Special Events

Reservations and payments must be received no later than November 14, 2005. Written cancellations must be received by November 14, 2005 for refunds less $2 per ticket handling charge. No refunds after November 14, 2005. Centipede reserves the right to cancel any tour that does not reach its minimums and will refund all monies.

Tickets will not be mailed but will be held for pick up at the Tour Registration Desk in the Conference Registration area.

All tours will depart from the Pennsylvania Convention Center at 12th & Arch Streets. Please arrive 10 minutes prior to tour time.

Any questions, please call 215-735-3123.

Historic Philadelphia No trip to Philadelphia is complete without a visit to the “…most historic square mile in the country”. You will see the Liberty Bell, the hallowed symbol of our nation’s freedom; see where the Declaration of Independence was adopted; Congress Hall where Congress sat while Philadelphia was the capitol of the United States from 1790 to 1800; Franklin Court, the site of the house and Print Shop of one of Philadelphia’s most prominent citizens – Benjamin Franklin and more. Dates & Times Offered Friday, December 2 – 12:30pm to 4:30pm Sunday, December 4 – 8:30am to 12:30pm Cost is $34/person includes tour guide, transportation, admission, taxes and gratuities.

Yuletide at Longwood Gardens Christmas blooms at Longwood Gardens, a duPont estate, with thousands of poinsettias accented with amaryllis, narcissi, begonias, iris, tulips and many others inside the heated conservatories. 400,000 tiny lights glow in the trees and illuminated fountains dance to the music when the sun goes down. Dinner is included. Dates & Times Offered Friday, December 2 – 4:30pm to 9:30pm Cost is $78/person includes tour guide, transportation, admission, taxes, gratuities and Yuletide Buffet at The Terrace at Longwood.

Spirit of Philadelphia Dinner Cruise Come aboard the Spirit of Philadelphia and see the city from the river. Enjoy a breathtaking view ofthe city’s skyline as you cruise along the historic Delaware River. Enjoy a freshly prepared buffet, a festive floorshow and lively dance music. Good food, lively entertainment and free-spirited laughter – this is what the cruise is all about. Ship sails weather permitting otherwise dockside dining and entertainment. Dates & Times Offered Friday, December 2 – 3:30pm to 7:30pm Cost is $93/person includes tour guide, transportation, admission, dinner, taxes, and gratuities.

Valley Forge No battles were fought; no bayonet charges or artillery bombardments took place at Valley Forge but thousands of American soldiers died during the bitter winter of 1777-78. Here you’ll tour Washington Headquarters, visit the soldiers’ huts, see the Memorial Arch and visit the Chapel. Valley Forge is the story of an army’s epic struggle to survive against terrible odds, hunger, disease and the unrelenting forces of nature. Dates & Times Offered Saturday, December 3 – 8:30am to 12:30pm Cost is $38/person includes tour guide, transportation, admission, taxes and gratuities.

Lancaster County/Amish Country Journey back in time as you travel through the pastoral countryside of Lancaster County. Here you will visit an Amish house & farm and enjoy a real Pennsylvania Dutch family-style lunch with all of the trimmings including Country Baked Ham, Fried Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Sausage, Noodles, Chow, Shoo Fly Pie and much more. There will be time for shopping at Kitchen Kettle Village for Amish specialties such as jams and relishes, quilts and other crafts before returning to the 21st century. Dates & Times Offered Saturday, December 3 – 8:30am to 4:30pm Cost is $70/person includes tour guide, transportation, admission, lunch, taxes and gratuities.

Barnes Foundation The Barnes Foundation houses one of the world’s finest private collections of Post-Impressionist and early French modern art, including works by Renoir (180), Cézanne (69), Matisse (60) and Picasso, Monet and Manet. Art from every corner of the globe is grouped with the fine examples of antique furniture, ceramics, African masks, hand-wrought iron and Native American jewelry. Dates & Times Offered Saturday, December 3 – 1:30pm to 5:30pm Cost is $50/person includes tour guide, transportation, admission, taxes and gratuities.

Christmas in Brandywine Valley Beginning in 1811, four generations of duPonts farmed the Winterthur landscape. Henry Francis duPont (1880-1969), Winterthur’s last private owner developed a renowned herd of Holstein-Fiesian dairy cattle, collected American Decorative Arts and pursued a lifelong interest in horticulture and landscape design. Your tour will include duPont’s remarkable collection in the 16 period rooms that will be decorated for Yuletide. Next stop is the Brandywine River Museum home to the finest collections of the Wyeth Family. The Museum has a display of toy electric trains and porcelain dolls for a Christmas Experience. Lunch on own at the Brandywine River Museum. Dates & Times Offered Sunday, December 4 – 9:00am to 4:00pm Cost is $64/person includes tour guide, transportation, admission, taxes and gratuities.

Society Hill/Fairmount Park Stroll through Society Hill, the historic district’s most charming and evocative neighborhoods. You will delighted with its 18th century ambiance as you view the elegantly restored townhouses, hidden gardens and courtyards. Tour will include a visit to the Powel House. This historic house was the home of Samuel Powel and the last colonial mayor of Philadelphia and its first mayor after the Revolution. George Washington was just one of the many who were entertained by Mr. And Mrs. Powel. Fairmount Park is the largest landscaped municipal park in the country. Within this parkland stand a group of 18th & 19th century historic houses established by prominent families of the city as “country seats” or rural retreats. Some functioned as working farms, including productive dairies, orchards and game lands while others provided an elegant, fashionable and healthy retreat from Philadelphia’s urban environment, summer heat and periodic epidemics. Here you will visit one of these restored summer homes. Dates & Times Offered Sunday, December 4 – 1:30pm to 4:30pm Cost is $36/person includes tour guide, transportation, admissions, taxes and gratuities.

Franklin Mills If you do not like choices, this is NOT the place for you. The “Official Landmark of the Discount Shopper” has over 150 stores conveniently located under one roof, offering top designer names at 20% to 70% below retail prices. And, Pennsylvania has no sales tax on clothing. You’ll receive discount coupon book and shopping bag on arrival. Dates & Times Offered Sunday, December 4 – 2:00pm to 7:00pm Cost is $36/person includes tour guide, transportation and gratuities.

Atlantic City Spend the evening in the Las Vegas of the East where a cash bonus awaits you on arrival. Atlantic City is a must if you’ve never been and is always recommended for repeat fun. A beautiful boardwalk beside the Atlantic Ocean, excellent restaurants and wonderful shopping (including discount shopping at The Walk) offer endless adventure for all. And of course, there is an extensive selection of casinos for your gambling pleasure. Must be 21 years old. Dates & Times Offered Tuesday, December 6 – 4:00pm to 12:00am Cost is $45/person includes tour guide, transportation, bonus, taxes and gratuities.

Winterthur Museum & Gardens Beginning in 1811, four generations of duPonts farmed the Winterthur landscape. Henry Francis duPont (1880-1969), Winterthur’s last private owner developed a renowned herd of dairy cattle, collected American Decorative Arts from 1620 to 1840. Your docent led tour will include 16 rooms decorated for Christmas celebrations. Dates & Times Offered Wednesday, December 7 – 12:00pm to 5:00pm Cost is $56/person includes tour guide, transportation, bonus, taxes and gratuities.