Travels With The Post

A Weekend for Festival Lovers, Bargainers, Gardeners, Goats
Goat races return Sunday to the Coventry Woods Festival

Weekend Stuff May 17-19: A Past Travels Calendar

POTTSTOWN PA – It’s a weekend (May 17-19, 2024) filled with festival opportunities and celebrations across western Montgomery, eastern Berks, and northern Chester counties. There are more than 30 events on the calendar, awaiting your enjoyment.

You and the family can be entertained during the weekend with live performances, rides, and fun foods at the annual carnival of the Limerick Fire Department, or the 81st edition of the Dogwood Festival in Phoenixville … where both borough government and its fire department are observing their anniversaries. The Dogwood Festival parade will be extra long this year!

Enjoy fun in the forest at the annual Coventry Woods Festival in North Coventry. Go browsing for bargains Saturday at Spring City’s borough-wide yard sale. If you’ve yet to fill out the garden, shop for plants with Montgomery County’s Master Gardeners, in Collegeville. Need some wilderness inspiration for the garden?; take a flower walk in Evansburg.

Use the weekend to delve into Civil War history at Montgomery County’s Peter Wentz Farmstead in Worcester, or into Revolutionary War history at the county’s Pennypacker Mills in Schwenksville.

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.

Friday, May 17

  • “Regional Home Garden Contest” registration, around the clock online, free to participate, sponsored by Mosaic Community Land Trust, Building A Better Boyertown, and the Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation; open to area residents with prizes awarded in several categories, registration deadline June 21, in Pottstown PA, Boyertown PA, and vicinity
  • Exhibit: “Jamie Wyeth: Unsettled,” 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., ticketed, tracing a persistent vein of intriguing imagery in the career of renowned artist Jamie Wyeth, on display through June 9 at the Brandywine Museum of Art, 1 Hoffman’s Mill Rd., Chadds Ford PA
  • SunnyBrook Farmers Market, 4-7 p.m., free to attend, local farmers and makers set up inside the Social House barn at SunnyBrook, selling local produce, body care products, meat, and and other items, rain or shine occasionally accompanied by events and activities, on the SunnyBrook Ballroom property, 50 N. Sunnybrook Rd., Pottstown PA
  • Twelve 78 Brewing grand opening, starts at 5 p.m., free to attend, public launch of the family-owned craft brewing company, organized by the Phoenixville Chamber of Commerce, at the brewery, 35 Bridge St., Phoenixville PA
  • Limerick Fire Department 22nd Annual Carnival, 6-10 p.m., free to attend with ticketed games, amusements, food and beverages; beer garden opens at 6 p.m. featuring the Boston Brewing Company and Stable 12 Brewing, featured live entertainment “Split Decision,” rain or shine, at the fire station, 390 W. Ridge Pike, Limerick PA
  • Dogwood Festival, 6-10 p.m., free to attend with ticketed activities, food and beverages; features rides and craft and food vendors, beer garden presented by Hares Hill Brewing Co., Dogwood tree planting sponsored by Bates Landscaping, live entertainment from Daniel Rodriguez, Quick Chills, Kuf Knotz and Christine Elise, and Anthony C; at Reeves Park, 401 S. Main St., Phoenixville PA

Saturday, May 18

  • Spring City Borough-Wide Yard Sale, starts at 8 a.m., free to attend, a rain-or-shine annual event organized by Spring City Borough and its Parks and Recreation Department, individual sales may end at various times, download its list of registered sale addresses, held across Spring City PA
  • Green Lane Park Local Market, 9 a.m. to noon, free to attend, with vendors selling locally grown fresh food and other items, scheduled monthly through October by and at Green Lane Park, 2298 Green Lane Rd., Green Lane PA
  • Penn State Extension Master Gardener Sale, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., free to attend, buy a variety of plants for your garden and landscape needs, proceeds benefit Montgomery County Extension, held at the 4-H Center, 1015 Bridge Rd., Collegeville PA
  • Wildflower Walk, 9:30 a.m. to noon, free (no registration required), a guided hunt for native wildflowers led by Link Davis, parking available in the lot and gather at Fern Avenue and Ridge Pike, in Evansburg State Park, Evansburg PA
  • Exhibit: “Jamie Wyeth: Unsettled,” 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., ticketed, tracing a persistent vein of intriguing imagery in the career of renowned artist Jamie Wyeth, on display through June 9 at the Brandywine Museum of Art, 1 Hoffman’s Mill Rd., Chadds Ford PA
  • Bubble Event, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., ticketed, multiple bubble machines will be placed throughout a play area, along with a bubble station and large bubble wands for giant bubbles, and each participant also receives a bottle of bubbles; at The Gilbertsville Farm, 1200 County Line Rd., Gilbertsville PA
  • Community Electronics Recycling Event, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., free, sponsored by JP Junk, Scargill McClurken Insurance, Hares Hill, and Bucktown Beans; accepting most electronic devices for certified recycling but fees charged for televisions and monitors, first 100 to attend receive a live tree, goodies, and pizza; held at Scargill McClurken Insurance, 1111 Ridge Rd., Pottstown PA
  • “The Great Central Sanitary Fair of 2024,” 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., free and suitable for all ages, a celebration and modern interpretation of the 160th anniversary of the Great Central Sanitary Fair of Philadelphia, organized to raise funds for soldiers’ aid during the Civil War, with Union soldier re-enactors, infantry and artillery demonstrations, and vendors; at the Peter Wentz Farmstead, 2030 Shearer Road, Worcester PA
  • Revolutionary War Weekend, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., free, experience a Revolutionary War encampment with live demonstrations, musicians, speakers, and activities for the whole family, at Pennypacker Mills, 5 Haldeman Rd., Schwenksville PA
  • Bioblitz Plant Walk, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., free but online registration requested, explore Norristown Farm Park with Andrew the Arborist, learn about our native plants and trees and help record plant species; a rain date of May 25 at 11 a.m. is available if needed; at the park, 2500 Upper Farm Road, Norristown PA
  • Phoenixville Anniversaries and Dogwood Festival Parade, starts at 1 p.m., free to attend, observing the 175th anniversary of the borough’s founding and the 150th anniversary of the Phoenixville Fire Department; route starts on Smithworks Boulevard and proceeds down Main Street, past Reeves Park, and ends at 5th Avenue; it will be lengthy, with added vehicles and participants, in Phoenixville PA
  • Dogwood Festival, 1-10 p.m., free to attend with ticketed activities, food and beverages; features rides and craft and food vendors, beer garden presented by Hares Hill Brewing Co., Dogwood tree planting sponsored by Bates Landscaping, live entertainment from Latin Dance Group, Aunt Mary Pat Bingo, The Holts, The Vinyl Roots; at Reeves Park, 401 S. Main St., Phoenixville PA
  • “Women of Edgewood” Tours, start at 3, 4, and 5 p.m., ticketed, “women who shaped Pottstown and its future, now buried in Edgewood Historic Cemetery, come alive thanks to the efforts of costumed interpreters, at the cemetery, 989 E. High St., Pottstown PA
  • Limerick Fire Department 22nd Annual Carnival, 6-10 p.m., free to attend with ticketed games, amusements, food and beverages; beer garden opens at 6 p.m. featuring the Boston Brewing Company and Stable 12 Brewing, featured live entertainment “The Chatterband,” rain or shine, at the fire station, 390 W. Ridge Pike, Limerick PA

Sunday, May 19

  • Coventry Woods 5K and 10K Trail Challenges, starts at 8 a.m., ticketed, foot races to accompany the annual Coventry Woods Festival, trail racing on a loop course with a mix of rock, roots, single and double track, and plenty of ascents and descents; prizes awarded by age groups, the 10K is a sanctioned part of the USATF MA Off-Road Series; from Coventry Woods, 1954 St. Peters Rd., Pottstown PA
  • Exhibit: “Jamie Wyeth: Unsettled,” 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., ticketed, tracing a persistent vein of intriguing imagery in the career of renowned artist Jamie Wyeth, on display through June 9 at the Brandywine Museum of Art, 1 Hoffman’s Mill Rd., Chadds Ford PA
  • “The Great Central Sanitary Fair of 2024,” 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., free and suitable for all ages, a celebration and modern interpretation of the 160th anniversary of the Great Central Sanitary Fair of Philadelphia, organized to raise funds for soldiers’ aid during the Civil War, with Union soldier re-enactors, infantry and artillery demonstrations, and vendors; at the Peter Wentz Farmstead, 2030 Shearer Road, Worcester Township PA
  • Railbike Adventure in the Secret Valley, starts at 10 a.m., ticketed, a leisurely, pedal-powered trip into the tall forests of the Secret Valley between Boyertown and Pottstown, cross bridges, chase creeks, and take in the scenery; from the Colebrookdale Railroad station at 64 S. Washington St., Boyertown PA
  • Revolutionary War Weekend, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., free, experience a Revolutionary War encampment with live demonstrations, musicians, speakers, and activities for the whole family, at Pennypacker Mills, 5 Haldeman Rd., Schwenksville PA
  • Feline Frenzy Cat Expo, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., ticketed but children age 10 and younger free, cats and cat merchandise on exhibit and available for purchase, sponsored by the Feline Frenzy Thrift Shop & Adopt, at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, 100 Station Ave., Oaks PA
  • Railbike Adventure in the Secret Valley, starts at 12:30 p.m., ticketed, a leisurely, pedal-powered trip into the tall forests of the Secret Valley between Boyertown and Pottstown, cross bridges, chase creeks, and take in the scenery; from the Colebrookdale Railroad station at 64 S. Washington St., Boyertown PA
  • Mont Clare and Port Providence Historic District Open House, 1-3 p.m., free (but donations accepted), children of all ages can attend with adult supervision, hosted by the Schuylkill Canal Association, with photographs, books, and paintings on display, light refreshments, at the Lock 60 Locktender’s House in Schuylkill Canal Park, 400 Towpath Rd., Mont Clare PA
  • Coventry Woods Festival, 1-5 p.m., free, featuring the annual Fernbrook Goat Derby, puppet shows, food, music, and other activities, at Coventry Woods, 1954 St. Peters Rd., Pottstown (North Coventry Township) PA

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.

Photo by Travels With The Post