11 things you gotta do in Bucks this weekend (Sept 22-24)

It’s hard for me to get into the fall spirit when the weather isn’t giving me any indication that it’s here. Where are the leaf piles, and where is the crisp, cool weather that reminds me to pack a sweater before I head out on my foodie adventures for the day?

Ignore my negativity, because even with Mother Nature’s stubbornness (hello, humidity!) fall is here. You can see it on the trees, with the ripe Cortland and Crimson apples hanging, ready for picking. You can see it at the wineries and breweries, where pumpkin beers are on tap and early fall wines are ready for sipping.

If you’re ready for fall, you’ll like what’s in store this weekend in Bucks County (and Jersey too!):

Events are listed in chronological order

1Locals Nights in Bucks County

Thurs, Sept 21

Thursday: One day away from the weekend, but not close enough. But, you can start that weekend feeling early with some local specials around Bucks County. Doesn’t matter if you prefer steak over seafood, there’s something for everyone.

Here are a few we’d like to highlight, and don’t forget, we have a full list of locals’ nights in our post here:

  • Thursday specials at Fireside Smokehouse: From 7 – 10 pm you can get $14.95 prime rib (12 oz) with a baked potato and mixed veggies. Pair your steak with $3.50 Corona and Corona Lights, or $3 Cuervo shots.
  • Five-course menu at The Buck Hotel: Enjoy a tasty big meal at The Buck Hotel.
  • Beer and Burger Night: The Pour House at New Hope Winery starts their beer and burger night at 4 pm, all night every Thursday. $10 burgers and rotating $3 draft beers.
  • Community Hero Night: Wycombe Publick House hosts its community hero night, where 10% of food sales are donated to the Lingohocken Fire Department.

2Murder Mystery Dinner and Train Ride

Fri, Sept 22, 6:30 – 8:30 pm,
New Hope & Ivyland Railroad,
32 E. Bridge St., New Hope, PA

Whodunit? You’ll find out on this murder master dinner and train ride on the New Hope & Ivyland Railroad, an edge-of-your seat evening of suspense, comedy, and food! Roll down the countryside with the antics of Act 1 Productions, and enjoy a meal as you wind through the Bucks County woods, along the waterways and across open deck trestle bridges.

Now for the dining part, you’ll get to dine in the railroads’ early 1900’s first class parlor car, enjoy a carefully prepared meal, and watch a funny, yet suspenseful, show. Get more information here, including pricing and menu for the evening.

3Wine Dinner Series: Pio Cesare

Wine dinner

Fri, Sept 22, 7 pm,
Earl’s New American Restaurant,
2400 Street Rd., New Hope, PA

Taste the flavors of Italy during Earl’s New American Restaurant’s wine dinner series this month. The dinner showcases Pio Cesare Wine pairings during all four courses of the meal, and it features dishes like arancini and prosciutto-wrapped quail, just to give you a taste. The event features the prix fixe menu valued at $50 per person. Reservations are required so call 215.794.4020 to save your spot and get more info.

4Harvest Days at Bucks County Gardens

pumpkins

Sat, Sept 24 through Sun, Sept 24,
Bucks County Gardens, 1057 N. Easton Rd., Doylestown, PA

Harvest Days 2017 is here, hard to believe we are getting into the fall festivities already, but you definitely don’t want to miss out. The Bucks County Gardens in Doylestown transforms its garden center into an autumn wonderland for seven weeks, ending on October 29. The celebration includes hay bale statues, festive decor, corn maze, pumpkin sling shot, fall food, entertainment, and more. It’s open Friday through Sunday from 11 am – 6 pm, and their Oktoberfest runs until October 1.

5Bristol Township Fall Festival

Bristol Township Fall Fest

Sat, Sept 23, 11 am – 4 pm,
2501 Bath Rd., Bristol, PA

Celebrate the arrival of fall with Bristol’s annual fall festival, a free and family friendly event that features vendors, fun games, activities, and of course food! It’s free to attend, you can call 215.785.0500 for more information or check out their Facebook event page.

6Apple Fun Days

Shady Brook Farm
photo courtesy Shady Brook Farm

Sat, Sept 23 and Sun, Sept 24, 11 am – 5 pm,
Shady Brook Farm, Stony Hill Rd., Yardley, PA

If you love all things fall, especially ripe apples straight from the trees, you’ll love Shady Brook Farm’s apple fun days, starting this Saturday and Sunday. Pick your own apples for $1.29/lb or pick your own pumpkins for $0.69/lb. There are plenty of apple varieties to choose from, like crimson crisp and Cortland. And, stop by The Silo afterwards for some Rose Bank winery wines. Pairs perfectly with a fresh apple!

7New Jersey Wine, Beer and Spirits Festival

Sat, Sept 23 and Sun, Sept 24, Noon – 5 pm
Alba Vineyard, 269 Route 627, Milford, NJ

If you love your wines and your spirits, you’ll need to take a trip across county lines to Alba Vineyard in Milford for the New Jersey Wine, Beer and Spirits festival. Taste NJ and international wines, sample craft beers and spirits, eat gourmet food, and get a tour of the vineyard. Live music too, and it’s all hosted at Alba Vineyard, benefiting the Foodshed Alliance. For more information, click here.

8Firehouse Breakfast

Breakfast, Haycock Fire Company Facebook

Sun, Sept 24, 8 am – 12 pm,
Haycock Fire Company, 850 Bethlehem Rd., Quakertown, PA

Calling all breakfast lovers — this is an easy way to fix that breakfast craving and help out a local organization. The Haycock Fire Company in Quakertown is hosting its all-you-can-eat buffet filled with French toast, pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage links, ham, potatoes, cream chipped beef toast, fruit cocktail, and more. Call 215.536.2224 for more information.

9Feast of San Gennaro

Sun, Sept 24, 2 – 5 pm,
Villa Milagro Vineyards, 33 County Rd., Riegelsville, NJ

This is across county lines but hey, it’s better than traveling to Philly or NYC for the Feast of San Gennaro. Celebrate the heritage and the harvest with a celebration at Villa Milagro Vineyards. You’ll start with a blessing of the vineyard, followed by a tour of the vineyard and winery.

Learn to swirl, sniff and sip wine like a snob, stomp some grapes, speak Italian, dance the Tarantella, eat tiramisu and drink wine with friends. Advance tickets for adults are $20 and $15 for kids over 10. At the door tickets are $25 for adults and $20 for kids over 10. Contact the winery for more info.

10Apple Festival

apples

Sun, Sept 24, 3:30 – 7 pm,
Lumberville General Store, River Rd., Lumberville, PA

The Lumberville General Store is serving up apples in ways you couldn’t even imagine, this weekend only! Their apple themed menu includes dishes like grilled bratwurst, roasted chicken with apple cider BBQ sauce, quinoa an cheddar-stuffed apples, oatmeal apple cookies and even flourless applesauce brownies. Adults cost $19.95 for this festival and $9.95. LGS is BYOB, so we recommend bringing some sort of cider or a wine to compliment all the apple-inspired dishes.

11Farmers Markets in Bucks County and nearby

Fall fruits and veggies

For a full listing of farmers markets in Bucks County and nearby, CLICK HERE.

If apples in the orchards is any indication, fall is here!

Besides the apples, at most markets, you’ll find: cantaloupe, corn, watermelon, lettuce, lettuce mix, tomatoes, peppers, kale, potatoes, kohlrabi, eggs, steak, beef, chicken, pork, bread, dog treats, peaches, flowers, soap, pickles, jams, gluten-free baked goods and coffee.

Check out our full list of farmers markets scattered around Bucks County (with some in Montgomery and Hunterdon County too).

On Thursday afternoon, the Lower Makefield Farmers Market will have: Mushrooms, apples, corn, watermelon, lettuce, lettuce mix, tomatoes, peppers, kale, potatoes, kohlrabi, eggs, steak, beef, chicken, pork, bread, dog treats, flowers, soap and gluten-free baked goods.

The Wrightstown Farmers Market has: Tasty greens and summer favorites are in abundance, so come early to fill your market bags. Among the delicious fruits and veggies available now are apples – Honey Crisp are here, pears, multiple varieties of winter squash, sweet corn, tomatoes, eggplant, green beans, peppers, kale, bok choy, beets, turnips and radishes.

The Doylestown Farmers Market is welcoming Popcorn Works, who will be featuring their famous fall tastes of Pumpkin Kettle Corn and Pumpkin Spice Caramel popcorn. TheDogBoneGuy will be back this weekend after missing a few weeks at the market, and Blueprint Brewing Company is back! This week they will have their IPAbrownblonde and gluten-free white. The market will also have its usual produce vendors!


SAVE THE DATE!
Saturday, October 21, 6 – 9 pm

Chefs Alida Saxon and Paul Mitchell are planning one of their amazing menus for us on Saturday, October 21, 6 – 9 pm. You may know Alida and Paul from the Rosemont Supper Club and the Pass, where they created exquisite, seasonal and locally sourced cuisine.

1821 Steaks and Cocktails interior

Where you ask? None other than the former 1821 Steak and Cocktails restaurant in Upper Black Eddy. Think hip, cool and cozy. You got it. Details coming soon!

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