Weekend Stuff Oct. 19-22: A Past Travels Calendar

POTTSTOWN PA – Well there’s plenty that’s exciting, but little that’s surprising, about what’s on the Weekend Stuff to Do calendar. As one might expect with Oct. 31 approaching, more than half of the list consists of Halloween and autumn-related events.

What’s in store? Night hikes, some terrifying and some not. Golfing in the dark. Tours of haunted places and spaces, and the history behind them. A funny play with dark subplots. A bunch of fall festivals. Trick-or-treat events. Oh, and one for (shudder!) shredding.

Get out with the family (so everyone enjoys some fun), and do something!

Some weekend events are free. Some have fees (labeled as “ticketed”). Some have limitations, registrations, or other conditions. Some may be affected by weather conditions (hint: if unsure, call before you go). Each weekend listing includes a link for more information.

Thursday, Oct. 19

• WSFS Bank Food Drive, collections accepted through Dec. 31 (2023) during bank business days and hours at its branches in Phoenixville, Oaks and Audubon, benefits area food banks and pantries, 124 Main St., Phoenixville PA
• Restoration of the Black Lives Matter Street art installation, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., as part of the YWCA Week Without Violence 2023 effort to end to gender-based violence, at the YWCA Tri-County Area, 315 King St., Pottstown PA
• Bach’s Lunch Concert Series, 12:10-1 p.m., free to attend and suitable for all ages, featuring flutist Jocelyn Crosby, at Community Music School, 775 W. Main St., Trappe PA
• “Escaped from the Asylum” haunted woods walk, 7-9 p.m., ticketed, purposely scary and unsuitable for children (but likely fun for adults), admission available at the entrance, Althouse Arboretum, 1794 Gilbertsville Rd., Upper Pottsgrove PA,

Friday, Oct. 20

• Restoration of the Black Lives Matter Street art installation, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., as part of the YWCA Week Without Violence 2023 effort to end to gender-based violence, at the YWCA Tri-County Area, 315 King St., Pottstown PA
• Fall Festival at The Gilbertsville Farm, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., ticketed, family-friendly farm with barn animals, slides, yard games, a hi-tech corn maze, and hayrides, admission at the entrance of the farm, 1200 County Line Rd., Gilbertsville PA
• Halloween Night Hike on the Rugged Trivia Loop, 5-7 p.m., advance reservations suggested, sponsored by and held at the Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy, 1 W. Skippack Pk., Schwenksville PA
• Spooky Miniature Golf at Manatawny Green, 5:30-10:30 p.m., ticketed, after-dark Halloween décor, dynamic lighting, and spooky sounds, family friendly, admission paid at the course, 71 W. High St., Pottstown PA
• “History and Haunts of Pottstown” Tours at 6, 7, and 8 p.m. respectively, ticketed, including spooky tours with “ghosts” of the borough and a small-bites snack at the Elks Club, proceeds benefit programs operated by Pottstown Farm & Artisan Regional Market (FARM), starts from the clock tower at the corner of Charlotte and High streets, Pottstown PA
• Play: The Addams Family, starts at 7 p.m., ticketed, a comedy based on characters made popular in cartoons by artist Charles Addams and by the 1960s television series, at Steel River Playhouse, 245 E. High St., Pottstown PA
• “Escaped from the Asylum” haunted woods walk, 7-9 p.m., ticketed, purposely scary and unsuitable for children (but likely fun for adults), admission available at the entrance, Althouse Arboretum, 1794 Gilbertsville Rd., Upper Pottsgrove PA

Saturday, Oct. 21

• Annual Memorial Golf Tournament, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., ticketed with payment due Oct. 6, a scramble with 12 five-person teams with food and drink provided and cash prizes, held at Rolling Turf Golf Course, 28 Smith Rd., Schwenksville PA
• “RoFo Kids Nature Play: Harvest and Water,” 9:30-10:30 a.m. for ages 3-5 and 11 a.m. to noon for ages 6-8, free but capacity is limited and advance registration is required, sponsored by the borough Parks and Recreation Department, at Victory Park, 2nd Avenue and Arch Street, Royersford PA
• Lower Pottsgrove Elementary School Fall Fest, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., a free event for Lower Pottsgrove students and their families, at the school, 1329 Buchert Rd., Lower Pottsgrove PA
• Fall Festival at The Gilbertsville Farm, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., ticketed, family-friendly farm with barn animals, slides, yard games, a hi-tech corn maze, and hayrides, admission at the entrance of the farm, 1200 County Line Rd., Gilbertsville PA
• Tours of Fricks Lock Village, 10 a.m., 11:15 a.m., and 12:30 p.m., free, last tour series to be offered this season of the hamlet that dates back to the 1700s and was part of the Schuylkill Canal System, jointly hosted by the East Coventry Township Historical Commission, Fricks Lock Volunteer Committee, and Constellation Energy, at the village entrance, 503-508 Lower Fricks Lock Rd., Pottstown PA
• Tail-Waggin’ Tales with pet therapy dogs, 10 a.m. to noon, Perkiomen Valley Library, 290 2nd St., Schwenksville PA
• Montgomery County Community College Blue Bell Campus Open House, 10 a.m. to noon, free to attend but advance registration requested, tour campus facilities and meet with faculty, administrators, and current students to learn about programs and services available, in the college Cultural Center, 1414 Morris Rd., Blue Bell PA
• Fall Foliage Festival in Jim Thorpe, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., downtown Jim Thorpe PA (59 miles from Pottstown)
• YWCA Week Without Violence 2023 Block Party, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., free to attend, featuring a student art contest, dance, poetry, music, games, food, community resource tables, employment opportunities, and other activities to urge an end to gender-based violence, at the YWCA Tri-County Area, 315 King St., Pottstown PA
• Lions Club Chicken BBQ, pick-ups from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., ticketed in advance by calling 484-269-7138 or send an e-mail to nancylweller@yahoo.com, featuring meals catered by Kauffman’s BBQ Chicken, proceeds benefit Boyertown charities and activities, pick-ups at Ehst Custom Kitchens, 830 Sweinhart Rd., Boyertown PA
• Lower Frederick Fire Company Cornhole Tournament, starts at noon, ticketed, including food, prizes for winners, a 50-50 raffle and other activities, register online, rain date Oct. 28 if necessary, held at the fire company grounds, 137 Spring Mount Rd., Lower Frederick PA
• Cheesetoberfest 2023, noon to 3 p.m., ticketed, a grilled cheese sandwich competition fund-raiser for the TriCounty Active Adult Center, admission available at the entrance, NOTE: event has moved due to inclement weather forecasts from Riverfront Park to the center, 288 Moser Rd., Pottstown PA
• “Haunts On High” trick-or-treat event, noon to 4 p.m., free to attend, activities hosted by Pottstown Community Arts and treats offered by Pottstown businesses and organizations, stretching along East High Street from Hanover Street to the Pottstown Regional Public Library, 500 E. High St., Pottstown PA
• All Hallows Eve Fall Festival (above), 1-4 p.m., free to attend, hosted by Montgomery County’s historic Pennypacker Mills, with crafts and activities, pumpkins, games, hayrides, and other fun, everyone in costume wins a prize, at Pennypacker Mills, 5 Haldeman Rd., Schwenksville PA
• ‘Relaxed’ Performance Play: The Addams Family, starts at 2 p.m., ticketed, a comedy based on characters made popular in cartoons by artist Charles Addams and by the 1960s television series, for individuals with ADD, ADHD, dementia, autism, or sensory sensitivities, at Steel River Playhouse, 245 E. High St., Pottstown PA
• Halloween Night Hike on the Family Friendly Loop, 5-7 p.m., advance reservations suggested, sponsored by and held at the Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy, 1 W. Skippack Pk., Schwenksville PA
• Spooky Miniature Golf at Manatawny Green, 5:30-10:30 p.m., ticketed, after-dark Halloween décor, dynamic lighting, and spooky sounds, family friendly, admission paid at the course, 71 W. High St., Pottstown PA
• “History and Haunts of Pottstown” Tours at 6, 7, and 8 p.m. respectively, ticketed, including spooky tours with “ghosts” of the borough and a small-bites snack at the Elks Club, proceeds benefit programs operated by Pottstown Farm & Artisan Regional Market (FARM), starts from the clock tower at the corner of Charlotte and High streets, Pottstown PA
• Play: The Addams Family, starts at 7 p.m., ticketed, a comedy based on characters made popular in cartoons by artist Charles Addams and by the 1960s television series, at Steel River Playhouse, 245 E. High St., Pottstown PA
• Boyertown Halloween Parade, starts at 7 p.m., free to watch, parade route includes local restaurants, food trucks, and bathrooms, organized by the Boyertown Area Historical Society, rain date Oct. 22 at 2 p.m., begins at the intersection of Second and Madison streets, Boyertown PA

Sunday, Oct. 22

• Fall Foliage Festival in Jim Thorpe, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., downtown Jim Thorpe PA (59 miles from Pottstown)
• Free Shredding Event, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (or until the shredding truck is filled), free, co-hosted by state Rep. Joe Ciresi and Lower Pottsgrove Township, limited to 5 boxes of peper per hoursehold, at Pottsgrove Senior High School, 1345 Kauffman Rd., Pottstown PA
• Daniel Boone Homestead Heritage Day, noon to 4 p.m., ticketed, featuring a variety of 18th Century demonstrations, trades, and hands-on activities, at the homestead, 400 Daniel Boone Rd., Birdsboro PA
• Play: The Addams Family (above), starts at 2 p.m., ticketed, a comedy based on characters made popular in cartoons by artist Charles Addams and by the 1960s television series, at Steel River Playhouse, 245 E. High St., Pottstown PA

Want to plan further ahead? Look for events on later dates (currently through January 2024)! See the The Travels With The Post extended calendar page.

Weekend events are curated from a variety of sources, including public submissions. Got a weekend (Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and federal holiday Mondays) event you’d like us to add? Send it to travelswiththepost@gmail.com.