The Chester County Restaurant Festival is a very lively event that takes place downtown every year. On one Sunday in mid-September, a hundred or more vendors gather to show off their crafts and wares. A large number of restaurants also set up stalls to sell samples of their food, while a number of bands entertain festival-goers for the entire afternoon. A little later in the fall season, Marshall Square Park hosts a Harvest Festival, where locals get to compete in a chili cook-off. Finally, at the end of November or the beginning of December, West Chester kicks off the winter season with a long weekend of old-fashioned Christmas festivities, including parades and crafts sales. Events are planned throughout the rest of December as well; for example, children can also have breakfast with Santa or dress up in costumes for the New Year’s Frolic.

The Chester County Historical Society provides ghost tours every Saturday between mid-September and mid-November at 8pm. Tour guides lead visitors on a 90-minute walk through downtown West Chester to explore the borough’s cemetery and visit historical sites. The walks are $10 per person or $25 per family. Reservations may be made by calling the Historical Society at 610-692-4800 between 9:30am and 4:30pm, Monday through Saturday.