Spring Events

Spring Forward: Contemporary Fiber Art in Historic Houses

Philadelphia Parks & Recreation (PPR) is pleased to announce a fiber art installation at Lemon Hill and Mount Pleasant.  The work of Rachel Blythe Udell and Melissa Maddonni Haims will be unveiled on Saturday, May 18th as part of Love Your Park Week. 

Public Opening - Meet the artists!

Melissa Maddonni Haims at Mount Pleasant    
Saturday, May 18th - 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.                  
Installation runs through June 30th         
Click here for hours of operation

Rachel Blythe Udell at Lemon Hill                    
Saturday, May 18th - 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.                
Installation runs through June 9th              
Click here for hours of operation

This project pairs Philadelphia’s leading fiber artists with the historic halls of Lemon Hill and Mount Pleasant. The result is an opportunity to see the park houses in a new light - a juxtaposition of craftsmanship of the past and present.

Fiber art, yarn bombing and soft sculpture are popular forms of contemporary art which are also a safe way to temporarily redecorate – and re-imagine – the park’s historic houses without threatening valued antiques and architecture.

In 2012 PPR issued a call to artists with this challenge: “Create contemporary art that draws attention to the building’s fine spaces and architectural details...without endangering the integrity of the features or walls (no nails, screws, tacks, staples, etc.)”

After the May 18th unveiling visitors may see the work during the visiting hours at Lemon Hill and Mount Pleasant.

Love Your Park <House> Week

Love Your Park week is May 11 – 18th, 2013.  As part of this city-wide celebration of our fantastic parks and the folks who love them, The Charms houses are offering a number of events:

Open House!  Free entry to select park houses.

To celebrate the new tour season and Love Your Park Week, the following Charms houses will be open to the public for FREE on Saturday, May 18th:

• Laurel Hill - 1pm to 4pm
• Mount Pleasant - 1pm to 4pm
• Woodford - 1pm to 4pm
• Lemon Hill - 2pm to 5pm

Due to the Stotesbury Regatta, the houses will only be open during the hours posted above.  It is recommended that visitors arriving by car use the 33rd Street entrance to East Fairmount Park (access via Girard Avenue or Ridge Avenue).  Kelly Drive will be detoured for much of the day.

On-Site | Insight: The Insider’s Guide to Fairmount Park Lectures

Through both illustrated lectures at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and field trips to various sites, this course provides an in-depth look at the development of Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park and the art and architecture found within. Trolley transportation for the field trips provided.
Thursday, May 9:  1:30-4:00pm
Lecture/Field trip #1
“Before the Park: Gracious Living along the Schuylkill River”
Thursday, May 16: 1:30-4:00pm
Lecture/Field trip #2
“Assembling a Changing Landscape”

Visit philamuseum.org/parkhouses or call 215-235-SHOW (7469) for more information and tickets.

Love Your Park Historic House Bike Tour
Each May, the Philadelphia Parks & Recreation kicks off the busy summer season through a series of Love Your Park events to encourage everyone to go out and explore the sprawling Fairmount Park system and its many resources.  To celebrate the Charms houses, bike riders can take the winding roads through East Park for a guided tour of the historic mansions located there. Along the way, take stops in front of several mansions to discuss their unique history and finish with a tour of the lovely Woodford Mansion. The tour returns to Lloyd Hall where everyone is encouraged to stay and socialize with food and live music, and a BYOB.

Trolley Tour - Scandal, Flirtation, Survival
Sunday, May 19, 2013
1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Tour departs from the West Entrance of the Philadelphia Museum of Art
Paid tickets required   $38 non-member  ($30 PMA member), ticket required
Hear the compelling stories of the early American women who led the households at Mount Pleasant (an architectural masterpiece built in 1762–65), Woodford, and Laurel Hill (completed by 1767).
Visit philamuseum.org/parkhouses or call 215-235-SHOW (7469) for more information and tickets.

Summer Events

Laurel Hill Concerts by Candlelight: Summer Sundays
On select Sundays throughout the summer, a beloved tradition continues at Laurel Hill.  Just as the original owners of the Charms house sought to escape the city heat and stress, visitors can enjoy these early evening concerts in the parlor of the mansion.  The candlelight glow begins as the sun sets over a steep view of the river to make for the perfect setting for such offerings as piano trios, string quartets, harpists, guitarists and more.
Contact Information for Laurel Hill

Lemon Hill Bike Race Viewing Party: Early June
Lemon Hill offers what is considered a “best place to watch” location for this well-known international event.  Enjoy this shady and elegant spot, along with food and friends, as the dramatic backdrop to enhance your view of one of the world’s most competitive races, the annual Philadelphia International Cycling Championship.  Held every June, fans line the arduous road course to watch elite pro cyclists whip through the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Kelly Drive, the feared Manayunk Wall, and through Fairmount Park before heading back to the finish line on the Parkway.  Both the men’s race, a 150 mile route, and the women’s race, a 50 mile route, pass right in front of Lemon Hill several times.
Contact Information for Lemon Hill

Woodford Orchard Strawberry Harvest Festival: Early June
Enjoy fresh strawberries, games, food and fun in the lovely orchard of Woodford Mansion. Celebrate the bounty of the season as we harvest the berries of summer.  Also, visitors can help to plant and to clean up the orchard while learning about gardening, rain water collection and composting in this working orchard.

Fall Events

Boxers' Trail 5K Run/Walk & East Park Fun Fair
Come celebrate autumn in Fairmount Park!. Beginning in fall 2012, a new annual event is launching to celebrate the Charms of Fairmount Park, the Boxers' Trail and the local community.


Visitors can walk or run the scenic cliff paths of historic East Fairmount Park and experience the trails where Smokin' Joe Frazier trained.
  The event includes a fun fair with seasonal activities provided by the Charms houses, such as pumpkin painting, colonial games, storytelling and more!

For 2012, this event will be held on Saturday October 20 (rain or shine), with registration at 8:00am, the run at 9:00 am and the Fun Fair from 10 am - noon.  All activities are based at Laurel Hill Mansion.  More details at www.myphillypark.org.

Woodford Mansion Fall Harvest Festival
Celebrate the warm flavors of the season as visitors learn about making cider, visit the beehives and taste heirloom apples.  Enjoy pumpkin painting, an apple dessert contest, children's games, refreshments, and more!  Event is free and includes tours of Woodfood Mansion.

Mount Pleasant Themed Tours: Fall
Each fall, Museum-trained Park House Guides create specialty-themed tours, typically over a series of Sunday afternoons.  Each tour delves into an aspect of Mount Pleasant's historic past and former inhabitants.  Tours themes may include: "High Style at Any Cost," "Trade in Philadelphia," "The 1776 Connection," and "Tea Drinking at Mount Pleasant."
Contact Mount Pleasant

Winter Events

The holiday spirit extends to the Charms houses - plan ahead to add this to your annual traditions!

Holiday Open House Tours: Late November - Early December
Each year, the Charms houses dress up in their holiday finery for a festive two weeks with our joyous open house days and special trolley tours.  Decorated by various interior designers and garden clubs, the Charms houses delight visitors with festive adornments and stunning interiors. Greeters at each house warmly welcome guests to see the thematic holiday décor.  It is a perfect way to share the season with friends and family. 

You can see selected homes on your own or register for the trolley tour with a guide to take you to each of the event locations. 

Thank you to all of our 2012 visitors - look here for updates to our 2013 holiday season planning in early fall 2013!

Trolley Tour 2012 reservations were booked through the Philadelphia Museum of Art.  The 2012 Trolley Tour focused on the theme of entertaining at each home (music, tea, food & drink, games, and related activities) and included five decorated Charms houses (Laurel Hill, Lemon Hill, Mount Pleasant, Strawberry Mansion and Woodford), plus a narrated tour on the trolley of their histories.   2012 Trolley Tour Dates were:  Sat Dec 1, Sun Dec 2, Fri Dec 7, Sat Dec 8, Sun Dec 9.   Trolley Tours departed from the West Entrance of the Museum
Paid tickets are required ( 2012 rates were: $40; $32 for members of the Museum)

Holiday Open House: Plan a visit to one or more of the five featured holiday homes on your own during the season. Arrive anytime during scheduled house hours to enjoy the festivities at your own pace.  Regular admission pricing applies.

More Winter Events

Mount Pleasant - Wassail & Confection Happy Hour Toast
Christmastime in the 18th century focused more on the adult activities of eating and drinking than the child-centered present-giving. Experience an authentic colonial Christmas with tastes of food and drink of the period. Program includes a discussion about the role of entertaining during the holiday season as well as period music performances. Fare provided by STARR Events.   Tickets required - 2012 rates: $70 ($60 for members of the Philadelphia Museum of Art).
2012 Dates:
Thursday, December 27, 2012, 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, December 29, 2012, 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Woodford Tour - The Jewish experience in 18th century Philadelphia
David Franks, the owner of Woodford in the 1770s, was a member of a well-to-do and influential Jewish family in colonial America. Join us for a guided tour to hear more about his and other families in the period.  Free after regular house admission.
Tours in the past:
Friday, December 28, 2012
Sunday, December 30, 2012

RESTORATION PROJECTS

The Charms houses are jewels from the past.  We are very fortunate that so many exist today in such good form.  Preserving and managing the needs of historic resources is not easy.  Efforts continue on a regular basis to restore and protect the unique historic character of these homes.   Support from organizations, the city and dedicated individuals helps keep these homes alive and well for the public.

Cedar Grove:  from May – fall 2013 will be closed for restoration the building’s exterior envelope and roof.  Read Press release Here: http://www.philamuseum.org/press/releases/2012/928.html

Strawberry Mansion:  Strawberry Mansion has been undergoing an extensive four year closure for restoration work. The first phase of the rehabilitation project, begun in 2009, restored the exterior of the building, with a new stucco finish, all new windows, and three new roofs. The second phase, scheduled to be completed in December, will include an upgraded electrical system, interior plaster repair, and the installation of a new geothermal climate control HVAC system. The Committee of 1926 is planning a Grand Re-Opening celebration for the house in 2013.  Be sure to look for updates here!

ON-GOING EVENTS

Join us for Holiday Open House Trolley Tours, harvest festivals, fall fests, family runs & walks, bike tours, community days, classical music performances, lectures, book signings and more throughout the year. Each festive occasion will engage you with these beautiful locations. Some of these are collaborative events with multiple houses; some are unique to a specific home.  

Proceeds from these special events benefit the care and maintenance of the houses.