Celebrate the unofficial start of summer with more than a backyard BBQ. Gather the gang for these community happenings, or head to the shore for fun in the sun.
Around Town
► The annual May Fair returns to Haddon Ave., Collingswood, NJ on Sat., May 28 with live music, food, more than 200 artists & crafters and a KidZone with pony rides, carnival games and rides. (Look for MetroKids and pick up a copy of our June issue while you’re there!)
► An Old-Fashioned Picnic at the Ebenezer Maxwell Mansion in Phila.’s Germantown, also on Saturday, features croquet, a scavenger hunt, face painting, hot dogs and ice cream.
► Harleysville Country Fair Days in Montgomery County, PA, through Saturday, feature food, games, rides, fireworks on Friday night, a parade on Saturday, live entertainment and raffles.
► The Devon Horse Show and Country Fair — the oldest and largest outdoor multi-breed equestrian competition — returns this weekend and continues through Sun., June 5 on the Main Line. Enjoy carnival food and candy, nearly 60 shops, The Midway with amusement rides — and horses, of course.
► Museums honor Memorial Day with special family activities all weekend for no extra cost over the price of admission. Enjoy quiet fireworks, patriotic music and crafts at the Garden State Discovery Museum in Cherry Hill, NJ. The National Constitution Center in Phila. presents patriotic karaoke, American flag-making crafts and the stories of monuments.
► Starting Memorial Day on Monday, more than 1,000 museums nationwide offer free admission for military families. Find museums participating locally.
► The summer season begins in Historic Philadelphia and Valley Forge, PA. Stop by Storytelling Benches at either place to listen to tales from storytellers and earn stars to win prizes. Franklin Square (6th & Race Sts., Phila.) offers face painting and games for kids this weekend, and the playgrounds and mini golf are open.
► Fireworks light up the skies above Sesame Place in Langhorne, PA and Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, PA on Sunday night, around 9pm. Before the shows, both places host BBQ dinners.
► Sesame Place and other area amusement parks and waterparks are open for the season this weekend. Discover what’s new at your favorite amusement park — from a rollercoaster where you stand up the whole time, to a six-story glide down a water slide.
► Longwood Gardens is one of 10 Brandywine attractions participating in the Treasure Trail Passport program, kicking off Memorial Day weekend. You can gain one-time discounted admission to the region’s most popular museums and gardens, until Labor Day.
► Local parks are ready for you to enjoy the great outdoors with your family. Learn more about park activities and amenities in your county and state.
Down the Shore
► The Cape May Music Festival is in full swing. The 35-piece Atlantic Brass Band performs patriotic tunes free for park-goers at Lafayette St. & Lyle Lane on Sun. night, May 29. Also, the Historic Cold Spring Village historic site on Rte. 9 in Cape May is open for free tours on Saturday and Sunday.
► In Ocean City, the boardwalk shops are open and you can even bring your furry friend — that is, only during Barks on the Boards, a pet parade and contest, on Sunday at 12noon, starting at the Music Pier.
► Boardwalk craft shows with handmade crafts for sale run all Memorial Day weekend at Rio Grande Ave. in the Wildwoods, and on the beach, the International Kite Festival takes flight with competitions, exhibits and workshops.
More on Memorial Day Weekend
See all events this weekend on our calendar >>
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Stephanie Halinski is calendar editor of MetroKids.
