Chincoteague, Va.
Pony Swim
Experience one of Chincoteague’s oldest traditions at the annual Pony Penning and Carnival. On Wednesday, watch Chincoteague’s own “saltwater cowboys” herd the island’s wild ponies across the Assateague Channel to the carnival grounds in a world-famous pony roundup and parade. The next day, foals will be auctioned to raise money for the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Department. Each night during the event, visitors can enjoy food, rides and games at a carnival between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m.
Pony swim crosses Assateague Channel on the east side of Chincoteague Island. Admission is free. Pony swim takes place during low tide, between 7 a.m. and 1 p.m. Exact time will be announced a few days before the swim. Adult ponies make the return swim to Assateague on Friday. Carnival begins at 7 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday. Parking and free shuttles are available at Chincoteague Combined School. Go to chincoteaguechamber.com for more details.
Philadelphia
Dead Sea Scrolls
Often called the most significant archaeological find of the last century, a collection of 2,000-year-old scrolls found on the shores of the Dead Sea is on display at the Franklin Institute. In the world-debut exhibition, “Dead Sea Scrolls: Life and Faith in Ancient Times,” visitors can catch a glimpse of the past and view hundreds of artifacts recovered, as well as a re-creation of Jerusalem’s West Wall that features one of the wall’s original 3-ton stones.
Exhibit open through Oct. 14 at the Franklin Institute, 222 N. 20th St., Philadelphia. Daytime admission is $31.50 for adults, $25 for children ages 3-11. Evening admission is $19.50 for adults, $12.50 for children. Exhibit hours are 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Wednesday and 9:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Thursday-Sunday. For more information, visit fi.edu/scrolls.
Kennett Square, Pa.
Light: Installations by Bruce Munro at Longwood Gardens
Thousands of artfully arranged incandescent bulbs cast a whole new light on Longwood Gardens. British light artist Bruce Munro’s new installation incorporates tens of thousands of lighted spheres and fiber-optics that transform the gardens into a fairy-tale setting. Visitors can walk through meadows and forests with ecosystems of illuminated glass “flowers” and enjoy a display that can best be described as enchanting.
Light exhibit is open through Sept. 29. Admission is $18 for adults, student and senior discounts are available. Some evenings require reservations. Visit longwoodgardens.org for more details.
New York City
Catalpa Music Festival
This summer marks several new music festivals along the East Coast, including the Catalpa Music Festival in New York. Rapper Snoop Dogg headlines along with the Black Keys, TV on the Radio and pop mashup DJ Girl Talk. Artists will perform against the New York City skyline at the two-day, 50-band festival, which features musicians that traverse a broad variety of genres and styles from rock and indie to reggae, hip-hop and electronic.
Admission is $179.99 for a weekend pass, $99.99 for daily admission. Concerts begin at 1 p.m. and end at 11 p.m. Saturday, July 28, and Sunday, July 29. Full lineup and more information at catalpanyc.com.
23rd Annual Greek Festival
Celebrate Greek culture at the
Convention Center for the 23rd Annual Greek Festival. From July 27-29, visitors are invited to enjoy traditional Greek fare, art, live entertainment and more.
Admission is $3 for adults, free for attendees ages 14 and under. Festival hours are noon-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday and noon-9 p.m. Sunday. For more information call St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church at 410-524-0990 or visit stgeorgeoc.md.goarch.org
Virginia
‘LOVE’ Art
Virginia is for lovers — and now the state has the artwork to prove it. All across Virginia, from the Appalachian Trail to the coast, giant “LOVE” sculptures have been popping up in unexpected locations. These sculptures, which range from letters crafted from winery barrels to oversize beach recliners, are the perfect photo-op for any Virginia vacation.
For more information, photos and events where traveling “LOVE” art will be available, visit virginia.org/LOVE.
