Knoebels Takes Home Golden Ticket Awards

Phoenix named #1 wooden roller coaster in the world for second consecutive year; receives “legend” award for Grand Carousel

ATHOL, IDAHO – The #1 wooden roller coaster, the best food, and a legendary carousel can all be experienced at a Pennsylvania amusement park. Knoebels Amusement Resort is home to these three distinctions, and other “best-ofs” in the industry.

During an event on Saturday at Silverwood Theme Park, Idaho, Amusement Today announced the 2019 Golden Ticket Award winners. The awards are calculated from an international poll. The survey is sent to a database of experienced and well-traveled amusement park fans around the world asking them to rate the “Best of the Best” in 22 categories.

For the second consecutive year, Knoebels’ Phoenix was named the #1 wooden roller coaster in the world. Phoenix is one of only two wooden coasters that have made the top ten each year for 22 years.

The “Phoenix” has the prestigious distinction of being named the top wooden roller coaster in the world for the 2nd straight year.

“When Phoenix was named best wooden roller coaster for the first time in 2018, we were thrilled. Earning this distinction two years in a row is an honor for which we feel appreciation beyond words,” said Richard “Dick” Knoebel, Knoebels’ President. “This is a testament to our team’s dedication to maintaining this classic coaster. Even after Phoenix was named the best, they knew their efforts had to continue to ensure it can continue providing a great ride experience for generations to come.”

Phoenix originally opened in 1948 as the Rocket at Playland Park in San Antonio, Texas. At that time, it was touted as the largest wooden coaster in the world. When the park closed in 1980, it was in danger of never thrilling guests again. Knoebels was hoping to add a wooden roller coaster, so the idea came to disassemble, move, and reassemble the coaster in the Pennsylvania park. This raised some eyebrows, but it happened. Phoenix opened to the public in June of 1985 and has been a favorite since.

Dick Knoebel with a sketch of the Phoenix during planning stages.

While this year was only the second year Phoenix captured the #1 spot, there’s a 2019 award Knoebels has secured 17 times in 20 years: Best food.

According to Knoebels’ Public Relations Director, Stacy Ososkie, guests often mention appreciation for the variety and affordability of Knoebels food.

“We have more than 30 food locations for guests to choose from, and our food managers are always providing new reasons to come back,” said Ososkie. “Some visitors make special trips to the park just to enjoy the food.”

The park also received the Golden Ticket award for “Best Food”.

An award category in which Knoebels has always made a strong showing was recognized with a Golden Ticket “legend” award. The 105-year-old Grand Carousel, purchased by the park in 1941, has gone undefeated in the now-retired category of “best carousel.”  

“Our Grand Carousel will always be the “Heart and Soul” of Knoebels,” said Leanna Knoebel Muscato. “Located near the very center, as the park has grown up around her, she holds many memories for our guests. When a family comes to visit, they all can ride together. Some will choose to reach for the rings, and others are happy riding a jumper horse, while grandparents may choose a relaxing chariot ride, all to the tunes of the antique band organs.”

The Grand Carousel received a “Legend” award.

In addition to first place awards, Knoebels was a finalist in other categories:

  • #3 Best Halloween Event
  • #5 Best Dark Ride for its Haunted Mansion
  • #33 and #45 in Top 50 Wooden Roller Coasters for Flying Turns and Twister, respectively

About Knoebels: Knoebels Amusement Resort is America’s largest free-admission amusement park and offers free parking, entertainment and picnic facilities. While at the park, enjoy over 60 rides, award winning food, swimming at Crystal Pool, challenging games, gift shops, and Knoebels Three Ponds Golf Club, then stay overnight at one of two campgrounds. For more information, visit www.knoebels.com.

All Home Days Celebrates 100th Anniversary

by Nancy Bishop

100 years ago the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on June 28, 1919, brought World War I to an end. That Fall, Ralpho Township residents decided to mark the return from active duty of their World War I troops with an “All Home” celebration.

That first celebration, which included a picnic and dinner, was held at the I.O.O.F. grounds on South Market Street in Elysburg. Today the celebration, held annually around Labor Day since then, has grown into a three-day event at Ralpho Township Community Park honoring all of the Township’s men and women who have served or are serving in the military.

This year’s All Home Days will take place Saturday, August 31 through Monday, September 2. You’ll find more than 20 food vendors, 65 craft vendors, balloon houses, bingo, bands every night, a pet and toy parade, a 5K Race, a flower show, a car show and games. There’s even free parking and admission.

The 9/11 Never Forget mobile exhibit.

The event kicks off with a community breakfast Saturday from 8 to 11 AM sponsored by the All Home Days Association. That’s followed by a parade from Center Street to Community Park at 11:30 AM. In addition to the military and marching bands, the floats and the emergency vehicles, a highlight this year will  be the 9/11 NEVER FORGET Mobile Exhibit, a tribute to all those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001.

Also on Saturday, the rock band Deuce will play from 3 to 5 p.m. and again from 7 to 9 p.m.

Come back Sunday for the car show on the Ralpho football field with more than 100 cars, including antiques, muscle cars and classics among others. Later enjoy the music of “Light Switch” from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to dusk.

All Home Days includes a classic car show on Sunday, September 1.

If you’d like to try your luck at Bingo, there will be a Napier Jewelry Bingo with Vera Bradley Purse Raffles from 1:30 to 4 p.m. Sunday sponsored by the All Home Days Association. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. You can pick up tickets at Vought’s Rental or Burch Drug Store in Elysburg.

Top off the day Sunday at a special fireworks display at dusk celebrating the 100-year anniversary of All Home Days.

Get your exercise on Monday by running in the Elysburg Rotary Club’s 5K race. Registration is at 8 a.m. and the race gets underway at 9 at Community Park.

And, of course, at any community fair in this part of Pennsylvania, it’s all about the food. In addition to the normal “fair food,” and the community breakfasts all three days of All Home Days, there’s the chicken BBQ dinner the All Home Days Association will be serving on Monday from 4:30 p.m. until it’s sold out. Be sure to get there early!

Also at 4:30 p.m. the highlight of the weekend will be the tribute to those currently serving in the armed forces and veterans.

Following the program, stay to listen to the music of “Memory Lane” playing all the oldies from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. to bring back memories of days past.

And if all that isn’t enough to keep you busy, well-fed and entertained, check out the complete schedule, because there’s a lot more going on. Hope to see you at the 100th annual All Home Days!

Fun Days at the Montour-DeLong Fair!

by Nancy Bishop

One of the highlights of summer in this part of Pennsylvania are the local fairs and carnivals. And whether you’re looking for great “Fair Food,” free entertainment, lots of rides for the kids (and the kids at heart) or even a chance to see the farm animals and the prize-winning pies, you’ll find it this year at the Montour-Delong Fair.

Since the late 1930s, the Fair has held true to its goals of improving the quality of agriculture and home products of the community. It’s a school and community event whose purpose is educational, but it does that while first and foremost being FUN!  

The first fair was held in 1935 at the DeLong Memorial School in Washingtonville. Named for Montour County and Frank Emerson DeLong, a philanthropist from Washingtonville, the fair was started to “promote the interests of agriculture and homemaking to raise the standards of school work, encourage the production of better crops and livestock and to promote better standards of living.” No fairs were held from 1942 to 1945 because of World War II, so the 2019 fair is the 80th instance of the Montour-DeLong Fair.

Kicking off the entertainment lineup at the Fair, which runs July 29 to Aug. 3 at the Fairgrounds on Rt. 254 near Washingtonville, is the Midlife Cowboys Band. Described as playing “Cowboy classics with a toe-tappin’ bluesy flair delivered with a wisp of humor,” the Cowboys will present free shows at 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on Monday (7/29). You’ll be humming “Don’t Fence Me In” all week after hearing their show that takes you back to the days of such artists as Roy Rogers, Patsy Montana and Gene Autry.

Other entertainment during the week includes the Catawissa Military Band on Tuesday; The Less Boys, Wednesday; Home Town Boyz, Thursday; Avenue E, Friday; and the Acoustic Loons, Saturday.

And don’t miss the baking contests! You can see the winning entries from the “Pennsylvania’s Incredible Angel Food Cake Contest,” the “Blue Ribbon Apple Pie Contest,” the “Chocolate Cake Baking Contest” and the “Gingerbread Men Contest.”

Ever since my childhood, though, I’ve enjoyed seeing the prize-winning animals. In the rural area where I grew up, my uncle was the Secretary of its local agricultural fair. Every year my parents took me to the fair and I remember being treated like a princess because I was “Everett’s niece.” If I wanted to sit on one of the sheep or hold one of the rabbits, all I had to do was ask the exhibitor!

The animal showings are a highlight of the Fair.

At the Montour-Delong Fair, you can see the dairy cows, beef cattle, sheep and goats or check out the exhibits of prize-winning vegetables, fruit and other homegrown and homemade foods.

Then when all that walking around and seeing the mouthwatering baking contest goodies has made you hungry, it’s time to check out the food. Besides vendors offering the usual fair food like cheesesteaks, fried veggies, pizza, chicken fingers and wings, the Montour DeLong Fair Kitchen will be cooking up a different dinner meal for $9 every night from 4 p.m. until they’re sold out. Monday it’s Meatloaf, Tuesday, Ham Loaf; Wednesday, Chicken Bar-B-Que; Thursday, Roast Beef; Friday, Fish; and Saturday, Chicken and Biscuits.

And, of course, to keep me happy, there’s ice cream. The 4H will be making milkshakes and brownie sundaes and the Montour Antique Farm Machinery Collectors Association (MAFMCA) will have an ice cream stand.

Friday night fireworks!

Check out all the vendors you can find at the Fair right here.

For those who like to see farm machinery in action, there also are tractor pulls as well as 4X4 vehicle pulls. And Friday night at 9:30 there’s a fireworks show. Put that all together with a Midway by Garbrick Amusements and you’ve got something everyone in the family should enjoy. And to keep it “family friendly,” they ask you to remember that they do not permit any alcoholic beverages or drugs on the fairgrounds.

See you at the Fair!

Freewheelin’ at Forks Farm

On Saturday, August 24th and Sunday, August 25th, head out to Columbia County for a special event – the 2nd Annual “Freewheelin’ at Forks Farm”, hosted by Forks Farm Market, the Dutch Wheelman Bicycle Shop, and various other local businesses. Enjoy a weekend of scenic bicycling through Central Pennsylvania and experience some of the best local foods and flavors along the way.

 

The weekend kicks off with a multi-course dinner Saturday evening at 6 PM on the East and West Paden Twin Covered Bridges. The Twin Bridges are one of only two sets of twin covered bridges in America. Enjoy an upscale dining experience, locally catered by The Blind Pig Kitchen. The meal will feature beer brewed by Berwick Brewing Company and locally produced wine. Guests will have a choice of chicken, pork, or vegetarian main entrees. UPDATE – REGISTRATION IS PAST FOR SATURDAY’S DINNER.

Dinner will be served on the historic Twin Covered Bridges.

On Sunday morning, the weekend will continue with a choice of bike ride (25 mile road and gravel ride or 50 mile road ride) leaving from the Twin Bridges.  Snacks will be provided for all bicyclists from Columbia County Bread & Granola, as well as coffee from Caffe Fresco. After the bike rides conclude, Sunday lunch will also be provided on the bridges.  The meal will be catered by SAC Lunches and will feature beer from Covered Bridge Brewhaus, bottled water, and Fritz Hollow Farm Kombucha.

Proceeds from the Freewheelin’ event will benefit the Columbia County Covered Bridge Association for the continued restoration and preservation of the area’s treasured covered bridges.  Pre-registration is required.  A maximum of 100 tickets will be sold for the weekend event.  Weekend tickets are $125 and include your choice of 25 or 50 mile ride and all meals. Sunday, tickets for the bicycle ride and lunch are still available, and are $65.  For those not looking to bicycle on Sunday, but who want to enjoy a memorable, locally-sourced meal on the historic bridges, tickets are $85.

The weekend will be packed full of new friends, outdoor scenery, and fresh flavors that highlight the best of the summer season in the region. Click here to register.

PLEASE NOTE – all meals and rides start and end at the Twin Covered Bridges in Forks, Pennsylvania. To learn more about things to do in the area while you visit, request a free Visitors Guide!

Five Great Central PA Hikes to do This Season

Escaping to the great outdoors is one of the best ways to make the most of your summer. Columbia & Montour Counties and the surrounding region is known far and wide for its outdoor recreation opportunities, including hiking, kayaking, tubing, fishing, boating, hunting, and more. For the trail lovers out there, we’ve decided to come up with a short list of our five favorite area hikes to complete this summer or fall in the peaceful Central Pennsylvania region.

1. Falls Trail at Ricketts Glen State Park

Trail Length: Full trail loop – 7.2 miles

Photo Credit: @kenz_keller [Instagram]

Ricketts Glen State Park is one of the standout gems of Pennsylvania, and the popular Falls Trail Loop in the park is one that simply can’t be ignored if you’re planning to do any hiking this summer. The trail winds through the Glens Natural Area via a series of steep rock staircases and packed dirt paths. The Glens Natural Area is a National Natural Landmark (designated in 1968) whose highlight is the series of 21 free-flowing waterfalls that cascade down through the glen along the trail. Hikers will have a hard time hearing themselves think as they pass some of the roaring waterfalls that are only a few feet off the trail. The most spectacular of the falls is Ganoga Falls, at 94 feet. Hikers can stand near the base of Ganoga Falls and gaze up in wonder at the power of nature as they feel the cool misty breeze coming off of the falling water. For those looking to spend the better part of their day exploring the waterfalls and the Glens Natural Area, plan to hike the full 7.2 mile loop. If you’d rather have some time to spare to spend along the beach at Lake Jean, you can plan to hike the shorter 3.2 mile loop and still see 18 of the 21 waterfalls.

If you go: We recommend starting from the Lake Rose parking lot and traveling down the Ganoga Glen side of the trail to Waters Meet. Then, you can either complete the full 7.2 miles by continuing south toward Route 118, or just head back up the Glen Leigh Side and use the Highland Trail to connect your hike back to Lake Rose (approximately 3.2 miles total). And remember to bring your camera – this is one of the most scenic hikes you’ll find on the entire East Coast! Find more information here.

Plan for: 2-3 hours if doing the 3.2 mile loop, 4-5 hours if doing the full 7.2 miles.

IMPORTANT: Bring sturdy hiking shoes and be prepared for some steep trail sections. Hikers on the Falls Trail should be in good physical condition and should exercise caution due to the slippery/wet conditions often found on the trail.

Photo Credit: @maggie_jelliff

2. Historic Weiser State Forest Miner Trails

Trail Length: Approximately 6 miles

Weiser State Forest – Roaring Creek Tract provides visitors the opportunity to experience a bit of Pennsylvania history while at the same time enjoying some quality trail time in the woods.  Weiser State Forest is home to four historic miner trails from the 19th century that were recently restored to allow for present-day explorers to “walk in the footsteps” of miners from days past.

In the 1800’s, coal mines were a main source of work for many Central Pennsylvania inhabitants, and the industry is a big part of the region’s history. At the time however, advanced road systems had not been invented.  To get to work, miners in parts of today’s Columbia County would meet in the early hours of the morning and walk in groups up over the mountain on footpaths into the main production towns of Natalie and Wilburton. Each neighborhood had its own little meeting place in the morning – whether it was at someone’s house or just a tree on the edge of town. In the evening when the miners came home to their families, the wives and children would count the strings of helmet lights to make sure everyone came back safely from a hard day at work.

Eventually, with the invention of automobiles, a road system came into place. At the same time, as other industries rose and many of the coal mines slowly closed, these once vital paths for miners slowly disappeared into the obscurity of the forest.

The Weiser State Forest Miner Trails are literally a step back into coal mining history.

In 2004, the Roaring Creek and Catawissa Valley Historical Study Group was reviewing old maps of the area, and noticed the old abandoned miner trails that seemed to transect the valley in a North to South direction. The group approached the Bureau of Forestry to seek permission to reestablish the trails and was granted authorization to do so. With the assistance of local scouts and other interested individuals, the group worked diligently for many months to re-establish the trails. Many of the trees contained visible hash marks from past trail blazing so finding the trails were easy; cleaning them to make the paths passable was the hard work. In 2005, the trails were completed and a night hike commemorated the project. A group of over 200 people gathered to hike the trails and feel what it was like to be one of the miners that hiked to work in the early morning darkness on those trails almost 200 years prior.

If you go: Today, there are four historic trails that are open for visitors to explore. They are referred to as Natalie #1 East, Natalie #1 West, Natalie #2 and Old Natalie Road. Together, the four trails are approximately six miles in length. In total, Weiser State Forest – Roaring Creek Tract has around 40 miles of shared use trails for hiking, mountain biking, and cross-country skiing. Find more information here or download the public use map for Weiser State Forest – Roaring Creek Tract.

Plan for: 3-4 hours with potential for more depending on how much you’d like to explore.

3. Susquehanna Warrior Trail

Trail Length: 12.5 miles

If you’ve ever heard the song “Over the River & Through the Woods”, the Susquehanna Warrior Trail embodies it well. The trail starts outside of Berwick in the Susquehanna Riverlands Park, and stretches along the banks of the Susquehanna River north to Canal Park in West Nanticoke.

The trail follows the path of an old railroad bed, and going further back into history, an old Native American footpath. The Susquehanna Warrior Trail was constructed in 2007 and takes hikers through quiet stretches of woods, along sections of the river, and even past a drive-in movie theater!

Wildlife is abundant along the trail, and hikers will have a reasonably good chance to see otters, blue herons, groundhogs, bald eagles, and more. The great thing about this trail is that it feels like you’re on an old-fashioned adventure the whole time. Set out on the trail in the morning with your picnic lunch and plenty to drink and you’ll be well on your way to a full day of quiet solitude.

​A good portion of the trail is shaded, and with the occasional river breeze, it makes for a great summer hike. The trail is open for hikers and bicyclists alike, and is mainly comprised of a finely crushed stone surface.​ Along the way, you will pass through the small village of Shickshinny. The trail enters Shickshinny Park and continues left onto East Butler Street, where it resumes down East Vine Street and across a small footbridge crossing Shickshinny Creek. If you need to grab a bite to eat or restock on your water supply, Shickshinny is going to be your best bet.

If you go: Parking for the southern trailhead is in the Susquehanna Riverlands Park along State Route 11. Parking for the northern trailhead in Hunlock Creek is directly adjacent to the Garden Drive-In; turn into the drive-in entrance and look for signs for the Susquehanna Warrior Trail. For a map and current trail information, click here.

Plan for: A full day hike along the river; the trail is 12.5 miles one way, so a car parked at each trailhead might be a good idea unless you’re planning to bike the trail. Alternatively, you may hike as far as you feel comfortable and then turn around to hike back to your car – this way you’ll be able to make the exploration as long or short as you’d like.

A groundhog on the Susquehanna Warrior Trail.

4. Montour Preserve’s Goose Woods Trail + Chilisaugi Trail

Goose Woods Trail Length: 0.9 miles; Chilisuagi Trail Length: 3.85 miles

The Goose Woods Trail at the Montour Preserve is a naturalist’s dream. Although short, trailgoers could spend hours wandering the trail looking at wildflowers, insects, pond life, small woodland dwellers, and animal tracks by the creek. Goose Woods Trail is great for families with children or the elderly, as it is short in distance and almost completely flat. Plus, children will love exploring the forest!

Goose Woods Trail in the fall. PC: @teamhontz

Goose Woods Trail is also a great place to bring a nature journal or camera. You can find a comfortable spot just off the trail to sit and journal about the sounds, sights, and small details of the natural world around you. Or perhaps a camera is more your speed; photograph birds, spiders, flowers, or practice taking some landscapes by the creek.

Learn about the different types of trees, leaves, and animal tracks, and see if you can spot a scarlet tanager or red-winged blackbird flying from tree to tree. Along the way, you’ll pass the Preserve’s Sugar Shack, where maple sugar is made in the early part of each year. Visitors to the Montour Preserve on a Saturday in March can experience their annual open house, with an educational maple sugaring workshop and maple sugar tasting.

If you go: The Preserve is open dawn til dusk daily. Be sure to visit the education center and learn about some of the animals and plants you might see during your visit. For those looking for additional hiking beyond the Goose Woods Trail, the Chilisuagi Trail that circles the 165-acre Lake Chillisquaque is 3.85 miles long. While there’s not a ton of elevation gain or loss here, doing some of the trails at the Montour Preserve will guarantee you some time to relax and unwind from life’s stresses while still getting those steps in! We also recommend bringing a picnic lunch and spending some quality time enjoying the day by the shore of the lake. Learn more about the Montour Preserve here.

Fossil Pit: If you have the full day to spend at the Preserve, the fossil pit is a must visit. Recently named one of the top 30 fossil pits in North America, the Preserve’s fossil pit consists of approximately one acre of exposed Mahantango Formation shale.  Formed some 395 million years ago during the Devonian Period when much of Pennsylvania was covered by a warm, shallow sea, these shales are particularly rich in fossils.  The most commonly found fossils at the site are Pelecypods (oyster, mussel and clam-type species), Cephalopods, Brachiopods (lamp shells), Byrozoans (moss-like animals), Crinoids, Gastropods (snail-like creatures), Corals and Trilobites. The site is open from dawn to dark year-round.  Admission is free and visitors may keep any fossils they find.  Fossil pit visitors are encouraged to come prepared with some basic supplies, including: small geologist’s hammer, soft brush, safety goggles, a bag or bucket to carry fossils and supplies and newspaper or other material to wrap fossils for safekeeping.

The Fossil Pit at the Montour Preserve is one of the best in the country.

5. Hess Loop Trail / J. Manley Robbins Rail Trail

Trail Length: 3.8 miles

If you spend some time in the beautiful river town of Danville and want to build some outdoor recreation into your visit, you’ll find the Hess Recreation Area just outside of town. The featured trail here is the Hess Loop Trail, which encompasses the historic J. Manley Robbins Trail. The Robbins Trail is a former railroad line for the “Montour,” a 10-ton narrow gauge locomotive used for carrying iron ore between local deposits and furnaces.  The line was converted to a bicycle path in the 1890’s by a club of local bicycle enthusiasts, and is believed to be the oldest rail trail in the United States.

The J. Manley Robbins Trail is the oldest Rail Trail in the United States.

Back in the late 1880’s and early 1890’s, the newest bicycle craze from England had made its way to Danville. The “Rover safety bicycle” had a diamond-shaped frame with pneumatic wheels and was reasonably enough priced that many young men ordered them and began riding around Mill Street, the main Danville thoroughfare. Local residents, however, weren’t as thrilled. Believing that these new bikes were dangerous, they succeeded in passing a local ordinance that banned them from being operated on the street. A group of young cyclists, calling themselves the Danville Wheelmen, still wanted to use their new bicycles, so they turned their attention to the nearby, recently defunct narrow-gauge railroad line. At one time, it hauled limestone, anthracite coal and iron ore to Montour Iron Works, where the first iron T-rail was rolled in 1845. Danville even produced some of the iron T-rails that were used to connect the Transcontinental Railroad at Promontory Summit on May 10th, 1869. But now the narrow-gauge “dinky train” was no longer operating, and the local men worked to re-purpose the rail bed into a bike trail.

The trail now connects with additional trails and recreation amenities at the Hess Field Complex. After walking the first portion of the trail that runs parallel to State Route 54 (and crosses a small covered bridge), it winds through a beautiful stretch of deciduous forest above Mahoning Creek. The enjoyable 3.8 mile loop is a multi-purpose trail that accommodates bicyclists and walkers of all ages. Dogs are allowed, if they are leashed.

If you go: If you’re coming into Danville on State Rt. 54 from Interstate 80, turn right onto Route 642 (Liberty Valley Road) and make an immediate left onto a dirt road/parking area. This is one of the Hess Loop trailheads. Further down the trail, the Hess Recreation Area has several fields and a pavilion that can seat up to 75 people. If you prefer to begin your journey from the Hess Recreation Area, there’s ample parking and easy access to hop onto the Hess Trail Loop, including the J. Manley Robbins Trail segment.

Plan for: 1.5 to 2 hours to walk the trail. Consider combining it with a trip to the Montour Preserve (about 20 minutes away) or one of the other hikes on this list.

More Info About the Area

Columbia & Montour counties, nestled in the central part of Pennsylvania, are a great choice for a few days away from the hustle and bustle of your everyday life. Consider checking these five hikes off your bucket list and turn your trip into a weekend getaway while you’re at it! Some intrepid hikers may want to tackle multiple hikes in one day, or complete several over the course of a weekend. If camping is your thing, there are plenty of area campgrounds to stay at, or you can select a centrally-located hotel or B&B in Bloomsburg or Danville.

If you’re traveling to the area to visit for a few of these hikes, consider planning to do some kayaking or tubing on the lazy Susquehanna River while you’re at it. You can also kayak at Ricketts Glen State Park on Lake Jean or at the Montour Preserve on Lake Chillisquaque. If you want to add some history into your vacation adventure, consider that Columbia & Montour Counties have the third most covered bridges in the United States with a total of 25 bridges! Grab a free covered bridge driving map from our “Request a Brochure” page and you’ll soon be on your way to some old-fashioned fun in the countryside. The bridges make for great photo opportunities, especially the famous Twin Bridges!

For the hardy explorers out there, consider researching additional hiking trails in Ricketts Glen State Park, Weiser State Forest, various area State Gamelands, or the nearby Loyalsock State Forest. There are approximately 60 miles of trails to be found in Ricketts Glen and Weiser State Forest combined, and countless additional trails in area gamelands.

Looking for even more info about the Columbia-Montour region before you visit to hike these trails? Request a free Travel Guide or a number of other free brochures including a covered bridge driving map to help plan your trip into a fun-filled weekend. You’ll find a list of area restaurants and lodging options, outfitters, other area attractions, and more!

If you’re looking for a paddling adventure to pair with your hiking excursion, consider checking out our Quick Guide to Paddling the Susquehanna River!

Annual Covered Bridge Photo Contest Winners Revealed

Winning photograph will be featured as this year’s edition of Visitors Bureau’s historic Covered Bridge Puzzle series.

BLOOMSBURG, PA – The Columbia-Montour Visitors Bureau is pleased to announce this year’s Covered Bridge Photo Contest winners. The overall winning image will be featured as the 2019 Covered Bridge Puzzle.  This year’s puzzle will be released in the fall as the ninth installment in the Visitors Bureau’s limited edition series, and will feature the Kramer Bridge for the first time. 

The 2019 Covered Bridge Puzzles feature the Kramer Covered Bridge for the first time.

Paul W. Naus Jr.’s snapshot of the Kramer Bridge in Columbia County was selected as this year’s overall winner.  Paul lives with his wife Patti in Columbia County, and has been an amateur photographer since he was a young boy.  Upon his retirement in 2017, he devoted more time to his photography hobby.  His photo passions include; landscapes, architecture, wildlife, abstract, and of course, covered bridges.  He published a Columbia County Covered Bridge calendar for 2019.  Paul is very honored to be the 2019 Covered Bridge Photo Contest winner.

Bob Erlsten’s image of the Kramer Bridge took 2nd Place.

Several other photographers were recognized in this year’s contest: Margie Hunsinger submitted the 5th place photograph of the Davis Bridge, Anthony Berard Jr. was awarded 4th place for his photo of the Kramer Bridge, Jill Davidson was awarded 3rd place for her image of the Sam Wagner Bridge, and Bob Erlsten placed overall runner-up with his photo, also of the Kramer Bridge.  The Visitors Bureau would like to thank everyone who submitted photos for the contest, as there were over 50 images submitted for consideration this year.

The 2019 Kramer Bridge puzzles will be available for purchase starting in late September at the Visitors Bureau Welcome Center, 121 Papermill Road in Bloomsburg.  The Visitors Bureau is now taking pre-orders for the puzzles – cost is $15, tax included.  Individuals interested in pre-ordering a 2019 Kramer Bridge Puzzle may stop in at the Welcome Center during normal business hours (Monday – Friday; 8:30am – 4:30pm) or call 800-847-4810.

Jill Davidson’s image of the Sam Wagner Bridge took 3rd Place.

The Visitors Bureau may also have the puzzles for sale at their Bloomsburg Fair booth this year and at the Covered Bridge and Arts Festival (October 3-6 at Knoebels Amusement Resort) if puzzles are not yet sold out.  The Visitors Bureau’s covered bridge puzzles are collector’s items and make for a great birthday or Christmas present.

A donation of $2 from every puzzle sold will be made by the Bureau to the Columbia County Covered Bridge Association to go toward restoration and preservation of our local covered bridge treasures.  Individuals are instructed to call the Columbia-Montour Welcome Center at 800-847-4810 with their pre-order intentions. A limited quantity of only 250 puzzles are available on a first come, first serve basis.

Shane Kiefer, Director of Marketing for the Columbia-Montour Visitors Bureau, states that “for the last eight years, the Visitors Bureau has made a donation from the puzzle sales to the Covered Bridge Society.  We hope that by continuing this tradition for another year, we are helping to preserve and restore these bridges for everyone in Columbia and Montour Counties to enjoy and cherish, as well as the many thousands of people from around the world who visit them each year.” 

The Columbia County Covered Bridge Association restores, preserves, and advocates for the covered bridges of Columbia County for historical and recreational purposes.  Their purpose is simple: they recognized the historic importance of the covered bridges as a public treasure to be available to and enjoyed by the public and the important part they play in tourism. This non-profit association protects all of our covered bridges not only for today, but also for future generations.

Benton Rodeo Celebrating 35th Year

by Nancy Bishop

Get ready for a taste of the Old West as the 35th Annual Frontier Days & Championship Rodeo comes to Benton July 16 to 21!

Voted one of the best of the more than 65 rodeos east of the Mississippi River by the American Professional Rodeo Association, the event draws cowboys and cowgirls from all over the United States and Canada to compete.

Stopping by the rodeo grounds located off Mendenhall Lane in Benton this week, I found Mel Parks, chairman of the Benton Rodeo Association, and Brian Bower, the Association’s corporate secretary, getting ready for the event that kicks off Tuesday night with a “Fun Horse Show” for riders of all ages. Come out and watch at 7:30 p.m. in the 3,500-seat arena for a chance to see local kids compete in events including Keyhole. Admission is free Tuesday and again on Wednesday for the “3D Barrel Race,” which is open to riders of all ages.

Then Thursday through Saturday is Championship Rodeo every night from 7:30 to 10:30 pm. Riders will compete in events like Bareback Bronc Riding, Calf Roping, Saddle Bronc Riding, Steer Wrestling, Team Roping and Tie Down Roping. The events are sanctioned by the American Professional Rodeo Association (APRA), the International Professional Rodeo Association (IPRA) and the Southern Extreme Bull Riding Association (SEBRA).

This year’s Benton Rodeo starts on July 16th.

Saddle bronc riding is a classic event that evolved from the task of breaking and training horses to work the cattle ranches of the Old West. Riders must markout their horses on the first jump from the chute. To properly mark out the horse, the saddle bronc rider must have both heels touching the animal above the point of its shoulders when it makes its first jump from the chute. If the rider misses his mark, he receives no score.

But one of events people really like to watch is the Bull-A-Rama on Sunday night, Parks and Bower told me. Dangerous and exciting, riding a galloping bull demands intense physical prowess, supreme mental toughness and courage. The bull rider is allowed to use only one hand to stay aboard. If he touches the bull or himself with his free hand, or fails to stay on the bull for eight seconds, he receives no score.

Gates will be open Tuesday through Sunday at 5 p.m. for the events, but come early because there can be a line of traffic to get to the parking area on the grounds.

And if the excitement of watching the riders compete isn’t enough, come out to the Rodeo for the food! One of the goals of the Benton Rodeo Association is to provide fundraising opportunities for Benton area community groups. You’ll find Stillwater Christian Church serving up sausage sandwiches, pierogies, hot dogs, hamburgers, soup and more. Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., Zion United Church of Christ will be making breakfast.

Scouts BSA Troop 51 from Benton will have their “Nachos Plus.” Benton Fire Company will be serving fresh-cut French fries. And, of course, there will be my personal favorite – ice cream – from the Benton Lions Club. Although what’s really making me want to visit the Rodeo are the “really thick” milkshakes Parks and Bower told me Benton Christian Church makes.

There also will be a Rodeo Walk/Run for Leukemia & Lymphoma Cure on Saturday at 8 a.m.  And at 10 a.m. Saturday will be the Special Kids Roundup, a free show and lunch for special needs kids and their guests.

See you at the Rodeo!

Children’s Museum Announces Adults-Only Gala

The Bloomsburg Children’s Museum will host its first-ever “Night at the Museum” Gala on Saturday, September 7, 2019 from 6-9 p.m. to benefit the museum’s many exhibits and educational programs. This adults-only gathering will be held on-site: both inside the Children’s Museum, 2 West 7th Street, Bloomsburg and under a tent on Center Street. The Gala is a black tie and blue jeans fundraiser, so any combination of the two is welcome.

The event will feature: live jazz music from The Steve Adams Trio, DJ Kyle Alexander and emcee Tom Morgan from 94KX, dancing, kid-themed appetizers from Edith’s Catering, themed mocktails created by Weis markets, local wine from Freas Farm Winery, local beer from Turkey Hill Brewing Company, qualified babysitting with a themed craft at the nearby YMCA, silent auction, plus selected exhibits will “come alive” with live actors.

Early-bird pricing remains in effect until Friday, August 16 and is $50/person or $90/couple; after August 16, tickets are $55/person or $100/couple. Each ticket includes two alcoholic beverages, then a cash bar will be available.

A limited number of tickets are now available on the Museum’s website. Free babysitting is available to members. Non-members pay just $10/child. Babysitting will include a Gala-themed craft and educational activities through a partnership with the Bloomsburg YMCA.

Gala sponsors, as of July 9, include: W&L Subaru, First Columbia Bank and Trust, 94KX, Bold Gold Media, YMCA Bloomsburg, Weis markets, Service 1st Federal Credit Union, CSS Industries, Gatski Metal, Gordner Coombs Insurance, Inc., Dustin Snyder Auctioneer, First Keystone Community Bank, Bear Fuel Service, Pretty Petals by Susan, as well as the following local families: Liz and Gerald Strauss, Drue Magee, Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Beidler, and Valynn and Lee Boy. Sponsorship opportunities are still available, please call 570-577-3727 for more information.

The Children’s Museum is a non-profit organization with a mission to enrich the lives of people in the 10-county region by fostering a lifelong love of learning through interactive programs and exhibits that bring out the imagination in every child and the child in every visitor.

Proceeds from the Gala will support more than 500 hours of educational programming and updating of more than 25 hands-on exhibits exploring science, art, history and culture.

The Bloomsburg Children’s Museum serves more than 25,000 visitors annually from a five county region, 75% of which are served at reduced admission or for free. The museum is designed for all ages, children 0-17, their caregivers and educators, as well as children and adults with special needs.

2019 Danville Heritage Festival

Next weekend, the Danville Heritage Festival will again take place throughout the town.  From Friday, July 19th until Sunday, July 21nd, enjoy a unique celebration of our region’s heritage.  The festival is centered around Hess Field and features a series of living history demonstrations on Saturday, July 20st. Throughout the weekend, there will be various events taking place; an iron ore mine hike, 5K run, tennis tournament, historic bike tours (including a segment on the nation’s oldest rail trail surrounding Hess Field, circa 1890s), food vendors, live music, a classic car cruise in, a quoits tournament, fireworks over the Susquehanna on Saturday evening, and a riverside hymn sing on Sunday morning.

FIREWORKS OVER THE SUSQUEHANNA

For full details about the weekend events, and for specific times and further info, please visit the Danville Heritage Festival website.

FREE MODEL TRAIN DISPLAYS OPEN SATURDAY

The free Saturday Trains program, in its fourteenth year at Christ Memorial Episcopal Church at the corner of Pine and East Market streets in Danville has a very realistic sound and light show of fiber optic fireworks over its 22-foot-long model railroad display. The display will be open on Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon with dozens of trains, a model merry-go-round that children and adults can play with, a historic American Flyer ​layout, a working model sawmill, and 30 push buttons that activate the exhibit’s operating attractions. More than 1,000 icicle lights decorate the display.

Don’t Miss the “Best Weekend of the Year”

by Nancy Bishop

 

“The Best Weekend of the Year” – That’s what fans call the Briggs Farm Blues Festival, an annual celebration of the Blues music tradition that’s been going on every year since 1998.

Whether you’re in the mood for Mississippi-style Blues, Contemporary Blues or Gospel Blues, you’ll find it at the 22nd Briggs Farm Blues Festival July 11-14.

The Festival got its start as a one-day event in 1998 when Richard Briggs, then a production manager at public radio station WVIA, decided his family’s 250-year-old farm was the perfect place to have some Blues musicians come and play.

Cedric Burnside will perform at this year’s Briggs Festival

“Blues was close to the music I listened to as a teen,” Richard says. “What you listened to at that age stays with you and I wanted to bring Blues music to our area. I felt it was true music.”

From that small one-day event, the Festival has grown to a nationally recognized four-day Blues festival that attracts some 7,000 people, including 2,000 who set-up tents and RVs and camp at the farm, located at the intersection of Routes 93 and 239 near the town of Nescopeck.

“After that first year, we decided it would be safer to have a two-day festival in case there was bad weather one of the days,” Richard says. “And then people started asking to camp.”

In 2017 the Festival received the “Keeping Blues Alive Award” from the Blues Foundation. And three of the musicians performing at this year’s Festival are also Blues Foundation award winners: Annika Chambers, who performs Friday at 4:15 p.m. on the Main Stage; Cedric Burnside, performing Saturday at 4 p.m. on the Main Stage; and Vanessa Collier.

Sunday will be devoted to Gospel Blues with Slam Allen at 11 a.m. and Alexis P. Suter Ministers of Sound.

The award-winning Festival includes both local and nationally known musicians with acts on two stages and 50 vendors offering unique handmade arts and crafts like jewelry made from old silverware and paintings of Blues musicians.

Vanessa Collier on Saxophone; photo by Otto Kurecian

A highlight of this year’s festival will be the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Philadelphia Blues Society to Vanessa Collier, who will be performing on Saturday night.

And if the music — particularly the Mississippi Delta music of Saturday night’s headliner Christone “Kingfish” Ingram— makes you hungry for Southern cooking, the Briggs family has that covered, too. They’re cooking up fried catfish, collard greens, mac and cheese, sweet corn, stewed tomatoes and pulled pork for you to buy.

You’re welcome to BYOB your favorite beverage to the Festival as long as it’s not in a glass container. No glass containers and no pets are allowed on the grounds.

This year’s festival kicks off Friday night at 7 p.m. with a nostalgic musical nod to the 50th anniversary of the 1969 Woodstock Festival. “Briggstock” will feature Bret Alexander & Friends who will take you back in time to that “Summer of ‘69” that saw America’s space program put men on the moon as well as the iconic music festival that drew thousands to a farm field in Woodstock, NY.

If camping isn’t your thing, but you’d like to stay nearby for the Festival, shuttle bus service will be available from the Super 8 Motel in Mifflinville, Motel 6 in Bloomsburg and Relax Inn in Bloomsburg. For more information about the shuttle bus schedule and staying overnight, visit the “Lodging” page.

Before you head to the Festival, be sure to view a complete list of this year’s Festival performers. Tickets also may be ordered on the website.

See you at the Festival!