• On Tuesday, May 5, from 7-8 p.m., the Chester County History Center presents a virtual presentation, Medicine in the American Revolution. Disease was a big part of everyday life in the American Colonies, and the conditions of the American Revolutionary War made things even worse. For every soldier dying of wounds in the war, three died of infections, including smallpox, malaria, dysentery, and typhus. The prevailing medical thinking of the day hadn’t really changed much since ancient times, and with the best of intentions, doctors treated these diseases with bleeding, leeches, and purges. Wounds of the head, chest, and abdomen were almost always fatal, and those of the arms or legs often led to amputation. We’ll hear about the doctors and the hospitals caring for the Revolutionary War soldiers with special emphasis on the 1777 campaign in Pennsylvania. This is a pay-as-you-wish event. Reserve your spot here.
• It’s two months away, but Concord Township and Newlin Grist Mill are preparing for the annual Race for the Watershed on Saturday, June 13. From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the grist mill. There will be the 5K race and the duck derby. There will be cash prizes, kids’ activities, live music, and a car show.
• From sculptures and oil paintings to colored pencil pieces and photography, nearly 500 works of art are now on display at the Chester County High School Art Exhibition and PA 6th District Congressional Art Competition. The exhibition is open to the public through Saturday, April 18, 2026, at the Chester County Art Association in West Chester. In addition to participation in the Chester County High School Art Exhibition, specific entries are competing in Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan’s Congressional Art Competition for students living in the 6th District of Pennsylvania, which includes the vast majority of Chester County and southeastern Berks County. Each spring across the nation, the members of the U.S. House of Representatives sponsor a high school art competition, with the grand prize winner having their artwork displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year.
• It’s trilliums and wine. Great wine and food pairings work because they either echo one another or create striking contrasts—and the same principles can be applied to the natural world. Join renowned scent ecologist Dr. Robert Raguso for a one-of-a-kind sensory experience that blends botany, chemistry, and the art of tasting. Raguso has spent decades studying the floral scents of native plant species, including trilliums—one of Mt. Cuba’s signature collections. Unlike conventional flowers, trilliums release unexpected fragrances reminiscent of wine, cheese, fruit, and spices. Drawing on his pioneering research in chemical ecology and plant pollinator communication, Raguso has curated a “flight” of Mt. Cuba trilliums paired with wines that complement their earthy, woodsy aromas. This program takes place in-person at Mt. Cuba Center on Friday, April 24, from 5-7 p.m. An afternoon session of this program runs on Saturday, April 25.
• Delaware County Symphony presents: Celebrating America 250 Symphony Concert on Sunday, May 3, at 3 p.m. Experience an exhilarating musical tribute to America’s artistic spirit as the Delaware County Symphony presents a program honoring the nation’s 250th anniversary. The concert opens with Leonard Bernstein’s sparkling Overture to Candide. The spotlight then turns to the winner of the Youth Concerto Competition, Julie Chen, with a rare performance of the technically demanding Cello Concerto in A minor; Op 22 by Samuel Barber. Aaron Copland’s powerful A Lincoln Portrait follows, blending stirring narration by Scott Cullen with the composer’s unmistakably open, American sound. The performance culminates in William Dawson’s Negro Folk Symphony, a profound and deeply moving work that weaves spirituals and folk traditions into the symphonic sound. Find ticket information here.
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.
