September 29, 2019

Leaves are changing colors and the nights are getting cooler. The splendor of fall is upon us. It is this setting which allows people to revel in the premier event on the calendar: the Great Pumpkin Carve, a unique celebration enjoyed by thousands for more than four decades, hosted by the Chadds Ford Historical Society and sponsored by David Auto.

The Great Pumpkin Carve was started by artists Jimmy Lynch, Andrew Wyeth and Jamie Wyeth in the 1970s in front of the Chadds Ford Inn. The event has grown each year and is now an autumn tradition for thousands of people. This family-friendly festival features over 70 local artists competing as they carve huge pumpkins into amazing jack-o-lanterns.  The pumpkins, which weigh as much as 400 pounds, will be illuminated by candlelight on Thursday, Oct. 17, coming to life again the following two nights. Pumpkins are judged and winners declared in several categories: Best Overall, Most Halloween, Best Carving, Most Original and Best Use of Pumpkin. All three nights spectators can vote for their favorite pumpkin and the winner will be awarded with the People’s Choice.

In addition to the amazing pumpkins, the Great Pumpkin Carve offers entertainment for all ages including live music, raffle prizes, hayrides and other fun activities. The Society’s expanded pumpkin patch provides additional room for easier viewing along with more admissions lines to reduce waiting time. The kid-friendly Haunted Trail features a path of Halloween inflatables leading to scenes filled with ghosts, spiders, witches, ghouls and an eerie haunted cemetery. The event offers local wine, beer and cider in addition to great food, enjoyed as a live band serenades the crowd throughout the evening. You might even see a friendly werewolf stalking the fields in the light of the moon…

The Great Pumpkin Carve is held on the grounds of the Chadds Ford Historical Society at 1736 North Creek Road in Chadds Ford. Admission is $15 for adults, $5 for children 7 to 17; no charge for children 6 and under. Society members are free with membership card. All ticketing is at the gate. Parking is FREE at the event. The Great Pumpkin Carve goes from 4 pm to 9 pm on Thursday and Friday, October 17th and 18th; hours are extended on Saturday, October 19th, from 3 pm to 9 pm. Registration is required to enter the pumpkin carving competition. For more information, contact the CFHS at 610-388-7376 or visit their website at www.chaddsfordhistory.org.

[Full disclosure: This piece was written by Gene Pisasale, husband of Historical Society President Phyllis Recca. He is directly involved with the Haunted Trail at The Great Pumpkin Carve.]

Into the Brandywine Valley rode the 500. More than 500 bicyclists took advantage of a warm and sunny autumn morning to Bike the Brandywine courtesy of the Brandywine Conservancy.

It was the fourth annual Bike the Brandywine event, designed to raise awareness for the conservancy’s clean water programs and to fund specific projects. Conservancy Executive Director Ellen Ferretti said last year’s event raised money for a rain garden but no decision has yet been made for a project this year.

Four routes took riders through areas of the conservancy’s Brandywine Creek Greenway. The length of the routes varied from 25 miles to 80 miles. One of the routes, called the Metric Century, was a 100-kilometer, or 62- mile, course that filled the gap between the 50- and 80-mile courses. The 80-mile course took riders up to Honey Brook and back.

All rides began and ended at the Chadds Ford Historical Society property on Creek Road. Some of the cyclists started out as early as 6 a.m. but everyone was back by noon, with most returning about 11 a.m..

This was the first year for Denette Kellogg, of Pottstown, taking part in Bike the Brandywine.

“This is really nice,” she said. “It’s a beautiful venue. Some of the roads are tough but [motorists] were respectful.”

For Faye Morin of Birmingham, it was her second time taking part. “I love, love, love it. I love it because it’s for a good cause. There’s too much building going on. We have to preserve open space for our children.,” she said.

Patty Carney, Morin’s friend who just moved out of Birmingham, said “How can you not appreciate the beauty of doing this ride? If you can’t enjoy life doing this ride, you can’t enjoy life.”

For Conal Mulreany, of Havertown, the 25-mile run was just right. “I loved it. The course was awesome with just enough hills to keep it interesting.”

Waiting for the cyclists after their ride were lunch, courtesy of the Brandywine River Museum cafeteria, and a chance to stretch out and work out some kinks that might have built up during the ride courtesy of Anchor Life and Fitness.

Also new this year was a used-bike drop off for the Unionville Community Bike Drive, run through the Unionville-Chadds Ford School District. Stuart Lindsay, a volunteer for the bike drive, said that organization repairs, cleans and refurbishes the bikes which are then given away to families in need during the holidays through Toys for Tots at the Kennett Food Cupboard. The drive was able to give away 140 bikes last year.