There is plenty to do in the Brandywine Valley! Major attractions offer daily exhibits and activities as well as special events. Outdoor activities are popular during the summer season at our county parks and state parks, and indoor activities are available throughout the year. Make your first stop our Chester County Visitors Center where personal service is there to help you or call our Visitors Center at 800-228-9933 to find out more.
Please scroll down the entire calendar for individual attraction events listed separately.
May 2008
May 9-24 –A Raisin in the Sun – Wilmington Drama League (302)764-1172 www.wdl.org
May 10-11 - Simon Pearce on the Brandywine - Glass blowing demonstrations 11am - 7 pm 610-793-0948
May 17 -Spring Garden Days Flea Market, Rusty Gate Antique Center (610)942-4834 or (610)942-4890
May 18 –Kennett Underground Railroad guided bus tours leave from Chester County Visitors Center; 1pm & 2:30pm; $8/$4 (610)347-2237 resv.
May 19 -Immaculata University’s Women’s Golf Open at Hershey’s Mill Golf Club (610)647-4400 x3122
May 19 – The Main Line Chamber Foundation Golf Classic at White Manor Country Club in Malvern (610)687-6232
May 22-June 1 –Devon Horse Show (610)964-0550
May 24,25,26 - Simon Pearce on the Brandywine - Glass blowing demonstrations - 11am - 7 pm 610-793-0948
May 29 thru June 1 – 2008 Strawberry Festival; www.brandywinestrawberryfestival.com (610)380-9080
June 2008
June 1 – Summerfest at Historic Yellow Springs. Annual 5k run, Sundaes on Sunday then Jazz at the Springs. (610)827-7414
June 7-13 – 10th Annual Schuylkill River Sojourn; Register to paddle one day or entire event. www.schuylkillriver.org
June 8 –“Grounds for Music” outdoor festival in Wagontown, Chester County; 1-9PM; Fun; Buy or BYO picnic. Coatesville Area Arts Alliance (610)384-2535; www.CthreeA.org.
June 13-22 –Chrysalis Players Production, Annie – Wilmington Drama League (302)764-1172 www.wdl.org
June 14,15 - Simon Pearce on the Brandywine - Glass blowing demonstration - 11am - 7pm - 610-793-0948
June 19-22 –Brandywine Valley Wine Camp –includes six wineries, lodging in a quaint B&B, seven meals & admission to Longwood Gardens. (800)566-0109, www.brandywinevalley.com
June 21 –The Dream of America, 7:30pm, Longwood Gardens, Kennett Symphony of Chester County (610)444-6363 www.kennettsymphony.org
June 21 - Spring Garden Days Flea Market, Rusty Gate Antique Center (610)942-4834 or (610)942-4890
June 21 –Antique Appraisal Day -$5 per item; limit of 4 items. Rusty Gate Antique Center (610)942-4834 or (610)942-4890
June 29 –Kennett Underground Railroad Heritage Tours; Reservations (610)347-2237
July 2008
July 4 - Independence Day ceremony at the Revolutionary War Soldiers’ Cemetery on Rte 23, 9am. East Vincent township (610)933-4424
July 19 -Spring Garden Days Flea Market, Rusty Gate Antique Center (610)942-4834 or (610)942-4890
July 19 - Red Hot Christmas - A special event for the Ladies of the Red and Purple Society! National Christmas Center (717) 442-7950; www.nationalchristmascenter.com
July 27 –Kennett Underground Railroad Heritage Tours; Reservations (610)347-2237
August 2008
Aug 16 –Carmina Buranaa, 7:30pm, Longwood Gardens, Kennett Symphony of Chester County (610)444-6363 www.kennettsymphony.org
Aug 23 -Spring Garden Days Flea Market, Rusty Gate Antique Center (610)942-4834 or (610)942-4890
Aug 31 –Kennett Underground Railroad Heritage Tours; Reservations (610)347-2237
September 2008
Sept 6,7 – Chadds Ford Days – Chadds Ford Historical (610)388-7376; www.chaddsfordhistory.org
Sept 14 – Radnor Hunt Concours d’Elegance – Classic cars, motorcycles & carriages; www.radnorconcours.org for discounted tickets & info (610)353-3536
Sept 20 -Spring Garden Days Flea Market, Rusty Gate Antique Center (610)942-4834 or (610)942-4890
Sept 26-28 –Garden Fair at Winterthur, spectacular autumn sale & showcase. www.winterthur.org.
Sept 27 – 11th Annual Main Line 5K RUN & Fun Walk at The Main Line Chamber of Commerce. (610)687-6232
Sept 27,28 – 12-6pm, Brandywine Harvest Festival; Visit six wineries for tastings, concerts, picnics, vineyard tours, more. Brandywine Valley Wine Trail (610)388-6221
Ongoing Events
April 4-May 2 – Gala Exhibition featuring paintings, sculpture, 3-D work; April 3 Reception is free; Gala Reception on April 12 is $125/person. Chester County Art Association (610)696-5600
April 9 thru May 27 – Spring Tours, Mt. Cuba Center; advanced registration required. www.mtcubacenter.org (302)239-4244
May 6 – Aug 2 – “You Only Live Twice, So Live It Up”, Rainbow Dinner theatre(800)292-4301 www.rainbowdinnertheatre.com
May 24 – Aug 30 – Tours of John Chads’ House & Barns-Brinton House by costumed guides. (610) 388-7376 www.chaddsfordhistory.org
May 28 thru July 31 – Summer Evening Tours, Mt. Cuba Center; advanced registration required. www.mtcubacenter.org (302)239-4244
Aug 12 – Nov 1 – “Barefoot in the Park”, Rainbow Dinner Theatre (800)292-4301 www.rainbowdinnertheatre.com
Events listed by individual Attractions
American Helicopter Museum & Education Center
Phone: 610-436-9600
May 17 - Family Helicopter Rides - Give your family and friends an experience to remember. $35 per person five minute helicopter rides.
June 15 - Fatherfest - Toys for dad! Antique cars and motorcycles, food and fun for everyone! 12 noon to 4pm.
Phone: 610-696-2711
Serenade - George Balanchine's choreography - Emilie K Asplundh Concert Hall, West Chester University.
May 2 - 10am
May 3 - 7pm
May 4 - 2pm
June 14 – Remember The Ladies Conference- women’s roles during the 18th century; Brandywine Battlefield; pre-register.
July 20 – Presentation: The British Short rifle In The American revolution; 2pm, free, Brandywine Battlefield.
June 23 thru Aug 15 – Summer History Camp; Weekly camps with military & civilian 18th century themes
Aug 17 – Presentation: Health and Sanitation In The colonial Period; 2pm, free; Brandywine Battlefield (610)459-3342
Sept 6,7 – Revolutionary Times, 10am-5pm. Annual re-enactment of the Battle of Brandywine; Brandywine Battlefield; Admission. (610)459-3342 Sept 11 – Commemoration Ceremony, 6pm at the Flagpole near Washington’s Headquarters; Brandywine Battlefield; free (610)459-3342
610-388-2700
Ongoing - Call for additional details and times - guided tours, Mondays - Thursdays, 2 & 3 p.m.
with Victoria Browning Wyeth.
Ongoing - Call about information on our art workshops for kids and more.
Ongoing - Jamie Wyeth's 14 Spectacular Bird Paintings in the Bayard and Mary Sharp Galleries
on the 3rd floor of the museum.
March 15 thru May 18 – Elihu Vedder and the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam
April 1 thru Nov 16 – N.C. Wyeth House and Studio Tours
April 3 thru Nov 16 – Kuerner Farm Tours
May 10,11 – 27th Annual Wildflower, Native Plant and Seed Sale
May 17 – Radnor Hunt Races, held at Radnor Hunt in Malvern, PA www.radnorhuntraces.org (610)388-8383
May 23 – Volunteers’ Antiques Show Preview Party
May 24,25,26 – 37th Annual Antiques Show
May 24 thru July 20 – Beyond Content: Decorative Wooden Boxes
June 6,7 – Annual Bonsai Show
June 7 thru Sept 1 – Alfred J. Munnings from Regional Collections
July 10,17,24 – Museum Explorer Mornings
July 8,15,22 – Advanced Explorer Mornings
July 19 – Tip-A-Canoe and Barbecue, Too!
Sept thru Nov 23 – Double Lives: American Painters as Illustrators, 1850-1950
Phone: 610-388-6221 - Chaddsford Winery
Brandywine Valley Wine Camp - June 19-22, 2008
Love wine? Come to the Brandywine Valley Camp and learn from the proprietors of six area wineries the art of winemaking. This get-away includes accommodations at your choice of a beautiful Bed & Breakfast, admission to six wineries with special events at each, admission to Longwood Gardens and more.
Call 800-566-0109 for more information.
Chadds Ford Historical Society
Phone: 610-388-7376
Phone: 610-388-6221
May 17,18 –7-9pm, Rose` Release Weekend At The Winery & Peddler’s Village.
May 24,25,26 – 12-6pm, Brandywine River Blues Festival.
June 6 thru Sept 12 Friday Nights – Summer Nights Under The Stars, Outdoor Concert Series.
July 4,5,6 – 12-6pm, “Fourth of July” Brandywine BBQ Weekend
July 13,20,27 – 12-5pm, Sangria Sundays – Ole! Tours & Tastings all day, outdoor music 2-5pm
Aug 29,30 & Sept 1 – 12-6pm, Labor Day Weekend Jazz Festival – Wine, music & picnicking on the Winery grounds.
Chase Center on the Waterfront
Phone: (302)425-3929
May 31 -2008 Gala JDRF Promise Ball
June 20 –The Monday club’s 114th Annual Ball
July 25,26,27 –Pennsylvania Guild Fine Craft Fair
Sept 6,7 –Delaware LIVE! Luxury Home Show
Sept 26,27,28 –Sugarloaf Crafts Festival
Chester County Historical Society
Phone: 610-692-4800
Current Exhibits - Three Hundred Years of Chester County History. Decorative Arts in Chester County -
featuring a notable collection of furniture and tall case clocks. History Lab - interactive and hands-on for all ages
Chester County Parks & Recreation
Phone: 610-344-6415
July 5 –Freedom Fest –Nottingham County Park -An Independence weekend concert, fireworks, entertainment & food. Co-sponsored by Herr Foods. (610)932-2589
July 17, 19 –Springton Manor Farm –Circling Back to the Past: A Youth Colonial Heritage Program; grades 4-6 -$25/child (610) 942-2450
Aug 9 (raindate: Aug 10)– Hibernia County Park, 80th Annual Chester County Old Fiddlers’ Picnic; Music, hayrides, games, dancing, $5/parking (610)383-3812
May 17-Kid’s Farm Day 10–4, Last entry 3PM, Watch sheep shearing, spinning & weaving demonstrations. Play colonial games, ducky races.
June 14-Flower Power Day Noon–4, Last entry 3PM, Turn flowers into beautiful decorations; Learn how herbs were used in colonial medicines.
June 21-Colonial Dance (adults only) 7–10PM, Enjoy an evening of music and dance under a full moon.
June 28-Founder’s Day Picnic, Open to Members & Volunteers Only 5–8PM
July 4-Happy Birthday America! 11–5pm. Last entry 4pm
July 19-Summertime Splash Day, Noon–4, Last entry 3PM, Wear your bathing suit and bring your sneakers for a “wet” afternoon.
Aug. 15-Candlelight Tours 8–10PM, Enjoy the sights and sounds of a summer evening under a full moon.
Sept. 13-School Blues Fun Daze 10–4 Last entry 3PM, Make crafts, watch black(smith) magic, toss cow pies and play life size “tic tac toe.”
Phone: 302-571-9590
March 15 thru June 8 -The Baroque World of Fernando Botero. Colombian-born,
a painter, sculptor, draftsman renowned for his extravagantly rounded figures.
Delaware Museum of Natural History
Phone: 302-658-9111
Phone: 610- 593-7013
April 29-May 31 – The Christiana Riot, Based on riot of Sept 11, 1851
June 10-July 26 – Amish Vows in Paradise, Witness the courtship & wedding of Rachel & Jacob
Aug 12-Oct 4 – Two senior citizens are set up on a blind date by their children
Oct 21-Dec 23 – Amish Family Christmas – Celebrate Christmas with the King family
Phone: 302-658-2400
May 18 – Creek Kids program: Mothers & Doughters at Hagley
June 15 – Creek Kids program: Fathers & Sons at Hagley.
July 2,9,16,23,30 - Bike & Hike at Hagley – 5-8pm.
July 5,12,19,26 – Dollar Days at Hagley, 9:30am-4:30 pm
July 20 – Hagley’s Creek Kids program: Gunpowder in American History.
Aug 2,9,16,23,30 - Dollar Days at Hagley, 9:30am-4:30 pm
Aug 6,13,20,27 – Bike and Hike at Hagley, 5-8pm
Aug 17 – Hagley’s Creek Kids program: The Natural World of the Brandywine
Sept 14 – Hagley Car Show
Sept 27 – Hagley’s Golden Pheasants Harvest Party, 4-7pm
Phone: 800-63-snack
May 15 – Cruise Night, 5pm-dusk
June 16 – Zoo Day, 10am-2pm
Aug 21 – Bike Night, 5pm-dusk
Phone: 610- 444-8188
April 4, May 2, June 6- First Friday Art Stroll
April 18, May 16, June 20, Aug 15, Sept 19 - Independent Movie Program in the Back Alley Theater 8pm -$5
May 10 - Spring plant sale
May 16 -Farmers Market opens
May 26 - Memorial Day Parade
Aug 1 - Murder Mystery Art Stroll
Sept 6, 7 - Mushroom Festival
Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site
Phone: 610- 582-8773
May 11 - Sheep Shearing Day
Aug 2-9 - Fueling the Furnace
Sept 6 - Apple sales begin
Sept 20 - Harvest time
Phone: 610-388-1000
Contact the office of Continuing Education for the Continuing Education calendar. Phone Extension: 516.
April 1- May 23- Spring Blooms - more than 235,000 outdoor bulbs come to life to paint the landscape in glorious spring color.
May 17-18 - Grilling Festival - sample exotic fruits and vegetables during grilling demonstrations hosted by the Terrace Restaurant and Executive Chef and owner of Brandywine Prime, Dan Butler.
May 24- Sept 1 - Festival of Fountains - experience Longwood's famous illuminated fountain display Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays as the gardens burst with summer bloom and stunning water lilies. Enjoy outdoor concerts, spectacular dining and summer fun.
May 25, July 4, July 19, Aug 31 and Sept 6 - Fireworks and Fountains at Longwood Gardens - spectacular fireworks and colorful fountains light up the sky and dance to stirring music.
June 7, July 12, August 25 - New! Longwood Gardens Meadow Concert Series - spend three nights under the stars with our stars! Our new Meadow Concerts will feature some of today's top recording artists performing live with the summer splendor of Longwood's Meadow as the backdrop.
Sept 2 - Nov 23 - Autumns' Colors - celebrate the harvest season amid the glowing reds, brilliant golds and bright oranges of nature's foliage,
Media Theatre for the Performing Arts
610-891-0100.
April 1 - June 1 - The Full Monty
Flour Milling Demonstrations:
May 17- Milling Demonstration & Farmers Market Preview
June 4- The Market at the Mill Farmers & Artisans Market opens (2-7pm)
June 14- Milling Demonstration & traditional tinsmithing demonstration
June 25- Farmers Market at the Mill Festival Day (2-7pm)
June 21- A Summer's Night Grind featuring music, BBQ, and special run of the Mill (6-9pm)
July 12- Milling Demonstration & 18th century ice cream making demonstration
July 30- Farmers Market at the Mill Festival Day (2-7pm)
August 9- Milling Demonstration & 18th century cheese making demonstration
August 27- Farmers Market at the Mill Festival Day
Sept. 13- Milling Demonstration & Children's Book Signing
People's Light and Theatre Company
610-647-1900. Box Office: 610-644-3500
May 28-June 22 – I Have Before Me A Remarkable Document Given To Me by A Young Lady from Rwanda
June 18-July 13 – Sherlock Holmes & The Case of the Jersey Lily.
Phoenixville Area Chamber of Commerce
April 8, May 13, June 10, July 8, Aug 12 - Membership Breakfast
May 5 –Annual Dinner –Special Guest Speaker Steve Forbes
April 4, May 2, June 6, July 4, Aug 1 –First Fridays –Downtown Historic IronWorks District –huge block party, Bridge Street, PhoenixvillePhone: 610)-942-4834
May 11 – Mothers Day Flower Sale
May 17 – Flea Market
June 21 – Flea Market 8am-2pm
June 21 – Antique Appraisal Fair 9am-2pm
July 19 – Flea Market
August 16 – Flea Market
717-442-4915
May 10,11 – Wine, Chocolate & Cheese Weekend; free tastings of our wine paired with cheese and chocolate
June 14 – Aug 30 – Summer Gazebo Concert Series every Saturday 6:30-9:30pm (fee charged)
July 4,5,6 – Big Bang Weekend – music, car show, tours & tastings.
Phone: 610-738-3350
First Fridays - 1st Friday of Each Month - 5pm-9pm
June 5 –Summer Thursdays – Live Music, Crafters, Entertainment and Outdoor Dining on Gay Street
July 3 – Summer Thursdays – Live Music, Crafters, Entertainment and Outdoor Dining on Gay Street
Aug 7 - Summer Thursdays – Live Music, Crafters, Entertainment and Outdoor Dining on Gay Street
Sept 4 - Summer Thursdays – Live Music, Crafters, Entertainment and Outdoor Dining on Gay Street
Valley Forge National Historical Park
Phone: 610-783-1077
Phone: 302-764-1172
Phone: 302-888-4734
March 8–May 18 – Double Vision: 1930s Design at Winterthur.
May16,17 – Annual Conference is American design in the 1930’s
June 23 - Enchanted Summer Day - A “fairy-fun” festival for all! Enchanted Woods™, song, dance, ice cream & fairy magic!
July 4-Sept 21 – Silversmiths to the Nation: Thomas Fletcher & Sidney Gardiner, 1808-1842.
Looking Ahead: Fall/Winter 2008/2009
Chaddsford Winery
Spiced Apple Sundays -October 5, 12, 19, 2008
Chester County Art Association
Annual Pumpkin Art Carve and Fall Festival - October 22, 2008
Chadds Ford Historical Society
The Great Pumpkin Carve - October 23-25 , 2008
Herrs Snack Factory Tour
Halloween Night - October 27 , 2008
45th Annual Delaware Antiques Show at Chase Riverfront Center - November 7-9 , 2008
Herrs Snack Factory Tour
Christmas Light Display - November 25 , 2008 - January 1, 2009
A Longwood Gardens Christmas
November 27, 2008 - January 11, 2009
A Brandywine Christmas at Brandywine River Museum
November 28, 2008 - January 11, 2009
Winterthur Museum & Country Estate
Yuletide at Winterthur - November 22 , 2008 - January 4,2009
DATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.