What To Do: Holiday shows, parades and fun

Devon Horse Show, antiques on the Brandywine and more

By Denny Dyroff, Staff Writer, The Times

With weather forecasts finally calling for something like summer weather this weekend, this Memorial Day weekend is the perfect time to get out, enjoy some warm weather and any number of holiday weekend activities ranging from the solemn to the spectacular this weekend, including parades, the Devon Horse Show various music events, car shows — enough to keep you busy all weekend.

Kennett Square’s annual Memorial Day Parade (West State Street, Kennett Square, http://historickennettsquare.com), which honors the area’s veterans, is scheduled for May 30. The parade, which is expected to feature more than 1,000 participants and twice as many spectators, will get underway at 10 a.m.

Participants in the parade will represent a wide array of interests with historic battle re-enactors, antique military vehicles, bagpipers, fife and drum units, color guard groups, high school bands, and local youth sports teams.

The parade route for the Memorial Day Parade goes this way — Kennett High School to East South Street, South Union Street to East Cypress Street, South Broad Street to West State Street, to North Union Street to the Union Hill Cemetery on the left.

The parade will come to an end at the Union Hill Cemetery and will be capped with a memorial gun salute and ceremony.

If it is Memorial Day Weekend in the Brandywine Valley that means it’s time once again for the Brandywine River Museum Antiques Show and Sale. The well-attended  annual event is celebrating its 45th anniversary this year.

The show, which runs from May 28-30 at the Brandywine River Museum (Baltimore Pike, Chadds Ford, 610-388-2700, www.brandywinemuseum.org), offers antique collectors — and anyone just interested in looking at vintage collectibles — an good choice of activity for the holiday weekend.

The annual show features more than 30 top-flight antiques dealers from states all over America (including New Hampshire, Connecticut, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, Virginia, Delaware, Michigan, and Maine), who will be displaying and selling their wares at the three-day event.

The roster of in-state exhibitors includes Ayscough Antiques (Chadds Ford), Boyd’s Antiques (Flourtown), Thomas Brown (McMurray), Christopher Rebollo (North Wales), Newsom & Berdan Antiques (Thomasville), and Joseph Lodge (Lederach).

Some of the othr featured exhibitors are Mark & Marjorie Allen Antiques, Brennan & Mouilleseaux, Dubey’s Art & Antiques, Leather Bucket, Bill Schaeffer/Margaret Johnson Sutor Antiques, West Pelham Antiques, Brill’s Antiques, James M. Kilvington, Inc., Lisa McAllister, and Aileen Minor.

The list also includes The Hanebergs Antiques, Hanes & Ruskin, Dennis Raleigh Antiques & Folk Art, W. M. Schwind, Jr., Jeffrey Tillou Antiques, Park Place Gallery, Shaia Oriental Rugs of Williamsburg, Harold E. Cole/Bettina Krainin Antiques, J & R Ferris Antiques, and Tucker Frey Antiques.

Visitors to this weekend’s event at the museum will be able to select from a huge array of fine antiques including quilts, glass, ceramics, folk art, American and English furniture, Oriental and European porcelain, metalware, rugs and other fine collectibles.

A special feature each year is a program of booth talks by antiques dealers on Sunday and Monday.

The schedule for May 29 is — 10:30 a.m.: The Complete Garden by Aileen Minor; 11:30 a.m.: American Furniture with Influences from Great Britain by Jerry Brill; 12:30 p.m.: The Pottery called Delftware by Mark Allen; and 1:30 p.m.: Decorated Furniture: Making Bland Beautiful by Joseph Lodge.

The schedule for May 30 is — 10:30 a.m.: Canary, not a bird! by Lisa McAllister; 11:30 a.m.: American Furniture by Bob Haneberg; 12:30 p.m.: Chinese Export Porcelain in the Home by Phil Dubey; and 1:30 p.m.: English Pottery: Creamware, Pearlware & Staffordshire by Peg Sutor.

There will be a special “Breakfast and Tour” event on May 28 at 9 a.m.featuring a lecture by Leslie B. Grigsby, curator of the decorative arts exhibition, Flowery Thoughts: Ceramic Vases & Floral Ornament at Winterthur. The price of the breakfast and presentation, which includes admission to the Antiques Show, is $30 per person.

Show hours are from 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. both days. Admission is $18 per day.

The Brandywine River Museum’s event is pretty old at 45 years. But, when it comes to longevity, it pales in comparison with the Devon Horse Show (Lancaster Avenue, Devon, 610-688-2554, www.devonhorseshow.org). This year’s event, which is running now through June 5, is the 120th Annual Devon Horse Show and Country Fair.

The event is always special.

More than just another annual equestrian event, it is a family event that spans generations and traditionally marks the start of summer. It is a place where attendees go as much to see and be seen as to watch horses compete — a sporting event and a tradition-based social event.

The Devon Horse Show began in 1896 as a one-day show with 28 classes. By 1914, it had grown immensely and had become the largest outdoor horse show in the country — a distinction it still holds. In 1919, it was decided that a “Country Fair” should be held in conjunction with the horse show and that the event should benefit Bryn Mawr Hospital.

In 2010, the Devon Horse Show became just the fourth American horse show to be honored with the designation as a USEF Heritage Competition. This award is reserved for those competitions that have been in existence for more than a quarter century, promoted and grown the equestrian sport, and made a contribution to the community outside the gates of the horse show by achieving, maintaining and promoting the equestrian ideals of sportsmanship and competition.

More than 3,000 horses are entered in the Devon Horse Show in over 30 divisions and more than 200 classes with prize money totaling over a quarter of a million dollars. The equestrian competition reaches its peak the final few days with the Devon Grand Prix and the Idle Dice Open Jumper Stake.

The Country Fair offers concessions featuring lemon sticks, cotton candy and buckets of fudge. Other main attractions at the fair are the a garden café, sales booths featuring antiques, toys, hand-crafted items, Devon Horse Show souvenirs and over 30 other shops with jewelry, art, clothes and equestrian-related items.

Another popular family attraction is the Midway with its huge Ferris wheel, old-time carousel and wide array of amusement rides and games — plus kid-favorite goodies such as popcorn, cotton candy and funnel cake.

Admission is $15 for adults and $5 for children (under 12) and seniors (over 65).

Another event where you can spend some time and money and add to your collection of art and antiques is the 2016 Downingtown Fine Arts Festival (Lancaster Avenue, Downingtown, 610-864-3500, http://downingtownfinearts.com). The festival’s hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on May 28 and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on May 29.

The Downingtown Fine Arts Festival, which is free and open to the public, is presented by David Oleski Events and the Downingtown Main Street Association, in partnership with the Borough of Downingtown.

Visitors to the festival will be able to check out an impressive variety of art in a wide range of categories including photography, paintings and jewelry.

Some of this year’s participating artists are John Balacki, Marcy Bates,Robert Graham, Bryan Yung, Amy Bruckner, Jupi Das, Annette Poitau, Jen Saemann, Melanie Hummer, Elvera Evangelista, Lisa Weber, Yu Chuan Liu and Gina Struebel.

As an added attraction, tasty foor treats will be available for purchase from the festival’s featured food vendor Blazing Swine BBQ as well as from the assortment of restaurants in the center of Downingtown.

Warm weather provides an ideal environment for sipping wine while listening to live music in a pleasant outdoor setting. Not surprisingly, several area wineries put the two activities together for special events on Memorial Day Weekend.

The Chaddsford Winery (632 Baltimore Pike, Chadds Ford, 610-388-6221, www.chaddsford.com) is hosting its Memorial Day Music Festival from May 28-30.

Live music performances on May 28 will be presented by Hake & Jarema from noon-3 p.m. and Livewire from 3:30-6 p.m. Sunday’s schedule will feature Carly Moffa from noon-3 p.m. and Josh Komorowski from 3:30-6 p.m. and Monday’s schedule has Alex & Shiloh fron 1-4 p.m.

Tasty food items will be available for purchase from the featured food truck Luigi & Giovanni Catering.

On-Site General Admission is $15 and includes one glass of wine.  Admission for children is free if accompanied by an adult (21 or over). Chaddsford Winery reserves the right to refuse entry to any individual not accompanied by an adult.

Wine will be sold by the glass and bottle during the Memorial Day Music Festival.  Traditional wine tastings and Winery tours will not be available. Seating at the Winery is available on a first-come, first-served basis.  Guests are encouraged to bring blankets or folding chairs to guarantee a spot on the grounds.

The PDX Summer Concert Series gets underway on May 28 at Paradocx Vineyard  (1833 Flint Hill Road, Landenberg, 610- 255-5684, www.paradocx.com). Starting off the summer-long series will be a concert by Carly Moffa. Tickets, which include one glass of selected wine, are $12 for the show which runs from 5-9 p.m.

Acts slated to play in June are Dave Renz on June 4, Best Kept Secret on June 18. July’s shows will feature Splashing Pearls on July 16 and Whiskey Hicken Boys on July 30.

Black Walnut Winery (3000 Lincoln Highway, Sadsburyville, 610-857-5566, www.blackwalnutwinery.com) will present its Sixth Annual Black Walnut Winery Blues Festival this weekend with shows on May 28 and 29 from noon-7 p.m. each day.

On May 28, the free family event will feature music will be provided by Bushmaster featuring Gary Brown and the Dukes of Destiny. The acts slated for May 29 are Johnny Never Delta Blues Duo  and the Deb Callahan Band.

Uncle B’s BBQ Shack of Phoenixville will be on site making and selling their famous BBQ specialities. Visitors can bring their own picnic lunches but no outside alcohol is allowed on the site. Guests can also bring their own blankets and chairs.

The Mount Hope Estate & Winery in Cornwall’s Great Pennsylvania FlavorFest has evolved into one of the winery’s most popular annual events. This year’s Ninth Annual Great Pennsylvania FlavorFest will be held May 28 and 29 on Mount Hope’s grounds (Route 72, Cornwall, 717- 665-7021, www.parenfaire.com) from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. each day.

Thie annual feast for the taste buds features many of the region’s finest wineries sampling and selling their vintages, cooking demonstrations, specialty foods for sampling and for sale, master artisans, live music and an interactive Crafty Kid’s area.

One of the nicest aspects of the event is that it is free — free admission, free tastings and free parking.

There will be 20 wineries from Pennsylvania offering samples of and selling of their many varieties. Local restaurants and food vendors will also be offering samples from their menus. Some of the featured wineries are Paradocx Vineyard, Mount Nittany Vineyard & Winery, Peace Valley Winery, Adam’s Vintners, Armstrong Valley Winery, The Winery at Wilcox, University Wine Company, Star Hill Vineyard & Winery, Moon Dancer Winery and Cider House, Ferro Vineyards & Winery, Juniata Valley Winery, HeritageWine Cellars and Juniata Valley Winery.

The roster of participants also includes Beningna’s Creek Vineyard & Winery, Bee Kind Winery, Franklin Hill Vineyards, Sand Castle Winery, Stonekeep Meadery, West Hanover Winery, Boyd’s Cardinal Hollow Winery, Broad Mountain Vineyard, Buddy Boy Winery, Shade Mountain Winery, Capra Collina Winery, Mount Hope Estate and Winery, Mazza Vineyards and Cullari Vineyards & Winery.

FlavorFest will feature a variety of specialty food vendors. Visitors will be able to sample and purchase gourmet food items such as sauces, dips, pastries, cheeses – along with Pennsylvania Dutch favorites such as whoopie pies and traditional shoo-fly pie.

As an added attraction, chefs from local restaurants will present cooking demonstrations each day highlighting gourmet dishes in their restaurants’ signature styles.

If you have an interest in classic automobiles, antique tractors, vintage Mustangs or just cars in general, you should plan on making a trip to Kimberton this weekend. On May 29, the 37th Annual Chester County Car Show will be held at the Kimberton Fire Company Fairgrounds (Route 113, Kimberton,215-646-4265, http://www.chescoacc.com).

The event will begin with auto registration at 9 a.m. A wide array of vehicles will be on display, including antique cars, motorcycles, classic cars, antique tractors, hit-and-miss engines, Mustangs and street rods.

In addition to all the cars on display, the one-day event will also feature an automobile flea market, an arts-and-crafts show, a food court and music by a deejay. There is no admission fee but a $2 parking donation is requested.

“Historic Autos at Winterthur” (Route 52, Wilmington, Delaware, 302-888-4600, www.winterthur.org), which is included free with museum admission, provides visitors with the opportunity to see a variety of vehicles from the past that have been maintained in pristine condition.

There have been different displays every Saturday through the month of May. The final presentation is schedule for May 28. The theme for Saturday’s event is “Cars of the 1950s: Winterthur Museum Opens to the Motoring Public.”

As an added attraction, “Made in the Americas: The New World Discovers Asia” gallery walks will be held on May 28 and and 29 at 11:30 a.m, 1 and 2 p.m. both days.

Admission to Winterthur is $20 for adults, $18 for seniors and students, and $5 for children (ages 2-11).

Longwood Gardens (Route 1, Kennett Square, 610-388-1000, www.longwoodgardens.org) has “Spring Blooms” running through June 3. Visitors can enjoy hundreds of lush acres featuring burgeoning gardens of daffodils, tulips, magnolias, azaleas, flowering cherries and more than 240,000 flowering bulbs.

Daily visitor programs, including gardening demonstrations, behind-the-scenes tours, and talks add to Longwood’s charms. Children will enjoy the many activities in the outdoor Children’s Area, and the imaginative fun of the Indoor Children’s Garden.

Admission to Longwood Gardens is $20 for adults, $17 for seniors and $10 for students.

f you enjoy walking around garden displays or if you like to look at model railroad layouts, then you should definitely check out the Garden Railway Display at the Morris Arboretum (100 Northwestern Avenue, Chestnut Hill, 215-247-5777, www.business-services.upenn.edu/arboretum/index.html).

The ultra-popular Garden Railway Display has become a major summer attraction at The Gardens at Morris Arboretum. The 19^th annual edition of the display has its official season opening scheduled for May 28 and then will remain open until September 5.

This year’s theme “Awaken the Senses.” Grand Opening activities will take place on May 28 from 1-3 p.m.

The railway has a quarter-mile of track featuring seven loops and tunnels with 15 different rail lines and two cable cars, nine bridges (including a trestle bridge you can walk under) and bustling model trains.

The buildings and the display are all made of natural materials – bark, leaves, twigs, hollow logs, mosses, acorns, dried flowers, seeds and stones – to form a perfectly proportioned miniature landscape complete with miniature rivers.

Philadelphia-area landmarks are all meticulously decorated for the holidays with lights that twinkle. There is even a masterpiece replica of Independence Hall are made using pine cone seeds for shingles, acorns as finials and twigs as downspouts.

Video link for Garden Railway — https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=RSJUqYxoHb4.

Admission is $17 for adults; $15 for seniors (65 and older); $9 for students (ages 13-17 or with ID), active military and retired military; and free for children (under 3).

As part of Historic Philadelphia’s 10th anniversary celebration at Franklin Square (200 Sixth Street, Philadelphia, www.historicphiladelphia.org ), the organization is illuminating the park with its inaugural Chinese Lantern Festival.

Now through June 12, Franklin Square will come alive every night with 25 illuminated lanterns, handcrafted giant flowers, a three-story pagoda and a 200-foot-long Chinese dragon. All creations were constructed by lantern artisans from China.

Chinese-inspired performances will take place in Franklin Square twice nightly. Performances, which celebrate Chinese performance art and entertainment, are 30-minutes long and are scheduled for 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 7 and 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Festival hours are 6-10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 6-11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Admission is $17 for adults, $12 for youth, and $15 for seniors and military.