Out & About: Places to go in September

3rd Annual Barn Tour
September 12th from 9:30 A.M. to 4 P.M.

Experience the barns speckling our landscape that tell a story of life on the farm and the way of life of the early settlers. The day begins with registration at 9:30 am at the Beethoven Waldheim Club in Hellertown. Registration then leads to stimulating lectures with Professor Robert Ensminger and Gregory Huber who are experts on Pennsylvania Barns. Then you will be given a detailed tour book with a map to take you on a self-guided tour of several barns in the Saucon Valley area. There will be a host at each barn you stop at who will explain the unique and fascinating features of each barn on the tour.  The money raised from this tour will support the preservation and restoration of the Michael Heller Barn, located at the Heller Homestead in Lower Saucon Valley Township. You can purchase your tickets at the Michael Heller barn, Lower Saucon Township Town Hall, Bechtold’s Orchards, Bergey;s Mall or Saucon True Value and then proceed on your self-guided tour in the mysteries of farm life. For more information, contact (610) 216-0566.

16th Annual New Hope Outdoor Arts & Crafts Festival
Saturday, September 26th from 10 A.M. to 6 P.M. and Sunday, September 27th from 10 A.M. to 5 P.M.

The 16th Annual Juried New Hope Outdoor Arts and Crafts Festival highlights the work of over 125 gifted artists and artisans specializing in photography, watercolors, oils, pastels, pen and ink drawings, silver and gold jewelry, ceramics, wearable art, glass, wood, sculpture and furniture. Expected to attract more than 10,000 visitors over the two-day period, the festival takes place rain or shine and admission is free.  Exhibitors sell the works on display in booths lining North Main Street, East and West Randolph Streets and the PNC Bank parking lot overlooking the Delaware River. For additional information, please call the Greater New Hope Chamber of Commerce at (215) 862-9990 or visit www.NewHopeChamber.com/artscrafts.

Second Saturday’s in New Hope
Saturday, September 12th from 3 to 9 P.M.

The Greater New Hope Chamber of Commerce announces New Hope’s next “Second Saturday’s” celebration, where more than 30 fine art galleries, arts and crafts galleries and specialty shops stay open until 9:00 p.m. or later for the monthly Second Saturday’s event. Special visitors from the Bucks County Zoo will be making a guest appearance at the Visitor’s Center from 3 to 7 P.M. Joe Fortunato aka Jungle Joe and his staff will escort a baby wallaby and macaw to New Hope. Visitors are invited to enjoy free hors d’oeuvres, special demonstrations, exhibitions and entertainment throughout town. Some of the galleries participating include: A Mano Galleries, BOI’s of New Hope, Bucks County Gallery of Fine Art, Gratz Gallery, Image Makers, J&W Gallery, New Hope Arts Center, Gallery Piquel and Sidetrack’s Gallery.

2nd Annual 9/11 Heroes Run
Friday, September 11th at 6 P.M.

Come out to honor the men and women who gave their tomorrow for our today. The race benefits the Travis Manion Foundation, which assists our military, wounded veterans and families of fallen heroes. The race also benefits the Bucks County Heroes Scholarship Fund that supports children of fallen policemen, firemen and EMTs. There will be live music and a guest speaker. If you participate in the run, which will be located in Doylestown on State and Pine Street, you will receive a free t-shirt. So come down and remember those who have fallen and enjoy the run in the rain or shine! Register online at www.active.com and for more information, visit the website at www.travismanion.com.

Bucks County Zoo and Animal Junction at 3rd Federal Bank
Saturday, September 12th from 8:30 A.M. to 2 P.M.

The Bucks County Zoo and Animal Junction, a local zoo and traveling zoological showcase that displays more than 60 exotic animals, will visit 3rd Federal Bank’s Feasterville location during a day of branch festivities and give the bank’s customers a rare look at some of the world’s most distinctive animals.The Bucks County Zoo is based in Warminster and the facility is a 5,000 square foot indoor zoological garden that houses tropical plants and animals like tropical birds, raptors, primates, exotic cats and mammals from around the world. The Animal Junction is the zoo’s traveling partner that brings many of the unique animals to various events in the area. 3rd Federal Bank’s Feasterville branch will feature special product offers, giveaways and entertainment, including “Jungle Joe” and his Animal Junction traveling zoo.

Hometown Idol Launches Comedy Show

“American Idol’s” Justin Guarini has launched his own comedy show, Sketched Out exclusively for the Internet.  Available at www.SketchedOutTV.com, the show consists of comedic sketches and commercials with live acoustic performances from various bands in the Philadelphia area. Shot entirely on location in Bucks County, Sketched Out actors were all cast from the Tri-State area and will be seen in a variety of characters throughout the episodes. New 16-minute episodes are scheduled to air online every two weeks. Doylestown’s Guarini is a premier vocalist and entertainer widely recognized for his work on the debut season of the pop-culture phenomenon FOX singing competition “American Idol,” finishing 1st runner-up to Kelly Clarkson. Guarini is still widely seen on the small screen as a special correspondent on TV Guide Channel’s nationally televised program, “Idol Tonight.” He also serves as co-host of “Idol Wrap,” a fast-paced review of the previous week’s episode of “American Idol.” For more information on Justin Guarini, please visit www.justinguarini.com.