Spring has sprung! Gardens are greening up; flowers are on the rise; the trees are beginning to bud. Skip the chores and get outside this weekend, enjoying all that Montgomery County has to offer.
All weekend long, April 17-19, the John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove will bloom with imaginative activity. Fifty artists - using a wide variety of techniques and mediums - will interpret this significant homestead's fields, forests, buildings and birds in the Plein Aire tradition. Come and watch them work, and while you're there, scope out your favorites, which will be on sale at an Audubon Center fundraiser on April 24. Also on hand will be an exhibit of the exciting renovation and expansion coming to Mill Grove.
Colebrookdale Railroad chugs into the spring season with two Earth Day-themed excursions on April 18. The 10 a.m., 11 a.m. and noon departures invite riders to witness the "Secret Valley" between Boyertown and Pottstown emerge from its winter hibernation.
The 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. trains will have riders getting down and dirty. During what is being called the "Mudball Express," ticketholders will receive gobs of mud that contain flower seeds. As the train trundles along, they are invited to fling their missiles at the passing landscape, having a messy good time while reseeding the environment.
Saturday night, April 18, the Valley Forge Casino Resort explodes with an exciting night of boxing. Headlining is intriguing eight-round super middleweight bout between Phillip Jackson Benson and Darnell Boone. Brooklyn born Benson of has a record of 15-1 with 14 knockouts and has won 12 straight fights -eleven of which came via the stoppage route. Boone of Atlanta, Georgia is known as one of the "toughest outs" in the sport and may have most deceiving record in boxing that reads 20-21-4 with nine knockouts. The remainder of the card promises a full night of gripping sports action. Grab yourself a ringside seat and cheer your lungs out.
The Desmond Hotel is the site of the Bottoms Up for Prostate Cancer event on April 18 from 6-9 p.m. Special guest is Steve Morrison of WMMR's Preston & Steve Show, himself a cancer survivor. The party, which benefits the Pennsylvania Prostate Cancer Coalition, features seven tasting stations, six different breweries, three wine vendors and a few craft cocktail stations. Among the brewers represented is Sly Fox of Pottstown, providing a number of hand-crafted beverages. All that sampling takes place against a soundtrack of lively dance music for a complete night on the town in Malvern.
The Valley Forge Revolutionary 5-Mile Run® - the signature event of the Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board - steps off this Sunday, April 19. Online registrations have closed, but if you still want to participate, race to our King of Prussia office (1000 First Avenue, Suite 101) on Friday until 6 p.m. or Saturday until noon. Proceeds benefit the visitor experience at Valley Forge National Historical Park. As a reminder: No registrations are permitted on race day itself. Additional details on packet pickup and parking instructions are here. And if you need a dose of extra inspiration, see our music video and feel free to sing along.
Whew! That's a lot going on. Maybe as a breather between the train ride, the boxing event and the next day's Rev Run, it's advisable to check into a nearby hotel. Our website has plenty of information on recommended hotels, quaint B&Bs and comfortable inns. If you are attending or participating in the Rev Run, be aware that the finish time should leave you with plenty of opportunity to take advantage of the nearby Sunday brunch at the Black Powder Tavern, just on the southeastern border of the park.
