Weekend event picks: Festivals, beer, outdoors

Despite being a short workweek (for some), this weekend is still every bit as exciting. Take advantage of what's left of summer with these sweet post-Labor Day goings on.

Though the shore season may be waning, Wildwood, N.J. is still holding strong. A four-day convention priding itself as the most fun you can have on two wheels begins on Thursday, Sept. 4. Soup up your bike, ride with other enthusiasts, and don't miss the Biker Babe contest. Each day of the Wildwoods Roar to the Shore Motorcycle Rally begins at 10 a.m. in the parking lots outside of the Wildwoods Convention Center (Burke and Ocean Avenues and Oak and Atlantic Avenues).

The new-and-improved Dilworth Plaza — turned Dilworth Park (Broad and Market Streets.) — will officially be revealed to the public at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 4 and the opening weekend programming continues from there with a party until 5 p.m., a picnic on Friday, Sept. 5 and kids' activities on Saturday, Sept. 6, both with 11 a.m. start times.

Also in the 'Wood, starting at 7 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 5, adult and youth fishers can cast a line for the 45th annual Surf Fishing Competition. Registration is at 3rd and JFK Boulevard in North Wildwood, and the competition runs until Sunday, Sept. 7 with each day's competition beginning at 7 a.m.

All those artsy kids in high school grew up and did something rad. We're talking about the Fringe Festival here. Comprised of presented and neighborhood theatre, dance, music and interactive performances organized by FringeArts, the festival kicks off Friday, Sept. 5 and extends well into the month at various locations including FringeArts (140 N. Columbus Blvd. ) and the Christ Church Neighborhood House (20 N. American St.). The festival features pieces from the creative minds at Pig Iron Theatre Company, New Paradise Laboratories and more.

The Honey Festival is bound to get sticky. Over three days and as many venues, climb inside the hive with honey-extraction demos, author chats and mead-making sessions. Note: Winnie the Pooh will not be in attendance. It begins with a 5 p.m. happy hour at the Wagner Free Institute (1700 W. Montgomery Ave.) on Friday, Sept. 5, continues on Saturday, Sept. 6 with all-day programming starting at 10 a.m. at Wyck Historic House and Garden (6026 Germantown Ave.), and wraps up on Sunday, Sept. 7 at Bartram's Garden (54th Street and Lindbergh Boulevard) with events beginning at 10 a.m.

The mushroom capital of the world celebrates its spores during the Kennett Square Mushroom Festival with a fried-mushroom-eating contest, parade, growing exhibits, rides and a 5K race, beginning Friday, Sept. 5 at 6 p.m. There's sure to be a lot of fun-gis on the festival grounds which run on State Street from Mill Road to Willow Street. Make a weekend out of it, as the festivities start at 10 a.m. on both Saturday, Sept. 6 and Sunday, Sept. 7.

Be one with the water on Saturday, Sept. 6. The Partnership for the Delaware Estuary gives a nod to Philadelphia's rivers — the Delaware and Schuylkill — during Pennsylvania Coast Day with free swan boat, kayak, and ferry boat rides in addition to a complimentary shuttle service to Fairmount Water Works. The free event runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Walnut Plaza (Walnut Street and Columbus Boulevard).

All your pierogi and polka dreams will come true on Saturday, Sept. 6 and Sunday, Sept. 7 at the Polish-American Festival. Add magic shows, music, rides and vendors, you can't go wrong. The good stuff goes down between noon and 8 p.m.at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa (654 Ferry Rd.) in Doylestown, Pa.

Head to the Battleship New Jersey (110 Clinton St.) in Camden, N.J., for craft-brew sipping on the waterfront with a historic vessel as a backdrop. Add WMGK's on-air staff, a free tour of the Battleship N.J., and live classic rock tunes and you've got yourself an all-American day on Saturday, Sept. 6. The WMGK Brew Blast runs from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Beer. Now that we've got your attention, take it to the inaugural Delaware River Craft Brewfest on Saturday, Sept. 6 featuring over 100 different beers from breweries like Victory, Troegs, Redhook, Kona and more. VIP entry gets you in at 2 p.m., while the rest of the pack has 3 p.m. doors at PPL Park (1 Stadium Dr.) in Chester, Pa.

Moving on from beer to botanicals, the self-guided South Philly Garden Tour features 16 public and private green spaces including the only Japanese tea garden in South Philly. Strap on your walking shoes on Saturday, Sept. 6 and meet at Gold Star Park (613 Wharton St.) at 1 p.m. In the case of bad weather, the tour will go on as planned on Sunday, Sept. 7.

It apparently is easy being green at Sunday, Sept. 7's GreenFest at Headhouse Square (2nd and South Streets). Go green from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and buy organic workout gear, upcycled jewelry, recycled dog toys, eat bugs (for real), win a bike — and leave yours with the event's bike valet — get schooled in environmental issues and pick up your very own recycling bin for the office.