Nancy Hence” on May 2 at 9 a.m.
Participants will be able to discover the 300+ species of birds that use the Refuge during their migration routes — each week guarantee different species.
Walk will meet by the Visitor Center and take place at a relaxed pace on flat surfaces.
“Elmwood Park Zoo” (1661 Harding Boulevard, Norristown, www.elmwoodparkzoo.org) is hosting “Party for the Planet” on May 2.
The event, which runs from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., is the Zoo’s annual celebration of Earth Day and all things eco-friendly.
“Party for the Planet” is a family fun-filled day that emphasizes the importance of conservation and the environment.
Guests can enjoy demonstrations and education stations featuring animals, recycling, sustainable living and more.
Zoo admission starts at $14.95.
The 2026 season has begun at Nemours Estate (1600 Rockland Road, Wilmington, Delaware, nemoursestate.org).
There will be a “Guided Mansion Tour” on May 2 starting at 9:30 a.m.
Visitors can get a different perspective on Nemours through this guide-led tour of Nemours Estate’s Mansion.
The entrance is located on the campus of Nemours Children’s Health — follow signs for Nemours Estate.
Originally constructed in 1910, Nemours Estate is one of Delaware’s grandest buildings and includes the largest formal French garden in North America.
Nemours Estate comprises an exquisite, 77-room mansion, the largest formal French gardens in North America, a Chauffeur’s Garage housing a collection of vintage automobiles, and 200 acres of scenic woodlands and meadows.
Nemours was the estate of Alfred I. duPont.
The 2026 season is in full swing at Chanticleer (786 Church Street, Wayne, www.chanticleergarden.org).
The Chanticleer estate dates from the early 20th-century, when land along the Main Line of the Pennsylvania Railroad was developed for summer homes to escape the heat of Philadelphia. Adolph Rosengarten, Sr., and his wife Christine chose the Wayne-St. Davids area to build their country retreat. The family’s pharmaceutical firm would become part of Merck & Company in the 1920s.
The Rosengartens hired architect and former classmate Charles L. Borie to design the house, which was completed in 1913. Landscape architect Thomas Sears designed the terraces as extensions of the house. A 1924 addition converted the summer home into a year-round residence and the family moved here permanently.
Rosengarten’s humor is evident in naming his home after the estate “Chanticlere” in Thackeray’s 1855 novel “The Newcomes.”
As the home of the Rosengartens, Chanticleer was beautiful and green with impressive trees and lawns. Most of the floral and garden development 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.
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.
Admission to Chanticleer is $15 for adults and free for pre-teen children (12 years and under).
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, is presenting its “Nation of Inventors” exhibition.
Visitors can learn about the patent process and see examples of early American ingenuity in the “Nation of Inventors” exhibition.
“
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” includes patent models from well-known inventors and companies like Ball (Mason Jars), Jim Beam, Bissell, Corliss, Steinway, and Westinghouse.
“
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 $22 for adults, $18 for students and seniors (62+) and $12 for children (6-14).
Historic Odessa (Main Street, Odessa, Delaware, 302-378-4119, www.historicodessa.org) is both a scenic and an historic site in Delaware.
Historic Odessa just reopened for spring tours and celebrated the beginning of its 2026 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.
Andalusia Historic House, Gardens and Arboretum (1237 State Road, Andalusia, www.andalusiapa.org) has opened for its 2026 season.
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).
The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University (1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, www.ansp.org) has just opened a new exhibit – “Botany of Nations.”
Visitors can experience a groundbreaking exhibition that provides a new perspective on the legendary Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery.
Co-curated with Enrique Salmón, PhD, an ethnobotanist and author of IWÍGARA: The Kinship of Plants and People, and developed with contributions from Indigenous cultural historians, “Botany of Nations” offers a culturally layered view of the plants of North America.
Collected on the famous expedition, some of the oldest plant specimens in the country today are housed in the Academy’s own Lewis and Clark Herbarium.
Guests can learn how the Native Nations Meriwether Lewis met on the trail shaped America’s plant knowledge long before Western scientists claimed these “discoveries.”
Centering the voices of Native Nations who have protected and cared for the lands for thousands of years, “Botany of
Nations” presents plants as portals to Indigenous storytelling and knowledge.
Visitors will:
See 18th and early 19th century scientific instruments, original journals, maps and herbarium sheets that illuminate the role of natural science on the Corps of Discovery.
View Native American peace pipes as well as Corps of Discovery peace medals.
Navigate prairie, plains, plateau and Pacific coast landscapes within a model of the trail as you learn about the importance of plants such as tobacco and chokecherry through film, interactive media, cultural artifacts, sensory experiences and contemporary voices.
Watch a newly produced film about how Indigenous traditional land practices and cultural systems surrounding food provide contemporary solutions to today’s biodiversity and climate challenges.
Experience a native plant garden on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway to learn how you can grow heritage plants that foster biodiversity.
Museum admission is $22 for adults, $19 for seniors and $18 for children (ages 2-12).
The Delaware Art Museum (2301 Kentmere Parkway, Wilmington, Delaware, www.delart.org) is currently featuring several new exhibitions.
“Living Indigenous,” which runs through August 23, celebrates the creative contributions of Indigenous artists living in and connected to Delaware, developed in partnership with the Nanticoke Indian Museum.
“Citizen Artist,” which is on display through July 19, coincides with the Semiquincentennial in 2026.
The “Citizen Artist” will meet a moment of national reflection with a celebration of artist workers in America.
“The People’s Gallery,” which runs August 7 through September 6, amplifies Delaware 250 by inviting up to 600 Delaware residents or DelArt Members to submit one work of art for exhibition in the Museum.
The Museum is open from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday and will be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Admission is $18 for adults, $16 for seniors and $6 for youth.
Sesame Place (100 Sesame Road, Langhorne, www.sesameplace.com) will celebrate “Elmo’s Springtacular” now through June 14.
“Elmo’s Springtacular” at Sesame Place is filled with furry fun and exciting events! Join in on the fun with an exciting line-up of meet & greets, music, magic, pirate adventures, and fireworks.
This weekend, the featured event is “Dino Ranch.”
It’s Veloci-Time! Saddle up and get ready for an adventure as the Dino-Ranchers roll into Sesame Place. Come join the fast-talking cowboy Jon and his speedy raptor Blitz as they talk about life on the pre-historic farm in this interactive, musical stage show.
Then, make a reservation to meet and take a photo with Jon and Blitz! Purchase the Dino Ranch VIP Experience to get a delicious buffet meal, a meet & greet with the characters, and reserved seating at one of the Dino Ranch On Stage! shows.
Hope Lodge (553 South Bethlehem Pike, Fort Washington, 215-343-0965, http://www.ushistory.org/hope/) started its season of “Guided Mansion Tours” a few weeks ago.
This week, there will be tours on May 3 at 1 and 2:30 p.m.
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.
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 $28.
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 $28.
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 $28.
Grim Philly’s “Dark Philly History Tour” (www.grimphilly.com) will be held every evening throughout the spring.
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.
Peddler’s Village (Routes 202 and 263, Lahaska, 215-794-4000, www.peddlersvillage.com) will present “The Best of the Nest: Birdhouse Competition & Display” throughout its site.
“The Best of the Nest: Birdhouse Competition & Display” runs now through May 25 and showcases unique birdhouses designed and built by members of the public.
Guests are invited to vote for their favorite birdhouses in multiple categories: traditional, whimsical, Bucks County landmark, and natural habitat.
For this event, Peddler’s Village is proud to partner with the Bucks County Chapter of the American Institute of Architects and the Honey Hollow Nature Center.
By participating in this event as either a birdhouse creator or a visitor, you can support two local nonprofits. Creators can donate their birdhouses to a fundraising auction, and visitors can donate either directly or by “buying” additional votes for their People’s Choice favorites. Donations can be made and ballots can be obtained at the Visitor and Event Center on Street Road.
The New Hope Railroad (32 West Bridge Street, New Hope, 215-862-2332, www.newhoperailroad.com) is running its “Grapevine Express” on May 2 and 3 at 5 p.m.
Riders can choose premium parlor or lounge cars for an intimate one-hour (approximately) excursion through the wooded foothills of Bucks County. On the journey, they will be able to enjoy food and beverage service from the friendly and attentive parlor car attendants.
Each couple will receive an assortment of crudités, a lush charcuterie board, and a sweet treat to wrap up the experience. In addition, guests over 21 years of age will receive their choice of wine, beer, or whiskey flight from Bucks County.
On May 2 and 3, the Strasburg Rail Road (Route 741, Strasburg, 717-687-7522, www.strasburgrailroad.com) is running a special train – “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 4 and 6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 4 p.m. on Sunday. The total trip time is 45 minutes.
“Wine & Cheese Train” boards 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 $10 each.
In accordance with Pennsylvania law, alcohol is only served during the train ride. The rail line is not permitted to serve alcoholic beverages while the train is berthed in the station.
The Northern Central Railway (2 West Main Street, New Freedom, www.northerncentralrailway.com) is running a special excursion this weekend.
The “High Tea Express” will depart on May 3 at 11 a.m.
Your ticket includes a round-trip train ride to Glen Rock and a 1.5-hour English -style High Tea dining experience at Table 1837 – The Glen Rock Mill Inn.
The English -Style High Tea includes a three-tier collection of English Tea accompaniments to share, including a variety of finger sandwiches, fresh baked scones, lemon curd or jam, Devonshire cream, whipped butter and fresh fruit.
This will be followed by a glass of champagne with a fresh tossed salad of grilled chicken, mixed greens, and seasonal accompaniments. The experience finishes with a served dessert of Creme Brulee.
Tickets are $82.99.
