Weekend Plans

Enjoy the fall garden beauty and lots of activities at Old Economy Village's Erntedankfest Harvest Festival this weekend (photo via Old Economy's Facebook page)

Up Next

Today, September 22

• Curiosity Kids (in-person); 11:30 am-12:30 pm; The State Museum of PA
• Explore the use of LINE in art: what it is, different types of line, and how artists use it in their artwork. Create your own piece of line artwork to take home. For kids in grades K to 2 and included in regular admission. Space is limited, so sign up at the front desk when you arrive (Curiosity Kids info).

• Learn at Lunchtime (virtual); 12:15-12:45 pm; The State Museum of PA
• Join Amy Hammond, Fine Arts Curator and "Art of the State" Project Director, as she explores representations of seeds in art using pieces in the "Art of the State 2023" exhibit. Program is free, but you must register to receive the Zoom link (Learn at Lunchtime info and registration).

Saturday, September 23

• Fall Nature Walk (in-person); 10-11 am; Bushy Run Battlefield
• Learn about historical and modern uses of the wide variety of plant life found at Bushy Run. Wear sturdy shoes (such as hiking boots) and dress for the weather. Tickets are $5 (free for members), available at the door (Fall Nature Walk info).

• CANCELED due to weather: Still Life Paint and Sip for All Skill Levels (in-person); 10 am-1 pm; Pennsbury Manor
• Bring your favorite beverage and paint along step by step as we create our own 17th-century inspired still life. Materials provided. Cost is $35, $30 for members. Email c-kerscott@pa.gov to reserve your spot (Pennsbury Paint and Sip info).

• Erntedankfest Harvest Festival (in-person); Saturday and Sunday, 10 am-4 pm; Old Economy Village
• This event celebrates the fall harvest and many of the tasks done to prepare for winter. Artisans will be cooking, baking and demonstrating many different crafts and skills. Music, food and activities for the whole family make this a great fall tradition. Event takes place 10 am to 4 pm both days. Regular admission charged (Erntedankfest Harvest Festival info).

• Revolutionary Speaker Series (in-person); Saturday, Sept. 23, Noon-2 pm; Brandywine Battlefield Park
• Andrew Outten, historical programs manager for the Society of the Cincinnati in Washington, DC, will present "'From a Plan Drawn on the Spot': William Faden and the Battle of Brandywine," exploring one of the most influential British mapmakers of the late 18th century. Tickets are available in advance through Eventbrite (Sept. 23 Rev Speaker Series tickets).

Sunday, September 24

• Beer Brewing and Garden Highlights (in-person); 1-4 pm; Pennsbury Manor
• Explore and experience the sights, sounds, and smells of the recipes and plants that fed early residents of Pennsbury. Included in regular admission (Beer Brewing & Garden Highlights info).

Thursday, September 28

• Owls of Pennsylvania (in-person); 11:30 am-12:30 pm; The State Museum of PA
• Pennsylvania owls range in size from the large great horned owl to the small Eastern screech owl. Learn more about the owls that inhabit our state and dissect an owl pellet to find out what they eat. Included in regular admission (Owls of PA program info).

Advance Tickets or Registrations

• 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.

• Sensory Hours (in-person); Tuesday, Oct. 3, 3-5 pm, and Tuesday, Oct. 17, 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. At 3:30 pm on Oct. 3, there will be a Story Time with the Educator aimed at kids age 2 to 5. Advance tickets required (tickets for Oct. 3 Sensory Hours and tickets for Oct. 17 Sensory Hours).

• Frosty Mugs of Thunder (in-person); Saturday, Oct. 7, 2-6 pm; Somerset Historical Center
• Kick off autumn with a beer, wine, and spirits fest. Live music and local food, as well. Must be 21 years of age or older to attend; ticket holders must show photo ID at the entrance (Frosty Mugs of Thunder info and tickets).

• Battle of Germantown (virtual); Tuesday, Oct. 10, 7-8 pm; Cornwall Iron Furnace
• Historian and educator Michael Harris will present a program on the Battle of Germantown during the American Revolution. The program is free, but you must register to receive the Zoom link (Battle of Germantown lecture info).

• Lunch & Learn (in-person); Wednesday, Oct. 11, 10 am-1 pm; Graeme Park
• Sue Johnston will present a program on courtship and marriage in early America, exploring differences between different economic classes and the status of children born outside of marriage, abandoned, or orphaned. Program includes continental breakfast and lunch buffet. Tours of the Keith House will be available after lunch (Lunch & Learn info and tickets).

• Pithole Lantern Tours (in-person); Saturday, Oct. 14, 6:30-9:30 pm; Historic Pithole City
• Visitors will walk the former streets of the legendary oil boomtown, meeting some of Pithole's most famous historical figures along the way. Tours depart the visitor center every 10 minutes from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm and last approximately 90 minutes. Advance tickets only (Pithole Lantern Tour tickets).

• Cemetery Tours (in-person); Saturday, Oct. 14, 7-8 pm, and Sunday, Oct. 15, 2-3 pm; Joseph Priestley House
• This event takes place at Riverview Cemetery in Northumberland with tours starting every 15 minutes. Meet 10 characters representing individuals in the cemetery who will guide you through the graveyard. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for ages 12 and under (accompanied by an adult). Call 570-473-9474 for tickets (Priestley House events calendar).

• Workshops in Archaeology 2023 (in-person); Saturday, Oct. 28, 9 am-5 pm; The State Museum of PA
• This year's theme is Discovering the Past: The Sciences of Archaeology. Sessions will feature experts in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), C14 dating, GPR survey, geoarchaeology, and more. Please join us as we explore how these specialized analyses are conducted and how the results enhance our understanding of the environmental and human past. Early registration by Oct. 20 is $25; discounts available. Registration at the door is $35 (no discounts). Bagged lunches, available for $8.50, must be ordered by Oct. 20 (Workshops in Archaeology info and registration).