The groom-to-be Ryan Lockard
Ryan proposed to Rhian during dawn on the beaches of Ocean City, NJ in June of 2007.

Rhian White and Ryan Lockard first locked eyes in June of 2006 at a mutual friend’s house party. They were seated next to each other on a couch and, during a casual ‘get-to- know-you’ conversation, discovered they were both fans of a new series about dinosaurs on the Discovery Channel. Later that night at a local bar, Rhian, 26 and a native of Willow Grove and Ryan, 27 who hails from Hatfield, started talking and laughing about their shared interests in physics, philosophy and history. The next time Ryan saw the certified life coach and freelance writer out (the brunette bombshell bares a striking resemblance to actress Catherine Zeta Jones), he asked Rhian for her number…and, as they say, the rest is history.

I’ve known Ryan Lockard my entire life, he is the second oldest son of my uncle John, my father’s younger brother. When I heard through the family grapevine that Ryan, a quality assurance analyst, had a new and very serious girlfriend, I suspected another Lockard wedding would shortly be in the works. Ryan and Rhian, (pronounced REE’-n), are a dynamic, fun-loving couple that both have close, large families. So, it came as no surprise they chose the biggest party night of the year, New Year’s Eve, as the ultimate celebration of their love. And, they could not have chosen a more breathtaking backdrop.

Rhian’s dramatic arrival to Cairnwood, where the wedding party met in the early afternoon to take advantage of the landscape and sensational setting with photographer Joe Craig and his staff. The bride’s stunning gold Victoriana dress was designed by Maggie Sottero.

The couple’s December 31, 2008 reception took place at the Cairnwood mansion in Bryn Athyn, one of the most beautiful historic buildings I have ever had the pleasure to visit. Cairnwood is steeped in history—as the original country home for Joseph Pitcairn, the founder of Pittsburgh Plate Glass. Designed by the renowned architectural firm of Carrére and Hastings in the Beaux Arts style for the industrialist and his young family, Cairnwood’s majestic main house stood vacant for years until its deteriorating structure was restored in 1995. The mansion still evokes the grandeur of the Gilded Age and is now a popular venue for weddings, corporate entertaining, and social events. It was the most amazing setting for a celebration of a young couple’s new life together!

I know you will enjoy the love story of Rhian and Ryan below, as well as the images from their incredible day so captivatingly captured by their talented wedding photographer, Joe Craig. It was a magical evening I will treasure always as a great family memory.

Sarah Lockard
AML CEO and ePublisher

How they met

Rhian: We met at a party at a mutual friend’s house. Ryan was flipping the channels and started to go past the Discovery Channel’s show Walking With Dinosaurs. I said “Whoa, hold on! Don’t go past that, Walking With Dinosaurs is the best show!” We started talking about dinosaurs and the conversation led to our other mutual interests in physics and philosophy and things of that nature. A girl at the party then started making fun of Ryan and telling me that he was really into comic books and stuff of that nature. I thought it was funny and cute when he got embarrassed and tried to defend himself. The next time we ran into each other, Ryan asked for my phone number and we’ve been inseparable ever since.

The proposal at the Jersey shore

Rhian: It was June 30th two summers ago and we were going down the shore for the annual family trip to Ocean City with his extended family. Ryan and I decided we would get up at 5:30 in the morning and drive down there so we could get an early start. We arrived around 7:00 a.m. and Ryan asked me if I wanted to go for a walk on the beach. I was really excited and so we hopped out and walked down in the tide holding hands.

Younger members of the White family patiently wait through the pre-ceremony photo sessions.

We passed this little inlet where the ocean was coming up farther and had created a small little cliff out of sand. It was an amazingly beautiful morning. I turned around to look at the gorgeous sun and sky again and I swear that I said, “Ryan really, it’s so amazingly beautiful this morning – it reminds me of engagement rings! Look at how beautiful the water and the sky are!” As I turned back around to look at him, he had dropped to his knees (both of them!) in the sand and was holding a ring out towards me. He told me that he loved me more than he ever knew was possible and that he would love it if I would marry him. Of course, I said yes! We looked down and saw a little plastic seahorse that was there, too. We picked it up and carried it with us as a souvenir. Ryan said that he wasn’t sure when he was going to propose; just that he knew it was going to be on that trip and hopefully sometime that day. When he heard me say the sky looked like engagement rings, he figured the universe was sending him a message so he took his cue and did it right then and there. It was the absolute perfect and most beautiful proposal ever. I couldn’t have imagined anything better and I was totally surprised.

When was the moment you fell in love?

Rhian: From the moment Ryan and I exchanged phone numbers until today, we haven’t ever gone more than a few hours without speaking. In a way, our love was easy to fall into, like a dance we’d always known the steps to…we just eased instantly into our rhythm and have never gotten out of it. It’s as if we’ve always been in love, there’s never been a question in my mind that we are simply meant for each other. We match. Being with Ryan is like taking a deep breath; it’s like the peace of relaxation at the end of the day when you fall into bed. I feel like we’ve always been in love. We always sought each other out.

The wedding party letting loose on the sprawling grounds of Cairnwood, built in 1895. The property is the original country estate of John Pitcairn, founder of Pittsburgh Plate Glass and business associate of Cornelius Vanderbilt and Andrew Carnegie.

Ryan: I fell in love with Rhian immediately. She’s just this whirlwind of excitement and happiness, and I had to be around her. We went from talking all the time to trying to hang out all the time to living together, 1-2-3. It’s been a wonderful journey that started the day we met. I’ve been swept up in the loving emotion of Rhian since day one and I couldn’t be happier.

What was going through your head, Rhian, as you were coming down the aisle?

I was so nervous that I almost forgot to smile! My dad had to tell me to slow down and take it all in, savor the moment. When I saw my husband waiting for me, it became a reality and I thought to myself, oh my gosh, this is it, this is really, really it! After all the planning and work, our day was finally here and it was an incredible rush.

Ryan, what were you thinking when you saw your bride walking down the aisle?

I was ridiculously nervous – and I couldn’t take my eyes off her. She looked so beautiful in her dress. I seriously thought time had slowed to a complete stop, it was surreal.

Rhian and Ryan, you choose some varied cultural wedding traditions in your ceremony. Explain the meaning behind those specific parts of your ceremony.

The ceremony, held at Huntingdon Valley Country Club, featured unique wedding ceremony traditions from various cultures—including an Apache wedding blessing.

Rhian: We first discussed when we first got engaged that we wanted to incorporate our spirituality into the wedding. We decided to get married because it was right for us, at this time in our lives. We wrote our own ceremony and vows and included tributes to different cultures around the world. That was really important to us.

Ryan: The Tree of Life was a symbol that we really wanted to have incorporated into our wedding. Trees have come up in meaningful, unexpected ways throughout our relationship. Rhian gave her bridesmaids gold necklaces to wear with that symbol and we decided to have it as a theme throughout the ceremony.

Rhian: Our unity ceremony was what we began calling a “soil ceremony”. We took soil from our childhood homes and combined it into a pot with a small tree that we chose together before the wedding. The idea is that the soil of our pasts will intermingle to cultivate and enrich the life of this new tree which represents our new family and our unity together. Then we walked in a circle together after planting the tree. This is a tradition borrowed from Hinduism and Judaism. It is symbolic of the steps we will take together through life.

Joe Craig (www.joecraigphoto.com), an award winning wedding photographer based in Reading, PA, captured the grandeur of Cairnwood with his spectacular images.

We are not super traditional people in a religious sense, so we approached the wedding in that way. We also incorporated an African blanket exchange. This comes from tribal Africa and it is a ceremony where the groom gives the bride a blanket, therefore signifying his protection of her. Ryan loved this tradition and wanted to incorporate it into the ceremony so he chose a blanket on his own, and I didn’t see it until the ceremony. It was gorgeous and had the image of the Tree of Life on it.

And, we wanted to take photos with Joe (Craig) at Cairnwood the afternoon leading up to our evening ceremony, because we love our wedding venue and wanted to make sure we could capture the beauty of the grounds and building. So, Ryan and I first saw each other that afternoon on the landing of the grand staircase at Cairnwood.

Meet the Parents
L to R: Parents of the groom John and Marty Lockard of Hatfield accompanied by parents of the bride Lee and Dermott White of Willow Grove.

The Wedding Party

Maids of Honor: Jessica Malone and Cindy Klausner, Rhian’s two best friends

Bridesmaids: Heather White, Amber White, Eunice Schiavinato, Joanie White, Liz Lockard, Jacqueline Paranzino

Best Man: Frank MacPherson was Ryan’s best friend in high school. The two have stayed in touch ever since.

Groomsmen: Jack Lockard, Pat Lockard & Kevin Lockard (brothers of the groom), Dermott White (brother of the bride), Dennis Zimmerman, Matt Ruble, Dan Bridy

Flower Girl & Ring Bearer: Elizabeth Schivinato, CJ Eslinger

The Dress

Rhian: It took me forever to pick a dress, I literally tried on hundreds. I finally found my dress when a bride I was interacting with online mentioned that it was her dress for her wedding. Until then, I had been looking for a totally different silhouette. I didn’t think I wanted the big, traditional ball gown. But, after I realized how much I loved that dress (and that I looked at it online every day) I had to try it on. The second I put it on I knew.

My gold ball gown dress was designed by Maggie Sottero and is called Victoriana. I picked it because it is absolutely the most gorgeous dress in the world, it went with our venue, it made me feel like a bride and most importantly, I loved it. It made me happy every single time I thought of it. I ordered it from Baranette’s Bridal in Willow Grove. They are so nice and never made me feel pressured, it was just a fantastic experience to work with them!

Chestnut Hill's famous Bredenbeck's Bakery provided the breathtaking wedding cake to match the regal reception.

Something Old

To honor both heritages, the bride carried a handkerchief belonging to one of Ryan’s great aunts who coincidentally shared the same name as her maternal grandmother, Eunice.

Something New

The brides dress and accessories were considered her ‘something new.’

Something Borrowed

Rhian wore a blue topaz and diamond bracelet, on loan from her mother Lee White.

Something Blue

Besides the blue gemstones in her bracelet, the bride sported blue rhinestones on the bottoms of her shoes that spelled out “I Do.”

Fashion Forward

The bride chose purple and gold as the regal wedding colors. And, Rhian adorned a feathered headpiece for the reception. Feather accents are one of the hottest bridal and floral trends in the wedding industry for 2009.

In 50 words or less describe your new husband and wife:

Rhian: My husband is the most gorgeous, creative, intelligent, funny, romantic, thoughtful, handsome, rugged, hilarious, clever, insightful, loving man in the world. He takes care of me; he loves me and has taught me so much. In short, he is a blessing and everything I could ever imagine wanting in this world.

Ryan: My wife is beautiful and full of insight. She’s the most tender, loving person I’ve ever met. We’ve shared so many unique experiences together and she’s shown me a side to life that I didn’t even know was out there. I couldn’t imagine being with anyone else ever.

Now that we are married, I am looking forward to…

Rhian: I honestly look forward to every single day with Ryan. He is amazing; being with him is my greatest dream come true. I am so excited for our future.

Ryan: Just living life with Rhian. She’s so great and wonderful. I’m glad that we’re best friends as well as husband and wife.

The rambunctious reception culminated with a festive ringing in of 2009 and a toast to the newlyweds.

Wedding Vendors

Wedding Consultant: Perfect Weddings, Conshohocken, PA
Sheryl A. Garman, President www.perfectweddings.tv

Ceremony Venue: Huntingdon Valley Country Club
Huntingdon Valley, PA www.hvccpa.org

Officiant: Linda Noonan, Journeys of the Heart
Philadelphia, PA

Reception Venue: Cairnwood Mansion
Bryn Athyn, PA www.cairnwood.org

Caterer: Robert Fair Catering
Exton, PA www.faircatering.com

Wedding Cake: Bredenbeck’s Bakery
Chestnut Hill, PA www.bredenbecks.com

Reception DJ: A Sharp Production
Huntingdon Valley, PA www.asharpproduction.com

Videographer: Pat Taggart Videography
Philadelphia, PA www.pattaggartvideo.com

Florist: Penny’s Flowers
Glenside, PA www.pennysflowers.com

Wedding Dress Boutique: Baranette Bridal
Willow Grove, PA www.baranettebridal.com

Wedding Dress Designer: Maggie Sottero
www.maggiesottero.com

Tuxedos: Country Bride and Gent
West Point, PA www.countrybrideandgent.com

Bridesmaids Dresses: Impression Bridal
www.impressionbridal.com

Flower Girl Dress: Ladybug
www.ladybugcollection.com

Hair Stylist: Calista Brides
calistabrides@aol.com

Make-Up Artist: Jane Doe Makeup
Philadelphia, PA www.janedoemakeup.com

Wedding photos courtesy of Joe Craig Photography (www.joecraigphoto.com). Joe Craig is an award-winning WPJA photographer wedding photographer based in the Lehigh Valley. His wedding photography captures real moments, intimate connections, and insightful details. Always providing full day coverage and a personal touch, Joe blends fine art photography with a photojournalistic style to make intimate pictures that tell the complete story of your unique wedding day. Joe is available throughout the tri-state region as well as nationally and internationally. If you are interested in contacting Joe Craig for your upcoming wedding, kindly contact him directly at: 610-823-5758 or via email: joe@joecraigphoto.com.

Downtown Wayne dips its little toe into the big ‘pond’ of First Fridays

First Fridays in Wayne Begin October 3rd
Anthony Wayne Theater

Wayne seems like a natural fit for the wave of First Fridays that have sprung up in the last few years in the Philadelphia suburban region. And that is exactly what a group of Main Line business owners, some of the most active members of the Wayne Business Association, were thinking when they decided to organize the inaugural First Friday this October 3rd. “First Fridays just came out of the fact that the downtown merchants here in Wayne, especially the newer merchants, were getting together to think of new ideas to bring more local support of our small businesses and bring the community together,’ First Friday cofounder Liz Ayerle of Wayne Boutique Fresh Ayer said. “Wayne has such a great nucleus. There is such a neat flow and vibe up and down Lancaster and North Wayne Avenue. So, we got together and thought, ‘Why not take advantage of this and make one great night of shopping and dining where we can make ourselves available for the public?’ It’s convenient for those who work late and don’t always have a chance to browse our stores and we are going to make it fun for everyone and do it in our own signature way,’’ Ayerle enthused. The Wayne merchants had been inspired by some other local and successful First Fridays, which act as a night time block party in essence, include First Fridays in Phoenixville and First Friday Main Line (www.firstfridaymainline.com) which is a an arts and cultural night organized by 30 businesses in Bryn Mawr, Haverford and Ardmore

Fresh Ayer

Ayerle says Wayne’s First Fridays should also be considered a ‘green event’ since they are encouraging everyone to walk instead of driving into downtown Wayne and those considering a night in the city (or even those coming to the Main Line from the city and taking the R5) to stay and support local. The merchants are cleverly promoting their First Friday with the motto ‘Reduce Your Carbon Footprint: Walk around Wayne.’ Ayerle will have a Mimosa art reception highlighting local quilting and fiber artist Trina Mansfield (www.trinamansfield.com) who creates pictorial quilts. Mansfield’s unique works are currently featured in Fresh Ayer’s colorful window display.

Zeke Sieglaff, Tory Sieglaff and Beau Moffitt
The Friendly Staff at Out There Outfitters

In addition to Ayerle’s efforts, the owners and staff of Wayne’s newest unique outdoor lifestyle store, Out There Outfitters (www.outthereoutfitters.com), are spearheading the night of activities. Outfitters employee and co-organizer of the inaugural event, Sarah Hamilton, has paired up with Ayerle working diligently in the last few weeks to bring a high level of local anticipation. Outfitters owner Zeke Sieglaff is offering a storewide 10% discount for the event and says those coming to Wayne on Friday can expect a party-like, dynamic atmosphere all over the town and especially inside his store. “We will have our doors open and can’t wait to host the families and kids who come to First Friday. We think it’s a great idea, makes a lot of sense and the Main Liners will enjoy what we have to offer with lots of food and beverages for everyone,” Sieglaff said. Outfitters has an array of upscale active outerwear for kid’s and families and fits in well with the kid-friendly theme of the night. Other activities include a beer tasting at Wayne beer distributor The Beer Yard (www.beeryard.com), wandering musicians and special store surprises.

Reduce Your Carbon Footprint: Walk Around Wayne
The Pear Tree, North Wayne Avenue

Despite weeks of long hours and meetings, Ayerle says all the work and preparation has been well worth it because the night has ignited a new level of excitement and community within the local business owners. “A bunch of the stores are going out of their way to do something cool and exciting. One thing we really emphasized to the merchants is that this inaugural event is really what you make of it. October 3rd will set the stage for the other nights we have planned in November and December. And, everyone seems to be determined to be making it into a fabulous event and stepping up to the plate!” It seems like First Fridays in Wayne are destined to be a homerun.

First Fridays in Wayne, one of the Main Line’s most sidewalk friendly towns, will begin on October 3rd from 5-9pm and continue through December.

(logo design by Two Paperdolls, LLC, Wayne, PA)

Fresh Ayer (www.freshayer.com)
Out There OutFitters (www.outthereoutfitters.com)
The Beer Yard (www.beeryard.com)
Competitive Edge Lacrosse, 21 West Avenue Wayne, PA 610-293-9772
Katy Did (www.katydidpa.com)
Margaret Kuo’s Restaurant (www.margaretkuos.com)
Argus Printing, 168 East Lancaster Avenue Wayne, PA 610-687-0411
Oxford Circus Toys (www.oxfordcircustoys.com)
The Antique Store in Wayne (www.theantiquestoreltd.com)
The Mustard Seed, 150 East Lancaster Avenue Wayne, PA 610-293-9393
The Pear Tree, 133 North Wayne Avenue Wayne, PA 610-688-7202
Hand Made in Brazil, 121 North Wayne Avenue Wayne, PA 610-688-0890

So, this is the first in AroundMainLine.com’s special travel series, and I hope you find it useful, interesting and educating. For those of you new to the Main Line area, welcome, and we hope that you will find some inspirational ideas here for exploring and experiencing this great area. Our travel section you should be of great help navigating around this area you now call home, welcome! And for ML vets such as myself, I hope to remind you of some great, affordable afternoon options that fill your weekends with fun and rich memories without breaking the bank—and I’m sure you’ll see some new ideas too!

Without further ado, sink your teeth into our inaugural travel feature. I would love to hear your feedback, thoughts and suggestions for future daycations.

Enjoy!
AML Publisher
info@aroundmainline.com

Peddler's Village Walk

And so there I was…with so many choices in front of me and the precious freedom of the last weekend of Summer 2008 ticking away as the morning approached noon. Where should I venture out to for my first AML Daycation? I had been considering the popular Peddler’s Village for a few weeks and after a quick glance at their website, decided it sounded like the perfect trip. So, a quick stop at the Wayne Starbucks for my usual iced grande mocha (with whip and an extra shot, thank you), a brief run into the bank for some cash for the tolls and perhaps a little spending money, and off I was on 476 heading north on the PA turnpike to beautiful Bucks County to explore what Peddler’s Village had to offer. The detailed directions online (www.peddlersvillage.com) were most helpful and accurate in helping me arrive at this 70 plus-store shopping paradise in just under an hour. It was not that exciting of a drive, I have to admit, but a gorgeous sunny day and some great music on the radio made it tolerable. Certainly, a little car company would have helped!

Peddler’s Village was booming with couples, babies, bikers and browsers when I arrived and I was pleased to find free, convenient parking in the first lot on the left. My first stop was in the Village Flower Shoppe, an enchanting and affordable home décor and accent boutique that had a full variety of Fall items beautifully displayed for under ten dollars. Many of the shoppers were scooping up the pumpkins, ceramic gourds and anything and everything in an autumnal shade. The woman behind the counter was sweet and immediately handed me a Where to Shop map so I could make my way around. Continuing down the brick sidewalk, I also came across some other great venues, namely an adorable baby shop, Periwinkle Place, and Skin ’n Tonic (www.skinntonic.com) a full service spa and salon.

Peddler's Village - Scarecrow Competition 2008

Across the street, I headed towards what seemed like the center of town and where a sizable group of visitors had gathered. The Cock and Bull Restaurant was bustling and the manager was hastily taking reservations for a crowd of diners. I glanced in but had just started my day so a bite to eat would have to wait. Moving on, I was greeted with beautiful hanging baskets at every lamppost, a crisp pond with goldfish and cool plantings and a center courtyard that had families eating picnic lunches and soaking in the sun. No wonder the website boasts Peddler’s Village as the “number one tourist destination in Bucks County!” Another store I found quite inviting was Season Gates, where I stopped and chatted with store owner Kate Zeiss. Kate reaffirmed my first impression of Peddler’s Village. “This really is a place everyone can come. It’s beautiful, so family friendly and the prices are affordable. We have a great local following in Bucks County but would welcome everyone to stop by.” Season Gates had a variety of inventory including a neat, one-of-a kind $6,000 walnut bar and stool set designed by local artist Chris Costner. Perhaps not along the lines of affordable options but a perfect purchase for the discriminating shopper and a masterpiece of workmanship I certainly appreciated! Kate said Costner is really making a name for himself in Bucks County (as my web research later affirmed) and I’d bet with football season in full swing the bar set will soon find a lucky home.

My next stop and my favorite store of the day caught the attention of my nose before my eyes even set on the whimsical, inviting window display. The Soap Opera Company (www.SoapOperaCompany.com) is run by twin sisters Karen Nocella and Sharon Viola, who opened it in November 2003. The shop is quaint and pristine and the soapy aromas draw you in from the sidewalk. I was one of about a dozen shoppers enjoying the homemade bath and beauty products and purchased a few bath toys and gels for a favorite 6 year-old friend of mine ($11). Karen was at the register and could not have been sweeter—and said her store will be expanding its gift options moving into the holiday season.

Ninety minutes into my leisurely stroll, it was finally time to eat and I had conveniently just landed in front of Earl’s Prime (www.earlsprime.com), a lucky find considering I was navigating almost blind (albeit with the Shopping Guide) around the 42 acres Peddler’s Village boasts. It was a little intimidating from the outside as it gave the look and feel of a high-end steakhouse. But, I was pleasantly surprised to find an affordable, tempting menu when I walked inside and two helpful hostesses who quickly made a table in the bar available. With ESPN Gameday on mute and a decent crowd that conversed in hushed tones, it was the perfect quiet lunch spot to catch up on some work. Earl’s Prime has quite the selection of draught beers including but not limited to: Guinness, Fullers London Pride, Anchor Steam, Hoegaarden, Sam Adams, Chimay White and more. My waiter quickly brought me an iced-cold Stella Artois and I spent a good 15 minutes deciding on an appetizer. (I surmised this would be a generous and sufficient lunch since all the diners around me were having ample-portion entrees delivered to their tables.) I was torn between the lobster spring rolls ($12) filled with bok choy, avocado, peppers and scallions, deep fried and served with a ginger sauce, and Earl’s crab cakes appetizer ($10) with angel hair pasta. My friendly server Kennedy suggests the Ahi Tuna ($10) with jicama slaw, chive oil and wasabi cream, insisting its’ a real crowd pleaser. I finally select the barbecued jumbo shrimp ($13) wrapped in prosciutto with barbeque sauce and smoked Guoda aoli. An awesome choice—the trio of shrimp were flavorful, tangy and satisfying–and the perfect complement to my icy Stella…yum!

After lunch, I browsed a few other boutiques and finally ended my day with a ‘dessert’ of sorts. Skip’s Candy Corner (www.skipscandycorner.com) was suggested by a handful of shop owners as a ‘must-see’ and so I stop in before I head back to Wayne. Shop #27 on the map is right in front of me as I walk back to the car and the simple candy shop is filled with a rich chocolate aroma. I snag a small bag of chocolate licorice (a childhood favorite), a fresh square of marbled fudge and a caramel-dipped apple for good ole Mom…all for about $12. The service in Skip’s is friendly and fast; even better, less than 24 hours after my visit Skip Pietrak himself leaves a message on my cell just checking in to see how my visit was—now that’s great service!

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by the variety of shops, the friendly sales people and the beautiful grounds of Peddler’s Village. There are plenty of sites and sounds for children including Giggleberry Fair, a family ‘edu-tainment’ center that boasts an indoor carousel and horse-drawn carriage rides on the grounds. And even after 40 years as a popular attraction, the Village hardly rests on its laurels, hosting 11 unique festivals and events peppered throughout the year. I can hardly wait to see the beautiful grounds come Christmas time! If you have a day to getaway with your girlfriends, spoil the grandkids or stroll through a nice setting hand in hand with your significant other, there’s no doubt in my mind Buck’s County’s Peddler’s Village is a daycation that delivers!

UPCOMING EVENTS AT PEDDLER’S VILLAGE FALL AND WINTER 2008
Free Admission and Parking with All Events

PEDDLER’S VILLAGE SCARECROW COMPETITION & DISPLAY
Monday, September 8- Sunday, October 26, 2008
Bigger than life scarecrow creations are displayed outdoors and compete for over $4900 in cash prizes. Be sure to vote for your favorites! These exceptional pieces of American Folkart are displayed in the following categories: The Keystone Krow, Traditional/Whirligig, Extraordinary Contemporary, Kids Only!, Quite The Character, and Group Crow. For more information call the Peddler’s Village Hospitality desk at 215-794-4000.

2008 APPLE FESTIVAL
Saturday, November 1 & Sunday, November 2, 2008
10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Scrumptious apple treats including country apple butter, apple cider, apple dumplings, apple fritters and everyone’s favorite–apples dipped in caramel! Take home a bushel fresh from the orchard. Craftspeople show their wares and demonstrate their skills. Live entertainment and apple pie-eating contests add to the festivities of this traditional autumn celebration.

GINGERBREAD HOUSE
Construction Demonstration
Thursday, October 9, 2008
1:30 to 3:30 pm
Location to be announced
Participants see how to make, bake and decorate
a gingerbread house from the foundation up.

GINGERBREAD HOUSE COMPETITION & DISPLAY
Friday, November 21, 2008 through January 8, 2009
Same as Shop Hours
FREE
Gingerbread house competition for over $3,400 in cash prizes in such categories as : Traditional, Authentic Reproduction of a Significant Building, Amateur, Unusual 3-Dimensional Creation, and Children’s. A visual delight, the entries are displayed throughout the holiday season in the Village Gazebo.

GRAND ILLUMINATION CELEBRATION
Friday, November 21, 2008
6:00 pm -10:00 pm. Lights ‘switched on’ 6:15 pm
Santa switches on the Villages outdoor holiday light display on Friday at 6:15 pm to kick off the holiday season and his weekend visits with children at Giggleberry Fair through December. Join us for free cider and marshmallow toasting that evening. Visit our shops throughout the weekend and preview our merchants’ distinctive choices for holiday gift giving.

MERCHANTS’ OPEN HOUSE
Friday, November 21 – Sunday, November 23, 2008
On Friday at 6:15 p.m., the Village’s outdoor holiday lights display debuts. Join us for free cider and toasted marshmallows. Visit our shops and preview our merchants’; distinctive choices for holiday gift-giving.

FRUIT WREATH DEMONSTRATION
2008 date and location to be announced
Learn how easy it is make your own door or window decoration for the holidays from fruit in the traditional Williamsburg style (della robia). See models of different styles and observe step-by-step procedures to complete your own at home. Led by Ann McAloan, floral designer and owner of Annie’s Flower Farm in Jamison, PA.

2008 CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL
Saturday, December 6 & Sunday, December 7, 2008
10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Join us for our annual Christmas Parade at 1:30 sharp on Saturday. Santa arrives in a horse-drawn carriage accompanied by local scout troops and heralded by the Central Bucks East marching band. The Village is beautifully decorated in Victorian-style, with fruit wreaths and greenery and provides live entertainment.