Around Town April 11

Posted by ChaddsFordLive on April 11, 2024

Wildflower Weekend is coming to Mt. Cuba Center on April 19 through 21.

• Mt. Cuba Center’s annual Wildflower Weekend is Friday through Sunday, April 19-21. Experience the display of spring ephemeral blooms and enjoy three days of live music, gardening activities and tours, outdoor family programming, and more. Food selections and native plants are available for purchase. Times are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

• The Borough of West Chester is about to celebrate its 225^th anniversary with a spectacular 225^th Birthday Parade to be held on Sunday, April 21, beginning at 1 p.m. The Birthday Parade will feature a colorful display of floats showcasing the heritage of West Chester, as marching bands fill the streets with spirited melodies. Community groups, local businesses and other organizations will display their West Chester pride with festive decorations, balloons, and plenty of birthday cheer. It starts at High and Market Streets, proceeding down Market Street and left onto Matlack Street, left onto Gay Street, left onto Darlington Street, and left onto Market Street. Opening remarks will be at “Old Glory,” at High and Market Streets at 12:45 p.m. The parade’s rain date is one week later.

Learn how George Washington dealt with smallpox at Valley Forge.

• The Chester County History Center is hosting a lecture, Smallpox at Valley Forge, examining the effects of smallpox and variolation on the Continental Army during the American Revolution, with a focus on the 1777-1778 winter encampment at Valley Forge. Speaker John M. Pisciotta, an associate professor in the Biology Department at West Chester University, will explore how Washington’s own experience with smallpox infection influenced his decision to protect his troops through variolation, an early form of vaccination. The skepticism and resistance that Washington encountered are investigated as modern parallels are considered. The lecture runs from 7-8 p.m. on Tuesday, April 23. This is a pay-as-you-wish event.

• The West Chester International Film Festival at Uptown! has officially announced its full lineup of films for 2024. Over three days, from April 26 to 28, 73 short films will be shown in film blocks, pop-up events, and a Young Filmmaker Festival. The festival weekend kicks off with the opening night party at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, April 26, followed by the first block of 10 short films. Highlights in this block include: How Sweet the Sound, the true story of John Sutton, a blind singer who entertained commuters at Suburban Station in Philadelphia for decades. An Avocado Pit, an Oscar-shortlisted film from Portugal in which Larissa, a trans woman, and Cláudio, a cis man, dance away their differences until morning. A Close Encounter, a thrilling comedy in which a chance meeting leads to unexpected revelations. For additional information about the West Chester International Short Film Festival visit www.westchesterfilmfestival.com

Fountain and Fireworks displays are returning to Longwood.

• Longwood Gardens Fireworks and Fountain Shows kick off on Wednesday, July 3 at 9:15 with Stars and Stripes Forever. Get ready for a star-spangled evening of rousing patriotic anthems perfectly suited to celebrate America’s birthday. Featuring popular classics from John Philip Sousa and George M. Cohan, to memorable performances from The Boston Pops Orchestra, Leslie Odom, Jr., and more, the evening promises to be an inspiring tribute to America the Beautiful.