Explore Your Freedom this Fall in Valley Forge and Montgomery County, Pa.

For release: Immediate
Contact:  John Golden, Communications Director
               610.834.7985
               golden@valleyforge.org

KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa. - Valley Forge and Montgomery County, Pa., gain new vitality when temperatures fall to comfy-sweater weather. Visitors in autumn can enjoy one of the most seasonable times of all to "Let Freedom Reign" and explore our arts and culture scene, fine dining, stay-over possibilities, history and other adventures. Harvest time in the southeastern corner of Pennsylvania is ripe with bird walks, historical encounters, scarecrow-making - and even just a chance to unplug for a while.

Here are just a few for your consideration:

• When the Liberty Pro Rodeo hoofs it into the Lulu Shrine Center in Plymouth Meeting, Pa., the competitors aren't just horsing around. Professional rodeo cowboys and cowgirls nationwide saddle up Thursday-Sunday, September 11-14, in pursuit of prize money, but the general public gets to enjoy a rootin' tootin' family-friendly good time.
• Elmwood Park Zoo's annual Oktoberfest Beer Tasting Festival on Sunday, September 14, is a food and dining delight, packed with brewed beverages, food-truck samples and music. But the truly adventurous can experience a once-in-a-lifetime thrill: a new opportunity for hand-feeding 1,200-pound bison.
• Conshohocken, Pa., lays out an extensive culinary adventure - reflective of numerous cultural influences - when its Restaurant Week returns for its fifth year, Monday-Sunday, September 15-21. Among the price fixe options is Guppy's Good Times, whose menu is guided by the principle, Always fresh, never frozen (unless you want ice cream).
• Saturday, September 27, National Public Lands Day, is an opportunity to get hands-on with the preservation and beautification of Valley Forge National Historical Park. Volunteers will roll their sleeves up and join with park staff for work projects, guided nature hikes, and educational activities. The day of service also includes information on protecting and exploring natural resources at an environmental expo.
• Attendees at the Upper Perkiomen Bird and Wildlife Festival at Green Lane Park tune into tweets that aren't online. This avian-themed chance to unplug occurs Saturday, September 27, and focuses on birds, wildlife and their habitats. Included are live bird and butterfly demonstrations, tips for inviting fine feathered friends into the backyard and plenty of music, crafts games, art and food.
• As October approaches, thoughts turn to candy! The Fall Fest hosted by Asher's Chocolates on Saturday, September 27, provides sweet samples, along with hot dogs, live music, games, raffles and magic, all spread out under the autumn sun on the greenery of the chocolate maker's front lawn.
• The Sly Fox Brewery, Pottstown, Pa., dedicates one of its brews to the season by naming it "Oktoberfest," but this special blend of German Vienna malts and German hops - a 2013 Great American Beer Festival Bronze Medal Winner - is available throughout the fall. The Can Jam event, September 27, is a full day of free, live music that is maximized in the great outdoors alongside the brew house.
• For the third year running, the King of Prussia Beerfest Royale creates all the atmosphere, music, food and drink of a German biergarten, at the easily accessible King of Prussia Mall. Running Thursday, October 2, and Saturday, October 4, this celebration of the art of the local craft brewery traditionally sells out, meaning that ticket-purchasers should hops to it.
• Autumn sunsets are particularly breathtaking, as shadows lengthen across open amber fields. Pennypacker Mills, an outpost of General Washington in 1777, invites history buffs to experience the fall splendor of its lush grounds on Saturday, October 4. An educational walk concludes with the story of the Colonial troops' display of valor, told around a toasty campfire.
• The Mennonite Heritage Center's 2014 Annual Apple Butter Frolic is ripe for Saturday, October 4. Start the day with breakfast; the apple-topped pancakes served alongside apple sausage will fortify you for a day of sheep-herding demonstrations, a tractor parade and other a-peeling events in the German harvest tradition.
• Having the right "stuff" is all that it takes to participate in the Sunday, October 5 scarecrow-making demonstration at Norristown Farm Park. The park supplies the straw and invites arts-and-craft lovers and families to bring all the other accessories, meaning the end result can be as wonderful or as wacky as desired. Finished products are either taken home or donated to decorate the "Park in the Dark" night hike on October17.
• For 41 years, Skippack Days has earned its reputation as a mecca for lovers of art and culture. The 2014 edition, running Saturday and Sunday, October 4 and 5, promises treasures and pleasures along the scenic pathways of Skippack Village. Hand-crafted objets d'art are laid out for purchasers or just browsers, and music, food, drink and kids' activities make for a magical way to spend a fall afternoon.
• Peter Wentz Farmstead holds a Fall Harvest outing each year, with the 2014 edition scheduled for Saturday, October11. The traditional chores of a Colonial farm in autumn are on full and active display, presenting agricultural history, live and in person. Visitors can take note of preservation techniques and try their hands at shelling corn and pressing apples for cider.
• The Medieval Festival held at Glencairn Museum on Sunday, October 26, recreates the days of knights and damsels and lords and ladies, bringing back the artistry and pageantry of a long-ago age. Perfect for those into arts and culture, this exploration of a Romanesque castle includes a costume contest.
• The John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove provides a stunning perspective on fall foliage, from a canoe floating down the gentle Perkiomen Creek to a casual hike. Guided canoe tours are available daily through the end of September. On October 28, the center's two resident eastern screech owls - Sam and Owlbert - take center stage, as their life cycle is explained in detail, including their sharp-eyed approach to tracking and hunting. An owl-themed takeaway craft is also part of this family-fun, outdoor program.
• For nature lovers who want their fall frolic to be a little less structured, Montgomery County's 60miles of interconnected trails offer the chance to unwind; enjoy a canopy of leaves tinged orange, red and yellow; and breathe deep the woody scent of autumn. Among our standout spots for a seasonal walk, bike ride or run are the Perkiomen Trail and the Schuylkill River Trail.

The Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board is making it easier to enjoy a fall escape in Montgomery County, Pa. The Board's website (www.valleyforge.org) provides full information on all area hotels, including special rates and other enticements. September and October provides the perfect timeframe for a weekend in one of our cozy, romantic B&Bs or inns, which are also listed. Find your comfortable place to "fall" into for a getaway.

The Valley Forge Tourism and Convention Board is a nonprofit, membership-based sales and marketing organization that actively promotes the Valley Forge area and Montgomery County, Pa., as a convention site and leisure visitor destination by encouraging patronage of its 300-plus member hotels, restaurants, attractions and services. The Board's website serves visitors, meeting planners, tour operators and residents, as well as hosting The Pursuit, a twice-weekly blog.