E-News May 2011

The Official Newsletter of the Greater Wilmington Convention and Visitors Bureau

Brandywine Treasure Trail Passport Returns for Summer 2011

Families and individuals alike can save big money and explore the treasures of the Brandywine Valley this summer with the Brandywine Valley Treasure Trail Passport.  The Passport yeilds big savings on ten Brandywine Valley attractions with discounted admission to locals and out-of-towners.  Visitors can purchase a combination ticket good for one-time admission to each of ten area attractions between May 28 and September 5, 2011.  The cost is $35.00 for an individual Passport and $75.00 for a Family Passport which covers two adults and up to three children.

You'll see world-class art collections, explore dazzling gardens, experience rich heritage and so much more. Plus, many attractions are located on the Brandywine Valley National Scenic Byway with easy access from I-95.

• Save up to $197!
• 10 attractions, one low price.
• Less than a half-day drive from New York City or Washington, D.C.
• Family and individual passports available.
• Great hotel packages available.

Participants in the Brandywine Treasure Passport include Brandywine River Museum, Delaware Art Museum, Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts, Delaware Historical Society & Read House, Delaware Museum of Natural History, Hagley Museum and Library, Longwood Gardens, Mt. Cuba Center, Rockwood Museum and Winterthur Museum, Gardens & Library.

Paint, Pattern & People: Furniture of Southeastern Pennsylvania, 1725-1850

Winterthur Museum, Gardens & Library presents Paint, Pattern & People: Furniture of Southeastern Pennsylvania, 1725-1850, from April 2, 2011 through January 8, 2012. This landmark exhibition explores the colorful furniture of Southeastern Pennsylvania along with the people who made, owned, inherited, and collected it. Featuring nearly 200 objects-including furniture, fraktur, needlework, and paintings-the show focuses on the culture and creativity of the area's English- and German-speaking inhabitants.

Paint, Pattern & People sheds new light on southeastern Pennsylvania's highly distinctive local expressions of furniture and presents important objects for which the maker or family history is known. This well-documented furniture provides a new context to understand the objects as fully as possible and place them within specific locations. Although the exhibition is about furniture, it is not about dovetails and glue blocks but rather the people of the region who are the threads from which the story is woven. Thus the furniture in Paint, Pattern & People is the vehicle that transports us into the lives of our ancestors and leads to a greater understanding of our rich cultural heritage.

Due to William Penn's policy of religious tolerance that attracted people of various faiths and ethnic backgrounds, Pennsylvania was the most culturally diverse of the 13 colonies. Through the study of objects produced by this great mixed multitude, the extraordinary vibrance and variety of the region's furniture comes into focus. Ethnicity, religious affiliation, personal taste, socioeconomic status, and the skill of the craftsman all influenced local forms, ornamentation, and construction.

For more information please visit http://www.winterthur.org/sepa.

Three Festivals in Three Weeks

Greek Festival at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, June 7-June 11, 2011...Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church invites the community to celebrate its annual Greek Festival, Tuesday June 7 - Saturday June 11, 2011 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., at 9th and Broom Streets in Wilmington. Visitors will enjoy homemade Greek food and desserts, ethnic music and dance performances by the Award Winning Terpsechorian Dance Troupe. Admission is free.

For more information please visit http://www.greekfestde.com.


St. Anthony's Italian Festival in Wilmington's Little Italy, June 12-June19, 2011...Experience true Italian culture in the heart of Wilmington's Little Italy from June 12^h thru 19^th.  The week-long, family-oriented festival is one of the largest of its kind on the East Coast.  Enjoy classical music and opera, live Italian and contemporary music, string bands, strolling minstrels and traditional dance.  Artisans from Italy are on hand to display and sell their handicrafts. Explore genealogical heritage, take an Italian language lesson or watch weaving and winemaking demonstrations. There's also a full complement of traditional midway attractions, carnival rides, games of chance and bocce. The homemade pasta entrees, Italian specialties and delicious desserts are not to be missed.

For more information please visit http://www.stanthonysfestival.com.


DuPont Clifford Brown Jazz Festival in Downtown Wilmington, June 20-
June 26, 2011...One of the East Coast's largest jazz festivals returns to Wilmington on June 20^th thru June 26th.  The week-long, DuPont Clifford Brown Jazz Festival brings some of the most exciting personalities in jazz to the stage in Wilmington and typically attracts over 35,000 music lovers.  Performances are held in Rodney Square in the heart of Downtown Wilmington, rain or shine. The entire festival is free and open to the public. 

For more information please visit http://www.cliffordbrownjazzfest.com.