Guest Column
It’s summertime and the livin’ is easy, but sometimes it can also be expensive. With vacations to the shore, mountains or an exotic location, road trips to visit out-of-town friends and relatives, amusement park admissions, swim club memberships, chemicals for the backyard pool, keeping the out-of-school kids occupied and day tripping to local sites of interest, summer can get a little pricey. Luckily, if you live in or close to Delaware County, there’s a whole lot of free stuff of which you can take advantage to make your summer fun and memorable, in between all those other events you already have scheduled—and save you a few bucks (and who isn’t grateful for that?). Some free events and destinations are tried and true and many local residents already take advantage of them, summer after summer. But many often slip our minds so a reminder is always helpful. This list is only a small sampling. To keep abreast of all that’s going on, regularly check our websites, www.delconewsnetwork.com and www. delcotimes.com/, as well as www.destinationdelco.com and www.VisitPhilly.com/. Here’s a few ideas to get your summer kickstarted:
1. Rose Tree Summer Festival. From this week until August 14, Rose Tree Park in Upper Providence comes alive with the annual Summer Festival featuring 45 different absolutely free nights of entertainment. Performers this year include favorites Charlie Gracie, Blackthorn, Chico’s Vibe, the Original Orlons, John Hoey Orchestra, Zydeco-A-Go-Go and many others, as well as tribute bands to Eric Clapton, Tina Turner, the Beatles, Allman Brothers Band and Ozzy Osbourne. To get a full schedule, times and details, visitwww.co.delaware.pa.us/summer and then grab a blanket or a lawn chair, bring a bite to eat or drink, and rock your night away!
2. John Heinz Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum. If you’ve never been there or if you’re a regular, the Heinz Refuge is a great place for a summer walk, run or bike ride. The Education Center there is definitely worth a stop too. The Refuge has ten miles of natural beauty. The kids will like to fish, watch the frogs and turtles and run on the trails. Remember to bring your binoculars because I have seen wildlife of some sort every time I’ve been there!
3. Delaware County’s Historical Sites. We all know Delaware County is saturated in history. But do you actually ever take advantage, by learning more about our county or visiting the myriad of free historical landmarks that are preserved and upkept by mostly volunteers for your enjoyment? This summer, why not check a few out, like the Morton House in Prospect Park; the Morton Morton House in Norwood; the Bartram Bridge, 1842 Octagonal Schoolhouse, Square Tavern, 1711 Friends Meeting House, 1715 Old St. David’s Church, all in Newtown Square; Caleb Pusey House in Upland; Old St. Thomas The Apostle Church in Chester Heights (1852); 1797 Federal Schoolhouse in Haverford; Darby Free Library (oldest library in US) in Darby Borough; Collen Brook Farm and the Swedish Cabin, both in Upper Darby; 1724 Chester Courthouse in Chester; and the 1696 Thomas Massey House in Broomall. There are way more than mentioned here. You can even arrange a free private tour for your family or group of friends to many of these. Check out their individual websites for contact information.
4. And speaking of history, the Delaware County Historical Society Research Library and Museum, just a stone’s throw off of 291 in Chester, is one of those under-tapped local resources. Right now, there’s a fantastic “Hello Dollies of the 20th Century” doll exhibit that children and adults alike will enjoy, as well as all kinds of interesting items and artifacts and guides available to make your visit interactive. For more info, visit www.delcohistory.com/.
5. One other museum that is free and very worthwhile to check out, is the Pennsylvania Veterans Museum located in the Media Armory, 12 East State Street, Media, right underneath Trader Joe’s. The free museum is open 12-5 pm Thursday through Sunday, and private and group tours are available. For more information, visit www.paveteransmuseum.org/.
6. The local Farmers Markets are a fun place to visit, with or without buying anything. Most have entertainment and neighbors gather to catch up after not seeing each other for months because in less favorable weather, they’ve been cooped up indoors. Local markets are held in Media, Swarthmore, Newtown Square, Lansdowne, Thornton, Tinicum Twp., Ridley Park and Havertown. Check out each town’s website or Facebook page for hours of operation and other details.
7. There are plenty of places to simply enjoy summer nature in Delco, plus every single community has many parks with beautiful greenery and scenery, trails for walking and benches for sitting to reflect on the surrounding natural beauty. Many also have playground equipment and basketball or tennis courts. Plan a hike or run at Ridley Creek State Park or walk at the beautiful Scott Arboretum at Swarthmore College. Did you know Scott Arboretum has more than 110 acres of 5,000 different ornamental plants and walking trails? It is open every day from dawn to dusk for the public to enjoy and offers free tours monthly. For more info, visit www.scottarboretum.org/.
8. The Brandywine River Museum of Art has free admission (and air conditioning) on the first Sunday of each month.
9. Outdoor movies seem to be in vogue this summer. In addition to some of our local towns offering them (check their websites), they are also held in Philly parks, Penn’s Landing and at Xfinity Live near the stadiums. Although some of these venues are in the city, they really are just a stone’s throw away from many Delco towns.
10. Wawa Welcome America offers a whole week of free concerts, fireworks, and many other events, June 17-July 4 to celebrate Independence Day. Visit www.WelcomeAmerica.com/ for a complete listing.
11. And while we’re on the parade subject, almost every little town in Delco has a July 4th celebration of parades, games, entertainment and festivities. Many also have fireworks. Call or check out the borough’s or township’s website for details.
12. Another thing those of us who live in Delco usually take for granted is the beauty of living so close to so many colleges and universities, not only in Delco, but also in Philly and the tri-state area. All of these learning institutions offer tons of free events. Check out their websites. There are always concerts, performances and lectures at the Lang Center of Swarthmore College, Neumann, Widener and others. Many universities allow the public to come watch sports practices or offer free sports and theater tickets just for the asking.
13. Do you own a kayak, canoe or tubes or can you borrow one from a friend, relative or neighbor? The Brandywine is always beautiful in the summer and a great way to stay cool.
14. Take a little road trip and take a factory tour in the tri-state area this summer. Most are totally free, like the Herr’s Factory in Nottigham, Yuengling® Brewery, Martin Guitar, Harley-Davidson, Utz, Snyder’s of Hanover, Asher’s Chocolate, Boyer’s Candy (think Mallo Cup), Byers Choice, QVC, and others.
15. Linvilla Orchards. This little 300-acre gem in Delco has been a favorite all-season destination for years, but summertime is extra nice there because it just seems more leisurely. There’s no limit to the time children want to take looking at the animals there, playing on the playground and just strolling around soaking in the greenery. Linvilla has lots of free festivals, offering live music, costumed characters and other fun surprises.