CENTENNIA will be a show in which more than 100 vendors offer antiques of the Victorian era and before. Outdoor garden ornamentation and related arts and services will also be shown. A private opening gala will be followed by two days of public access. Discussions and demonstrations during the show will complement the vendor booths with representation by Fairmount Park, the Philadelphia-based Victorian Society in America and other organizations. This spectacle of Philadelphia’s rich cultural traditions celebrates the legacy of the 1876 U.S. Centennial Exposition in Fairmount Park.
The Fairmount Park Historic Preservation Trust is the steward for restoration of the many historic properties in Fairmount Park including Ohio House, one of two original structures from the Centennial Exposition left standing in the Park.
CENTENNIA will take place on the grounds of Ohio House, situated at one of the busiest intersections in West Fairmount Park and conveniently accessible from Exit 341 of the Schuylkill Expressway. See enclosed map for directions.
Friday evening guests will be the first to view CENTENNIA and its treasures for a $100 per person ticket. Supporters of the Fairmount Park Historic Preservation Trust include prominent Philadelphians who are garden and antiques aficionados appreciative of an early opportunity to see (and purchase) the offerings while they honor a champion of the Trust. They will be feted with food and drink and serenaded by the music of March King John Philip Sousa who played first violin in the official Centennial orchestra. This special evening will commence at 5:30 and conclude by nightfall.
CENTENNIA will be open for the general public from 10am until 6pm on Saturday and from 10am until 5pm on Sunday. Admission price per person is $6 with free admission for children under 12 accompanied by an adult. All objects including garden fountains, statuary and seasonal plants will be displayed for sale. Related arts and services will be presented in booths situated in a designated area of the Ohio House grounds on George’s Hill in West Fairmount Park. The Centennial Café and other select purveyors will provide a variety of food and beverage.
Mid-May coincides with the original opening date of the U.S. Centennial Exposition and the timing between Mother’s Day and Memorial Day should prove attractive to Park visitors.
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