Top 10 autumn activities throughout Philadelphia

By Lisa Angelucci
Collegian Editor
September 20, 2006

The days are getting shorter, the temperatures are getting lower and the semester is in full swing. As the first day of fall quickly approaches, students everywhere are mourning the loss of their summertime freedom. Instead of dwelling on the change of seasons, get out and enjoy the crisp fall days in between trips home to pack your sweaters and hoodies. Here’s a short list of the area’s best seasonal events and attractions:

1. Apple Festival—On Sept. 23, Linvilla Orchard in Media, Pa. will celebrate fall’s favorite fruit with games, contests, assorted apple products and a birthday cake for Johnny Appleseed. If that’s not enough, consider the special appearances from characters like Dora the Explorer, Toy Story’s Buzz and Woody or Elmo. The farm also offers Pick-Your-Own apples through Oct. 31 and a Pumpkinland Harvest Festival through Nov. 5.

2. Brandywine Harvest Festival—If you’re over 21 and you aren’t sick of outdoor farm festivals after Linvilla Orchard, the Brandywine Valley Wine Trail will host a passport event on Sept. 22 and 23. A passport purchased at any one of six Brandywine Valley wineries will grant the visitor admission to each winery. From noon until 6 p.m., the wineries will hold tastings, tours, concerts and picnics, and participants will have a firsthand chance to witness the excitement of the fall grape harvest. Don’t worry, if you can’t visit all six wineries in one day, the passports will be accepted until Dec. 30. For more incentive to finish the tour, visitors who make it to all six wineries receive a free gift upon completion.

3. A Celebration of Jersey Fresh—In an attempt to prove that New Jersey is far more than the “armpit of the nation,” this farmer’s market will be held at the Battleship New Jersey in Camden on Sept. 23. From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., visitors can sample and purchase vegetables and other produce grown in New Jersey. Guests at the Battleship Museum and Memorial will be offered Jersey fresh products like corn on the cob and tomatoes with their tour. The market is held in conjunction with Farm Aid.

4. Farm Aid—During the evening of Sept. 23, the Tweeter Center in Camden hosts this year’s Farm Aid, intended to raise money for the organization of the same name that helps support family-owned farms and provide fresh, local food for residents. The lineup includes big names such as Willie Nelson, Neil Young and the ever-popular Dave Matthews.

5. Fibers Festival—Apparently, people will celebrate anything in the fall. In case you were always wondering where your wool sweater came from, the Phoenixville Farmer’s Market will have goat shearing, wool carding and spinning demonstration at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 24. If that’s too weird, the festival also features fiber and wood crafts, more apple products and a balloon artist in addition to the regularly scheduled farmer’s market from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

6. PhillyFit BASH 5—Finally, an indoor event that doesn’t involve harvests. Villanova University plays host to PhillyFit Magazine’s health and wellness clinic. Over 8,000 people and 150 vendors will be present on Sept. 24 beginning at 11 a.m. There will be workshops and lectures with doctors and sports trainers. For the more adventurous, there are exercise demonstrations featuring everything from Tai Chi to cardio boxing or teams can register to compete in dance and aerobic competitions.

7. Grub: Ideas for an Urban Organic Kitchen with Anna Lappé—Working in the food industry all summer quickly taught me that organic food is trendy right now. On Monday, Sept. 25, Anna Lappé will be at the White Dog Café on Sansom Street to discuss her new book, corporate control of food production and tips for cooking with local, sustainable foods. With advance notification, students can get tickets for the three-course meal at a discounted price or attend the after-dinner discussion for free.

8. Fall Festival at Thirteenth and Sansom Streets—Two blocks of Center City will be closed to traffic on Saturday, Sept. 23 as the merchants in the area hold a neighborhood block party. Local artists will take to the streets for an interactive painting demonstration, which will allow some visitors to be a part of a collaborative painting. The event also features Ludwig’s Oktoberfest, which celebrates German culture and food, books sold by the pound at Robin’s Books and a halfway to Saint Patrick’s Day event at McGillin’s Olde Ale House.

9. Piazza on PassyunkPassyunk—Every third Wednesday, the East Passyunk Avenue Business Improvement District celebrates Passyunk Avenue’s role in the community with music, food and art. The event runs through Oct. 25, so Sept. 27 and Oct. 25 are the only remaining dates to catch South Philadelphia artists and musicians in action on East Passyunk Ave at Tasker Street.

10. Weekend Gallery Tours—The University of Pennsylvania’s Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology offers free weekend tours of the museum’s galleries. Visitors must still pay the museum’s admission donation. The tours leave from the main entrance at 1:30 p.m. and topics vary. Some upcoming topics include “China: Bronze, Jade and More” on Saturday, Sept. 23 and “The Spread of Buddhism” on Sunday, Oct. 1.

angeluccil1@lasalle.edu