Town Tours and Village Walks — 13 Tours for 13 Colonies
Town Tours & Village Walks is a series of free summer strolls through historic neighborhoods, hamlets, and villages to learn about their role in Chester County, both in the past and today! Each tour is designed to inform, entertain, and increase awareness of Chester County's rich heritage and historic landscape. A number of our sites offer a good selection of restaurants and shops to enjoy after your tour.
This year you can explore Chester County's heritage on Thursday evenings, April 30th - October 15th. The kickoff celebration will be April 30th at the Thomas U. Walter Historic Chester County Courthouse, followed by a tour.
Tours generally last 50 minutes and begin at 5:30 pm with the last tour leaving at 7:00 pm. View Brochure
Celebrating the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence
July 4th, 2026, is the 250th anniversary of the Continental Congress declaring the independence of the American colonies from Great Britain. Throughout the year, Chester County will commemorate and celebrate the anniversary with a variety of community events and programs. The 2026 Town Tours and Village Walks program welcomes you to join us as we celebrate with an expanded season. The program, 13 Tours for the 13 Colonies, focuses on places, people, and events in Chester County that molded and defined the complex tapestry of history that shaped our nation.
Chester County, one of the three original Pennsylvania counties created by its founder William Penn, has a long and vibrant history. Established by Penn in 1682, the County offered rich soil for agriculture, flowing water to power mills, timber, and iron ore to support the growth of the colonial population. With its proximity to Philadelphia, an extensive road network developed, connecting the county to local and regional markets for its goods and raw materials. By the time of the Declaration of Independence, in 1776, the economy, the villages, farms, mills, and iron furnaces of Chester County were creating the foundation for the cultural and economic centers that we know today.
Schedule of Events
Please Note
- Sites are handicapped limited access — please contact the Chester County Planning Commission for specific needs at 610-344-6285.
- As an attendee of this event, you agree to the release of photos that may be taken and used on our website, social media sites, and publications.
- Rain or shine. Schedule changes or cancellation due to severe weather will be posted by 2:00 pm.
Supported By
- Chester County Board of Commissioners
- Chester County Conference & Visitors Bureau
- Chester County Historic Preservation Network
- Chester County History Cente
- Chester County Planning Commission
CCPC is pleased to support the 2026 Town Tours & Village Walks and thanks the many partners and volunteers who make the program an annual success, as we welcome this summer's participants in learning about the county's heritage.