What’s Ahead in Bucks County, PA in 2024

BUCKS COUNTY, PA (February 1, 2024) – Bucks County, Pennsylvania is gearing up for an exciting new year filled with lodging and attraction openings, new exhibits and family-friendly festivals.

Visit Bucks County hosted a webinar Wednesday, January 31 2024 where President and COO Paul Bencivengo shared updates on upcoming hospitality openings and Adam Sacks, President of Tourism Economics, touched on 2024 key performance indicators.

Visit Bucks County finished the year strong, reaching some major digital milestones. VBC’s social channels grew rapidly in 2023. Video views increased more than 1,000% on Instagram, 250% on Tik Tok and 40% on YouTube since 2022, with video reels creating the largest traction. As a result of the digital and social media focus, increased traffic went to visitbuckscounty.com with pageviews up 125% vs. 2022.

According to Adam Sacks, President of Tourism Economics, demand for overnight rooms in Bucks County in 2023 showed strength with recent performance in December nearing levels seen in 2019. In 2023, hotel room revenue performed ahead of 2019 with Q4 surpassing 2019 by 9.2%. (Source: STR, Inc.) The positive trend is expected to continue into 2024 with hotel room revenue projected to increase by 2.6%.

A visit to Bucks County is a must in 2024! To help you plan your trip, Visit Bucks County has rounded up a list of what is on the horizon in the coming year.

Hotels & B&Bs

·       Stay in-style in Bristol Borough’s new Boutique Hotel. The Radcliffe, a new, nine-room, boutique hotel expects to open in Fall 2024.

·       The Carversville Inn plans to renovate and reopen. Plans for the historic country inn located at 6205 Fleecy Dale Road include a first floor 65-seat restaurant, and eight inn rooms on the second and third floors, along with a 626-square-foot addition.

Entertainment

·       Sesame Place® Philadelphia will introduce the 123 Playground, an all-new, 3,000 square-foot play area in Spring 2024! The 123 Playground will have adults and children alike counting all the delightful ways to climb, hop, and play at this imaginative and colorful play area. The 123 Playground will be centrally located at the former site of the Sunny Day Carousel that is currently being renovated and will open in the center of Sesame Plaza in Spring 2024.

·       Hellerick’s Family Farm is adding on an 18-hole championship Barnyard themed Mini Golf Spring 2024!  Bucks County’s newest and premiere mini golf course. Featuring animal displays, farm equipment, and education built into the ADA compliant course.

·       TreeTrails Trevose Opens 1,000 Foot Dual Racing Ziplines. The newest additions to TreeTrails Adventures Trevose include dual 1,000 ft racing ziplines and a new 15 element zip trail.

o   Spring events at TreeTrails include: St. Patrick’s Day celebration on March 15 -17,  Easter Bunny Weekend March 29-31, Mother’s and Father’s Days where they climb free with the family and get a water bottle to remember the day, Congratulations Graduates where climbing is just $24 midweek with school ID,  and Glow in The Park Fridays and Saturdays beginning in June.

·       Ross Mill Farm is growing their tourism & social media efforts! They have hired a new Tourism Coordinator to open more tours and open house hours for visitors and welcomed a social media person to their team. In addition, they have partnered with a local photographer and are offering professional portrait sessions and holiday pictures at the farm.

·       Main Swing Golf, a new indoor golf lounge teed-up their grand opening just in time for 2024: Located on the second floor of the Main Street Marketplace, the space features a lounge area with big screen televisions, four simulation bays, all of which are equipped with state-of-the-art technology. The lounge will be BYOB, and members are encouraged to pick up food and beverages at one of the vendors located on the first floor. Private parties and groups are welcome!

·       Vampa, the only Bucks County Museum of Vampires and Paranormal Activity opened in Doylestown.

·       Tumble Tails Farm AAI Center encourages visitors to participate in human restoration. Disconnect and soak in the quaint calming atmosphere and interact with their lovely farm animals. Their tranquil farm invites visitors and groups to enjoy their horses, goats and dogs. There is a log cabin and beautiful barn that’s being restored. They offer Reiki and massage therapy. Individuals and small groups are welcome. Each visit is customized!

·       Welcome improvements next to the Dublin Town Center are under way! One of Nehemiah Development Company’s investor groups recently purchased the shopping center adjacent to Dublin Town Center. Enhancing the façade and other improvements are underway. They look forward to welcoming tourism & hospitality additions to be announced later in the year.

·       Moms Flower Shoppe and Treasures in Penns Purchase of Peddlers Village opens on January 1 with new ownership.

Arts & Culture

·       Starting in the spring, the Michener Art Museum will be offering free admission the Second Sundays of the month and will be open late for an “Art Night Out” on the First Thursday of the month! Art Nights Out will feature fun workshops, performances and speakers designed to engage art enthusiasts at all levels. The Michener Art Museum will be free of charge on the Second Sundays of the month and will include activities and performances for families.

·       2024 will be Pearl S. Buck International's 60th anniversary and they’ll be hosting events throughout the year to celebrate including: A special limited exhibit using the fashion of Pearl Buck to tell her story and the story of PSBI, Hidden Gems: Fashioning A Legacy will open March 15, 60th anniversary gala on May 16, Living the Legacy Breakfast: 60 Years on June 26 (which also happens to be Pearl Buck's birthday). A Pearl S. Buck Symposium in the fall, which will feature international and university partnerships and research paper presentations.

·       Andalusia Historic House, Gardens & Arboretum has just become an official Partner Garden of the Royal Horticultural Society of the United Kingdom, making it the only garden in the United States to earn this special distinction.

·       The Mercer Museum is embarking on an exciting new exhibition that explores the history and intrigue of a group of Revolutionary War era Loyalists, whose legend lives on today. The Doan Gang: Outlaws of the Revolution, opens in May of 2024 on the cusp of the 250th anniversary of the United States. Discover the untold stories of these outlaws at the Mercer Museum’s immersive exhibition, and journey through a world of espionage, legendary robberies, and mythical lost treasure in the heart of Revolutionary Bucks County.

·       Experience "nkwiluntàmën: I long for it; I am lonesome for it (such as the sound of a drum)," an immersive sound art installation by Indigenous artist Nathan Young, on exhibition at Pennsbury Manor through 2024. Advance registration is recommended. Nkwiluntàmën takes approximately 40 minutes to experience from start to finish.

·       Moravian Pottery & Tile Works is gearing up for a busy year of events and experiential community tile classes at their working history museum. Their event calendar includes: TileFest, Bluegrass in the Courtyard, Pumpkin Fest, Renaissance Fair, and more! Join them this year for their premiere Tile Fest! For two days, the building and grounds at the TileWorks will become a marketplace of bespoke contemporary, vintage and antique tile displayed by makers and collectors from around the globe. In addition, there will be demonstrations and activities for the “Tile Curious”. Local food trucks will be available for visitors to enjoy. 

·       An amazing line-up is coming to the Bristol Riverside Theatre! “A Raisin in the Sun” runs January 30 - February 18, 2024, “Big: The Musical” runs March 19 - April 14, 2024. “The Second City: Comedian Rhapsody” (the comedy troupe from Chicago) will be on stage May 14 - June, 2024. They've launched the careers of Tina Fey, Stephen Colbert, Keegan-Michael Key, Steve Carell, Tim Meadows, Amber Ruffin, and Chris Redd (to name a few).

·       The Sounds of Summer Concert Series at the Univest Performance Center in Quakertown announced country duo icons Locash will be performing on July 19 and The Hooters will be performing on Friday, August 23 as part of their “More Rocking, More Swing” tour.

·       Screenwave Media’s studio and headquarters is moving to Chalfont. Screen Wave Media helps gamers, musicians, animators, and pop culture influencers succeed. It will be a location for film sets, creative space for influencers and creators and video game production company. 

·       Bucks County Playhouse is bringing a variety of entertainment to its historic stage through their Visiting Artist Series. Renowned and unique performers from across the country — and around the globe — join local favorites for a lineup of crowd-pleasing fare that runs through the end of the year.

o   Upcoming Visiting Artists Series Performances: “Capital Fools” January 20 and 21, “Divas3” January 27 and 28, “Portrait of Aretha” • February 2 and February 3, “Shades of Bublé ” • February 10 February 11, “Dixie’s Tupperware Party” • February 16 and February 17, “Cross That River” • February 23, February 24, “Always Olivia” • March 1 and 2, “The Sounds of Soul” • March 8 and 9, “The Jersey Tenors” • March 15, 16 and 17, “Isaac Mizrahi” • March 23, “Chris Funk” • March 30, “The Ugly Duckling” • April 5, “Take3” • April 12, “Norbert Leo Butz” • April 13 and 14, “The Great DuBois” • April 27, “Claybourne Elder” • May 4

Events & Festivals

·       Washington Crossing Historic Park is adding a Thompson-Neely House Encampment Tour, an evening encampment before the First Crossing Event. This event will include twilight living history presentations by the 3rd NJ Grays Reenacting Unit. Join living historians to take you back in time to experience the reality of the encampment at the Thompson-Neely farm on which several regiments of Continental soldiers were quartered. This immersive experience will put you in the midst of what daily life was like for the soldiers, how they lived, what they ate, and most importantly how they survived the conditions before they went on to win at Trenton.

·       Peddler's Village is adding on TWO new event weekends to their calendar of events! Including Village of Chocolate (February 14 – 18): Chocolate drink and dining specials, culinary events, Village-wide chocolate game with prizes, and “Chocolate-Covered Workshops.” As well as Bucks Fever (June 22 & 23): Talent show and art exhibition presented in partnership with the Central Bucks Chamber of Commerce. Brown Bag-It with the Arts performances on Fridays at noon from May through September.

·       The Garden Symposium returns to Andalusia Historic House, Gardens & Arboretum on Friday, May 3, 2024, with an amazing group of four internationally renowned gardeners and horticulturalists: Troy Scott Smith, Stefani Bittner, Lucy Hunter, and Dan Hinkley.

·       The Grundy Museum has another year of exciting programs, workshops and events planned. The museum is closed for tours for Historic Housekeeping and reopens on April 2, 2024.

o   February 10,2024- Lecture - “Orchids” presented by Michael Bowell, Owner of Create a Scene, LLC, American Orchid Society Judge, Orchid Exhibitor and Garden Designer. Lecture held at the Grundy Library. A collaboration with the Garden Club of Bristol Borough.

o   Friday, April 12, 2024- New Orientation Film Opening Night! A party celebrating the creation of our new orientation film that will be on view to the public and guests at the museum. Opening Night will be held at the Grundy Commons, former location of the Grundy Woolen Mill, Bristol, PA.

o   Saturday, April 27, 2024- Annual Plant Swap- a collaboration between the Grundy Library, Garden Club of Bristol Borough and the Grundy Museum.

·       Starting in May- “Picnic in the Park” series- picnic along the scenic Delaware River at the Grundy River Park for Friday evening fun.

Wedding & Event Venues

·       Bristol Manor, is a renovated 1879 Victorian estate, opened in Bensalem. Immerse yourself with this one-of-a-kind experience perfect for private dinners and tasting events with a private chef. 

·       Shop ‘til you drop at The Farm Home Decor & Marketplace pop-up located at The Farm Bakery & Events venue. Located in their temporary home through February, The Harvest Barn here at The Farm we will be open to shop! Each weekend they’ll have special offerings while you shop their gorgeous modern farmhouse decor & furnishing, specialty gifts, their delicious baked goods & more! All of their decor has been inspired by The Farm with a unique modern twist and of course, it wouldn't be The Farm without some of their handmade baked goods!

·       Café @ the Mill, a Sellersville restaurant, is growing its business into a small-batch craft beer brewery. Café @ the Mill hopes to have the brewery portion up and running by late spring or early summer. Once the brewery portion is in operation, they will focus their attention to the outside, where they plan to host public events, like live music and family movie nights out on the lawn and put up a tent to serve as a venue space for private events, such as weddings.

·       Iconic Events, a 3,500 sq/ft event space for 100 people, opened in Bensalem.

·       Blue Sunday Bar & Grille, an Asian-American fusion restaurant and event space opened in the former Michael’s in Bensalem.

Wineries and Breweries

·       Waters Edge Winery & Bistro is set to open in February in Doylestown! The innovative family-owned craft, micro-winery will offer a worldly wine experience.  The new venue combines elements of a traditional winemaking experience with the popular, unique Waters Edge Wineries wine bar concept. Guests will be able to enjoy a selection of paninis, sandwiches and flatbreads all completed with mouthwatering desserts including a limoncello flute and Coppa Tiramisu among others. A ‘Winemakers Table’ that accommodates 24 people will provide an exceptional experience with tastings of exquisitely aged wines drawn straight from the winery’s tanks. Wine club memberships are available for wine enthusiasts.

·       Artifact Brewing is opening a second location in Doylestown in the Spring. The taproom will have bar seating, high top tables and a live edge drink rail, along with a roll-up glass door, which will open up on warmer days. From there, customers will be able to see into the production area and catch a view of the 7-barrel brewing system. In addition to beer, the menu will include Pennsylvania wines, whiskeys from Upper Moreland-based Mermaid Spirits and specialty cocktails made with Blue Stem Botanicals.

·       Second Sin Brewing Company is expanding with a new taproom in Newtown at 17 N State Street. The Bristol-based brewery is opening a second location at a 1,400 sq/ft building that used to be a “Board and Brush”. They will offer a more extensive all-PA cocktail menu and some wines, nitro coffee, and 12+ taps.  Food trucks will be scheduled for this location, and there are a lot of great local places that customers can pick up from or get delivery. Opening early 2024.

·       Tranquility Brewing is opening a second location in Kitnersville! The taproom is slated to open late 2024 and will be located in the home of the former Great American Grill.

·       Aristaeus Craft Brewing Company is expanding production in a big way!  The addition of 5 new tanks will double the brewing capacity to 40 barrels, allowing them to brew additional varieties of beer to expand their draft and to-go beer selections. New beer releases will be numerous but one style to look for is our world exclusive Brazilian ales. Aristaeus is the first and the only brewery outside of Brazil to brew this emerging style with a line of newly developed Brazilian grown hops that are sure to excite your taste buds! Aristaeus turns 3-year-old this summer and there will be a big event to celebrate their anniversary on June 22nd with special beer releases, live music, and lots of fun activities.

·       Bitchin’ Kitten Brewery, the Bucks County cat-themed brewery, will release their Girl Scout inspired beers, The Adventures in Scouting, on January 18th, starting at noon. The Adventures in Scouting beers include Cinnamon Roll Winter Warmer, Lemon Sour Ale, Chocolate Stout with Caramel & Toasted Coconut, and Peanut Butter Brown Ale. Customers can expect samples of all four beers, as well as an appearance from Girl Scout Troop #2888 who will be on site selling cookies. Sales of the beers and cookies will be available while supplies last.

·       Daddy Tom’s Cocktail Lounge at 304 Mill Street, created by Itri is a Nightspot, cocktail lounge & “speakeasy.”  Adding to the Itri Family’s establishments it offers an intimate, funky and cool atmosphere. Featuring traditional, unique and sustainable wines and carefully selected beer.

Restaurant Openings

·       La Grange, opening in Yardley, will be a new, casual French concept from the owners of Italian restaurant La Stalla. Visitors can enjoy French cuisine, casual but with stylish and chic food and ambiance.

• The Yardley Restaurant Group recently opened Yardley Distillery Tex-Mex in Morrisville, paying homage to the authentic tastes of Texas and Mexico while infusing the distinct character of Yardley Distillery’s craft spirits.  Future plans include another Morrisville restaurant, Calhoun's River Deck Raw Bar. The restaurant will offer a unique waterfront dining experience and feature a menu showcasing a raw bar with fresh, locally-sourced seafood, a variety of tapas dishes, and craft cocktails, beer, and wine.

·       Capital Grille is coming to the Village at Newtown shopping center.  The 8,000-square-foot, 236-seat upscale steak house will be the first Capital Grille in Bucks County and the fourth in Pennsylvania. Projected to open Summer 2024.

·       Steam Coffee Company is opening in Summer 2024 along the Newtown Trail Rail.  Expect coffee, ice cream, acai bowls, smoothies as well as delicious baked goods and grab and go items, perfect for walking the trail.

• Drift of Mill, an American style restaurant and bar, is coming to Mill Street in Bristol.

·       Greenstraw in Newtown has new ownership and is rebranding as Newtown’s first plant-based vegan cafe. Short-term plans include adding specialty coffees to the menu, "veganizing" the current menu, and introducing some hot items, including wraps, small sandwiches, and maybe even a burger.

·       Firebirds Wood Fired Grill will open its first Bucks County location in Yardley in the Spring. The eatery’s menu offers burgers, steak and seafood.

·       PJ's Pancake House is opening in Yardley in the Spring. With a rich family-owned heritage, PJ’s Pancake House is one of the oldest pancake houses in the country. For decades PJ’s has been dedicated to bringing the best pancakes around and expanded their additions to include steak and seafood, mac and cheeses, burgers, milkshakes, salads, grilled cheeses, and more. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner.

·       Duck Donuts, the North Carolina-based bakery chain, will be opening two Bucks County locations in Warrington and Yardley. In addition to donuts, the business sells coffee, ice cream, sundaes and breakfast sandwiches.

·       Dtown Cafe is bringing its mouthwatering baked goods, sandwiches and Old World-style cooking to Doylestown Township. Their Old World-style pierogies are available with a variety of different fillings including its popular potato and cheese, sauerkraut and buffalo chicken are made fresh and then frozen for the customer’s convenience. They also make fresh bread daily from scratch, as well as a variety of pastries and confections including its delicious cinnamon buns, tasty cookies, and buttery, flaky crust chicken pot pies. The cafe also serves fresh soups made from scratch, salads and hot and cold sandwiches.

·       Eat & Drink at Dublin Town Center! When you’re looking for something new, consider all that DTC has to offer! The Station; Itri Woodfired Pizza, Little Devils, Manhattan Bagel, Neshaminy Creek Brewing Company, Nina’s Waffles & Ice Cream and Taqueria Tlaxcali. At The Square, Farm to Toast and coming soon, an elevated bistro menu will be offered from their new kitchen at The Boiler Room! The Plaza; China Sun, Taormina’s Pizza and Latin Pot Street Food.

·       Altomonte’s is opening a third location, Alto Bakery and Café on West Street Road in Warminster. Altomonte’s Italian Market and Deli has been family-owned and operated for 52 years and has locations on York Road in Warminster and in Doylestown. The mission of Alto Bakery & Café is to delight and nourish the community with an array of Italian baked goods, espresso drinks, and elegant desserts. With tried-and-true recipes passed down through generations, using only the finest ingredients, Alto Bakery and Caffè brings the flavors of Italy and a convenient grab-and-go service to the region.

·       Brown’s Doughnut and Pastry Co. are bringing their scratch-made baked goods to Chalfont early in Q1 of 2024. In addition to their Dublin location, their new shop will be located at 284 W. Butler Ave. offering scratch-made doughnuts, bagels, pastries, breakfast sandwiches and locally roasted coffee drinks. Their drip coffees and lattes are made with coffee from Homestead Coffee Roasters in Upper Black Eddy and come in many flavors using their own syrups made in-house. Brown’s menu also includes fresh-squeezed lemonade, tea and hot chocolate. Custom cakes and cookies can be preordered online, as well as dessert trays, large orders, holiday menu items and other posted specials. Keep an eye out for their special monthly releases!

# # #

Download high-resolution imagery here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1TSL1ORGsx3ZGMSeWmYYd_clWB1HtJbJ8?usp=sharing

Missed our What’s Ahead in Bucks County 2024 webinar? Watch here.

Contact: Megan Connelly
                Communications & Marketing Coordinator
                Visit Bucks County
                215-639-0300 x 237                         
                MeganC@VisitBucksCounty.com
 

About Visit Bucks County

Visit Bucks County (VBC) promotes travel to and within Bucks County, Pennsylvania. As the County’s official destination marketing organization, VBC drives visitation, increases overnight stays and fuels the local economy by promoting all there is to see and do in Bucks County. VBC supports local businesses in the tourism and hospitality industry, including lodging, attractions, restaurants, retail, events and more.  Annually, Bucks County welcomes more than 8 million visitors, generating nearly $1.2 billion dollars in economic impact and supporting a total hospitality workforce of more than 27,800 jobs.