Visiting Knoebels this weekend? If so, you might be happy to learn that you can ride the WORLD’s best wooden roller coaster, the Phoenix, as voted by Amusement Today’s 2018 Golden Ticket Awards.  The beloved Elysburg resort also took home honors for the world’s best carousel and the best amusement park food.  Plus, it was recognized for several other top five “best-ofs” in the amusement industry. The spotlight was shining bright on the amusement industry this past weekend in the annual awards show hosted at Silver Dollar City resort in Branson Missouri, where the winners of Amusement Today’s 2018 Golden Ticket…

Motorists are advised to use caution on the roads in our area today and in the coming days. Below is a list of current road closures. ——————————————————————- As of 3:30 PM (Monday, September 10th), please be advised of the following road closures in Columbia County: Route 1020 (Winding Road) between Route 487 and Ridge Road in Fishing Creek Township is closed. The detour is Route 487, Route 239, Bendertown Road and Ridge Road. Work on this road, as well as permanent repairs to Zaners Bridge Road, is expected to begin Monday, September 17. [LONG-TERM] Route 1022 (Zaners Bridge Road) just east…

The setting is London, 1879.  A stuffy old boys club contemplates admitting their first female member in this wildly funny send-up of science, sexism, and changing times. The Explorers Club is an absurdly clever, satirical farce from the pen of Nell Benjamin (Award-winning writer of Legally Blonde: The Musical).  The show kicks off Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble’s 41st Season, beginning on September 13 with the last performance on October 7th.  The first three performances are pay-what-you-decide wherein patrons enjoy the show and then pay for it afterward via an envelope with the amount they wish to pay. The show is rated…

UPDATE #1: The full 2018 Covered Bridge Festival Vendor list is here! DOWNLOAD IT NOW to find out which vendors will be at this year’s festival and where your favorites will be located. For more information about the festival or to view the Google Earth file showing where each vendor will be, check out our “Covered Bridge Festival” page. UPDATE #2: The full list of 2018 open Knoebels rides for the festival has been announced, and can be found on the official “Covered Bridge Festival” page. UPDATE #3: — COVERED BRIDGE FESTIVAL BUS TOURS — Limited space is still available on…

This autumn, come to Columbia & Montour counties to enjoy a festive trip through the heart of the Central PA countryside. Along the way, stop at seven fantastic local wineries and participate in this year’s autumn winery event. The “Wine & Whoopie Pie” Trail will kick off on Friday, October 5th and run through Sunday, October 14th. Each winery will offer a special wine pairing with a tasty whoopie pie treat. Visit every winery for a chance to win a wine-themed prize basket! Each winery will provide an individual prize basket and one large Grand Prize basket will be compiled…

Benton Business Updates: ——————————————– General Updates: The bridge on the south end of town on Route 487 IS OPEN. There are cleaning supplies and bottled water at the local fire hall. Another truckload is soon due with more supplies. A local family is providing free meals outside the fire hall. Vine Pharmacy: The pharmacy was not flooded and they are operational.  If people are unable to get through to Benton to pick up medications, PLEASE contact the Pharmacy by phone.  They are arranging for deliveries to be made.   They are delivering to the North Mountain Fire Dept. so they can transport…

Join Wild For Salmon on Saturday, August 25th for a grand celebration of salmon – it’s Fishtival time!  This annual event is eagerly anticipated for the opportunities to taste various salmon dishes prepared by several area chefs. Other food vendors, local breweries, and wineries will also be present for this family and kid-friendly event.  The fishermen are back with their catch for the season and are excited to spread the news. The Fishtival festival will begin at 9 AM and will run until 3 PM. Wild For Salmon is located at 521 Montour Boulevard in Bloomsburg.

The Bloomsburg Nationals takes center stage each summer during the second weekend of August at the Bloomsburg Fairgrounds in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania. Classic and vintage cars, trucks and motorcycles of varying eras, make, model and style are all part of the weekend extravaganza. The fun kicks off tomorrow (Thursday, August 9th) at 6 PM on Main Street in Bloomsburg with the annual Nationals Gridlock.  Check out hundreds of classic and vintage automobiles as they line Main Street until 8 PM. Then, follow them to Quaker Steak and Lube for a kickoff party featuring live music, drink specials, food discounts, and more.…

The Children’s Museum, located at 2 West Seventh Street in Bloomsburg, will host its popular annual “Touch a Truck” event on Saturday, August 4 from 10 AM – 12 PM. Come out to the museum for a fun-filled day with trucks of all kinds. Get an up-close, hands-on look at loaders, go-karts, tractors, fire engines and police, state park ranger and military vehicles. Meet the community helpers who operate these vehicles and collect passport stamps for prizes and giveaways. Touch a Truck is designed to educate students about different careers and the big equipment that goes along with them. Reduced…

The 2018-19 season at the Weis Center for the Performing Arts at Bucknell University will include nearly 40 professional performances – including world music from Egypt, Spain, Africa, China, Japan, Mexico, Mongolia, Denmark and Sweden, plus classical music, modern dance from two acclaimed companies, world dance from India and Spain, Americana and folk, jazz, and family-friendly performances. Ten performances are free. Performances begin in late August 2018 and continue through May 2019; all performances are at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9butc4K5K4 The season will kick-off with a free outdoor concert on the Weis Center Plaza by Banda Magda on Thursday, August 23 at…

The Columbia Montour Visitors Bureau’s Summer Heritage Passport continues this summer with thirteen area historical assets and heritage organizations participating. A new announcement came today that ALL trail-goers who complete the Summer Heritage Passport this year will receive a special commemorative patch, in addition to being entered to win one of the top 5 prize baskets. The round patches will be 3.75″ x 3.75″ and will feature a covered bridge along with the words “Heritage Passport 2018”. The first ever Summer Heritage Passport takes participants on a journey through the history, culture, and stories of Columbia & Montour Counties and…

The 2018 Benton Frontier Days Celebration will kick off tomorrow, July 17th and run through the weekend (Sunday, July 22nd). The highlight of the week is the Benton Championship Rodeo, presented by the Benton Area Rodeo Association. The Benton Area Rodeo Association is a non-profit organization whose goal is to stimulate tourism to the Benton area to provide fundraising opportunities to local charities, service groups, fire companies, ambulance associations, scouts, and churches. The Benton Rodeo is considered to be one of the best of the 65 rodeos east of the Mississippi River, as voted by the American Professional Rodeo Association. It draws…

Next weekend, the Danville Heritage Festival will again take place throughout the town.  From Friday, July 20th until Sunday, July 22nd, enjoy a unique celebration of our region’s heritage.  The festival is centered around Hess Field and features living history demonstrations on Saturday, July 21st. There is also a 5K run, tennis tournament, historic bike tour (including a segment on the nation’s oldest rail trail surrounding Hess Field, circa 1890s), food vendors, live music, a parade (Friday evening), a classic car cruise in, a quoits tournament, and fireworks over the Susquehanna on Saturday evening. Historical speakers hosted by Thomas Beaver…

Below is a list of area fireworks displays in Columbia & Montour Counties and the region beyond this July. Saturday, June 30th: Lewisburg, Wolfe Field, Dusk, No Rain Date Mifflinburg, Hidden Valley Camping Resort, 9:30 p.m., No Rain Date Tuesday, July 3rd: Hazleton, City View Park, Dusk, No Rain Date Mountain Top, Wright Township Municipal Park, 9:30 p.m., Rain Date July 5th Montgomery, Montgomery Park, Dusk, No Rain Date Wednesday, July 4th: Berwick, Crispin Field, Dusk (Rain Date: July 6th) Millville – Low Level Fireworks Display, Firemen’s Carnival Grounds (Little League Field), 10 PM, No Rain Date Bloomsburg, Bloomsburg Town…

On Saturday, August 25th, the Columbia-Montour Visitors Bureau and the Columbia County Covered Bridge Association will host a special day of festivities in celebration of the historic Stillwater Covered Bridge.  The bridge recently underwent renovations to improve the structural integrity of the bridge.  A fresh coat of paint was also applied.  Thus, a special dedication ceremony will be held to commemorate the recent renovations.  The ceremony will also be a re-enactment of sorts, to be held in the same spirit as the 1959 Stillwater Bridge dedication ceremony. Festivities will begin at 9:30 AM with a Covered Bridge Bus Tour leaving…

Bring the whole family to Hess Field in Danville for Old Forge Brewing Company’s annual Summerfest & 5k Beer Run! Live music by Myal Soul, kids games, bounce house, pig roast, beer games and lots of fun! You must be 21 or older to enter the race (but families are welcome at the park for the food and fun). Prizes for the fastest female and male and for the best beer-themed costumes!   Event details and schedule Date: Saturday, June 23, 2018 Time: 5:00pm Check-in: 4:00pm – 4:50pm Location: Hess Recreation Area – 300 Meadow Lane, Danville, PA 17821 Field size: 250 (must…

The 2018 “Breakfast for the Bridges” fundraiser will be held at the Masonic Lodge in Orangeville on Saturday, June 23rd from 7:30 AM – 10 AM. Tickets will be available at the door. This annual fundraiser offers a home-cooked breakfast including farm fresh eggs, pancakes, sausage, bacon, home fries, toast, coffee & juice.  Join us for a morning of friendship and great food to support Columbia County’s historical treasures – the iconic covered bridges.  The Masonic Lodge is located at 2547 State Route 487 in Orangeville. Cost is $8.00 for adults; $4.00 for children 6-12 years old, and FREE for children under 6…

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 2018 Covered Bridge Puzzle.  This year’s puzzle will be released in the fall as the eighth installment in the Visitors Bureau’s limited edition series, and will feature the Rupert Bridge for the first time. Anthony Berard Jr.’s snapshot of the Rupert Bridge in Columbia County was selected as the overall winner.  Tony taught mathematics at King’s College…

Head to the Bloomsburg Fairgrounds for the annual Central PA Wine Fest featuring some of the area’s finest wineries, brewpubs, artists, and musicians.  Sample wonderful food as you make your way around the industrial buildings at the fairgrounds.  The event is rain or shine and takes place on Saturday, June 2nd from 11:00 am -6:00 pm. Feel free to bring your own lawn chairs/blankets.  No pets allowed. This is not a kid friendly event.   Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door. Tickets includes your admission and wine glass for all tastings.  All tickets purchased online will be electronically scanned to prevent photocopying.…

Next Saturday, June 2nd, from 11 AM – 6 PM, head to Berwick to enjoy live music, craft beers, fantastic foods, and activities for all ages!  Market Street near the Jackson Mansion will be the site of many of the events. The Jackson Mansion will also be open for tours throughout the day and will be celebrating the grand opening of the Garrison Room.  In the mid-afternoon, the 2nd annual “Best Pizza in Berwick” contest will be held and will be open to the public for judging. For a donation of $2, any interested attendees will be able to judge pizza…

For the past several years, the Columbia-Montour Visitors Bureau has held a photo contest geared specifically toward the 25 historic covered bridges in the area. This year’s contest is still open for entries, and will close on Friday, June 1st. Individuals who have taken photos of one of the counties’ covered bridges are encouraged to enter. There is no cost to submit, and photographers are permitted to enter up to FOUR covered bridge images. All entries will be judged primarily on their superior quality, composition, and lighting. Photos from all four seasons are encouraged.  To be considered, entries must feature one…

The Columbia Montour Visitors Bureau (CMVB) recently unveiled a brand new summer initiative in partnership with thirteen area historical assets and heritage organizations. The first ever Summer Heritage Passport will take participants on a journey through the history, culture, and stories of Columbia & Montour Counties and beyond. The Summer Heritage Passport will begin on Friday, May 4th and last through Sunday, October 7th.  At each of the thirteen stops, passport holders will receive a sticker to place in their passport indicating their attendance at that location. Once 10 of the 13 locations have been visited, and stickers received, individuals may…

Local Brew Trail Celebrates Local Breweries and Encourages Craft Beer Lovers to Explore the Variety of Craft Beers in the Susquehanna River Valley LEWISBURG, Pa. — The River Rat Brew Trail is inviting the public to take a tasting tour with its 2018 Summer Passport. Passport holders will receive a free collectible glass at each of the 9 participating breweries from June 1 to Aug. 31.  Participants who have their passports stamped at every location and submit their completed passport will receive a River Rat hooded sweatshirt created only for this promotion. Participants do not need to make a purchase…

The Weis Center for the Performing Arts, in collaboration with the Columbia-Montour Visitors Bureau and the Susquehanna River Arts initiative, will host a free art exhibit and installation featuring the work of ten local artists from Tuesday, April 3 through Friday, May 25 in the Weis Center’s upper atrium lobby. Participating artists will include: Annie Barnhart, Robert Brown, Pete Grimord, Joan Grimord, Gail Fox, Glen Klein, Abigail Kurecian, Sara Mika, Pam Thomas and William Whitmoyer. Each artist will have several samples of artwork on display. Grounded in the belief that art shapes both the spirit and vitality of a community;…