If you’ve never taken a warm-weather trip to Wilmington and the Brandywine Valley, you’re missing out on natural beauty, festivals for just about any interest, and plenty of incredible food. Sports enthusiasts can cheer on those competing in the Delaware Marathon, Wilmington Grand Prix, or the Point-to-Point Steeplechase. There are things to do for history buffs, music fans, arts and crafts aficionados and more.
As you plan your spring or summer trip, consider adding even more experiences to your schedule with a Brandywine Treasure Trail Passport. The Passport provides savings on 12 of our area’s top attractions, including thousands of acres of gardens, the legacy of the du Pont family, and incredible works of art.
Bring your creative soul.
Come to Wilmington this spring for the Bellefonte Arts Festival and the Maker Fest at Hagley. Or, if you’re saving your visit for July, mark your calendars for the Delaware Shakespeare Festival and the Pennsylvania Guild Fine Craft Fair. Plus, take advantage of your Brandywine Treasure Trail Passport to gain entry to six additional museums!
August Quarterly isn’t technically an arts fair—it’s so much more than that—but that doesn’t diminish it’s place on our list of recommended festivals to attend. This late summer festival honors the founding of the Union Church of Africans, the first African-American Church in the United States! Today, this two-day festival celebrates African heritage with music, crafts, music, stage performers, children’s events, storytelling, food, books and more.
Arden Fair is the place to wrap up summer. It’s a festival unlike any other, rooted in the history of Delaware’s artists’ colony that dates back to 1900! Spend your Labor Day weekend with hundreds of artisans, listening to incredible music, and letting the kids have a blast with the Shakespeare Gild.
Bring your camera.
There is certainly no shortage of photo ops of the natural beauty of Delaware, now in full bloom! Spring and summer in the Brandywine Valley bring several festivals that shine a spotlight on our glorious gardens and native flowers. From the Wildflower Celebration at Mt. Cuba (included in the Passport), the Wilmington Flower Market to Wilmington Garden Day, the colors, scents and scenes are unmatched. Historic New Castle is hosting the nation’s oldest home and garden tour, where visitors can stroll amongst colonial buildings, homes and gardens, stops on the Underground Railroad and more during the Day in Old New Castle. While you’re there, use your Passport to gain entry to the Read House and Gardens; another jaunt through history that’s not to be missed.
Plus, visitors love to join in the cultural fun at the Holy Trinity Greek Festival or St. Anthony’s Italian Festival.
No matter when you visit this spring or summer, be sure to use your Passport for entry to the Festival of Fountains at Longwood Gardens. As the sun goes down, the show starts at the Main Fountain Garden, where water sprays tall, spins, twirls and even bursts into flames along with the music of the evening. It’s a show you must see to believe!
