Culture
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New Features At Penn Dry Goods: Antiques, Lectures, Demonstrations Fill Two Days In May
The Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center is reimagining its annual Penn Dry Goods for 2026 with new features sure to appeal to those who live regionally. All are invited to the event on Friday, May 15, and Saturday, May 16, for shopping, learning, and eating. This year, though, there are some features that require advance…
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The Chester County Trail Was Crowned Pennsylvania’s Most Beautiful Trail
The Schuylkill River Trail, which runs through Chester County, took the top spot among 16 trails in Pennsylvania that Visit PA claims will leave you breathless, writes Greg Williams for The Sentinel. “When is the best time for happy travelers to get outdoors and enjoy the beauty of Pennsylvania?” asked the publication. “It’s a simple…
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West Chester Man Turns Estate Sale Castoffs Into a Rare Book Business
Kevin Tupitza makes a living by buying rare and antique books from his office and reselling them on his website, WestChesterBooks.com, writes Fran Maye for the Daily Local News. Tupitza finds the majority of his inventory at estate sales. He finds that people selling their relatives’ things often disregard books and either donate or discard…
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How Horses Shape Chester County History from Past to Present
From wartime travels to present day races, Chester County horses make up a vital part of the region’s history, writes Kim Andrews for County Lines Magazine. Beginning over two centuries ago during the Revolutionary War, horses played an invaluable role in transporting troops across the country. Locally, in the historic Battle of Brandywine, horses transported…
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Brandywine Valley Symphony Concert to Open with Community Reading of the Declaration of Independence
The Brandywine Valley Symphony’s season finale on June 25 at 7:30 PM in the Open Air Theater of Longwood Gardens will begin with a powerful Dare to Declare reading of the Declaration of Independence, inviting concertgoers to join community leaders in reading the nation’s founding document aloud together. With an expected 1,000 participants, it will…
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Three Baby Eaglets Hatch in Downingtown’s Kerr Park
The arrival of three baby eaglets in Downingtown’s Kerr Park has led to the closure of the surrounding area, potentially putting annual holiday events on pause, writes Molly McVety for PhillyVoice. The eagle nest has been under observation since October 2024 in the back of the park, an area dubbed “the pines.” The pair of…
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West Chester University Opera Theatre Presents Mozart’s ‘Così fan tutte’
West Chester University’s Opera Theatre invites the campus and surrounding community to experience a fresh and entertaining take on Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Così fan tutte, with performances on Saturday, May 2, at 7:30 PM and Sunday, May 3, at 3:00 PM in the Emilie K. Asplundh Concert Hall, Philips Memorial Building, 700 S. High Street, West…
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The Revolution Happened Here: 10 Philadelphia Area Battles That Shaped the Fight for Independence
Before the world called it the American Revolution, it began right here along the Delaware River, across the rolling farms of Chester County, and in the cobblestoned streets of Philadelphia. From Brandywine River to Germantown, the British Army and General Washington’s American forces fought for control of a region that would determine the fate of…
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Black Bear Roams West Vincent Township, Rummaging through Neighborhood Trash
West Vincent Township officials have received several reports of a black bear spotted in the area, writes Justin Heinze for Patch. Residents have caught the small bear on home surveillance cameras. The bear has been seen rummaging through trash cans and pulling out bags. West Vincent Township Police Department shared a Nest Camera video of…
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A Canvas of Community at Chester County’s Art Galleries
Chester County is home to hundreds of artists whose passion for creativity has produced work across all mediums, from acrylic paint and watercolors to sculptures and furniture masterpieces. Despite all the talent, it can be hard to get recognition. Some creators have their own personal studios, but there are also numerous art galleries to submit…
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Ever Seen a Sheep Sheared? Here’s Your Chance at Springton Manor Farm
Baa! The sheep are losing their winter wool, and everyone is invited to the shearing. On Saturday, May 2, Chester County Parks + Preservation will host its annual Sheep + Wool Day from 11 AM to 3 PM at Springton Manor Farm in Glenmoore. The herd’s shearing, which is the highlight of the event, will…
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Washington’s Army Left Them Behind. Nearly 250 Years Later, Archaeologists Found Them.
When the Continental Army packed up Valley Forge and headed on toward victory in the Revolutionary War, a stash of bayonets was left behind. Almost 250 years later, a group of archaeologists was also about to pack up and head out, but this time they didn’t leave the bayonets behind. The rare historical find almost…
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Why Benjamin Franklin Chose Philadelphia: How a Boston Childhood Led Him to America’s Greatest Colonial City
Benjamin Franklin’s story usually begins with the famous scenes: the lightning rod, the Pennsylvania Gazette, the founding of the American Philosophical Society, or the long table at the Second Continental Congress where he sparred with John Adams and later helped shape the Declaration of Independence. But the story really starts much earlier, in a cramped…
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Downingtown Native Plays in U.S. Navy Band with Upcoming Performance in May
Downingtown East High School graduate Chief Musician Joseph Ganzelli will return to his alma mater with the U.S. Navy Band Cruisers for a performance May 4 at 7 PM. Located at 50 Devon Dr. in Exton, the event is free and open to the public. The performance is one of four stops during the Cruisers four-day Northeastern concert series and part of the Navy’s year-long campaign to celebrate…
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The Story of an Unsung Revolutionary War Hero at Valley Forge
The history of nearby Valley Forge is incomplete without recognizing under-recognized hero Friedrich von Steuben, writes Richard Bell for Smithsonian Magazine. The Prussian military captain is one of Chester County’s many historical ties to the Revolutionary War. With his established military background, Steuben was recruited to train the Continental Army after recommendations from Benjamin Franklin…
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Historic Chester Springs Landmark Restored for New Milling Demonstrations
A set of wheat stones used for grinding flour has been restored at The Mill at Anselma, bringing new demonstrations to the 18th-century landmark, writes Michaela Althouse for PhillyVoice. In 1747, The Mill at Anselma was constructed in Chester Springs as a water-powered grain mill. Initially, nearby farmers used the mill to grind their own…
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Band Formed by Hooters Drummer, Levittown Native Performing at Event
While most rock and roll bands in the area were forced to travel to New York to secure the attention of record labels, The Hooters were bringing labels to Philly, writes Patrick Rapa for Philadelphia Magazine. “I remember with us, and with [Robert] Hazard, labels started coming down to Philadelphia, to check us out on our own turf,”…
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Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center: The Pennsylvania German Story Starts Here
They came fleeing persecution. In 1731, a small group of religious refugees left everything they knew in Silesia, then part of the Holy Roman Empire, and made the dangerous Atlantic crossing to Pennsylvania. They carried with them their faith, their culture, and a fierce determination to preserve both. They were the Schwenkfelders, followers of…
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