Around Town Jan. 11

Posted by ChaddsFordLive on January 11, 2024

• The West Chester International Short Film Festival will celebrate its 18^th Fest from Friday, April 26 through Sunday, April 28. With three days of film blocks, parties, workshops, Pop-up Blocks, and more, the Festival brings films from dozens of countries to Downtown West Chester, in a celebration of independent filmmaking. During the weekend, dozens of short films from filmmakers around the world in every genre will be shown. In a single two-hour block of films, audiences can experience the thrill of drama, an intriguing documentary, a creative art piece, whimsical animation, farcical comedy, and more! Don’t miss the Opening Night Party, the Filmmakers Meet & Greet, or the Closing Night Chester Awards Party—there is something for everyone all weekend long. For additional information about the West Chester International Short Film Festival visit www.westchesterfilmfestival.com or email info@westchesterfilmfestival.com. Find us on social media @WCFilmFestival.

• Make a Discovery in the Dark at the Chester County History Center from 5-7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 27. This is a family-oriented evening event designed to show children what life was like in the past before electricity. Experience what bedtime was like, from pajamas to brushing your teeth, to tightening your rope bed and sleeping on a straw mattress. Walk through the darkened museum by flashlight and learn the stories of the men, women, and children of the past, and complete a scavenger hunt for special prizes. This event is best for children ages 6-12. Remember to bring your flashlight. Space will be limited to provide the best atmosphere for our participants. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times. The cost is $10 per adult, and $8 for kids 6-18.

• Learn how to make ‘em laugh from the Fearless Improv gang on Jan. 27 from 4-6 p.m. Jump out of your comfort zone, and into creativity, improved confidence, and endless laughs with new (and funny) friends. Take the class with friends, colleagues, and family members. Learn how to tackle situations with quick thinking and, above all, laughter. Workshop admission also gets you admission to the Fearless show that evening. Tickets for Intro to Improve are $25 and available here. Show tickets range in price from $10-$20 and are available at the same URL.

• Deer can be a problem for people when they forage through gardens and eat the plants. But it’s possible to keep them out without hurting them. Join Mt. Cuba horticulturist Gregg Tepper for an entertaining and informative lecture inspired by Tepper’s recently co-authored book, Deer-Resistant Native Plants for the Northeast. Tepper will share his experiences with what he’s found to be the best native deer-resistant plants and how to create a strategy for rebuffing deer with effective and safe natural deer-repellent products. This is an online talk from 6-7:30 p.m. on Jan. 24. The cost is $19. Register here.