Spend your Sunday exploring the humble hamlet of Yorklyn and experiencing the best in local artistry & history, live music, craft beer, train and antique auto rides, children’s activities, food trucks and more!
Nestled along the state’s northern border, hugging the Red Clay Creek, is the unassuming (and unincorporated) community dubbed Yorklyn by the railroad in 1872. Home to Auburn Valley State Park, the Marshall Steam Museum, the Center for the Creative Arts, Dew Point Brewing Co. and other small local businesses, the village has witnessed growth, decline and now a revitalization that is bringing back the creative spirit and communal character that has defined it throughout its 150-year history.
Join the fun on Sunday, June 2, from 11am to 5pm, for a free family event guaranteed to have something to entertain all ages. The event includes live music, an artisan’s market, antique autos & train rides, kids activities, vendors & food trucks galore! Ample free parking is provided at H.B. Middle School, with complimentary shuttles allowing easy access to Auburn Heights (for Steamin’ Day fun), the Center for the Creative Arts (for the best in arts activities for all ages), and the Yorklyn Bridge Trail (where lively kids entertainment plus exhibitors and food trucks await). NO YORKLYN DAY ADMISSION CHARGE; some fees are associated with select activities (such as train/antique auto rides and mansion tours at the Auburn Heights estate, though the estate and museum are open for free).
Proceeds from the event benefit the Center for the Creative Arts, the Marshall Steam Museum, and Delaware State Parks.
See a growing list of specific attractions and activities below, or for more information, call 302-239-2385, visit the Yorklyn Day Facebook page or www.yorklynday.org.
At Auburn Heights
- Explore the grounds and museum for free to experience the magic age of steam!
- Don’t miss the 1:30pm Firing Up Demonstration to see how operators set a steam car in motion
- Watch the operating Lionel trains display in the museum and let the kids explore their creative side with kid-friendly crafts using recycled materials!
- For a fee, enjoy train and antique auto rides or tour the 1897 Marshall Mansion, home to three generations of the Marshall family
At Center for the Creative Arts
- Explore the Artisan’s Market with artist demos in wheel throwing and fabric dying
- Enjoy live music & dance on the outdoor stage (11:00 to 5:00pm)
- Try your hand at a make-and-take art activity suitable for all ages ($1-$3 fee)
- Immerse yourself in Yorklyn history at the free special exhibit: Discover Yorklyn: Mill Town, Hometown, Our Town
- Food trucks and more!
At Yorklyn Bridge Trail
- Local exhibitors and craftsmen
- Kids activities (for all ages), courtesy of Delaware State Parks, Hockessin Friends Meeting, Cornerstone Martial Arts, Hockessin Animal Hospital and more
- Jungle John’s Dinosaur & Reptile Show
- Pony rides by Cozy Quarters Farm
- Conservation Connections and Phung Luu present a free-flighted bird demonstration
- The Juggling Hoffmans
- Plus, food trucks with something to delight every palate
At Dew Point Brewing
- Craft beer, live music, corn hole and a disc golf practice area
At Yorklyn Pool
- Play pickleball on the courts and learn about membership at the coolest spot in Yorklyn
At Expressions Studio in the Garrett Mansion
- Enjoy studio tours, free carnival games, popcorn, and a selfie photo booth
ABOUT AUBURN HEIGHTS
Set amidst Delaware newest state park, Auburn Valley State Park, the Auburn Heights estate features a furnished mansion completed in 1897 and donated to the State of Delaware by Tom and Ruth Marshall in 2005. Open for tours by appointment and on Open House Tour days (first Friday and third Saturday of each month), the park encompasses 456 acres and features new multi-use trails (Auburn Valley Trail, Yorklyn Bridge Trail, and Oversee Trail) available to the public year-round.
For more info, visit destateparks.com/attractions/auburn-heights
ABOUT THE FRIENDS OF AUBURN HEIGHTS & MARSHALL STEAM MUSEUM
Established as a nonprofit organization in 2004, the Friends of Auburn Heights (FAH) operates the Marshall Steam Museum and owns/operates the Marshall family’s extraordinary collection of antique automobiles as well as the Auburn Valley Railroad. Dedicated to educating the public about Delaware’s industrial history and the impact of steam technology, FAH offers programs for all ages, from lively Steamin’ Days, during which the public enjoys rides in antique autos from the dawn of the automotive age, to children’s fields trips and outreach programs.
For more info, visit AuburnHeights.org.
ABOUT THE CENTER FOR THE CREATIVE ARTS
For more than 38 years, the Center for the Creative Arts has been a community art center devoted to art enrichment through education for people of all ages and abilities. Its exciting programming reflects community needs and supplements those provided by schools. By collaborating with local businesses and other cultural organizations, CCArts serves as a catalyst for accomplishing common community goals and strives to make the arts accessible to as many people as possible. The arts are essential for human development and academic success and for enriching our culture as a whole.
For more info, visit CCArts.org
