The Pennsylvania Maple Festival, one of the oldest in the nation, brings visitors to Meyersdale in the foothills of southern Somerset County, Pa. The festival celebrates its 44th year April 6 and 7 and April 10-14 with activities ranging from maple sugaring demonstrations to a horse pulling contest, a Queen's Ball and a maple run.
The hub of activity will be at Festival Park on Meyers Avenue, where you can visit a small maple camp and see demonstrations of the sugaring process from the tapping of the trees to the finished product. Pure maple sugar products will be for sale in the park and at other locations throughout town. The park also contains an authentic cobbler's shop, reputed to be the most complete one east of the Mississippi, an antique doctor's office, an old-fashioned country store and historic Maple Manor.
About 100 craftspeople will be demonstrating and selling their -- wares and country. Bluegrass musicians and cloggers will perform on the park stage both Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. Admission to the park and all the activities is $3 for adults, $2 for seniors, $1 for ages 13 to 18, free for children 12 and under.
The Lions Club will sell pancake and sausage dinners at the community building two blocks from the park. The cost is $4 for adults and $2.75 for those under 12. The annual festival quilt show has moved to the second floor of the new fire hall, across the street from the community building. Admission to the show is Other events include the Queen's Ball on Saturday; a pony and horse pulling contest, a street rod and classic auto show, and the annual maple run, all scheduled next Sunday; the Grand Feature Parade on April 13 at 5 p.m.; and an antique auto show in the uptown area April 14.
For information, call (814) 634-0213.
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Lectures, clinics and tours are expected to bring over 400 gardening enthusiasts and horticultural professionals to Colonial Williamsburg April 7-10 for the 45th Williamsburg Garden Symposium. The event is sponsored by Colonial Williamsburg Foundation in conjunction with the American Horticultural Society.
"Garden Earth," theme of this year's event, focuses on individual gardeners caring for their portion of the environment. The keynote address, "Enhancing Garden Earth Through Science and Education," will be given by Charles Hess, assistant secretary, U.S. Department of Agriculture. Roger B. Swain, host of PBS's "Victory Garden," will discuss wildlife in the garden; Kenn Stephens, international lecturer and president of International Design Symposium, will demonstrate color and style of flower arranging; and Warren Schultz, editor-in-chief of National Gardening magazine, will give a slide presentation on Soviet gardens.
Additional activities include an early-morning bird walk, wildflower walks, daily teas and coffees, tours of herb gardens in Williamsburg's historic area and a walking tour of the grounds and gardens at Carter's Grove.
The registration fee for the symposium is $200. Individual lecture tickets for evening presentations and morning lectures will be available at the door for $10 on a space-available basis. For information, call (804) 220-7255.
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Richwood, W.Va., known as the "Ramp Capital of the World," will host its traditional "Feast of the Ramson" on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Richwood High School. Past festivals have attracted people from as far away as California.
For those unfamiliar with the ramp, it has the appearance of a green or spring onion. Some say ramps taste like sweet green onions, while others report that they have a taste all their own. Ramps will be served fried or raw so you can judge for yourself. The feast also includes ham, bacon, fried potatoes, brown and white beans and corn bread. Sassafras tea, the traditional drink, will be one of the beverages served. The cost is $6 for adults, $3 for children. Old-time music and dance will be performed throughout the day, and arts and crafts displays by more than 60 of the region's best artisans will be set up in the school gym. For information, call the Richwood Area Chamber of Commerce, (304) 846-6790, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
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The 17th running of the Marlborough Hunt Club's annual point-to-point races will be held next Sunday at Roedown Farm, historic home of Mrs. John Begg in Davidsonville.
A program of nine races, includes a two-mile open hurdle race, a three-mile timber race, races on the flat and a pony race for young riders. The first race begins at 12:30 p.m. Admission is $5, including parking.
Roedown Farm is 20 minutes from Annapolis at Harwood and Wayson roads near Davidsonville. For information, call (301) 798-5040.
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This year's 200th anniversary of the Bill of Rights is being recognized in Philadelphia with special events, exhibits, performances and programs throughout the city. Two programs this spring examine freedom of expression. The first is "Paul Robeson/I Shall Be Heard: The Search for Expression," which takes place Tuesday through April 9. The festival features an international symposium, workshops, a film festival, poetry contest and monthlong programs and exhibits. The second event is the Freedom of Expression Weekend at America's First Zoo on April 27 and 28. Hands-on activities, such as building a flag sculpture, painting a freedom of expression mural and meeting patriot characters, are designed to teach children and their parents more about the First Amendment. For information, call (215) 636-1666.
As part of the Bill of Rights celebration the Philadelphia Museum of Art is presenting an exhibition of works by Henry Ossawa Tanner through April 14. Tanner, who lived and studied in Philadelphia, is considered one of the nation's foremost African-American artists. The exhibition includes his most famous painting, "The Banjo Lesson," along with more than 90 other paintings and 20 drawings spanning the artist's 50-year career. The museum is open Tuesdays to Sundays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For information, call (215) 787-5431.
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The works and life of America's first mystery writer, Edgar Allan Poe, will be spotlighted during the first Poe Mystery Weekend Friday through next Sunday in Cape May, N.J.
The weekend begins with a welcoming reception Friday evening at the Wilbraham Mansion and Inn. On Saturday afternoon there will be a self-guided tour through Cape May's inns. Participants can test their knowledge of Poe's works by checking out clues found at each of the inns that represent scenes from a Poe story. Tickets cost $18 and will be available that day at Carroll Villa. In the evening a dinner will be held at Elaine's Victorian Inn, followed by a one-man performance titled "Poe: The Myth of Mystery." Sunday's agenda includes a film and in-depth discussion, led by Jeff Jerome, director of the Poe House in Baltimore. The talk will take place at the First Presbyterian Church of Cape May and will be followed by afternoon tea. Walking tours of the historic district and admission to the Cape May Point Lighthouse are included in the weekend package.
For information, call the Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts, (609) 884-5404.