Visit Bucks County Reveals What's Ahead In Bucks In 2024

BUCKS COUNTY, PA — Bucks County is welcoming an exciting 2024 with the opening of new lodging venues, attractions, restaurants and exhibits in addition to the debut of several brand new family-friendly festivals.

During a webinar on January 31, Visit Bucks County's President and COO Paul Bencivengo shared updates on upcoming hospitality openings and Adam Sacks, president of tourism economics touched on 2024 key performance indicators.

Visit Bucks County finished 2023 strong, reaching some major digital milestones. Its social channels grew rapidly in 2023 as more and more people heard and learned about Bucks County as a destination.

Video views increased more than 1,000 percent on Instagram, 250 percent on Tik Tok and
40 percent on YouTube since 2022, with video reels creating the largest traction. As a result of the digital and social media focus, page views were up 125 percent at visitbuckscounty.com over 2022.

According to Sacks, demand for overnight rooms in Bucks County in 2023 showed strength with recent performance in December nearing levels seen in 2019. In 2023, hotel room revenue performed ahead of 2019 with Q4 surpassing 2019 by 9.2 percent. (Source: STR, Inc.) The positive trend is expected to continue into 2024 with hotel room revenue projected to increase by 2.6 percent.

The year ahead, said the Visit Bucks officials, will see the addition of new lodging options, new events and festivals, and the opening of new restaurants, attractions and businesses. There's a lot on the horizon as 2024 moves ahead.

Hotels & B&Bs

• Bristol Borough’s new nine-room boutique hotel, The Radcliffe, expects to open in the fall.
• ·The Carversville Inn plans to reopen following renovations. The historic country inn located at 6205 Fleecy Dale Road is adding a first-floor 65-seat restaurant, eight inn rooms on the second and third floors, along with a 626-square-foot addition.

Entertainment

• Sesame Place Philadelphia will introduce the 123 Playground, a new, 3,000 square-foot play area this spring. The imaginative and colorful play area will be centrally located at the former site of the Sunny Day Carousel, which is currently being renovated and will reopen in the center of Sesame Plaza this spring.
• Hellerick’s Family Farm is adding on an 18-hole championship barnyard-themed Mini Golf course this spring. The county’s newest and premiere mini-golf course will feature animal displays, farm equipment, and education built into the ADA-compliant course.

Hellerick's Family Farm. (Visit Bucks County)

• TreeTrails Trevose is expanding its Dual Racing Ziplines. The newest additions to TreeTrails Adventures Trevose include dual 1,000 foot racing ziplines and a new 15 element zip trail.
• Main Swing Golf, a new indoor golf lounge teed-up its grand opening just in time for 2024. Located on the second floor of the Main Street Marketplace in Doylestown Borough, the space features a lounge area with big screen TVs, four simulation bays, all of which are equipped with state-of-the-art technology. The lounge is BYOB and members are encouraged to pick up food and beverages at one of the vendors located on the first floor. Private parties and groups are welcome.
• Improvements next to the Dublin Town Center are underway. One of Nehemiah Development Company’s investor groups recently purchased the Dublin Town shopping center. Enhancing the façade and other improvements are underway. They look forward to welcoming tourism and hospitality additions to be announced later in the year.

Arts & Culture

• Starting in the spring, the Michener Art Museum will be offering free admission on the second Sunday of the month and will be open late for an “Art Night Out” on the first Thursday of the month. Art Nights Out will feature fun workshops, performances and speakers designed to engage art enthusiasts at all levels. The Michener Art Museum will be free of charge on the Second Sundays of the month and will include activities and performances for families.
• Pearl S. Buck International is celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2024 by hosting events throughout the year to celebrate. The events kickoff with a special exhibit using the fashions of Pearl Buck to tell her story and the story of PSBI. "Hidden Gems: Fashioning A Legacy" will open March 15. A 60th anniversary gala is planned for May 16. A "Living the Legacy Breakfast: 60 Years" takes place on June 26 (Pearl Buck's birthday). And a Pearl S. Buck Symposium in the fall will feature international and university partnerships and research paper presentations.

Pearl S. Buck International will be celebrating its 6oth anniversary in 2024.

• Andalusia Historic House, Gardens & Arboretum, is now an official Partner Garden of the Royal Horticultural Society of the United Kingdom, making it the only garden in the United States to earn this special distinction.
• The Mercer Museum in Doylestown is embarking on a new exhibition that explores the history and intrigue of a group of Revolutionary War era Loyalists, whose legend lives on today. "The Doan Gang: Outlaws of the Revolution," opens in May on the cusp of the 250th anniversary of the United States. Discover the untold stories of these outlaws at the Mercer Museum’s immersive exhibition, and journey through a world of espionage, legendary robberies, and mythical lost treasure in the heart of Revolutionary Bucks County.
• Moravian Pottery & Tile Works is gearing up for a busy year of events and experiential community tile classes at its working history museum in Doylestown. Their event calendar includes: TileFest, Bluegrass in the Courtyard, Pumpkin Fest, Renaissance Fair, and more. Join them this year for Tile Fest. For two days, the building and grounds at the TileWorks 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”. Local food trucks will be available for visitors to enjoy.
• The Sounds of Summer Concert Series returns to the Univest Performance Center in Quakertown in 2024. Locash will be performing on July 19 and The Hooters will appear on Friday, August 23 as part of their “More Rocking, More Swing” tour.

Events & Festivals

• In 2024 Washington Crossing Historic Park is adding a Thompson-Neely House Encampment Tour, an evening encampment before the First Crossing Event. The event will include twilight living history presentations by the 3rd NJ Grays Reenacting Unit. This immersive experience will show visitors what daily life was like for the soldiers, how they lived, what they ate, and most importantly how they survived the conditions before they went on to win at Trenton.

An evening encampment is coming to Washington Crossing Historic Park in 2024.

• Peddler's Village is adding two new event weekends to their calendar in 2024 including Village of Chocolate (Feb. 14 to 18). The event will feature chocolate drink and dining specials, culinary events, a village-wide chocolate game with prizes, and “Chocolate-Covered Workshops.” In addition, a Bucks Fever Talent Show and art exhibition will be presented June 22 and 23 in partnership with the Central Bucks Chamber of Commerce. Brown Bag-It with the Arts performances on Fridays at noon from May through September.

Wedding & Event Venues

• Bristol Manor, a renovated 1879 Victorian estate, has opened in Bensalem. Immerse yourself with this one-of-a-kind experience perfect for private dinners and tasting events with a private chef.
• Café @ the Mill, a Sellersville restaurant, is growing its business into a small-batch craft beer brewery. Café @ the Mill hopes to have its brewery up and running by late spring or early summer. Once the brewery portion is in operation, they will focus their attention to the outside, where they plan to host public events, including live music and family movie nights out on the lawn and put up a tent to serve as a venue space for private events, such as weddings.

• Iconic Events, a 3,500 square foot event space for 100 people, has opened in Bensalem.
• Blue Sunday Bar & Grille, an Asian-American fusion restaurant and event space, has opened in the former Michael’s in Bensalem.

Wineries and Breweries

• Waters Edge Winery & Bistro is set to open in February in Doylestown at 50 North Broad Street. The innovative craft, micro-winery will offer a worldly wine experience. The new venue will combine elements of a traditional winemaking experience with the popular, unique Waters Edge Wineries wine bar concept. Guests will be able to enjoy a selection of paninis, sandwiches and flatbreads all complemented with mouthwatering desserts including a limoncello flute and Coppa Tiramisu among others. A ‘Winemakers Table’ that accommodates 24 people will provide an exceptional experience with tastings of exquisitely aged wines drawn straight from the winery’s tanks. Wine club memberships are available for wine enthusiasts.
• Artifact Brewing is opening a second location in Doylestown this spring. The taproom will have bar seating, high-top tables and a live edge drink rail, along with a roll-up glass door, which will open up on warmer days. From there, customers will be able to see into the production area and catch a view of the 7-barrel brewing system. In addition to beer, the menu will include Pennsylvania wines, whiskeys from Upper Moreland-based Mermaid Spirits and specialty cocktails made with Blue Stem Botanicals.

Second Sin Brewing is expanding with a new taproom in Newtown this spring at 17 North State Street. (Visit Bucks County)

• Second Sin Brewing Company is expanding with a new taproom in Newtown at 17 North State Street. The Bristol-based brewery is opening a second location at a 1,400 square foot building that used to be a “Board and Brush”. They will offer a more extensive all-PA cocktail menu and some wines, nitro coffee, and 12+ taps. Food trucks will be scheduled for this location, and there are a lot of great local places that customers can pick up from or get delivery. Opening early 2024.
• Tranquility Brewing is opening a second location in Kitnersville. The taproom is slated to open in late 2024 and will be located at the former Great American Grill.
• Aristaeus Craft Brewing Company is expanding production in a big way at its Big Oak Road location in Middletown Township. The addition of five new tanks will double the brewing capacity to 40 barrels, allowing them to brew additional varieties of beer to expand their draft and to-go beer selections. New beer releases will be numerous but one style to look for is our world-exclusive Brazilian ales. Aristaeus is the first and the only brewery outside of Brazil to brew this emerging style with a line of newly developed Brazilian grown hops that are sure to excite your taste buds! Aristaeus turns three this summer and there will be a big event to celebrate their anniversary on June 22 with special beer releases, live music, and lots of fun activities.
• Daddy Tom’s Cocktail Lounge at 304 Mill Street in Bristol Borough, created by Itri is a nightspot, cocktail lounge and “speakeasy.” Adding to the Itri Family’s establishments it offers an intimate, funky and cool atmosphere. Featuring traditional, unique and sustainable wines and carefully selected beer.

Restaurant Openings

• La Grange, opening in Lower Makefield at Pricket Preserve, will be a new, casual French concept from the owners of Italian restaurant La Stalla. Visitors can enjoy French cuisine, casual but with stylish and chic food and ambiance.
• The Yardley Restaurant Group recently opened Yardley Distillery Tex-Mex in Morrisville, paying homage to the authentic tastes of Texas and Mexico while infusing the distinct character of Yardley Distillery’s craft spirits. Future plans include another Morrisville restaurant, Calhoun's River Deck Raw Bar. The restaurant will offer a unique waterfront dining experience and feature a menu showcasing a raw bar with fresh, locally-sourced seafood, a variety of tapas dishes, and craft cocktails, beer, and wine.
• Capital Grille is coming to the Village at Newtown shopping center on Eagle Road. The 8,000-square-foot, 236-seat upscale steak house will be the first Capital Grille in Bucks County and the fourth in Pennsylvania. Projected to open summer 2024.
• Steam Coffee Company is opening in summer 2024 along the Newtown Trail Rail in Upper Southampton. Expect coffee, ice cream, acai bowls, smoothies as well as delicious baked goods and grab and go items, perfect for walking the trail.
• Drift of Mill, an American-style restaurant and bar, is coming to Mill Street in Bristol.
• Greenstraw in Newtown has new ownership and is rebranding as Newtown’s first plant-based vegan cafe. Short-term plans include adding specialty coffees to the menu, "veganizing" the current menu, and introducing some hot items, including wraps, small sandwiches, and maybe even a burger.
• Firebirds Wood Fired Grill will open its first Bucks County location in Yardley in the spring. The eatery’s menu offers burgers, steak and seafood.
• Duck Donuts, the North Carolina-based bakery chain, will be opening two Bucks County locations in Warrington and Lower Makefield. In addition to donuts, the business sells coffee, ice cream, sundaes and breakfast sandwiches.
• Dtown Cafe is bringing its mouthwatering baked goods, sandwiches and Old World-style cooking to Doylestown Township. Their Old World-style pierogies are available with a variety of different fillings including its popular potato and cheese, sauerkraut and buffalo chicken are made fresh and then frozen for the customer’s convenience.They also make fresh bread daily from scratch, as well as a variety of pastries and confections including its delicious cinnamon buns, tasty cookies, and buttery, flaky crust chicken pot pies. The cafe also serves fresh soups made from scratch, salads and hot and cold sandwiches.
• Eat & Drink at Dublin Town Center. When you’re looking for something new, consider all that DTC has to offer. The Station is home to Itri Woodfired Pizza, Little Devils, Manhattan Bagel, Neshaminy Creek Brewing Company, Nina’s Waffles & Ice Cream and Taqueria Tlaxcali. At The Square, Farm to Toast and coming soon, an elevated bistro menu will be offered from their new kitchen at The Boiler Room. The Plaza offers China Sun, Taormina’s Pizza and Latin Pot Street Food.

• Altomonte’s is opening a third location, Alto Bakery and Café on West Street Road in Warminster. Altomonte’s Italian Market and Deli has been family-owned and operated for 52 years and has locations on York Road in Warminster and in Doylestown. The mission of Alto Bakery & Café is to delight and nourish the community with an array of Italian baked goods, espresso drinks, and elegant desserts. With tried-and-true recipes passed down through generations, using only the finest ingredients, Alto Bakery and Caffè brings the flavors of Italy and a convenient grab-and-go service to the region.
• Brown’s Doughnut and Pastry Co. are bringing their scratch-made baked goods to Chalfont in early 2024. In addition to their Dublin location, their new shop will be located at 284 W. Butler Ave. offering scratch-made doughnuts, bagels, pastries, breakfast sandwiches and locally roasted coffee drinks. Their drip coffees and lattes are made with coffee from Homestead Coffee Roasters in Upper Black Eddy and come in many flavors using their own syrups made in-house. Brown’s menu also includes fresh-squeezed lemonade, tea and hot chocolate. Custom cakes and cookies can be preordered online, as well as dessert trays, large orders, holiday menu items and otherposted specials. Keep an eye out for their special monthly releases!

# # #