Things to Do in Wilmington

St. Anthony's Italian Festival, a weeklong, Renaissance-style party, celebrates the rich cultural heritage of Italy. Each year, the streets that surround St. Anthony of Padua Parish teem with events ranging from concerts and wine competitions to church tours and a full midway of rides and games. Participants include local merchants such as DiSabatino Landscaping, which has created a garden that evokes the Italian countryside. Vending booths supply food prepared by volunteers and some of the area's Italian restaurants. All proceeds from the festival benefit the St. Anthony of Padua Grade School.

When record amounts of water from Tropical Storm Henri ravaged Red Clay Valley, it left six historic bridges destroyed and reduced the 10-mile Wilmington & Western Railroad to a mere two miles. The railroad is no stranger to change—since officially opening for passenger and freight service in 1872, the approximately 20-mile track was gradually shortened before beginning to escort tourists on steam-powered jaunts in 1966. Through all its transformations, the rail has persevered, and its encounter with Tropical Storm Henri was no exception. By June 30, 2007, the track was restored and Royal Blue coaches followed a locomotive 98 for the first 10-mile journey on the track in nearly four years.

These days, Wilmington & Western Railroad's locomotives continue to follow Red Clay Creek on leisurely round-trip jaunts, romantic rides, and themed excursions. After their ride, youngsters can learn about railroading heritage with a series of online games, and individuals or groups can charter a train for subsequent travels to any destination along the line.

Though Longwood Gardens owes its current incarnation to the tireless efforts of industrialist, philanthropist, and conservationist Pierre du Pont, the property’s history stretches back to precolonial days. The Peirce family purchased the land from William Penn himself in 1700, and by the end of the century the Quakers had already begun developing an arboretum on the premises. In the century that followed, the homestead was purchased by an ambitious 36-year-old du Pont in 1906. Throughout the next 30 years, the man who made General Motors built another legacy, this one rife with extravagant European-style fountains, a picturesque 600-foot garden walk, and 40 indoor and outdoor gardens. Today, visitors experience a bit of du Pont’s passion for the tropical flora of the Americas during jaunts through the property’s 1,077 colorful acres, where they run into everything from flowering trees and delicate hybrids to carnivorous pitcher plants. In addition to cultivating lush flora, the garden’s stewards also encourage growing minds with an ever-changing roster of events, such as internationally acclaimed musical acts and immersive educational experiences.

At Mansion House Paintball, mature trees tower over wooded fields with boughs battered by kaleidoscopic shrapnel. Paintball soldiers dive behind these tree trunks or weave through barrels, wood panels, or cable rungs in all-season, outdoor battle played in rain or sunshine. Individuals can walk on for games during the weekend, and private groups or corporate teams can reserve the fields for parties or retreats to determine who cleans out the corner office’s adjoining stable.

Kim Rice, head riding instructor and trainer at Pebble Creek Farm, brings a background in education and more than 25 years of experience with horses to her lessons. Her 14-acre tract befits an instructor of her prestige, with facilities that include a sand riding ring with lights and easy access to hundreds of miles of trails and fields via Fair Hill Nature Center, located just across the street. Her instruction focuses on English and Western riding styles, which differ in equipment and technique but are both influenced by The Beatles.

A combination magic shop and theater, South Street Magic revels in the impossible. Every Friday night, mentalist Lucas Simmons presents his jaw-dropping Deadly Game of Chance, where, armed only with his mastery of the mind, he risks his fingers in a bag full of broken glass randomly placed by an audience member. Sunday afternoons, Mr. Messado dons his finest hat and wand for two family-friendly shows that might incorporate juggling, puppets, and classic illusions, such as convincing the audience that they have free will. In the evening, Dan Hauss of Paper Crane Magic demonstrates his preternatural powers of illusion, with which he destroys and repairs ordinary cards at will, melds shoelaces even as their wearers gape, and causes audience members' signatures to manifest on cards in his deck. Thursday nights, South Street Magic features a differently weekly performer from across the United States and abroad. Previous examples have included Peter McLanachan from Scotland, Mr. Bottle from Singapore, and Max Krause from Phoenix, and upcoming performers include vaudeville enthusiast Fred Siegel and world-traveling illusionist Sam Sandler, who both hail from the Philadelphia area.