Legend has it that there’s a town in Pennsylvania where the Albatwitch roam. If you’ve not heard of these creatures, they resemble Bigfoot, only in a smaller size. You have nothing to fear from these creatures that spend their time hanging out among the trees, only venturing down to hunt for food. For a single day in October, the town comes together to celebrate the legend of the Albatwitch, and the day includes a haunted trolley in Pennsylvania.
Mark your calendar for Saturday, October 8, 2022, for the annual Albatwitch Day festivities in Columbia. The daylong celebration runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Columbia River Park.
While a full menu is on tap, one of the highlights of the festival is the haunted trolley tour, which will set off at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Tickets are limited, so purchase them early.
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A ghost hunter and a historian will lead you on this spooky trek to some of Columbia’s most haunted sites. You’ll also drive down Klinesville Road, where the Albatwitch are said to feed at night.
If you prefer something a little tamer, go on a day-trip trolley tour. You’ll still learn all about the Albatwitch without the ghost stories. Trolley rides will set off every 45 minutes throughout the day.
The one-of-a-kind festival will also feature plenty of other fun, including lectures, delicious food, and live entertainment. Save time, to check out the vendors who will be on hand, too.
Are you brave enough to climb aboard this haunted trolley in Pennsylvania? Let us know in the comments! Then take a peek at the best fall destinations in Pennsylvania. Which will you add to your bucket list?
The Fourth of July in Pennsylvania is all about celebrating America. We all have our own ways to mark America's birthday - from picnics in the park to whirlwind hours at our favorite theme park. While we may spend our day differently, many of us end Independence Day by watching fireworks light up the sky. If you've been Googling "Where to watch fireworks near me" this Fourth of July in Pennsylvania, here's a sampling of a few of the best.
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1. Wawa Welcome America – Philadelphia
An epic celebration that begins on Juneteenth and caps off on Independence Day, Wawa Welcomes America is a spectacular 16-day festival that's jam-packed with family-friendly activities and events, including free admission to more than three dozen Philadelphia museums. Wawa Welcome America's Fourth of July celebration includes a free concert, with NE-YO and Kesha, on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. The fireworks over the Philadelphia Museum of Art typically begin around 9:45 p.m. on July 4.
2. Independence Day Celebration – Pittsburgh
The Independence Day Celebration in Downtown Pittsburgh kicks off at 4 p.m. with a variety of family-friendly activities, including a fun zone for the kiddos, food trucks, and concessions. Two stages in Point State Park will feature live entertainment throughout the day and into the evening. Point State Park, the North Shore, and the Three Rivers are prime spots for viewing the fireworks displays. The 25-minute fireworks show kicks off at 9:35 p.m.
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3. July 4th Food Truck Festival & Fireworks – Harrisburg
Indulge in good eats all day long at the July 4th Food Truck Festival & Fireworks at Riverfront Park in Harrisburg. Bring a hearty appetite to this event that features more than 45 food trucks, a wine and beer garden, free activities for the kids that include balloon animals and face painting, and live entertainment. The Fourth of July celebration runs from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m., followed by one of the area's largest fireworks displays at 9:15 p.m.
4. Lights Over Lake Erie – Erie
Kick off your Independence Day celebrations early with Lights Over Lake Erie, a bayfront fireworks display that begins at 10 p.m. on July 3, 2024. Fireworks are set off from the Bicentennial Tower at Dobbins Landing. You'll find plenty of places to view the epic fireworks display, including Sassafras Pier, Dobbins Landing, and Presque Isle State Park.
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5. Scranton Spectacular – Scranton
Get the party started on July 3, 2024, with the Scranton Spectacular, an Independence Day celebration at Courthouse Square in Downtown Scranton. Beginning at 4 p.m., the day promises a full menu of fun, including games, bounce houses, good eats, and live entertainment. The Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic Brass and Percussion Members will perform at 8 p.m., followed by fireworks at 9:30 p.m.
6. A Gettysburg Fourth – Gettysburg
Enjoy a full evening of fun, beginning at 5 p.m., at the A Gettysburg 4th Independence Day Celebration and Fireworks at Gettysburg Recreation Park. The family-friendly event features live entertainment and food trucks leading up to the fireworks display, set for 9:20 p.m. Parking costs $5.
7. Lititz Fourth of July – Lititz
Lititz Springs Park is the place to be this Independence Day. The Lititz Fourth Of July celebration promises a full day of family-friendly fun that includes a kid zone with games, face painting, and barrel train rides. A baby parade, pie eating contest, cornhole tournament, and live entertainment are all on the itinerary. Start the day with the Blanket Run between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. Bring your blanket and stake out your spot in the park for the evening's fireworks. More than two dozen food vendors will also be on hand. Fireworks begin at 9:30 p.m.
If you've been searching "where to find fireworks near me in Pennsylvania," you've just landed upon a sampling of the best. Where is your favorite place to celebrate the Fourth of July in Pennsylvania? Let us know in the comments! Planning a picnic before the sky lights up the evening of the Fourth? Check out the best places to have a picnic in Pennsylvania. Don't forget your picnic basket.
When spring is in the air the days grow longer, we trade our pants for shorts, and our calendars start filling up with memorable traditions of the season. One fun way to celebrate the new season is with a visit to this iconic cherry blossom festival in Philadelphia.
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Bring the whole family to the Cherry Blossom Festival in Philadelphia sponsored by Subaru. Activities are scheduled from late March until mid-April. Sakura Weekend is the festival's key event that takes place each year in April at Fairmount Park.
Hosted by the Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia, the annual cherry blossom festival provides guests with insight into Japanese and American customs while celebrating the blossoming new season.
The two-day Sakura Weekend will boast a jam-packed schedule of family-friendly activities and entertainment, including tea demonstrations and instruction on how to make origami.
You might even want to bring your pet along, too, but make sure he or she is pretty in pink. Then join other people and their pets in the Pretty in Pink Parade.
Among those slated to perform are Tamagawa University Taiko Drum and Dance Troupe and KyoDaiko (Philadelphia Community Taiko Drumming).
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The festival, of course, will feature a collection of vendors, selling unique products, food, and drink. You can also bring a picnic along to enjoy under one of the blooming cherry blossom trees.
The traditional dances and performances are just as magical as the blooming cherry blossoms themselves.
Keep your eyes on the official website and Facebook page for the full schedule of events as it becomes available.
While you are in Philadelphia, make sure you plan a visit to the interesting Magic Gardens - a unique folk art garden that is like nothing you have ever seen:
Do you plan to attend this or another cherry blossom festival in Philadelphia this spring? Join the conversation in the comments.
When warm spring air wakes us up from a long winter in Pennsylvania we start to look for opportunities to get outside. One of our favorite ways to do that is with spring festivals. How do you feel about tacos? Could you spend an entire day sampling them? If so, plan a visit to the Berks County Taco Fest in May.