Northwest Philly residents ease into holiday spirit with wreath making, trail tours and chestnuts roasting on the fire

December 3, 2012
  • <p><p>Fairmount Park maintainence worker and FOW volunteer Steve Okula checks on the roasting chestnuts at the Winter in the Wissahickon event. (Dave Tavani/for NewsWorks)</p></p>

    <p>Fairmount Park maintainence worker and FOW volunteer Steve Okula checks on the roasting chestnuts at the Winter in the Wissahickon event. (Dave Tavani/for NewsWorks)</p>

  • <p><p>Aaron Erpel of Mt. Airy decorates a wreath at the Winter in the Wissahickon event. (Dave Tavani/for NewsWorks)</p></p>

    <p>Aaron Erpel of Mt. Airy decorates a wreath at the Winter in the Wissahickon event. (Dave Tavani/for NewsWorks)</p>

  • <p><p>Chestnuts roasted on an open fire at the Winter in the Wissahickon event hosted by the Friends of the Wissahickon on Dec. 1. (Dave Tavani/for NewsWorks)</p></p>

    <p>Chestnuts roasted on an open fire at the Winter in the Wissahickon event hosted by the Friends of the Wissahickon on Dec. 1. (Dave Tavani/for NewsWorks)</p>

  • <p><p>Dorothy Page, of Abington, Connie Sandlin, of North Philadelphia, and Bobby Morris, of Germantown decorate wreaths at the Winter in the Wissahickon event. (Dave Tavani/for NewsWorks)</p></p>

    <p>Dorothy Page, of Abington, Connie Sandlin, of North Philadelphia, and Bobby Morris, of Germantown decorate wreaths at the Winter in the Wissahickon event. (Dave Tavani/for NewsWorks)</p>

  • <p><p>Kathleen Hennessy of Ardmore and Cathy Fasy of Chestnut Hill select pine cones for their wreaths. (Dave Tavani/for NewsWorks)</p></p>

    <p>Kathleen Hennessy of Ardmore and Cathy Fasy of Chestnut Hill select pine cones for their wreaths. (Dave Tavani/for NewsWorks)</p>

  • <p><p>Aaron Erpel of Mt. Airy decorates a wreath at the Winter in the Wissahickon event. (Dave Tavani/for NewsWorks)</p></p>

    <p>Aaron Erpel of Mt. Airy decorates a wreath at the Winter in the Wissahickon event. (Dave Tavani/for NewsWorks)</p>

  • <p><p>Sara Beth Kane of Mt. Airy decorates a wreath at the Winter in the Wissahickon event hosted by the Friends of the Wissahickon. (Dave Tavani/for NewsWorks)</p></p>

    <p>Sara Beth Kane of Mt. Airy decorates a wreath at the Winter in the Wissahickon event hosted by the Friends of the Wissahickon. (Dave Tavani/for NewsWorks)</p>

  • <p><p>The Winter in the Wissahickon event featured a wreath making activity at Valley Green Inn. (Dave Tavani/for NewsWorks)</p></p>

    <p>The Winter in the Wissahickon event featured a wreath making activity at Valley Green Inn. (Dave Tavani/for NewsWorks)</p>

  • <p><p>Friends of the Wissahickon Trail Ambassador Don Simon watches as Suzanne Zimmermann afixes a snowflake to her wreath at the Winter in the Wissahickon event. (Dave Tavani/for NewsWorks)</p></p>

    <p>Friends of the Wissahickon Trail Ambassador Don Simon watches as Suzanne Zimmermann afixes a snowflake to her wreath at the Winter in the Wissahickon event. (Dave Tavani/for NewsWorks)</p>

  • <p><p>Alice Clark of Center City tries out some fire-roasted chestnuts at the Winter in the Wissahickon event hosted by the Friends of the Wissahickon. (Dave Tavani/for NewsWorks)</p></p>

    <p>Alice Clark of Center City tries out some fire-roasted chestnuts at the Winter in the Wissahickon event hosted by the Friends of the Wissahickon. (Dave Tavani/for NewsWorks)</p>

  • <p><p>Sarah Fritz, 9, of Mt. Airy makes treats for animals at the Winter in the Wissahickon event hosted by the Friends of the Wissahickon on Dec. 1. (Dave Tavani/for NewsWorks)</p></p>

    <p>Sarah Fritz, 9, of Mt. Airy makes treats for animals at the Winter in the Wissahickon event hosted by the Friends of the Wissahickon on Dec. 1. (Dave Tavani/for NewsWorks)</p>

  • <p>Tobias Detwiler, 4, of Chestnut Hill spreads peanut butter on a pine cone to make a treat for animals at the Winter in the Wissahickon event hosted by the Friends of the Wissahickon. (Dave Tavani/for NewsWorks)</p>

    Tobias Detwiler, 4, of Chestnut Hill spreads peanut butter on a pine cone to make a treat for animals at the Winter in the Wissahickon event hosted by the Friends of the Wissahickon. (Dave Tavani/for NewsWorks)

  • <p><p>Emma Detwiler, 9, of Chestnut Hill hangs a treat for an animal in a tree just off the Forbidden Drive at the Winter in the Wissahickon event hosted by the Friends of the Wissahickon. (Dave Tavani/for NewsWorks)</p></p>

    <p>Emma Detwiler, 9, of Chestnut Hill hangs a treat for an animal in a tree just off the Forbidden Drive at the Winter in the Wissahickon event hosted by the Friends of the Wissahickon. (Dave Tavani/for NewsWorks)</p>

  • <p><p>Frank Tuplin opens a raw chestnut while watching Friends of the Wissahickon Volunteer Coordinator Dan Mercer score chestnuts that are about to be roasted on an open fire. (Dave Tavani/for NewsWorks)</p></p>

    <p>Frank Tuplin opens a raw chestnut while watching Friends of the Wissahickon Volunteer Coordinator Dan Mercer score chestnuts that are about to be roasted on an open fire. (Dave Tavani/for NewsWorks)</p>

  • <p><p>Trish Fries of the Wissahickon Environmental Center takes visitors on a nature walk along the Forbidden Drive for the Winter in the Wissahickon event hosted by the Friends of the Wissahickon. (Dave Tavani/for NewsWorks)</p></p>

    <p>Trish Fries of the Wissahickon Environmental Center takes visitors on a nature walk along the Forbidden Drive for the Winter in the Wissahickon event hosted by the Friends of the Wissahickon. (Dave Tavani/for NewsWorks)</p>

In the middle of the Wissahickon woods, chestnuts roasted on an open fire while 50 local residents created their own personalized wreaths and explored the local trails. It was all part of the Friends of the Wissahickon’s annual “Winter in the Wissahickon” event. 

The festivities, which were held both in and outside of Valley Green Inn, included a trail hike, a luncheon and a wreath-making workshop. The authentic holiday wreaths were made with local and fresh evergreens, holly and pine cones.

FOW trail ambassador Mary Hathaway says the event is a favorite for many families in the area.

“It’s a great way to meet new people who support the park,” said Hathaway. “Many people return every year.”

  • WHYY thanks our sponsors — become a WHYY sponsor

Cathy Fasy of Chestnut Hill invited her nieces, Maureen McElroy of Holland, Pa. and Kathleen Hennessy of Ardmore, Pa. to share in the holiday cheer.

“It’s a spirit-filled event,” said Fasy, “We take nature’s beauty and make these wonderful holiday wreaths, we really enjoy it.”

McElroy says she was happy to attend for the second time.

“Last year my aunt had suggested that I come here for my birthday,” said McElroy, “and now I’m back again. We have a good time making new friends and the wreaths are beautiful.”

Hennessy, a physics professor at Saint Joseph’s University, has plans to hang her wreath in her office.

“This is a girls day for us, we have a great time,” said Hennessy.

Maura McCarthy, executive director of the FOW, says the event offered something for everyone in the family.

“Kids can make bird seed and peanut butter ‘nature gifts’ for park animals,” said McCarthy. 

Cathryn Wessner of King of Prussia, Pa. says she attended the event to support the park, where her husband mountain bikes and where the two were married.

“I love coming here, it’s a special place for my husband and I,” said Wessner. “It’s a nice way to get you into the holiday spirit.”

FOW trail ambassador Frank Tuplin says the event, which began in 2003, has become a tradition for many park-goers.

“It’s a good send-off for the Christmas season,” said Tuplin.

WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.

You may also like

Want a digest of WHYY’s programs, events & stories? Sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Together we can reach 100% of WHYY’s fiscal year goal

Donate
Learn about WHYY Member benefits
Ways to Donate