Harvest Time

Pumpkins and gourds grown at Cornwall Iron Furnace (photo via Cornwall's Facebook page)

Up Next

Today, October 13

• Curiosity Kids (in-person); 11:30 am-12:30 pm; The State Museum of PA
• Join us in Nature Lab to learn about the unique adaptations that make a dinosaur different from any other reptile and explore the different types of dinosaurs that existed. Create your own dinosaur sculpture to take home. For grades K to 2 and included in regular admission. Space is limited (Curiosity Kids info).

• Cello Concert (in-person); 8-10 pm; Old Economy Village
• Grammy Award winning cellist Eugene Friesen (and Friends) will perform a concert in the Feast Hall featuring Harmonist music. Friesen previously recorded a CD of Harmonist music titled In Harmony. Tickets are $25, $20 for OEV members, $10 for students and may be purchased at the door or in advance via Ticket Leap (Eugene Friesen concert info and tickets).

Saturday, October 14

• Fall Nature Walk (in-person); 10-11 am; Bushy Run Battlefield
• Learn about historical and modern uses for a wide variety of plant life. Please wear sturdy shoes (such as hiking boots) and dress for the weather. Cost is $5 per person, free for members (Nature Walk info).

• Mapping Mammal Hall (in-person); 1-3 pm; The State Museum of PA
• Did you know that the dioramas in Mammal Hall are based on real locations in Pennsylvania? Locate each of these spots on the Giant Map of Pennsylvania and discover some interesting facts about our state mammals. Included in regular admission (Mammal Hall program info).

• Cemetery Tours (in-person); Saturday, 7-8 pm, and Sunday, 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).

• Old Economy After Dark (in-person); 7-11 pm; Old Economy Village
• OEV has partnered with Beaver County Paranormal for an evening of exploration in the Village. BCP will present two lectures on paranormal investigation, and attendees are welcome to bring hand-held investigation equipment (no large equipment or metal detectors). Please note that this is not a "haunted" event with costumed figures or scares. Advance tickets only: $20 general admission, $25 VIP ticket lets you stay later in the evening and access additional spaces (Oct. 14 OEV After Dark info and tickets).

Sunday, October 15

• Paws on the Path (in-person); 9:10-10 am; Daniel Boone Homestead
• Come explore Daniel Boone Homestead with your furry friend. All dogs must be on a leash and well-behaved around other dogs. Walkers without dogs are welcome to come as well (Paws on the Path info).

• Open-Hearth Cooking (in-person); 1-4 pm; Pennsbury Manor
• The cooks will demonstrate different types of 17th-century puddings. Included in regular admission (Open-Hearth Cooking program info).

• Family Gallery Tour: Geology Hall (in-person); 2:30-3:30 pm; The State Museum of PA
• Join us on this family friendly tour of Geology Hall and explore Pennsylvania’s rocks and minerals. Included in regular admission (Geology Hall tour info).

Tuesday, October 17

• 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 Oct. 17 Sensory Hours).

Wednesday, October 18

• Stargazing: Tonight's Sky (in-person); 2-3 pm; The State Museum of PA
• Join the Planetarium Director for a live chat exploring what you can see in the sky tonight. Learn about the basic motions of the sky, visible constellations and planets, and any special celestial events that are coming up in the next month. Planetarium tickets must be obtained at ground floor desk at least five minutes before showtime (Stargazing program info).

• History Speaks Series (in-person); 7-8:30 pm; Bushy Run Battlefield
• Dr. Peter Gilmore, Carlow University, will present "The Long Road from Ireland to Bushy Run," exploring the history of settlers from Northern Ireland who arrived in Westmoreland County in 1763 (History Speaks Series info and tickets).

Thursday, October 19

• Historical Archaeology (in-person); 11:30 am-12:30 pm; The State Museum of PA
• Explore the artifacts from the archeological dig at Fort Hunter. Uncover the hundreds of years of occupation and the mysteries the dig uncovered. Test your own archaeological skills. Included in regular admission (Archaeology program info).

• Ghouls on the Bay: Trick-or-Treat! (in-person); 6-8 pm; Erie Maritime Museum
• Ghouls come to life at the Museum! Join us for a fun, (non-scary) family-friendly trick-or-treat event. Dress up in your costume, trick-or-treat, meet members of Oliver Hazard Perry’s crew, and take part in Halloween-themed maritime activities! Tickets are $5 for trick-or-treaters; parents/guardians are free (Erie Trick or Treat event info).

Friday, October 20

• Story Time with the Educator (in-person); 10:30-11:30 am; Railroad Museum of PA
• Designed for children ages 2 through preK and led by a Museum educator, Story Time features a reading of a specially selected children’s book and a hands-on activity, craft, song or poem. Included in regular admission (Railroad Museum October 20 story time).

• Artists Conversations (in-person); 5:30-7:30 pm; The State Museum of PA
• Admission to the Art of the State exhibit is free tonight as part of 3rd in the Burg. Artist Eddy López will be part of a conversation in the exhibit starting at 6 pm. Refreshments will be served (Art of the State artist conversation).

• Wreck of the Dean Richmond (in-person); 6-8 pm; Erie Maritime Museum
• This free lecture on the sinking of the freighter Dean Richmond on Lake Erie in 1893 is presented in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Archaeology Shipwreck Survey Team (PASST). It will take place in the Hirt Auditorium, just off the lobby the museum shares with Erie County Public Library (Shipwreck program info).

• A Walk Among the Graeme Ghosts (in-person); 7-9 pm; Graeme Park
• This immersive theater experience allows guests to visit the publicly accessible areas of the Keith House in any order and at their own pace. Tours are at 7, 8, (sold out) and 9 pm. Advance tickets are $20 via Eventbrite. Tickets at the door are $25, but may sell out before the event (Oct. 20 Graeme Ghosts info).

• POSTPONED TO NOV. 17, 7:45-11:15 pm: Star Watch (in-person); 9 pm-12:30 am; Daniel Boone Homestead
• Berks Astronomy will be on hand with telescopes to help visitors observe an array of celestial objects, including stars and planets. Dress warmly and bring a red light flashlight, which doesn't interfere with stargazing (Star Watch info and observation list).

Advance Tickets or Registrations

• Revolutionary Speaker Series (in-person); Saturday, Oct. 21, Noon-2 pm; Brandywine Battlefield Park
• Jim Christ, president of the Paoli Battlefield Preservation Fund, will present a program addressing common myths about the Battle of Paoli (Sept. 20, 1777) and exploring its influence on the remainder of the American Revolution. Tickets are $20 and include the lecture, light refreshments, and access to the museum's exhibit gallery and afternoon tours (Revolutionary Speaker Series info and tickets).

• Halloween Lantern Tours (in-person); Saturday, Oct. 21, 6-9:30 pm; Hope Lodge
• Explore Hope Lodge by lantern light and participate in an immersive tour of the grounds. Reservations required (Hope Lodge Lantern Tours info and tickets).

• Learn at Lunchtime (virtual); Friday, Oct. 27, 12:15-12:45 pm; The State Museum of PA
• Archaeology curator (retired) Janet Johnson will discuss how The State Museum's collections are used by archaeologists to understand and interpret the past and what science has contributed to our knowledge of these curated collections. The program is free, but you must register to receive the link (Learn at Lunchtime registration).

• Harvest, Death & Renewal: Late October Traditions of the PA Germans (in-person); Friday, Oct. 27, 6:30 and 8:30 pm; Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum
• This two-hour nighttime tour explores the museum grounds and adjacent cemetery. Recommended for adults and older teens. Dress for the weather and please bring a flashlight. Offered at 6:30 and 8:30; light refreshments will be served in the Landis Valley Hotel. Reservations required (info and tickets for Harvest, Death & Renewal).

• A Walk Among the Graeme Ghosts (in-person); Friday, Oct. 27, 7-9 pm; Graeme Park
• This immersive theater experience allows guests to visit the publicly accessible areas of the Keith House in any order and at their own pace. Tours are at 7, 8, and 9 pm. Advance tickets are $20 via Eventbrite. Tickets at the door are $25, but may sell out before the event (Oct. 27 Graeme Ghosts info).

• Old Economy After Dark (in-person); Friday, Oct. 27, 7-11 pm; Old Economy Village
• OEV has partnered with Beaver County Paranormal for an evening of exploration in the Village. BCP will present two lectures on paranormal investigation, and attendees are welcome to bring hand-held investigation equipment (no large equipment or metal detectors). Please note that this is not a "haunted" event with costumed figures or scares. Advance tickets only: $20 general admission, $25 VIP ticket lets you stay later in the evening and access additional spaces (Oct. 27 OEV After Dark info and tickets).

• 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).

• Sensory Hours (in-person); Tuesday, Nov. 7, 3-5 pm, and Tuesday, Nov. 21, 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 Nov. 7, there will be a Story Time with the Educator aimed at kids age 2 to 5. Advance tickets required (tickets for Nov. 7 Sensory Hours and tickets for Nov. 21 Sensory Hours).

• Bound by the Furnace: Iron Slavery in Early National Pennsylvania (virtual); Tuesday, Nov. 14, 7-8 pm; Cornwall Iron Furnace
• Historian Cory Young will present a program based on his research about the use of enslaved labor in the iron industry. The program is free, but you must register to receive the Zoom link (Cornwall Iron Furnace lecture registration).