What's in Your Weekend?

Look at full-size and scale model locomotives and railcars this weekend at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania (photo via RMP's Facebook page)

Up Next

Today, August 18

• Model Railroading Days (in-person); Friday and Saturday, 10 am-4 pm, Sunday, Noon-4 pm; Railroad Museum of PA
• Watch the world of operating model trains in action and see static displays from a variety of different participating groups and clubs, as well as the Museum’s own two operating HO layouts. Included in regular admission (Model Railroading Days info).

• Explore PA Industry with the Giant Map (in-person); 11 am-Noon and 1:30-2:30 pm; The State Museum of PA
• Travel across the Giant Map of Pennsylvania to discover the industries that shaped our state. Offered 11 am-Noon and 1:30-2:30 pm. Included in regular admission (Giant map program info).

• Learn at Lunchtime (virtual); 12:15-12:45 pm; The State Museum of PA
• Ryan Reed from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will explain why the leaves change color in the fall, discuss which tree species will provide those standout colors and share the best places to go to view fall foliage in Pennsylvania. Program is free, but you must register to receive the link (Learn at Lunchtime info and registration).

Saturday, August 19

• StoryTime (in-person); 10:30-11:30 am; The State Museum of PA
• Visit the "Life Through Time" gallery for a reading of My Mastodon by Barbara Lowell with illustrations by Antonio Marinoni. Discover the story of the Peale family living in a museum in Philadelphia. Create your own admission ticket and souvenir. Designed for kids under age 5 and included in regular admission (State Museum StoryTime info).

• Family Fun Day (in-person); 11 am-3 pm; Brandywine Battlefield Park
• We are partnering with Teachers' Teammates to bring awareness to the needs of students and teachers around Delaware County and to have a fun day learning about history from our various colonial interpreters. We'll be collecting needed items; each donated item gets you one free admission per person (Fun Day info and list of needed items).

• Chill and Build (in-person); 1:30-3 pm; The State Museum of PA
• A chance for families to hang out and build something. Choose the colors and shapes to make your own creation or follow the pattern on the design cards to make a tree, rocket, and more using building blocks (Chill and Build program info).

• The "Dead" of Summer (in-person); 7-9 pm; Graeme Park
• Experience a reenactment of an early 20th-century séance focused on the period when many had lost loved ones to the 1918 flu pandemic or World War I and were susceptible to this form of entertainment. Tickets are limited and will be available online (Dead of Summer info and tickets).

Sunday, August 20

• Paws on the Path (in-person); 9:15 am-Noon; Daniel Boone Homestead
• Come explore Daniel Boone Homestead with your furry friend. Join us on the 3rd Sunday of the month at 9:15 am, starting August 20th for a monthly dog walk. All dogs must be on a leash and well-behaved around other dogs. Walkers without dogs are welcome to come as well (dogs in the park program info).

• Open-Hearth Cooking (in-person); 1-4 pm; Pennsbury Manor
• The cooks will prepare recipes of their choice using the bounty of the summer harvest. Included in regular admission (Open-hearth cooking program info).

• Old-Fashioned Games Day (in-person); 1-4 pm; PA Lumber Museum
• Sunday was the one day of the week that woodhicks could relax and unwind. Bring the family to try some of the games woodhicks played, like checkers and horseshoes, as well as a variety of other fun 19th-century games (Games Day program info).

Tuesday, August 22

• Sensory Hours (in-person); 9-11 am; Railroad Museum of PA
• Light, sound, and crowd levels will be lower, and there will be some quiet spots in the galleries to take a break. Several historic trains will be open with staff on hand to answer questions. Advance tickets required (tickets for Aug. 22 Sensory Hours).

Wednesday, August 23

• State Symbols: Crown Vetch (in-person); 11:30 am-12:30 pm; The State Museum of PA
• Learn more about the State Beautification and Conservation Plant and the practice of plant pressing to preserve herbarium specimens. Included in regular admission (Crown Vetch program info).

• Music on the Lawn (in-person); 7-8:30 pm; Joseph Priestley House
• The Elegance String Quartet will perform on the riverside lawn of the Joseph Priestley House (Priestley House info).

Thursday, August 24

• Storytime in the Garden (in-person); 10-11 am; Pennsbury Manor
• Enjoy a story in the garden and then explore the grounds of Pennsbury Manor. Cost is a $3 grounds pass (additional fee to tour the Manor House). Suggested ages 4 to 8, but all are welcome (Pennsbury Storytime info).

• General Store (in-person); 11:30 am-12:30 pm; The State Museum of PA
• Explore the General Store, discover the items that people bought to care for their families as you “shop” from the past. Experience the toys and games families would have purchased. Included in regular admission (General Store program info).

• PA Geography with the Giant Map (in-person); 1:30-3 pm; The State Museum of PA
• Discover the giant map of Pennsylvania as we walk across the state. Test your geography skills playing a game. Included in regular admission (PA Giant map program info).

Friday, August 25

• Family Gallery Tour: Ecology Hall (in-person); 11:30 am-12:30 pm and 1:30-2:30 pm; The State Museum of PA
• Learn more about Pennsylvania’s major ecosystems, the wildlife and plants found here and the Pennsylvanians who contributed to the environmental movement during a tour of Ecology Hall. Included in regular admission (Ecology Hall tours info).

Advance Tickets or Registrations

• Exploring the Armor (in-person); Saturday, Aug. 26, 2-4 pm; PA Military Museum
• Take a private history tour of the outside tracked vehicles and discuss the history of armored vehicles with a preeminent local historian. Limited space, reservations are required. $15.00 or $5.00 with annual Museum membership. Please note that we will not be accessing the inside of the tracked vehicles, but we will walk outside on the grounds, so please dress for the weather with appropriate footwear (Exploring the Armor registration).

• Sensory Hours (in-person); Tuesday, Sept. 5, 3-5 pm, and Tuesday, Sept. 19, 9-11 am; Railroad Museum of PA
• Light, sound, and crowd levels will be lower, and there will be some quiet spots in the galleries to take a break. Several historic trains will be open with staff on hand to answer questions. Advance tickets required (tickets for Sept. 5 Sensory Hours and tickets for Sept. 19 Sensory Hours).

• 13th Annual Crush&Brew (in-person); Saturday, Sept. 9, 5-8 pm; Old Economy Village
• Old Economy hosts this Ambridge Historic District event that features wine and beer tastings, food trucks, tours of the Harmonist Wine Cellar, and live music. Ticket includes a $10 food voucher and admission to after parties at several local businesses. Tickets are $35 in advance, $40 at the door.

• Lagers & Lumberjacks (in-person); Saturday, Sept. 16, 4-7 pm; PA Lumber Museum
• Semi-professional competitors will take on six timbersport events. Logyard Brewing will have samples and local food trucks will have tasty eats. Even try your hand at axe throwing. You must be 21 years of age or older to attend this event. Tickets are $12 in advance ($8 for designated driver) and $15 at the door ($10 for designated driver). Member discounts available (Lagers & Lumberjacks info and tickets).

• Garden Railways Tour (in-person); Sunday, Oct. 1, 1-5 pm; Railroad Museum of PA
• Tickets are on sale now for the 16th annual tour of garden railways located at five sites in Lancaster and York Counties. Cost is $10 for ages 6 and up. Tickets available via Eventbrite or at the Whistle Stop Shop at the museum.