6 Things To Do This Weekend In Bucks County

BUCKS COUNTY, PA — This weekend is packed with things to do in Bucks County, from a walking tour of downtown Yardley to the only tile festival in the nation.

The 20th anniversary of PrideFest, New Hope's month-long celebration of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community, continues this weekend with a Pride Parade and a Pride Fair on Saturday.

A Peony Festival will make its debut at Hortulus Farm and Nursery in Wrightstown Township this weekend. The event features two days devoted to "stunning, old-fashioned magnificent blooms."

And for all those Beatles fans out there, a not-to-be-missed event is a special photographic exhibit featuring images of John Lennon and the "Lost Weekend." The show, taking place at the Arete Gallery in New Hope, will feature the photographs of May Pang who will be on hand to talk with visitors about her treasured images.

Tile Fest Bringing 25 Craftmakers To Bucks County

This weekend, the public has a unique opportunity to enjoy the sights and sounds of the only Tile Festival of its kind in the nation attracting artists from Florida to Alaska. The two-day event takes place on Saturday, May 20 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, May 21 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Moravian Pottery and Tile Works in Doylestown. Admission is $10. For two days, the building and grounds at the Tile Works will become a marketplace of bespoke contemporary, vintage and
antique tile displayed by makers and collectors from around the globe. In addition, there will be demonstrations and activities for the “Tile Curious.” The public will enjoy beautiful tiles, demonstrations and local food trucks. The tile making tradition started right here in Bucks
County with Henry Chapman Mercer (1856-1930), a leading arts and crafts movement tile maker. Between 1911 and 1912, Mercer built the Moravian Pottery and Tile Works to “master the potter’s art and establish pottery under personal control.” The success of the Moravian Pottery and Tile Works rested on Mercer's pure genius. With a small capital investment, relatively inexpensive operating costs, and an ability to produce a range of wares that made the best use of biotechnology, the pottery produced unique tiles that were praised by critics and sought after by
architects. The honest, hand-made quality of his work fully expressed the ideals of the American Arts and Crafts Movement, elevating Mercer to one of the movement’s most important proponents. His tiles were emblematic of the survival, or rebirth, of the handcraft tradition. By
the turn of the century, he was recognized as a premiere maker of “artistic” tiles. For the next 30 years, his work was sought out by leading architects and tastemakers to decorate public and private buildings all across the country. Mercer’s pioneering influence was far-reaching and still affects many tilemakers today. The Moravian Pottery and Tile Works is located at 130 East Swamp Road, Doylestown 18901. For information, call 215.239.9797 or email info@thetileworks.org

(Photo courtesy of the Moravian Pottery and Tile Works)

New Hope Celebrates 20th Anniversary of PrideFest

The 20th Anniversary of PrideFest continues on Saturday in New Hope and Lambertville with a Pride Parade scheduled to step off at 11 a.m. The parade will march from New Jersey across the Delaware River to Pennsylvania with more than 1,300 participants from local businesses, nonprofits, national marching bands, and floats, plus NHC’s 100 foot Rainbow Equality Flag. Immediately after the parade, a Pride Fair takes place in Pride Park at the corner of New Street and South Main featuring local LGBTQ+ artists, food vendors, nonprofits, professional services, and retailers. PrideFest Live, an outdoor concert with live entertainment, will run from 12 to 5 p.m. And don’t miss the Best Cocktail Contest, which invites guests ages 21+ to try signature drinks made with Tito’s Handmade Vodka and Corralejo Tequila at participating establishments and cast a vote for their favorite cocktail all month. Additional artistic events, educational activities, parties, and more are scheduled throughout the month. Click here for more information. "I am so proud that what started as a one-day affair for the LGBTQ+ community and beyond, has turned into a month of celebratory, diverse, and inclusive events that offer something for everyone,” said NHC founder Daniel Brooks. “Our journey carries on thanks to generations of community members who populate the NHC Board, each committed to the promotion of our unique area. Bravo to all former and present NHC Board members, volunteers, and the public who turn out every year for our Pride.” Founded two decades ago in 2003, NHC is a non-profit organization on a mission of bringing people together to share in a celebration of inclusivity, creativity, diversity, and sustainability in New Hope and Lambertville. NHC’s team of volunteers has grown Pride from a one-day event to a month long PrideFest. “We are fortunate to live and celebrate in a community that accepts and embraces diversity. While we celebrate we must also remember to thank those who paved the way for us as well as pay it forward and continue to drive for equality and inclusiveness across the LGBTQ+ community. Please join us as we celebrate our twenty-year anniversary and come FIND YOUR PRIDE in New Hope,” said Sharon Fronabarger, former President and current Advisor to the Board.

(Photo courtesy of New Hope Celebrates)

British Car Show Rolls onto Bridge Street in Morrisville

A British Car Show rolls into Morrisville on Satuday, May 20 from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The old-fashioned car show is presented by the Morrisville Business Association and the British Cars of Bucks County. Visitors are encouraged to wander the street, same and enjoy local merchant offerings and view a collection of classic American and Imported cars, Jeeps and trucks. An awards ceremony is scheduled for 1 p.m. with trophies given in the following classes: Prior to 1949, 1950-59, 1960-69, 1970-79, 1980-89 and modern classics. Preregistration is $15 at or $20 day-of-show. Registraiton opens at 8 a.m. Enter Bridge Street from either South Pennsylvania Avenue or Delmorr Avenue. The rain date is May 27. Questions? Contact Andrew Lubin at alubinmb@outlook.com or call 215-584-2595.

Imagine The Past In Downtown Yardley Borough

The Yardley Historic Association presents "Imagine the Past," a historic walking tour of downtown Yardley on Sunday, May 21 beginning at 2 p.m. at the Old Library by Lake Afton at 46 West Afton Avenue, Yardley. Join Charlie Thomforde for a one-hour tour of the heart of Yardley. While strolling on Afton Avenue, Canal Street and Main Street, you will encounter the town’s evolution from a single grist mill on Brock Creek to a thriving, diverse community. The Yardleyville Bridge, the Delaware Canal, the railroad, trollies, two competing fire companies, and life in small town America will all be part of the story. Light refreshments will be served after the tour. Donation: $10 per person. Reservations are required. To make yours, call 215-208-1154 or send an e-mail to info@yardleyhistory.org.

Exploring the past in downtown Yardley. (photo courtesy of the Yardley Historic Association)

Peony Fest This Weekend At Hortulus Farm

The first-ever Peony Festival is coming to Hortulus Farm this weekend. The event takes place on Saturday and Sunday, May 20 and 21 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. spotlighting the stunning, old-fashioned plants at peak bloom. "As these magnificent blooms begin to burst forth, they create an explosion of color throughout the month of May filling the farm with fluffy pink, red and white flowers - a truly breathtaking sight," said Jon Kontz, executive director at Hortulus. From cut-your-own flower options to photo shoot opportunities, visitors will have plenty of chances to get up close and personal with these beautiful blooms. Guests will enjoy live music and artisanal food as they encounter 3,000 peonies. For those interested in the artistry behind the blooms, Hortulus will be offering a live peony leaf impressions demonstration with Modern Fossils, giving visitors a unique opportunity to see how these stunning plants can be transformed into beautiful works of art. And for those looking to get creative themselves, a paper flower crown craft station will be set up, offering a fun and interactive way o celebrate the beauty of the peony. For more information about the farm and nursery, visit www.HortulusFarm.com and follow Hortulus on Instagram at @Hortulus.Farm. To read more about the weekend, click here.

Peonies at Hortulus Farm in Wrightstown Township.

May Pang To Exhibit "Lost Weekend" Candids Of John Lennon

Few people knew John Lennon as intimately as May Pang. Pang was Lennon’s lover during the infamous “Lost Weekend,” which lasted 18 months during late 1973 through 1975. During this highly-creative time for Lennon, Pang took candid photos of Lennon in a comfortable, relaxed environment. A collection of these private photographs will be on display and available for purchase at Arete Gallery, 122 South Main Street, New Hope on Friday, May 19 through Sunday, May 21. Admission to the exhibit is free and all works are available to purchase. May Pang will be in attendance at the gallery meeting customers and telling stories behind these amazing limited-edition photographs of John Lennon. “The Lost Weekend – The Photography of May Pang” exhibition will provide fans with a rare opportunity to see John Lennon in a new light, through the lens of someone who knew him intimately during one of the most creative periods of his life. Pang’s photos will be on display and available to purchase for three days only. Check out the show and meet May Pang at Arete Gallery, 122 S. Main Street, New Hope, on Friday, May 19 through Sunday, May 21. To Read More, CLICK HERE.

The Toy Calico Ghost Town, CA 1973. (Contributed)