Christmas Along PA Route 6! |
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This year, treat yourself to a "classic Pennsylvania Christmas" exploring one of the many Heritage Communities along PA Route 6. The rich heritage of the PA Route 6 Corridor lends itself perfectly to a nostalgic holiday season. Check out seasonal exhibits at historical societies and museums or take a snowy stroll through one of the many historic districts in our Heritage Communities. Take a drive though many of the light displays also showing in many towns this time of year (look below for when and where those are taking place), and don't forget the plethora of opportunities for outdoor recreation! Many regions across PA Route 6 are prime destinations for snowmobiling, snow tubing, and ice skating. So take a break from the holiday hustle and experience a magical Christmas along PA Route 6!
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Our Road, Your Communities!
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December 25th, Merry Christmas
from PA Route 6 Alliance!
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Join us for our third and final PA Route 6 Maker's Market of 2023 on December 9th and 10th as we team up with Gmeiner Art and Cultural Center in Wellsboro.
This event coincides with the 8th Annual Christmas on Main Street. Stroll along gas-lit Main Street, shop local, and enjoy this picturesque town! Visit 30 displays of historic ornaments made locally in the early 1940's and learn how Wellsboro saved Christmas during World War II. It’s a weekend of activities to warm your heart and fill you with Christmas spirit!
You can view the full schedule of events for the weekend here. The PA Route 6 Maker's Market will be open Saturday, December 9th, from noon-6:00 PM and Sunday, December 10th, from noon-4:00 PM, and will feature artisans and crafters located within the PA Route 6 Corridor. This is a great opportunity to start checking those boxes off your gift list while supporting local businesses!
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Check out these other two Holiday Markets also taking place that weekend:
Saturday, December 9th: The Holiday Market outside of the Meadville Market House in Crawford County will be open 9:00AM-5:00PM. Come shop goods from local vendors.
Saturday and Sunday, December 9th and 10th: Head to downtown Warren for the first ever Holiday Market Days! The entrance to the event is through the Rad Lands Co storefront on Pennsylvania Ave. This event will be a unique holiday market shopping experience like you've never seen before!
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Hawley Winterfest 2023 is slated for Friday through Sunday, December 8th-10th. This is an event you won't want to miss! The celebration will include family friendly activities, craft and vendor fairs, the beer tour, children's activities, horse & carriage rides, live music, Ritz Holiday theater show, and plenty of holiday shopping!
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Here's a list of more holiday happenings along PA Route 6 in the next month: |
Every weekend through December 22nd: Head to the McKean County Fairgrounds in Smethport for the 4th Annual Festival of Lights to view holiday displays set up by local businesses and organizations. Only $10 per carload. Find more information here.
Now through December 30th: Every Friday through Sunday (closed December 24th and 25th), experience Presque Isle State Park's natural beauty combined with a multitude of colorful lights and displays. This is a unique, holiday drive-thru experience as several areas will be decorated: the Presque Isle Lighthouse, Stull Interpretive Center, Ranger Station, and Waterworks Beach/Rotary Pavilion. Admission is free, but donations are appreciated!
Now through December 31st: Witness the joy and warmth of the holidays come to life in a breathtaking display of creativity and imagination, designed to kindle the spirit of togetherness and wonder. With every twist and turn, be captivated by the brilliance of countless lights illuminating the night, transforming Poconos Park into a mesmerizing symphony of color and merriment. Whether you're seeking a delightful family outing or a romantic escape, Poconos Lights promises an unforgettable experience that will leave you with cherished memories and a heart full of holiday cheer. Experience over one mile of Holiday cheer in this drive-thru Christmas experience.
Now through December 31st: The boardwalk near the Andrew J. Conner Nature Center at Asbury Woods will be lit up each night in December (except December 24 and 25) from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. for the community to enjoy a peaceful evening stroll on the boardwalk through the woods. Holiday lights will twinkle in the woods and wetlands along the boardwalk which covers 1/3 of a mile. Stop inside the Nature Center, view their animal exhibit, and browse holiday items for sale in our expanded gift shop with products from local artisans. The lighted boardwalk and Nature Center will be free and open to the public. Donations will be accepted but are not required.
Saturday, December 9th: Stop at the Potter County Artisan Center for their Paint a Gourd Christmas Ornament Class from 2:00-5:00 PM. Class is taught by Danette Wightman, and all supplies are included in the $20 registration fee.
Saturday, December 9th: Enjoy a Winter Wine Walk in Bradford, PA, and finish up your Christmas shopping! Hosts offer special discounts and incentives for Wine Walk participants. Available is a FREE porter service that includes store merchandise, which means you don't have to carry what you buy all around with you. All of your purchases will be together and ready for you at the end of the night! Support local business and sample wine while you shop!
December 16-17 and 23-24: Climb aboard for a special Christmas experience with a ride on The Strourbridge Line and the Honesdale Santa Christmas Tree Express! Travel in comfort in the heated coaches as you dash down the tracks to the track-side Christmas Tree Farm. Once you arrive, climb off the train and visit with Santa, pick your favorite Christmas tree, and enjoy complimentary hot chocolate. Passengers will have approximately an hour to visit Santa and choose and purchase that special Christmas tree (note: trees are an additional cost and not included in the excursion ticket). Trees will be baled and tagged as you watch them being loaded on the flat car. Once the train arrives back at the station, the crew will unload the trees from the flat car so you can take yours to your vehicle. You are responsible to attach it to your car so be sure to bring the proper supplies to do so. Christmas trees are priced individually and sold by Dein Nurseries.
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Heritage Community Spotlight: Conneaut Lake |
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The Heritage Community of Conneaut Lake, set along scenic Route 6 between Pittsburgh and Erie and just minutes from Ohio, surrounds the beautiful Conneaut Lake, Pennsylvania’s largest natural lake. Once a prime destination for hunters and fishermen, the community of Conneaut Lake developed a family-friendly resort atmosphere around the 1890s, which has been going strong ever since! Whether doing some shopping, fishing in the lake, relaxing by the waterfront, or attending their annual Winter Ice House Festival—you’ll never get bored in Conneaut Lake!
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Artisan Spotlights: Christmas Gift Ideas |
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Looking for the perfect Christmas gift? These shops house artisan-made goods from a variety of artists and craftspeople throughout the Route 6 Corridor. Many of these shops support the work of dozens of local artists who craft pottery, jewelry, photography, paintings, home decor, and so much more. Some of them even have online stores, so if you can't make an in-person visit, you can still shop a multitude of unique gifts. No matter where you live, you can shop the Artisan Trail this holiday season!
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PA Route 6 Facade Program |
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Route 6 Alliance has announced the award recipients for the PA Route 6 Façade Program in Lackawanna County. To date, the program is funding 24 projects in Lackawanna County totaling over $246,000 in façade improvements. The success of this year’s façade program was a culmination of partnerships among PA Route 6 Alliance, the Lackawanna Heritage Valley National and State Heritage Area, Lackawanna County Planning Commission, Lackawanna County Visitors Bureau, and NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania.
The PA Route 6 Façade Program was made possible by a $100,000 Keystone Communities Grant from the PA Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), support funding from the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), and matching funds from local businesses and organizations, and is part of a larger Alliance initiative aimed at stimulating economic development by enhancing the attractiveness of the small towns throughout the 11-county PA Route 6 Heritage Corridor.
After public informational meetings in February of 2023, Lackawanna County businesses and organizations were invited to submit applications for individual matching grant awards of up to $5,000 to fund physical improvements of building façades.
Imagine NEPA Performing Arts Center in Clarks Summit was one of the recipients of grant funding through the program. “We are so grateful to have received this grant, to help return the front of our antebellum building to its historic glory,” says Katie Lane, founder and Artistic Director at Imagine NEPA Performing Arts Center. “It truly beautified the front of our building and will also help us with better heating and cooling efficiency and safety.”
All projects funded through the façade program utilize local contractors, suppliers, and resources, resulting in an economic benefit to the community that often exceeds each individual grant award. The Alliance’s hope is that even applicants who did not receive grant funding will continue to follow through with their façade improvements and create a positive impact on the entire community.
“When conducting a countywide program, partnerships are extremely important, and we were very fortunate to have quality partners in the Lackawanna Heritage Valley National and State Heritage Area, Lackawanna County Planning Commission, Lackawanna County Visitors Bureau, and NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania,” says Candace Hillyard, executive director of PA Route 6 Alliance. “All of these organizations were very involved with spreading the word, conducting the public meetings, and in the selection process. It was also a great opportunity for businesses to learn more about and apply for additional funding directly through the Lackawanna County Planning Commission, which awarded $140,000 through their Business Improvement Grants.”
“We were delighted to partner with PA Route 6 Alliance in offering this façade program to businesses in Lackawanna County,” says Owen Worozbyt, director of operations for the Lackawanna Heritage Valley National and State Heritage Area. “By improving their storefronts, business owners will attract more customers while preserving the historical and cultural character of the heritage area. We are pleased that so many local businesses were able to participate in this program to enhance and beautify their communities.”
The PA Route 6 Façade Program in Lackawanna County is the fourth such façade program implemented by the Alliance. Previous façade programs were conducted in the PA Wilds, Endless Mountains, and Great Lakes Region. A combined total of 135 businesses and organizations have received façade grant funding across the 11-county corridor. The PA Route 6 Façade Program’s total economic impact in the region exceeds $1.355 Million.
For more information about the program or to see the complete list of award recipients, click here, or contact the Alliance at info@paroute6.com or 814-435-7706.
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LOOKING FOR GIFT IDEAS? SHOP "DO 6" MERCHANDISE |
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"Pennsylvania's mid-20th-century Route 6 brought together appealing natural environments, historical events, and cultural landscapes. The eastern length of the route crosses an area featuring rolling mountains and tranquil valleys dotted by farms and towns. To the west, Route 6 traverses a more level landscape that also includes lakes. This book presents the entire scenic drive as a destination in itself. It covers the secluded setting of northern Pennsylvania where Route 6 and its towns have experienced minimal changes associated with larger metropolitan regions and interstate highways. As a result, the mid-20th-century landscapes of Route 6 have lingered a little longer. The authors give the reader a peek of a past not entirely swept away."
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11 West Main Street
Galeton, PA 16922
814-435-7706
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