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TWO MAGAZINES, ONE BOROUGH sign up for a free mailed subscription thewcpress.com/subscribe
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Early Autumn
As the crisp air comes to town, we start craving soups, hearty meals, and rich, dark drinks. We profile the best of ‘em. 4
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Mid Fall
The weather starts cooling off, but the borough’s entertainment is lighting up, with multiple parades and plenty to do. Ad Deadline is 10/9
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our team PUBLISHER Dan Mathers dan@thewcpress.com ACCOUNT DIRECTOR Nick Vecchio nick@thewcpress.com STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Andrew Hutchins info.hutchins@gmail.com Mathers Productions 1563 Millrace Lane West Chester, PA 19380 mathersproductions.com
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COLUMNISTS Becca Boyd bboyd@thewcpress.com Andrea Mason amason@thewcpress.com Courtney Klimek cklimek@ccls.org COVER Gay Street Open-Air Market by Andrew Hutchins The WC Press is published six times a year and mailed to more than 1,500 homes throughout West Chester, and dropped off to about 100 locations in and around the borough.
inside this issue 9. @TASTEWC Tag our sister publication’s instagram account with your favorite food photos
23. BOROUGH TAKES THE STAGE How live performance became part of West Chester’s summer rhythm
11. ON THE SHELF A list of picks for all ages from the staff at the West Chester Public Library
33. DESIGNS OF THE TIMES Andrea Mason is a professional interior designer helping you upgrade your space
13. THE NEW GAY STREET How a temporary pandemic experiment became one of the defining features of downtown
37. SUMMER FUN GUIDE From concerts in the park to tricycle races on Gay Street, how to spend your summer season
21. HOME BECCANOMICS Becca Boyd shares tips on life and cooking, plus a recipe to help with both
47. PHOTO HUNT Find the five differences between the two photos and email us your answers for a chance to win
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on the shelf
A list of picks for all ages from the staff at the West Chester Public Library
L
ooking for your next summer read? The staff at the West Chester Public Library have a few recommendations to help fill those long afternoons, beach days, and quiet evenings. From picture books and middle-grade adventures to young adult mysteries and sweeping historical fiction, there’s something here for readers of every age.
Adult Book Land by Maggie O’Farrell The bestselling author of Hamnet and The Marriage Portrait returns with a sweeping historical novel set in Ireland before and after the Great Hunger. Richly imagined and deeply atmospheric, Land explores family, loss, survival, and the enduring connection between people and place. Filled with unforgettable characters and beautifully crafted prose, it is a rewarding read for anyone who enjoys immersive historical fiction.
Teen Books The Heirs by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé The five adopted heirs of billionaire Leontes Button have spent their lives competing under the demanding standards of their father’s famous “Button Method,” designed to create prodigies. But when Button is murdered during his annual Prodigy Ball, the heirs find themselves trapped in a mansion full of suspects while police investigate. Packed with secrets, rivalries, and twists, this young adult mystery offers a fresh take on the classic lockedroom whodunit.
Medicine Wheels by Byron Graves Bryce is a gifted Ojibwe athlete and skateboarder preparing for an important summer when family turmoil turns his life upside down. Suddenly without the stability he depends on, he must navigate difficult choices, strained relationships, and an uncertain future. Author Byron Graves combines authentic characters, Native representation, and a compelling coming-of-age story that explores resilience, identity, and finding your place in the world. The Unmagical Life of Briar Jones by Lex Croucher
Set against the backdrop of an elite British boarding school, this dark academia fantasy
explores privilege, power, and the consequences of long-buried secrets. Two former friends find themselves on opposite sides of a growing mystery that threatens the foundations of the institution around them. Perfect for readers who enjoy magical worlds mixed with suspense, intrigue, and complicated friendships.
Children’s Books We Don’t Eat Our Classmates by Ryan T. Higgins
It’s the first day of school for Penelope Rex, a young dinosaur who can’t wait to make friends. Unfortunately, she keeps eating her classmates. After getting a taste of her own medicine, Penelope discovers that friendship works much better when everyone stays out of each other’s stomachs. This funny and charming picture book is a favorite for preschool and early elementary readers and fits
perfectly with the library’s summer reading theme, Unearth a Story.
Styx and Stones by Gary D. Schmidt After escaping the Underworld, orphan Simon finds himself in the modern world and quickly befriends a middle-school student named Zeke. Together they navigate friendship, school, and the challenges of fitting in. When a demon girl arrives with orders to bring Simon back to Hades, the pair must work together to protect themselves, their classmates, and their school. Fans of mythology-filled adventures like Percy Jackson will find plenty to enjoy. Visit the West Chester Public Library this summer to discover these titles and many more. Whether you’re reading by the pool, relaxing on the porch, or escaping the heat indoors, there’s a book waiting to become your next favorite. Summer 2026
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The New
GAY STREET
How a temporary pandemic experiment became one of the defining features of downtown West Chester. story Dan Mathers
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I
n the spring of 2020, West Chester wasn’t trying to reinvent downtown. It was trying to save it.
Restaurants faced occupancy limits. Retailers were struggling to adapt to a world suddenly governed by distancing requirements and uncertainty. Communities across the country were searching for ways to keep local businesses alive while navigating restrictions that seemed to change by the week. In West Chester, one solution was to take a bold step into unfamiliar territory: close Gay Street to traffic and hand it back to people. At the time, the move felt temporary. Necessary. Maybe even a little desperate. Six summers later, it has become one of the defining features of downtown West Chester. Today, retractable bollards rise from the pavement at key intersections. Outdoor dining spills into the roadway. Families gather around lawn games. Yoga classes stretch across the asphalt. Musicians perform on street corners. Children race between activities while parents linger over dinner. What began as an emergency response has evolved into something far more significant: a new way of experiencing the borough. But despite what many people assume, the story didn’t actually begin with COVID. According to a Borough spokesperson, West Chester’s 2017 Comprehensive Plan already called for exploring temporary closures of Gay Street and the creation of more pedestrian-friendly public spaces. The idea was there years before anyone had heard the phrase “social distancing.” What the pandemic provided was an opportunity to test it. “In hindsight, COVID just created this bizarre, disruptive environment where it was easier to try big ideas,” the spokesperson said. “It was adapt or die in 2020, but it turned out to be wildly popular.”
That revelation changes the story. The Open-Air Market wasn’t a random idea born from a crisis. The crisis simply accelerated a conversation the borough was already having. West Chester had been looking for ways to create more pedestrian-friendly public spaces, and COVID suddenly provided an opportunity to experiment at a scale that might otherwise have taken years to achieve.
For longtime residents, it can be easy to forget how different Gay Street once felt. The buildings haven’t changed. The restaurants, shops, and architecture remain familiar. The church steeples still rise above the rooftops, 14
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Where It Started Temporary barriers closed Gay Street during the first Open-Air Market season in 2020, launching an experiment that reshaped downtown. Photo Adam Jones
and the courthouse still anchors the center of town. Yet the way people use the street has changed dramatically. Before the Open-Air Market, Gay Street functioned primarily as a route through downtown. Drivers entered from one end, passed through the business district, and continued on their way.
Today, the goal isn’t simply to arrive—it’s to stay. That shift may sound subtle, but it has transformed the character of downtown in ways that are difficult to measure and impossible to ignore. The numbers, however, are impressive. According to data collected through the West Chester Business Improvement District’s Placer.AI tracking program, foot traffic along the Gay Street Open-Air Market corridor increased 54 percent between 2019 and 2025. For a downtown that already enjoyed a strong reputation as a regional destination, that’s a remarkable jump.
For BID Executive Director John O’Brien, the significance extends beyond restaurant tables and crowded sidewalks. “With the addition of the Open-Air Market, we are able to have more community gathering spaces,” O’Brien said. “West Chester historically has not been designed in a way that was conducive to a public gathering spot, like a Central Park or gazebo. This event allows us that space.”
It’s a deceptively simple observation. Many towns have a village green, a central square, a waterfront promenade, or some other obvious place where community life naturally gathers. West Chester has always had a vibrant downtown, but not necessarily a singular public space designed for lingering. The borough’s charm has traditionally come from movement—people strolling between destinations, popping into stores, meeting friends for dinner, and discovering something unexpected around the next corner. The Open-Air Market didn’t create that energy; it gave it a place to collect. Suddenly there was room for concerts, yoga classes, mini golf, hot dog eating contests, children’s activities, and countless informal moments that don’t appear on any official calendar.
Parents could enjoy dinner while children played nearby. Visitors could wander without constantly navigating traffic. Neighbors could stop and talk without feeling like they were standing in the middle of someone’s commute.
O’Brien noted that the street closure has also allowed the BID to create programming that simply wasn’t possible before. Summer concerts, yoga sessions, mini golf, family activities, and other community events now have room to spread out. What was once a traffic corridor can periodically function as something closer to a town square. “The Open-Air Market hasn’t necessarily changed the atmosphere of West Chester,” said James Cappello, general manager of Saloon 151. “It’s enhanced it. It has further amplified the family-friendly, upbeat, and welcoming vibe that people already loved about downtown.”
That distinction is important. The success of Gay Street isn’t that it transformed West Chester into something new. If anything, it highlighted what was already there. The restaurants were already good. The shops were already unique. The architecture was already beautiful. The community was already active.
More than a Road What was once a traffic corridor now hosts everything from yoga classes to concerts, creating room for community life in the heart of downtown. The street closure simply allowed those qualities to breathe.
For Cappello, one of the most noticeable changes has been how people move through town. “Gay Street used to feel like the primary path into downtown, but now visitors seem much more comfortable exploring from every direction,” he said. “Coming in through Chestnut, heading out Market, and utilizing the cross streets more naturally. It’s created a more walkable, connected experience overall.” That observation points to one of the more complicated realities behind the Open-Air Market’s success: every change comes with tradeoffs. While many residents and business owners embraced the closure, others raised legitimate concerns. Closing one of the borough’s primary east-west corridors inevitably redirected traffic elsewhere, particularly onto Chestnut Street. Residents and businesses Summer 2026
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there experienced increased traffic volumes, additional noise, and the challenges that accompany becoming the new primary route.
The issue was complicated further by the fact that Gay Street wasn’t originally under borough control. According to a Borough spokesperson, Gay Street was historically owned and maintained by PennDOT. Any closure required state approval, creating logistical challenges both during the pandemic and for any potential long-term solution. In 2022, after extensive coordination, the Borough and PennDOT agreed to essentially swap Gay Street and Chestnut Street, giving local officials control of Gay Street and allowing closures to happen more efficiently. The arrangement solved one problem while creating another. “There are no perfect solutions in this type of work,” the Borough spokesperson said. “There are always tradeoffs when making change.”
That’s probably the most honest way to describe the evolution of Gay Street. No major civic project is universally loved. No meaningful change arrives without consequences. Yet one reason the Open-Air Market has endured is that, despite disagreements over details, the
The New Normal The installation of permanent bollards marks the transition from a temporary pandemic-era experiment to a long-term investment in downtown West Chester. Photo Andrew Hutchins
broader community appears to have embraced the outcome. What began as a temporary experiment gradually became a tradition, and then it became infrastructure.
For years, the Open-Air Market relied on temporary barricades, traffic controls, and weekly setup procedures. It worked, but it still felt temporary. The question wasn’t whether the program would return the following weekend. The question was whether it would still exist five or ten years down the road. This year, West Chester delivered its answer. The installation of permanent retractable bollards along Gay Street represents the most visible sign yet that the Open-Air Market is no longer an experiment. Following years of planning, design, engineering, and budgeting, the borough completed the first phase of a project intended to secure the pedestrian space while maintaining emergency access when needed.
The project was neither simple nor inexpensive. According to the Borough, dozens of systems were evaluated before officials settled on the final design. Considerations included underground utilities, adjacent buildings, crash resistance, long-term maintenance, operational requirements, aesthetics, and emergency access. Funding from Chester County helped move the project forward, with two grants totaling more than $1.1 million supporting the effort. Future phases are expected to focus on accessibility, signage, communication, and continued aesthetic improvements. For many residents, the new bollards may simply blend into the streetscape. Yet they represent something important. Temporary barricades suggest an experiment. Permanent infrastructure suggests commitment. The borough isn’t acting like the Open-Air Market might disappear. It’s investing as though it expects it to remain part of downtown’s identity for years to come. One of the recurring themes that emerged while reporting this story is how much effort goes into making the Open-Air Market feel effortless. Director of Public Works Don Anderson described a surprisingly detailed Summer 2026
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process each time the street closes. Crews position retractable bollards, install signs and cones, place concrete and water-filled barriers, deploy detour signage, and adjust traffic signals to improve pedestrian safety.
There are also countless details most visitors never see. Early in the program, trash containers were positioned mid-block. When sanitation crews emptied them, liquids occasionally dripped through dining areas, creating an unsanitary condition. The solution was simple but effective: move the containers to the corners. The borough now cleans the entire Open-Air Market area between 2 and 5 a.m. every Friday before weekend activities begin. Emergency personnel know how to unlock the bollard system. Restaurant owners understand where tables and chairs cannot be placed. PennDOT standards still govern portions of the closure process. Additional employees help manage setup and breakdown. None of it is particularly glamorous, but all of it matters. As Anderson noted, much of the operation now feels straightforward because years of refinement have solved many of the problems residents might otherwise notice. In fact, one of his more surprising observations was that closing the street has actually reduced wear
Summer at Saloon Outdoor dining and live music have become staples of the Open-Air Market season, as businesses like Saloon 151 find new ways to activate Gay Street and encourage visitors to stay awhile. and tear on the roadway itself. Fewer vehicles mean less damage to the pavement, even as pedestrian activity continues to increase.
Meanwhile, businesses continue finding new ways to activate the space. At Saloon 151, that means outdoor seating, live music, community partnerships, and events designed to give people reasons to stay downtown a little longer. The restaurant’s Gay Street Music Series helps animate the west end of downtown throughout the summer, while activities ranging from animal adoptions to yard games add another layer of community engagement. What makes the current version of Gay Street work so well, Cappello believes, is the way businesses feed off each other’s energy. “People may come downtown for one destination, but they end up discovering several others while they’re here,” he said. “The OpenAir Market encourages people to slow down, walk the town, explore, and truly take in every-
thing downtown West Chester has to offer.”
Perhaps that’s the best measure of the program’s success. Foot traffic statistics, grant funding, and infrastructure investments all matter, but they’re supporting characters in a larger story. The real impact can be seen on a summer evening when the weather cooperates and downtown is full. Music drifts from a nearby patio. Families gather around a game. Diners linger over one more drink. Visitors wander down side streets they’ve never explored before. Someone bumps into an old friend. Someone else discovers a new favorite shop.
For a few hours, the street stops functioning as a corridor and starts functioning as a community. There is something refreshing about that. In an era when so much of American life seems organized around getting somewhere else, Gay Street periodically becomes a place designed around staying put. Not forever. Just long enough to enjoy where you are. West Chester didn’t set out to create a living room. It set out to solve a problem. What emerged instead was something far more lasting: a public space where the borough gathers, celebrates, wanders, relaxes, and reconnects. A place that feels increasingly central to the identity of downtown itself. Summer 2026
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home beccanomics
Becca Boyd shares tips on life and cooking from her blog at homebeccanomics.com
Foo l p ro o f Chi cke n Sa la d Serves 8-10
T
he senior superlative I would bestow on chicken salad would be “most versatile“. On-trend with the health fads, this meal is gluten-free, very high-protein, quick to make, and can be used in it 100 different ways. This recipe is easy to make, well balanced, and has a great bite. I served it on toasted sourdough with lettuce and salt and vinegar potato chips layered between. Divine.
• • • • • • • • • • •
5 chicken breasts, trimmed 1 c. Nonfat Greek Yogurt 1/2 c. Light mayo 2 tbsp. Dijon mustard 2 tbsp. Pepperoncini brine 1 tsp. Kosher salt 1/2 tsp. Black pepper 3/4 c. Finely diced red onion 1 c. Finely diced celery 1/3 c. Finely chopped pepperoncini Salt and vinegar chips, if desired
1. Fill a medium saucepan with water and heat to high. Add chicken breast to water and reduce heat to medium low. Cook at a bare simmer until chicken is cooked through, 15 to 20 minutes.
2. Place chicken in bowl of standing mixer or shred once cooled. If using mixer, shredd chicken on low speed with paddle attachment.
3. Add yogurt, mayo, mustard, brine, salt, pepper, onion, celery, and pepperoncini to shredded chicken. Mix well to combine.
4. Serve with salt and vinegar chips, layered on a sandwich. Summer 2026
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The Borough takes the stage How live performance became part of West Chester’s summer rhythm. story Dan Mathers
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O
n a summer evening in West Chester, the soundtrack changes from block to block. Around one corner, a band is tuning up while families unfold lawn chairs beneath a canopy of old trees. A few streets away, theatergoers drift toward their seats as restaurant patios fill with people squeezing in dinner before curtain time. Teenagers in cast shirts spill onto sidewalks after rehearsal, still talking through scenes and songs as parents wait nearby. Somewhere, someone hears music from halfway down the block and starts walking toward it.
Nobody seems particularly surprised by any of it. That’s because live performance has become part of the rhythm of summer in West Chester—not an event, not a novelty, and certainly not something reserved for a handful of weekends each year. It’s woven into the season itself, as familiar as outdoor dining, open storefront doors, and the annual migration of folding chairs toward parks whenever music is involved.
Most residents probably don’t think about it very often. They know that if the weather is good, there’s a decent chance music is playing somewhere. They know that a Thursday evening might involve a concert in the park, a show at Uptown, or a student production packed with proud parents and grandparents. They know that summer weekends often bring festivals, performances, and crowds moving through town with no particular destination beyond enjoying the evening.
What’s remarkable is not that any of these things exist individually. Plenty of communities have concert series. Plenty of communities have theaters. Plenty of communities host festivals. What’s remarkable is how naturally they all fit together here, creating the sense that live performance is simply part of everyday life in the borough. That didn’t happen overnight.
West Chester didn’t wake up one morning and decide to become an arts destination. The
SUMMER SOUNDTRACK
Listeners gather around the fountain at 44 West while diners fill LaScala’s Fire behind them, a scene that has become increasingly common on summer evenings in West Chester. roots run much deeper than that. Long before today’s festivals, concerts, and productions, the borough was already producing and attracting artists whose influence reached far beyond Chester County. Composer Samuel Barber spent his childhood here. Horace Pippin became one of America’s most celebrated selftaught painters. Philip Jamison’s landscapes helped define the visual character of the region for generations.
The arts have long been part of West Chester’s identity, even if the way residents experience them has changed over time. What feels different today is not the existence of the arts, but the sheer number of opportunities to encounter them. The performances are more Summer 2026
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visible. The venues are more active. The audience is larger. Most importantly, the different pieces have begun reinforcing one another.
Keith Kurowski, Director of Parks and Recreation for the Borough of West Chester, sees that evolution as an extension of something that was already present. “I think West Chester has always been a leader in supporting the arts,” he says. “When you look at the history of the borough and some of the artists who were either born here or spent time here, the arts have always had an important place in the community.”
The Turks Head Music Festival was one of the first local events of its kind, giving homegrown musicians and artists a place to share their talents. -Keith Kurowski Today, that support takes many forms. Some happen inside theaters. Some happen outdoors. Some involve professional performers. Others involve students stepping onto a stage for the first time. Together, they create an environment where live performance is no longer confined to a single venue or annual event. Instead, it moves through the borough the same way people do—crossing parks, sidewalks, storefronts, and public spaces as part of daily life.
Few events illustrate that better than the Turks Head Music Festival. Now more than forty years old, the festival has become one of the borough’s most enduring traditions. Generations of musicians have performed there. Generations of residents have attended. For many people, it has become one of those annual rituals that quietly marks the passing of time, a familiar date on the calendar that returns each summer regardless of what else has changed. “The Turks Head Music Festival was really one of the first local events of its kind,” Kurowski says. “It gave homegrown musicians and artists an opportunity to share their talents.” That mission still resonates today. More than 115 bands submitted electronic press kits for consideration this year, a reminder that West Chester’s performance culture extends well beyond the audience. Musicians want to be part of it as well. 26
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That matters because healthy arts communities depend on participation. They need audiences, certainly, but they also need performers, educators, volunteers, organizers, and venues willing to invest in the long game. A concert series is easy to imagine. Building a culture around live performance is much harder. It requires years of consistency and countless people working toward the same goal, often without realizing they’re contributing to something larger. For Parks and Recreation, programs like Swingin’ Summer Thursdays have become part of that larger effort. There is something timeless about a concert in the park. The music matters, of course, but so does everything happening around it. Children wander toward the front of the crowd. Neighbors stop
to talk. Families spread blankets across the grass. People who intended to stay for half an hour end up spending the entire evening. The performance becomes the reason to gather, but gathering becomes the point.
For Kurowski, that’s always been part of the appeal. “It’s about the experience,” he says. “Being with other like-minded folks in a peaceful, relaxing setting while enjoying yourself.” Live music provides the soundtrack, but the memories often come from everything happening around it—the conversations, the chance encounters, and the simple pleasure of sharing a summer evening with other people. West Chester provides a particularly effective backdrop for those experiences. “We have an amazing downtown, beautiful parks, and a youthful vibe in a historic town with plenty
of culinary destinations,” Kurowski says. It’s a straightforward observation, but one that helps explain why these events feel different here than they might elsewhere.
A concert in West Chester rarely stays a concert. Someone arrives for the music and ends up staying for dinner. A family attends a performance and grabs ice cream afterward. Friends who haven’t seen one another in months run into each other on the sidewalk and spend the rest of the evening catching up. The borough’s walkability allows one experience to flow naturally into another, creating evenings that feel less planned and more discovered. That overlap between performance and daily life has become one of the defining characteristics of the borough’s arts scene. Rather than existing separately from the rest
of downtown, performances are woven into it. A show at Uptown doesn’t begin when the curtain rises. It begins with dinner reservations, conversations over drinks, and people making their way through town. The performance may be the centerpiece, but the evening itself is the larger experience.
“There are countless benefits to having a professional performing arts venue in downtown West Chester,” says Heather Grayberg, Executive Director of Uptown. Some of those benefits can be measured. Audiences support local restaurants and businesses before and after performances. Visitors travel to West Chester for events and spend money throughout the borough. The familiar combination of dinner and a show remains a powerful economic engine.
40+ YEARS OF MUSIC
One of the earliest surviving images of the Turks Head Music Festival captures a tradition that continues to draw performers and audiences to West Chester each summer. Yet Grayberg is quick to point out that some of the most important benefits resist measurement. “What can compare to being in a room of strangers sharing a common experience?” she asks. “Whether it’s a play or musical, concert, comedy act, or educational show, this is something that cannot be replaced.” That idea surfaced repeatedly while reporting this story. Again and again, people returned to the concept of shared experience. In an era when entertainment is increasingly Summer 2026
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consumed alone, live performance remains stubbornly communal. It requires people to gather in the same place at the same time. It asks them to focus on the same thing. For a few hours, it transforms a collection of individuals into an audience.
“The thrill that anything can happen,” Grayberg says. “Sitting next to a stranger and laughing together.” Those moments may seem small, but they create connections that linger long after the performance ends. People remember where they were sitting when a particular song moved them. They remember the joke that brought an entire theater to laughter. They remember the friend who convinced them to buy a ticket in the first place.
The arts are an ecosystem— the more there is to offer in a community, the more appreciation everyone gains for the greater impact of the arts. -Heather Grayberg Those memories accumulate. Over time, they become part of the collective memory of a community.
Grayberg believes that process becomes stronger as opportunities expand. “The arts are an ecosystem,” she says. “The more there is to offer in a community, the more appreciation everyone gains for the greater impact of the arts.” It’s a useful way to understand what’s happened in West Chester over the last fifteen years. One performance leads to another. One audience becomes another audience. Someone attends a concert and later decides to see a play. A theatergoer discovers a local musician. A festival attendee becomes a regular supporter of the arts. Success feeds success.
That growth becomes particularly visible when looking at the next generation of performers. When Therese Walden-Murphy founded West Chester Studio for the Performing Arts — now known as Uptown Studio — in 2010, the landscape looked very different than it does today. Opportunities existed, but they were fewer in number and often concentrated during specific times of year. The arts community was active, but it had not yet reached its current scale.
An early Uptown fundraising gala in 2014 (top) helped support a vision for professional performing arts in downtown West Chester. Today, that vision fills a dedicated theater space that has become a cornerstone of the borough’s cultural life. “There were only a few performing arts opportunities available in the borough,” she says. “Many of them were limited to the summer months.”
Today, the situation is dramatically different. Students can choose from a wide variety
of classes, productions, and performance opportunities throughout the year. Organizations have expanded. Audiences have grown. New programs have emerged. What’s perhaps most remarkable is that the growth has benefited multiple organizations simultaneously. “What’s especially exciting is that we’re all thriving together,” Walden-Murphy says.
That collaborative spirit appears to be one of the borough’s greatest strengths. Rather than competing for a fixed audience, many organizations have found themselves helping to grow the audience itself. The more people Summer 2026
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engage with the arts in one setting, the more likely they are to engage elsewhere. Families who attend youth productions become theatergoers. Concert attendees discover festivals. Festival attendees discover local venues. The impact spreads outward. A child joins a production. Parents attend performances. Grandparents come to opening night. Friends buy tickets. Families make an evening of it, having dinner before the show, grabbing ice cream afterward, and lingering downtown to talk about what they just watched. The performance becomes part of a family memory.
Walden-Murphy sees those moments happen every summer. “The energy is vibrant, joyful, and contagious,” she says. “Families, friends, and community members come together to celebrate and support these young artists.” That energy doesn’t stay inside the theater. It spills onto sidewalks and into restaurants, fills public spaces, and becomes part of the atmosphere of the borough itself.
And atmosphere, more than anything, may be what distinguishes West Chester today. Many communities host events. Many communities have theaters. Many communities offer concerts. Fewer communities
FINDING THEIR VOICE
Students at Uptown Studio take the stage during a summer production, part of a growing arts community that continues to nurture the borough’s next generation of performers. create a sense that live performance is woven into everyday life. That’s what West Chester has managed to build—not through a single organization, festival, or venue, but through decades of effort by educators, volunteers, performers, business owners, audiences, and community leaders who all contributed something to the same larger story. The story continues to evolve. New performers take the stage. New audiences discover favorite artists. New traditions emerge alongside old ones. The details change from year to year, but the underlying pattern remains remarkably consistent: people gather, listen, laugh, applaud, and then do it again.
For Kurowski, the future is less about reinvention than continued growth. “I hope to see it grow and expand in a natural and sustainable way,” he says. “There’s no need to fix what’s not broken, but there’s always room for improve-
ment.” It’s a practical answer, but it reflects something important about West Chester’s approach to the arts. The goal has never been to chase trends or manufacture an identity. The goal has been to build on strengths that already existed.
On a summer evening, the results are easy to see. Music drifts through parks and down sidewalks. Families carry lawn chairs across town. Theatergoers gather beneath marquees. Students leave rehearsals talking about scenes they are still perfecting. Crowds form, disperse, and form again as people move through downtown in search of whatever catches their attention next. Nobody seems particularly surprised by any of it.
That’s because, over time, live performance has become something more than entertainment in West Chester. It has become part of the borough’s routine, part of its identity, and part of the way people experience summer itself. In a town that has spent generations supporting artists, audiences, and institutions, the arts no longer feel like a special occasion. They simply feel like West Chester. Summer 2026
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designs of the times
Andrea Mason is a professional interior designer who wants to help you upgrade your space
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estled among the rolling landscape of West Chester is a c.1846 farmhouse full of Chester County character. Adjacent to the home sits an old icehouse that the owners wanted to put to good use. They called on Richard Buchanan and his team at Archer & Buchanan Architecture to restore the neglected structure and transform it into a wine cellar. From start to finish, Buchanan’s attention to detail and knowledge of historic preservation are evident in every aspect of the project. The homeowners spent a great deal of time in Europe and wanted the space to reflect both their love of wine and the memories they made abroad. Buchanan and his team understand the importance of honoring a building’s history, and while the process was painstaking, they worked to salvage as many original materials as possible. To begin, the roof of the icehouse was removed so the existing storage tank could be disassembled and taken out, creating a blank canvas for the new design. The original stone walls, brick flooring, and roof materials were carefully restored and reinforced before being returned to the space, giving the structure a second life. Beautiful design is only part of the equation. Functionality was equally important. Buchanan collaborated with Cellarium Wine Cellars, specialists in wine storage and climate control, to ensure the room would properly protect the collection. The brick herringbone floors, stone walls, and custom wood wine storage create a warm and inviting atmosphere. Living on a historic property, the owners have uncovered several interesting relics over the years, including an antique millstone. The design team incorporated it directly into the stone wall, creating a meaningful connection between the property’s past and present. The upper level, accessed from the main house, serves as the social gathering space with both bar and table seating. The bar features a zinc countertop with a beautifully detailed edge. Two antique leaded mirrors behind the bar help brighten the room. In a naturally darker space, Buchanan intentionally selected reflective materials wherever
possible to maximize light. The antique sconces and pendant fixtures were sourced from local West Chester dealer Monroe Coldren & Son, adding another layer of authenticity to the design. A custom spiral staircase leads to the lower level, where the wine collection is stored. Bottles are organized along the walls using both wood and clay storage systems, materials carefully chosen to support climate control. One particularly clever feature is a dumbwaiter that transports bottles from the cellar to the gathering area above, blending historic inspiration with modern convenience. Throughout both levels, antiques and artwork collected during the owners’ time in
Need help with your next project? Contact andrea@andreamasondesign.com
A Staircase Worth Savoring
Builder: Porter Construction Ironwork: Compass Ironworks Photography: Jeffrey Totaro Europe personalize the space and bring the design full circle. When speaking with Richard Buchanan, it is easy to hear his passion for West Chester and its architectural heritage. Archer & Buchanan Architecture, located in the borough, continues to play an important role in preserving the character that makes our community unique. To learn more about the firm or view additional photographs of this project, visit archerbuchanan.com. Summer 2026
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The Season of staying out
From concerts in the park to tricycle races on Gay Street, here’s how West Chester fills its longest days and warmest nights. photo Rick Pettine Action Photography
story Dan Mathers
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ummer in West Chester rarely arrives all at once. It shows up gradually, through a series of familiar signs. Sidewalk tables reappear outside restaurants. Lawn chairs begin gathering in parks. The line at the coffee shop gets a little longer on Saturday mornings. Music drifts through downtown from an open doorway or a temporary stage. Before long, the borough settles into its warmweather rhythm, and weekends begin filling themselves. The old version of summer often revolved around a handful of major events circled on the calendar months in advance. Today’s West Chester feels different. The borough has become increasingly active throughout the season, with recurring concerts, community programming, family events, and public gathering spaces creating reasons to stay downtown from June through August. That doesn’t mean the big events have disappeared. It simply means they now exist alongside dozens of smaller traditions that collectively shape what summer feels like in town. Some happen once a year. Others return every week. A few have become so ingrained in daily life that they barely feel like events at all.
Whether you’re looking for a signature festival, a family outing, a free concert, or simply an excuse to spend an evening outdoors, summer in West Chester offers plenty of opportunities to fill the calendar.
O N E- T I M E EV E N T S Turks Head Music Festival
June 7 • Everhart Park For more than four decades, the Turks Head Music Festival has served as one of West Chester’s unofficial summer kickoffs. Held annually in Everhart Park, the festival combines live music, local artists, vendors, food, and community gathering into an event that feels distinctly tied to the borough’s identity. Long before the Open-Air Market transformed Gay Street and before downtown became known for outdoor dining and pedestrian activity, Turks Head was already bringing people together outdoors to celebrate the arts. Part of the festival’s enduring appeal is its setting. Everhart Park offers something 36
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WORLD MUSIC DAY Live music fills downtown West Chester during World Music Day, with performances popping up in plazas, storefronts, and public spaces throughout the borough. increasingly rare in modern life: room to spread out. Families arrive with lawn chairs and blankets. Children move between vendor booths. Neighbors who haven’t seen each other in months reconnect beneath the trees. Music drifts across the lawn throughout the afternoon while visitors wander between performances, artists, and food vendors.
The festival has evolved over the years, but its essential character remains unchanged. It still feels local. It still feels approachable. It still feels like the kind of event where residents are just as likely to run into friends as they are to discover a new band or artist. In many ways, Turks Head serves as the bridge between spring and summer. Once the festival arrives, the season feels officially underway.
World Music Day
June 21 • Downtown West Chester If Turks Head celebrates music in the park, World Music Day spreads it across the borough. The annual event transforms downtown West Chester into a collection of temporary stages, with musicians performing throughout public spaces, sidewalks, storefronts, plazas, and street corners. Rather than asking visitors
to gather in a single location, World Music Day encourages them to wander. That format happens to fit West Chester exceptionally well.
A walk through downtown becomes part scavenger hunt and part concert experience. One block might feature a solo acoustic performer while another hosts a jazz ensemble. Turn a corner and the soundtrack changes entirely. The event rewards curiosity and encourages people to explore parts of downtown they might otherwise pass by. What makes World Music Day particularly appealing is its accessibility. There are no tickets to purchase and no complicated schedules to follow. Visitors simply arrive and begin walking. The experience unfolds naturally from there. The event also highlights one of the borough’s greatest strengths: its walkability. Music becomes the reason to explore, but the borough itself remains part of the attraction. Along the way, visitors inevitably discover shops, restaurants, patios, and gathering spaces that help turn a few hours of music into a full afternoon downtown.
Mini Golf on Gay Street
June 20 • Downtown West Chester Every summer needs at least one event that embraces the idea that not everything has to be serious. Mini Golf on Gay Street does exactly that.
reach, public safety demonstrations, food trucks, entertainment, and hands-on access to vehicles that children rarely get to explore up close. Police vehicles, fire trucks, construction equipment, and specialty vehicles become part of an interactive experience designed to bring residents and first responders together in a relaxed environment. The event’s popularity comes from its ability to appeal to multiple generations at once. Children are fascinated by the equipment. Parents appreciate the community atmosphere. Local organizations use the opportunity to connect with residents and showcase the resources available throughout the area. The result is an event that feels educational without feeling formal and community-oriented without feeling forced. Families can spend hours exploring, learning, eating, and playing while enjoying one of the final major events of the summer season.
Tour-de-Trike August 7 • Gay Street
West Chester has embraced many traditions over the years. Few are as entertaining as watching adults race oversized tricycles down Gay Street.
Tour-de-Trike returns this summer with teams competing in bracket-style races along the Open-Air Market corridor. Participants climb aboard adult-sized trikes, spectators line the course, and a surprisingly competitive atmosphere develops as teams advance through the tournament. For one day, portions of downtown are transformed into a miniature golf course, creating a playful experience that encourages residents and visitors to see familiar spaces in a completely different way. What is normally a busy commercial corridor becomes an oversized game board filled with families, friendly competition, and plenty of opportunities for photos.
The event has become a natural fit for the borough’s increasingly active summer calendar. It encourages exploration, brings people downtown, and creates the kind of shared experience that often sparks conversations long after the final putt drops. Most importantly, it is simply fun.
Not every summer event needs a deeper purpose. Sometimes the best reason to
MINI GOLF ON GAY STREET For one day each summer, Gay Street swaps traffic for tee times as downtown transforms into a one-ofa-kind miniature golf course. attend is because it sounds like a good way to spend an afternoon.
Night Out Against Crime & Touch-a-Truck
August 4 • Henderson High School One of West Chester’s most family-friendly summer traditions returns in early August. Night Out Against Crime and Touch-a-Truck combines community out-
Part of the event’s appeal is that it fully embraces its own absurdity.
Nobody arrives expecting serious athletic competition. Costumes, team names, friendly rivalries, and enthusiastic cheering are all part of the experience. Yet somewhere between the opening heats and the championship race, competitors inevitably begin taking things just a little more seriously than they originally intended.
The event also perfectly reflects the evolution of summer in West Chester. It could only exist in a borough willing to experiment with public space and community programming. It thrives because people are already downtown, already walking, already gathering in shared spaces. The races may be ridiculous. The community spirit behind them is not. Summer 2026
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What began as a quirky idea has grown into one of the borough’s most distinctive summer traditions, proving that some of the best events are the ones that don’t take themselves too seriously.
SUM M E R T R A D I T I O NS Some summer events appear on the calendar for a single day and disappear until next year. Others become part of the season itself.
The following traditions return week after week throughout the summer, creating the rhythm that defines daily life in West Chester once the weather turns warm. They are the concerts people plan around, the programs families return to repeatedly, and the activities that make it easy to spend an entire afternoon—or an entire evening—without ever leaving the borough.
The Open-Air Market
Weekends Throughout the Summer No guide to summer in West Chester would be complete without mentioning the Open-Air Market.
Each weekend, portions of Gay Street close to vehicle traffic and reopen as something entirely different: a shared public space filled with outdoor dining, live music, community programming, families, visitors, and residents who simply want to enjoy a summer afternoon downtown. The Open-Air Market has become one of the defining traditions of the season, helping transform ordinary weekends into something that feels more like a community gathering. Tables spill into the street. Musicians perform from sidewalks and patios. Friends linger over dinner longer than they intended. Families move easily between restaurants, shops, and public events. What makes the Open-Air Market especially successful is that it doesn’t require a specific plan. Some visitors arrive with reservations. Others simply show up and see where the day takes them. A stop for coffee turns into lunch. Lunch turns into shopping. Shopping turns into dinner and live music. The result is a downtown experience that feels markedly different from the rest of the year. 38
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For a deeper look at how the Open-Air Market evolved from a temporary experiment into one of West Chester’s defining public spaces, be sure to check out our companion feature on page 13.
Music at Marshall
June 18 • July 9 • July 30 • August 20 Marshall Square Park has always been one of the borough’s most beautiful public spaces. During the summer, it becomes one of its most enjoyable concert venues.
Music at Marshall returns for another season of free outdoor performances, bringing live music, food trucks, family activities, and hundreds of visitors to the historic park throughout the summer. Hosted by the Friends of Marshall Square Park, the series transforms the park’s iconic gazebo into a stage surrounded by lawn chairs, picnic blankets, and one of the most picturesque settings
anywhere in the borough.
This year’s lineup includes Rescue Dogs on June 18, Sin Brothers on July 9, Just Add Water on July 30, and Chico’s Vibe on August 20.
Food trucks begin serving at 5 p.m., giving visitors plenty of time to grab dinner before performances begin at 6:30. Each event also includes face painting and balloon artists beginning at 5:30 p.m., helping make the evenings especially attractive for families.
Part of the series’ appeal is its atmosphere. The concerts take place beneath a mature canopy of trees that shades much of the park, while children play near the historic fountain and neighbors settle into lawn chairs for an evening of music. As the sun begins to set behind the trees, the park takes on the feel of a small-town summer postcard. The series also reflects something that West Chester does particularly well: creating
FA M I LY FAVO R I T E S Looking for ways to keep the kids entertained this summer? Start here.
S ummer Reading Quest
The West Chester Public Library’s summer-long reading program includes storytimes, crafts, robotics, LEGO Club, STEAM activities, and special events for readers of all ages.
Storytime in Barclay Park
Books, songs, and activities move outdoors for weekly gatherings beneath the trees.
Music at Marshall
Food trucks, live music, face painters, balloon artists, and plenty of room to spread out on the lawn.
Mini Golf on Gay Street
One day each summer, downtown transforms into a giant miniature golf course.
Touch-a-Truck
Kids can climb aboard fire trucks, police vehicles, construction equipment, and specialty vehicles while meeting the people who operate them.
West Chester Railroad
opportunities for people to gather without requiring them to spend a fortune. Music at Marshall is completely free to attend, making it one of the most accessible recurring events on the summer calendar. Whether visitors arrive specifically for the music or simply stumble upon a concert while passing through the neighborhood, the result is the same: another reminder that some of the borough’s best summer experiences happen in its parks.
First Fridays & Summer Concerts
Monthly Throughout the Summer West Chester’s First Friday tradition takes on a different energy during the summer months. Warmer weather means larger crowds, more outdoor activity, and an increased emphasis on live entertainment throughout the borough.
MUSIC AT MARSHALL Neighbors gather in Marshall Square Park for one of West Chester’s most beloved summer traditions: free outdoor concerts in the park. Musicians perform in public spaces, visitors explore downtown businesses, and restaurants take advantage of the extended evening hours and pedestrian traffic.
Unlike larger festivals that require dedicated planning, First Fridays fit naturally into everyday life. Residents can stop by for an hour or stay for the evening. Visitors can build an entire night around the event or simply enjoy the added energy while dining downtown. That flexibility is part of what has made First Fridays such a successful recurring tradition. They offer enough programming to feel special without becoming overwhelming.
A classic family adventure that combines history, scenery, and the excitement of riding a real train.
The Painted Plate
A perfect rainy-day activity where families can create personalized pottery and keepsakes
Every month brings a slightly different experience, but the atmosphere remains familiar: music, activity, and a downtown filled with people enjoying a summer evening.
Summer at Uptown Music, Theater, Comedy & Community
For many communities, arts programming slows down during the summer. At Uptown, it simply changes shape. Summer 2026
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The borough’s premier performing arts venue continues to maintain a busy calendar throughout the warmer months, offering a mix of concerts, tribute acts, comedy performances, theatrical productions, and special events that help keep downtown active long after the workday ends.
One of the advantages of Uptown’s programming is its variety. A visitor attending a concert one weekend may find a comedy performance the next. Families looking for entertainment have different options than couples planning a date night, while music lovers can often find performances spanning multiple genres throughout the season. The venue’s increasingly popular beer garden events have also helped create a more casual way to engage with the arts. Rather than committing to a full performance, visitors can gather outdoors, enjoy a drink, listen to music, and spend time with friends in a relaxed setting.
The result is a cultural calendar that complements many of the borough’s outdoor events while providing an indoor option when temperatures climb or summer storms roll through.
MOANA JR. AT UPTOWN Young performers bring the islands of Motunui to life during Moana Jr., one of Uptown’s popular youth theater productions. For residents who enjoy live entertainment, Uptown remains one of the easiest ways to add a little culture to a summer evening.
Summer at the Library Reading, Robotics, Dinosaurs & Discovery Few organizations pack more activity into a summer calendar than the West Chester Public Library.
While many people still think of libraries primarily as places to borrow books, today’s library serves as a community hub, classroom, gathering space, and event venue all rolled into one. Summer is when that role becomes especially visible.
The season officially kicks off June 13 with Summer Reading Quest at Barclay Park. Families can register for the summer reading
program while enjoying games, prizes, music, food, face painting, and activities designed to launch several months of reading and exploration. This year’s theme, “Unearth a Story,” leans into discovery and adventure, with dinosaur-themed programming, reading challenges, and educational activities appearing throughout the summer. But the kickoff event is only the beginning.
Beginning in mid-June, Barclay Park becomes an extension of the library itself. Weekly storytimes move outdoors, allowing children and families to gather beneath the trees for stories, songs, and activities. The move outdoors creates a different atmosphere than traditional indoor programming and helps reinforce the connection between learning, community, and public space.
Inside the library, the calendar becomes remarkably busy.
Young visitors can participate in LEGO Club, robotics workshops, STEAM activities, science programs, crafts, and special events designed to keep curious minds engaged throughout the summer. Several Summer 2026
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programs embrace this year’s exploration theme, including dinosaur-related activities, fossil discoveries, prehistoric robotics workshops, and educational experiences that encourage hands-on learning.
The library also continues to expand its offerings for older children and teens. Chess instruction, writing workshops, creative activities, and specialty clubs provide opportunities for students to pursue interests that may not fit neatly into a traditional classroom environment.
Many summer events happen once and disappear. The library creates opportunities for families to return week after week, all season long. Among the more unique offerings this year is the Junior Detectives Club, where young participants explore famous mysteries and unsolved puzzles while learning about critical thinking and problem solving. Programs like these highlight the library’s growing emphasis on experiential learning rather than passive participation. Adults are hardly forgotten.
The library’s popular programs continue throughout the summer, while special events such as Dare to Declare Trivia Night on July 10 offer opportunities for adults to gather as well. The event combines cocktails, Americana-inspired fare, a reading of the Declaration of Independence, and patriotic trivia into an evening designed specifically for grown-up participants.
SUMMER READING QUEST The West Chester Public Library kicks off its Summer Reading Quest with music, activities, and community gathering in the library’s outdoor courtyard.
The library is also launching a new partnership with the Chester County Food Bank this summer, further expanding its role as a community resource beyond books and educational programming.
West Chester Growers Market
For families looking to fill long summer days, there may be no more valuable resource in town.
Some summer traditions do not need reinvention. The West Chester Growers Market remains one of the borough’s most enduring and reliable weekend rituals. Every Saturday morning, residents gather to shop for fresh produce, baked goods, flowers, meats, specialty foods, and locally produced products while catching up with neighbors and easing into the weekend.
What makes the library’s summer calendar particularly impressive is its consistency. Many summer events happen once and disappear. The library provides opportunities for residents to return week after week, creating an ongoing series of experiences that stretch across the entire season.
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Saturdays Throughout the Summer
Part of the market’s appeal is that it offers something different every week. Seasonal produce changes as summer progresses. New vendors appear. Familiar faces return. The market evolves naturally alongside the growing season itself.
For many residents, the market has become the unofficial starting point for a Saturday in town. Coffee from Turks Head Coffee, pastries from Yori’s Bakery, a walk through the vendor stalls, and then a leisurely afternoon downtown have become a routine repeated countless times throughout the summer.
Like so many of West Chester’s best traditions, the market succeeds because it feels authentic. It is not a spectacle. It is simply a gathering place where local food, local businesses, and local residents come together every week.Beyond the Calendar
L I B R A RY HIGHLIGHTS The West Chester Public Library’s summer calendar is packed with activities for every age group.
Summer Reading Quest Kickoff June 13 • Barclay Park Games, prizes, music, food, face painting, and summer reading registration.
Storytime in the Park
Weekly outdoor storytimes at Barclay Park throughout the summer.
LEGO Club
Hands-on building challenges and creative play.
STEAM & Robotics
Interactive programs focused on science, technology, engineering, art, and math.
Junior Detectives Club
Young investigators tackle famous mysteries and puzzles while developing critical thinking skills.
ONGOING AC T I V I T I E S Not every great summer day in West Chester begins with something circled on a calendar. Between the festivals, concerts, and special events, the borough offers plenty of opportunities to stay active, get creative, entertain the kids, or simply enjoy a summer evening downtown.
Get Creative
Summer weather isn’t always perfect, and sometimes the best way to spend an afternoon is indoors. The Painted Plate remains a popular destination for families, couples, and groups of friends looking for a hands-on activity. Visitors can select a pottery piece, create their own design, and return later to pick up a finished keepsake. The West Chester Public Library also offers a variety of creative summer program-
GROWERS MARKET Fresh produce, local goods, and familiar faces make the West Chester Growers Market a Saturday morning ritual for residents throughout the summer. ming, including crafts, STEAM activities, robotics workshops, and writing programs that encourage participants to learn something new while school is out. Whether you’re painting pottery or building a robot, summer provides a great opportunity to explore a creative side that often gets neglected during the rest of the year.
Take the Kids
Keeping children entertained all summer can be challenging, but West Chester offers plenty of options. The West Chester Public Library’s Summer Reading Quest, storytimes in Barclay Park, LEGO clubs, robotics workshops,
Chess Club
Learn the basics or sharpen your strategy against fellow players.
Dare to Declare Trivia Night July 10 Cocktails, Americana fare, a reading of the Declaration of Independence, and patriotic trivia for adults.
New This Summer
The library is launching a partnership with the Chester County Food Bank, expanding its role as a community resource beyond books and educational programming. and educational programs provide activities throughout the season for children of all ages.
The West Chester Railroad remains one of the area’s most unique family outings, offering scenic train rides that combine local history with the simple excitement of riding a train. Families should also keep an eye on many of the events highlighted throughout this Summer 2026
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guide. Music at Marshall features food trucks and children’s activities, Mini Golf on Gay Street transforms downtown into a giant game board, and Touch-a-Truck allows kids to climb aboard vehicles they usually only see from a distance.
Get Competitive
Looking for something more active than a lawn chair and a concert? HeyDay Athletic’s recreational leagues remain one of the easiest ways for adults to jump into the social side of summer. Kickball, volleyball, softball, and other leagues bring together hundreds of local players throughout the season, ranging from serious competitors to people who mostly signed up because their friends did.
STORYTIME IN THE PARK Young readers gather beneath the trees in Barclay Park as the West Chester Public Library takes Storytime outdoors for a summer of books, songs, and activities. Pickleball has also become one of the borough’s fastest-growing pastimes. Courts at Hoopes Park are often busy during morning and evening hours, with players rotating through casual pickup games and open play throughout the week. For those who prefer less organized activity, West Chester’s parks provide tennis courts, basketball courts, walking paths, and plenty of open space for an impromptu workout or evening stroll.
Make a Night of It
West Chester is particularly good at turning a simple evening into something more. A night might begin with a performance at Uptown, a concert in Marshall Square Park, or a First Friday event downtown. From there, it’s easy to continue the evening with dinner, a walk through town, or a stop at one of the many restaurants and gathering spots that stay busy throughout the summer.
The combination of live entertainment, outdoor dining, and a walkable downtown means there’s rarely any pressure to rush home. Some of the best evenings aren’t built around an event at all—they’re simply the result of spending a little time in town and seeing where the night leads.
At a Glance — Your T L; D R G u i d e To S u m m er one-time events June 7 • Turk’s Head Music Festival June 13 • Summer Reading Quest Kickoff June 18 • Music at Marshall – Rescue Dogs June 20 • Mini Golf on Gay Street June 21 • World Music Day
July 9 • Music at Marshall – Sin Brothers July 10 • Dare to Declare Trivia Night July 30 • Music at Marshall – Just Add Water
Open-Air Market Weekends West Chester Growers Market First Friday Summer Concerts
Uptown Summer Programming Summer Reading Quest Storytime in Barclay Park
all summer long
August 4 • Night Out Against Crime & Touch-a-Truck August 7 • Tour-de-Trike August 20 • Music at Marshall – Chico’s Vibe West Chester Railroad Excursions HeyDay Athletic Leagues
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PHOTO Spot the five differences between the two images below
HUNT email your answers to contests@thewcpress.com
Enjoy live music, good food and great drinks out front of Saloon 151 every weekend, all summer long.
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