• Spring has arrived, and Mt. Cuba Center is preparing for Wildflower Weekend. Celebrate peak spring bloom at Mt. Cuba Center during Wildflower Weekend on April 24-26. In addition to a spectacular spring display, visitors can experience live music, special guided tours, family-friendly activities, and opportunities not only to enjoy but also to learn about the native plants that make this landscape so vibrant. Enjoy food for purchase on site or pack a picnic and plan to spend the day. Wildflower weekend is free with admission to the gardens and for members.
• PAWS for People, the Newark-based pet therapy organization, will host its annual Spring Fling luncheon and silent auction on Sunday, April 12, from 1-4 p.m. at the Hockessin Memorial Hall, 610 Yorklyn Road, Hockessin, DE 19707. In addition to the lunch, the event includes a silent auction and information about PAWS’ extensive pet therapy programs. Tickets for the luncheon are $50 per person; PAWS Members $45 per person. Tables for eight & special recognition are $375. To reserve a table, call 302-351-5622 or www.pawsforpeople.org/spring.
• On April 7, the Chester County History Center will explore The Loyalist Experience & Aftermath in Revolutionary Philadelphia. This is a virtual pay-as-you-wish evening from 7-8 p.m. This program explores the human dimension of revolution through the lives of those who remained loyal to the British Crown in one of America’s most important cities. During the nine-month British occupation of Philadelphia, the city became a center of loyalist activity, but the war’s end brought sweeping consequences. Pennsylvania’s revolutionary government passed laws that identified, condemned, and confiscated loyalist property, reshaping lives and communities. The speaker is Kimberly Nath, Dean of the School of Arts and Humanities at San Juan College. Reserve your spot here.
• Families and gardeners of all experience levels are invited to celebrate spring at the Penn State Extension Chester County Master Gardener Plant Sale, taking place Saturday, May 2, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Sunday, May 3, from 9 a.m. to noon. The sale will be held at the East Bradford Township Building, 676 Copeland School Road in West Chester. This annual sale features great prices on a wide selection of high-quality plants, carefully grown and selected by Chester County Master Gardeners. Shoppers will find an extensive assortment, including native plants, pollinator favorites, perennials, annuals, herbs, vegetables, shrubs, deer-resistant plants, and houseplants – all well-suited to local growing conditions.
• The Kennett Library will celebrate its third annual Starlight Soirée on April 24, from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. For the first time, the Starlight Soirée will transport guests to the glamour of the Roaring Twenties. Guests will savor gourmet cuisine by John Serock Catering and enjoy engaging experiences: a silent auction, a photo booth, and a live artist creating unique keepsakes to capture the magic of the night. This extraordinary event directly funds the library’s innovative programs and essential operations, ensuring Kennett Library remains a thriving center for learning, creativity, and community enrichment. Tickets are $175 per person and will be available until April 8. They can be purchased in the library or online. All proceeds will benefit Kennett Library’s programming and operations. Purchase tickets here.
• Celebrating 95 years of horseracing on the Main Line, the Radnor Hunt Races return on Saturday, May 16, in Willistown Township, Chester County. Tickets are now on sale for this springtime tradition that draws the best thoroughbred horses, riders, and trainers from across the country. This year’s event will mark the final year the Brandywine Conservancy will serve as the sole operator and beneficiary of the Races, which the organization has led for the past 45 years. Admission to the Radnor Hunt Races is sold in advance and must be purchased by May 6 — there are no Race Day sales. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting www.radnorhuntraces.org or by calling 610-388-8383.
About Rich Schwartzman
Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.
