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AMERICA

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Region, state plan special events

PASSION TO RIDE

Danville bicyclist part of national team

100 YEARS OF FUN

Knoebels seeks to balance tradition, innovation

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LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

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From the Editor ...

As we head into summer, many events commemorating our country’s 250th anniversary are in full swing in our region and across the state and nation.

Several events are held annually, including the 4th of July parades and festivals such as Buggy Day in Mifflinburg and Danville Heritage Festival. But there will be special surprises in store for regular attendees in the form of contests as well as themes centered on life in the region 250 years ago. Some annual events, such as Sunbury Celebration, will feature new elements such as a professional wrestler’s event and a parade followed by fireworks. The Union County Veterans’ 4th of July picnic will feature a drone light show and fireworks.

Other events will introduce new perspectives or life into our region. The Rudy Gelnett Memorial Library will host storytimes that explore the theme of America’s 250th birthday. A Broadway musical, “1776,” will be presented by RiverStage Community Theatre and showcase the Founding Fathers and their efforts to persuade their allies to sign the Declaration of Independence. Finally, Milton will plant 250 trees at various locations in the borough for generations to come to enjoy.

A notable person in our local history that many may not know about is Timothy Murphy, who is remembered as a sharpshooter. While there is some debate about his role in the Battle of Saratoga, he played an undeniable role in Maj. Gen. John Sullivan’s campaign against the Iroquois in western New York. According to history, he was recruited for the American Revolution in Northumberland as a member of the Pennsylvania Rifle Battalion.

Two attractions in our area — Knoebels Amusement Park and Woodward Cave — are also marking milestone anniversaries. Both will be celebrating 100 years this year.

Brian Knoebel, fourth-generation park president, names tradition and excellence as the keys to the park’s success, stressing that it is important to strike a balance between the two. The park has evolved significantly from its beginnings as a crystal pool to the amusement resort we know and love today and continues to add to its offerings.

Woodward Cave has been a mainstay in Centre County but is under new ownership this year as the previous owners retired. The new owners, Chris Sanders and Dave Wigfield, hope to balance tourism and conservation by preserving the tours and campground while also keeping the area protected for the bats that live there.

Passion is the biggest motivator for Ingrid McElroy, a bicyclist from Danville who has competed with athletes across the country and world as well as Olympians. While others may see her training regimen as intense, she sees it as a chance to slow down while working toward something that brings her joy.

With such a milestone year, we hope you find a balance between honoring our history and looking forward to what is coming in the future.

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Rob’s favorite spring photos

Robert Inglis

Robert Inglis is an awardwinning photographer for The Daily Item. In 2023, Inglis’s 20-year Retrospective of Photographic Journalism was exhibited at the Degenstein Library in Sunbury.

Keithan’s Bluebird Gardens in Sunbury is starting to come into bloom on April 17.

Above: Shamokin High School students rehearse for their production of “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.” Left: An eastern tiger swallowtail sits on a flower at Keithan’s Bluebird Gardens in Sunbury on April 17.

Mifflinburg elementary student Xyler Raup, 6, plays a makeshift drum on April 24, during a Drums Alive program at the school.

Summer events honor nation’s founding

Valley towns celebrating 250th anniversary of U.S.

By Cindy O. Herman

Central Pennsylvanians have always been proud of their role in our nation’s history. From local historical associations to commemorative plays and heritage festivals to venues such as a restored buggy-making business, their contributions to building America over the past 250 years are cherished.

In true American spirit, this summer each town is celebrating America’s 250th birthday in its own unique way.

MIFFLINBURG BUGGY MUSEUM

Located on the original site of the Heiss Coach Works, the Mifflinburg Buggy Museum gives guests a look at a small industrial-site representative of turn-of-the-20th-century Pennsylvania and the United States. Buggy Day offers horse-drawn buggy rides, museum tours, live blacksmithing and other craftsmanship demonstrations, and family-friendly activities. At 2 p.m. guests can enjoy a performance by the Buffalo Valley Community Band.

H When: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., June 13

H Where: Market and 5th St. and the Buggy Museum at 598 Green St.

H Info: “Mifflinburg Buggy Museum” on Facebook or https://www.mifflinburgbuggymuseum.org/

RIVERSIDE

Riverside Boro Life is planning a celebration event for

Robert Inglis Union County will host its first-ever Drone Light Show this year before the annual fireworks on June 26.

Anna Wiest

Jay Allen takes Ron Pepple and Ricki Moler for a ride on a buggy at the 2023 Mifflinburg Buggy Day. Along with horse-drawn buggy rides, the day will feature museum tours, live blacksmithing and other craftsmanship demonstrations and more on June 13.

America’s 250th anniversary on June 13 at the Danville Airport on Sunbury Road.

Activities will include food trucks, vendors, live musical entertainment, speeches by State Sen. Lynda Schlegel Culver and Pa. State Rep. Michael Stender, a car show, historical exhibits, bounce houses for kids, a silent auction and a Grand Fireworks Show to wrap up the evening.

H When: June 13.

H Where: Danville Airport, on Sunbury Road in Riverside.

H Info: https://heartofpa.com/event/america-250-yearsin-the-making/

WATSONTOWN

The Watsontown Historical Association is partnering with the Watsontown Borough, local businesses, organizations, schools, churches and volunteers to celebrate America’s semiquincentennial. They’ve already hosted history trivia nights, hymn sings and tree plantings and activities will continue throughout the year.

On Flag Day, June 14, James Guinn-Bailey and his band will host a Patriotic Singalong by the Canal Boat near the Watsontown Bridge.

The Fourth of July will explode with a parade, events in the park and fireworks.

“This year we received a grant, so our 20-minute fireworks program is going to last probably close to 40 minutes,” Diana Johnson, Celebrate 2026 committee member, said.

The parade will also be bigger, probably lasting close to an hour this year and featuring local marching bands, the Philadelphia Steel Drum Band and floats created by local

Photo provided

Watsontown’s Passing of the Flag tradition brings the community together to pass an American flag from hand to hand just before the parade begins.

businesses and organizations.

Watsontown’s traditional Passing of the Flag involves the whole community lining the street to pass an American flag from hand to hand just before the parade begins.

On Aug. 2, the Watsontown Historical Museum, on Main Street, will host a free ice cream social with entertainment by the McNett Band.

“We have a rich history here in this area because of Fort Freeland on the Warrior Run school property,” Johnson said. “There have been a lot of people in this area who have a lot of ties to that. Through the museum, we try to bring that to life.”

H When: Throughout the year.

H Where: Downtown Watsontown.

H Info: “Celebrate 2026 w/Watsontown” and “Watsontown Area Business Association” on Facebook.

SUNBURY

The Northumberland County Historical Society will host a special 250th Birthday Speakers Series:

H June 21, Hope Webster Kopf, “Local Life on the Frontier in the 1770s.”

H June 28, Mary Zimmerman, “What’s for supper? 1770s Food and Cooking.”

H July 5, John Moore, “Col. Hunter, Last Commandant of Fort Augusta.”

H July 12, Dale Wolfe, “Flintlocks and Rifling Barrels.”

H July 19, Chris Yohn, “The West Branch and the War for Independence.”

H July 26, Brad Becker, “Following Orders, Revolutionary Drum Cadences.”

Note: Due to repairs on the roof of the NCHS building, the locations for these presentations will be announced closer to each date on the “Northumberland County Historical Society” page on Facebook.

H Aug. 2, Re-enactment of the Reading of the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia, held at Higher Hope Church, 1000 Race St., Sunbury.

As a historical society, the NCHS feels a responsibility to educate people on our nation’s early days, Jenny Snyder, communications and advertising at the historical society, said.

“Northumberland County played a big part in how the country was started,” Snyder said. “The whole county was a frontier. I think it’s hard for people to visualize that.”

H When: See dates above.

H Where: Other than the re-enactment of the reading of the Declaration of Independence, locations will be announced closer to the scheduled events.

H Info: “Northumberland County Historical Society” on Facebook.

UNION COUNTY AMERICA 250PA

Union County is planning events throughout the year, including a Home and Business Decorating contest and the 28th Annual Blueberry Festival on July 18, in Mifflinburg.

Union County’s 250th Photo Exhibition and Contest will accept photos through December depicting “the people, places and spirit that define our community.” Accepted submissions will be included in a commemorative photo book published at the conclusion of the contest and in the 2027 calendar.

“This is an incredible milestone in our country’s history, and to have the opportunity to be part of it means a lot to me, personally, because I have ancestors who served in

Photo provided

The 2026 Union County Veterans’ 4th of July Celebration parade will feature more than a dozen musical units and many local community groups.

the American Revolution,” Kathy Swope, Union County America 250PA Celebration Committee Adviser, said.

The committee helped secure a grant to fund RiverStage Theatre’s production of “1776” in June.

“That’s going to be really exciting,” Swope said, adding that the committee also contributed funds to the Union County Veterans’ 4th of July Parade, drone light show and fireworks. “We’re looking forward to all of that.”

H When: Throughout the year.

H Where: Union County.

H Info: https://sites.google.com/view/unioncounty250pa/home

CATAWISSA CELEBRATES AMERICA 250

Enjoy food vendors, games, live music and fireworks sponsored by Catawissa VFW Post 8306 and other town organizations. Nightly entertainment includes Lucky Afternoon Band on June 18, Muck Dogs Band on June 19, and Catawissa Military Band Concert on June 20, followed by fireworks at 9 p.m.

H When: June 18-20.

H Where: Catawissa Town Park, S. 4th St.

H Info: https://heartofpa.com/event/catawissa-celebrates-america-250

“1776” MUSICAL

For musical director Ellen Boyer, “1776” brings her full circle from the time she saw it – her first Broadway musical – as a sophomore in high school. She’s been impressed with the regional actors who have come out to be a part of the show as RiverStage Community Theatre celebrates the 250th anniversary of John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and their allies, who try to persuade their colleagues to sign the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia.

“It’s an incredibly important show. It’s also very funny. You get to see the Founding Fathers as genuine human beings, with some tender love stories,” Boyer said. “I hope people can see there is more that unites us than divides us.”

The show runs on weekends from June 19 through 28. On June 26, the night of Lewisburg’s fireworks, it starts at 6 p.m. – with the hope that people leaving the musical will see the sky lit up with a sparkling display.

H When: June 19-28.

H Where: Greenspace Center, 815 Market St., Lewisburg.

H Info: https://riverstagetheatre.org/1776-2/

THE UNION COUNTY VETERANS’ 4TH OF JULY PICNIC, CONCERT, DRONE LIGHT SHOW & FIREWORKS

Lewisburg will celebrate the Fourth of July a bit early, with activities on Friday, June 26. Food vendors kick off the evening at 5 p.m., with live music from Lucky Afternoon Band at 7 p.m. At dusk, Union County’s first-ever Drone Light Show will dazzle the crowds just before the fireworks start.

H When: 5 p.m. Friday, June 26.

H Where: Wolfe Field, 304 Hufnagle Blvd., Lewisburg.

H Info: www.ucveterans4thofjuly.org/events

Cindy O. Herman Fort Augusta, in Sunbury, will be part of the Northumberland County Historical Society’s Speaker Series when historian John Moore presents “Col. Hunter, Last Commandant of Ft. Augusta” on July 5.

Inside PA file photo

The Lucky Afternoon Band will perform in Catawissa on June 18 and in Lewisburg on June 26 as part of those 250th celebrations.

EVENTS ACROSS THE STATE

HARRISBURG

American Identity: Restoring the Susquehanna River’s Artistic Legacy is drawn from the Friends of the Susquehanna River Art Collection (SRAFriends.org) and curated by Rob Evans. As part of the nationwide America 250 commemoration, this exhibition brings together more than 100 historic works, spanning four centuries, that explore the Susquehanna River as an enduring geographic presence and iconic image in American art.

The Hudson River School, flourishing in the mid-19th century, is considered the first American school of painting — distinctive in its focus on the untamed landscape and its deliberate departure from European artistic conventions. However, long before the Hudson River inspired American artists, many were already studying the Susquehanna River. American Identity reveals the Susquehanna River as a key formative influence on the Hudson River School and as an important catalyst in American art history.

The exhibition provides a fresh viewpoint on how American artists learned to see and portray the land. American Identity presents a sample of American history, portraying daily life as seen firsthand by the artists along the river’s shores.

H When: Through June 28.

H Where: Susquehanna Art Museum, 1401 North 3rd St.

H Info: srafriends.org or 717-2338668.

“Revolutionary Things: Objects from the Collection,” a newly opened, 3,000-square-foot exhibition at The State Museum of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg features more than 140 artifacts spanning three centuries of Pennsylvania and American history.

The exhibition is organized into three thematic sections: Witness objects and relics, including rare artifacts used during the American Revolution, such as the 1st Continental Regiment Flag (also known as the Thompson Rifles or 1st Pennsylvania Regiment flag); commemorative art, examining how

The Susquehanna River flows past Danville on its way to the Chesapeake Bay. The Susquehanna Art Museum will host an exhibit on the Susquehanna River’s influence on America through June 28.

early Americans expressed national identity, highlighted by Charles Weisgerber’s monumental 1893 painting, Birth of Our Nation’s Flag; and centennial and bicentennial reflections, revisiting Pennsylvania’s role as host of the 1876 Centennial and 1976 Bicentennial celebrations.

H When: Through Aug. 29.

H Where: The State Museum of Pennsylvania, 300 North St.

H Info: statemuseumpa.org or 717-787-4980.

HERSHEY

America250PA invites you to the Commonwealth Concert Series — a five-city, statewide celebration centered on Pennsylvania, the foundation of the American story. These free concerts are designed to honor the unique communities and diverse narratives that define the state by providing accessible cultural experiences for all residents. While tickets are free, they are required and can be ordered online. These signature events bring high-caliber, world-class artists to every corner of the state. Because this celebration belongs to everyone, these large-scale performances are free to attend. Hershey will host the Avett Brothers and Joan Jett and the Blackhearts.

H When: June 13.

H Where: Hersheypark Stadium, 100 Hersheypark Dr.

H Info: hersheyentertainment. com or 717-534-3911.

PHILADELPHIA

The city is celebrating all things July 4th with its multi-week-long Wawa Welcome America, starting on Juneteenth and ending with a concert and fireworks on the Parkway. On July 2, Philadelphia’s Historic District hosts its annual block party called Red, White, and Blue To-Do to honor the day the Continental Congress voted for Independence.

On July 4, the city honors dignitaries at the Celebration of Freedom Ceremony, followed by the Salute to America Independence Day Parade, and the burying of the Quincentennial Time Capsule.

H When: June 19-July 4.

H Where: Various locations.

H Info: july4thphilly.com or email information@welcomeamerica.com.

ArtPhilly will present What Now, a city-wide, multidisciplinary arts festival. This collaborative festival will showcase Philadelphia artists and neighborhoods, sparking civic dialogue on the nation’s evolution since 1776. Through What Now, commissioned artists will interpret Philadelphia’s legacy, reflecting on the city’s complex history and future.

H When: May 27-July 2.

H Where: Various locations.

H Info: artphilly.org.

Robert Inglis

THE UNION COUNTY VETERANS’ 4TH OF JULY PARADE

On Saturday, June 27, at 10 a.m., the annual Union County Veterans’ 4th of July Parade through Lewisburg honors veterans and celebrates “the land of the free and home of the brave.”

The parade route begins at 8th and Market streets, turns onto 3rd Street, and ends at University Avenue and St. George Street, with more than a dozen musical units and many local community groups.

H When: 10 a.m., Saturday, June 27.

H Where: Downtown Lewisburg.

H Info: www.ucveterans4thofjuly. org/

STORYTIME AT RUDY GELNETT MEMORIAL LIBRARY

Children love birthdays and will delight in celebrating America’s 250th during the Rudy Gelnett Memorial Library’s summer reading program, Storytime with Annabelle. Storytime takes place on Tuesdays and Thursdays for children preschool age and younger. It will incorporate the theme of America’s 250th birthday during the week of July 4.

“Celebrating America’s 250th is important for so many reasons,” Toni

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Dilks, Snyder County branch manager and head of patron services, said. “It’s

Robert Inglis

Artist Laura Knorr, left, poses for photos with a America 250 PA Bells that she painted and unveiled in Selinsgrove on Dec. 9. The bell will be on display in Rudy Gelnett Memorial Library’s lobby indefinitely.

just an amazing milestone to be able to look back at the advancements and progression from where we came.”

Additionally, Snyder County’s fiberglass replica of the iconic Liberty Bell is displayed in the Gelnett Library’s lobby. Laura Knorr, local artist and executive director of the Campus Theatre, in Lewisburg, was chosen by the Pennsylvania Commission for the U.S. Semiquincentennial — America250PA — to paint the bell with a design depicting Snyder County’s heritage. It will be at the library indefinitely.

H When: (Storytime) June 30 and July 2, 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

H Where: Rudy Gelnett Memorial Library, 1 North High St., Selinsgrove.

Dozer, a Bernese Mountain dog, rides in a decorated wagon and accompanied his owner, Kelly Pastuszek, to Mifflinburg’s 50th Fourth of July event. Decorated ornaments can be turned in during Mifflunburg’s Fourth of July Celebration on July 4 in Mifflinburg Community Park.

H Info: www.snydercountylibraries.org or 570-374-7163.

MIFFLINBURG

Mifflinburg Heritage and Revitalization Association (MHRA) chose one of our nation’s most cherished symbols of freedom, the Liberty Bell, to feature in a contest. Anyone willing to enter the Liberty Bell Ornament Contest can pick up a wooden, bell-shaped ornament and paint kit.

Justin Strawser

Volunteer Evelina Antonyuk, of M&T Bank, scoops blueberry ice cream on blueberry pie for Mifflinburg Councilman Colbey Russell during the 2024 Blueberry Festival in Mifflinburg Community Park. T-shirts depicting winning decorated bells will be available for sale at the event on July 18.

Inside PA file photo

Justin Strawser

Lukas Bamford, of Sunbury, plays a game at the 2025 Sunbury Celebration at the end of North Fourth Street, near the David L. Persing Recreational Complex. Also pictured is event co-chair Jodi Scholvin. This year’s event will be on July 9.

The decorated ornaments can be turned in at Mifflinburg’s annual Fourth of July Celebration on Saturday, July 4, in Mifflinburg Community Park and will later be displayed in local shop windows. A T-shirt depicting the winning bells will be available for sale at the Red, White & Blueberry Festival on Saturday, July 18, in Mifflinburg Community Park.

“I thought the bells were a cool idea,” Heidi Criswell, MHRA executive director, said, adding that she’s looking forward to seeing the entries.

H When: Enter decorated ornaments during Mifflinburg’s Fourth of July Celebration

H Where: Mifflinburg Community Park, 131 N. 5th St.

H Info: https://www.mifflinburgpa.com/ or “MHRA” on Facebook

SUNBURY CELEBRATION

Always held the second weekend in July, Sunbury Celebration starts Thursday, July 9, with free activities for children at the Oppenheimer Playground at 215 North 2nd St., followed by a Splash Hop on Friday at the Sunbury Community Pool at 249 Memorial Dr.

New this year is a parade on Saturday, July 11, followed by fireworks.

Also new will be a professional wrestlers event on Saturday night.

Jim Eister, Parks & Public Property director, said he’ll never see another milestone celebration such as America’s 250th in his lifetime.

“I hope the children have a great time with our celebrations,” Eister said. “And in the next 50 years they can say, ‘I remember that. I was there 50 years ago’ when Sunbury

celebrated.”

H When: July 9 - 11

H Where: Downtown and other locations in Sunbury

H Info: www.sunburypa.org or Mayor’s Office at 225 Market St.

250 TREES FOR 250 YEARS: A LEGACY PROJECT CELEBRATING AMERICA’S 250TH BIRTHDAY

T.I.M.E., The Improved Milton Experience, will join with the Milton Garden Club, PPL Electric Utilities, Coles Hardware and the Borough of Milton to celebrate America’s 250th birthday by planting 250 trees.

Heather Powell, executive director of T.I.M.E., said that with financial support from PPL, they will plant a variety of native trees throughout Milton, including in Lincoln Park, the Capitol Theatre lot, the Broadway business corridor, Brown Avenue Park, 5th Street Park, Rotary Park, Centre Towne Apartments, Harmony Cemetery and Milton State Park.

The groups are focusing on native tree species, some of which are capable of living more than 500 years and will strengthen the local ecosystem.

“We’re looking to expand our community gardens in town and to define a lot of our community green spaces,” Powell said. “We will plant trees throughout the year and will be looking for volunteers.”

H When: Summer and Fall 2026.

H Where: Milton.

H Info: www.visitmiltonpa.org/ or 570-412-4773.

DANVILLE

While Danville celebrates food, music and creativity at its annual Fall Arts & Crafts Festival, it also honors its town founders with a Heritage Festival that is themed this year, appropriately, “Patriotism in Colonial Times.”

It will feature living history presentations, historic tours of Danville, live music, food and craft vendors, fireworks, hikes and more. The Thomas Beaver Free Library will once again host a Speaker’s Series, with displays of photographs of founders of Danville and of the nation.

“That weekend (Sept. 11) is always a solemn occasion,” Lura Good, executive director of the Danville Business Alliance, said. “But we will be celebrating our strong American heritage. It will be really interesting for people to come out to Danville that weekend and see re-creations and re-enactments of Montour County history and American history.”

H When: Friday, Sept. 11 and Saturday, Sept. 12.

H Where: Mill Street, Lower Mulberry, and a portion of East and West Mahoning streets, in Danville.

H Info: “Danville Heritage Festival” on Facebook or www.visitdanvillepa.org.

Photo provided

A train rolls through festival is themed

rolls through downtown Danville during a previous

is themed “Patriotism in

Justin

Robert Inglis People gather in

The park is among several places throughout Milton where 250 trees will be planted in honor of the country’s

“I HOPE THE CHILDREN HAVE A GREAT TIME WITH OUR CELEBRATIONS. AND IN THE NEXT 50 YEARS THEY CAN SAY, ‘I REMEMBER THAT. I WAS THERE 50 YEARS AGO’ WHEN SUNBURY CELEBRATED.”

JIM EISTER, SUNBURY PARKS & PUBLIC PROPERTY DIRECTOR

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Danville Heritage Festival. This year’s

Colonial Times”

Milton State Park.

250th anniversary.

100 YEARS of fun, food, fantasy

Knoebels officially opened on July 4, 1926

By Tricia Kline

One hundred years ago, the Knoebels family never expected that the popular local swimming hole located on their family farm would be the beginning of a world-renowned 45-acre amusement park that brings in an estimated one million visitors every year.

Fourth-generation park president Brian Knoebel said the family farm sits where two creeks meet, creating a natural swimming hole.

“On summer Sundays, tallyhos would come out to the property to cool off and enjoy swimming in the water,” he said.

At that time, Henry “Ole Hen” Knoebel began charging these visitors a small fee for swimming, offered to feed and water their horses, and set up a few picnic tables.

The park officially opened on July 4, 1926, and included a rented steam-powered carousel, a food stand and the Crystal

spend their hard-earned money,” Knoebel said, adding that even if they spend nothing at all, they are encouraged to “enjoy the beauty of the park, catch a free show, or visit a free museum.”

The park also provides free parking and free picnic facilities.

GROWING UP AT THE PARK

Brian Knoebel became the president of the resort on July 31 last year. But it certainly wasn’t his first role there. He spent his entire working life learning from his parents, aunt, uncle, brother, cousins and the rest of the Knoebels team. He said the family doesn’t assign themselves specific roles or responsibilities: “We go whenever we’re needed, no matter what time of day or night,” he said.

Knoebel has fulfilled responsibilities that have run the gamut of operations at the park, including picking paper, working a game, being the “ring boy” on the Grand Carousel, helping carpenters put on new roofs, running food to company picnics and operating and inspecting rides.

“Not only have I spent my entire career here, but I grew up here, too,” he said. “I even played kickball outside of the Flyer ride, ran around the park with my cousins, and played hide and seek in our Haunted Mansion.”

Since that time, “We’ve added a lot, but the goal is still the same,” Knoebel said, “to serve as a timeless hometown amusement resort where families can come and enjoy

Pool. time together.”

This year, Knoebels Amusement Resort is celebrating its milestone 100th anniversary and continues its unique designation as America’s largest free-admission amuse-

ment park.

“Free admission gives people the flexibility to decide exactly how they’d like to

He said before he knew it, “I was building a really strong connection to the business, to the people who help operate it, and to our amazingly loyal guests.”

“I never had a goal to be president, and honestly, the thought barely even crossed my mind,” Knoebel said, “but I always knew I wanted to be a part of this very special place.”

He is humbled to know that his family has trusted him as the next president to carry on the family legacy – something that he

Photo provided by Knoebels

said is especially meaningful during the 100th anniversary celebration.

“You think about what my greatgrandparents started, what each generation added, and now it’s my generation’s turn to help carry that forward,” he said, adding that he doesn’t take for granted the extreme rarity that a family business would survive to the fourth generation. “There’s definitely a sense of responsibility that comes with it, but also a sense of excitement of what could be. We hope 100 years is just the start.”

TRADITION AND EXCELLENCE:

THE KEYS TO SUCCESS

Knoebel said over the years they have sought to always “strike a balance” between offering new things that guests would appreciate, while also staying true to who they are and being a place that has been central to family traditions for generations.

The park offers nearly 60 rides, equally divided into thrill rides, kiddie rides, and family rides – ensuring there is plenty for everyone.

“A lot of our rides also have unique histories, with some having been relocated from other parks and given new life here,” Knoebel said, “which adds character you don’t always see.”

He said at the heart of the park is the more than 100-year-old Grand Carousel.

“It’s a true piece of art and history with meticulously maintained, handcarved horses, and a ring game that is rare in and of itself,” he said.

And then there is the wooden roller coaster that was originally named “The Rocket,” which they brought from Texas in 1985 and gave it new life at Knoebels, appropriately renaming it

“YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT MY GREATGRANDPARENTS STARTED, WHAT EACH GENERATION ADDED, AND NOW IT’S MY GENERATION’S TURN TO HELP CARRY THAT FORWARD. THERE’S DEFINITELY A SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY THAT COMES WITH IT, BUT ALSO A SENSE OF EXCITEMENT OF WHAT COULD BE. WE HOPE 100 YEARS IS JUST THE START.”

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Knoebels Amusement Resort is marking its 100th anniversary with plenty for visitors to see and do.

“We have planned a season-long celebration that honors our past and the people who have helped us get here,” Stacy Yutko, public relations and guest experience director said, adding that the celebration also “looks forward to an exciting future ahead.”

They are introducing new food items this year, as well as limitededition souvenirs to mark the occasion, she said, “and we hope guests will delight in the special touches throughout the park that celebrate Knoebels’ rich 100-year history.”

As always, they will hire more than 2,000 seasonal team members

to join their 165-year-round fulltime employees to make this year another success.

A special anniversary weekend, July 3-5, will offer the following:

■ Friday, July 3: A parade will begin at 4 p.m., and the dedication of the Founders Statue will be held at 4:30 p.m.

■ Saturday, July 4: A ceremony will be held at the Hawaiian Bandshell at 10 a.m., and a cake cutting will be at the Birthday Cake Pavilion at 3 p.m.

■ Sunday, July 5: There will be a time capsule opening and the creation of a new time capsule at 3 p.m., a History Walk and ribbon cutting at The Rink at 3:30 p.m.; and a book signing from 5 to 8 p.m.

BRIAN KNOEBEL, PRESIDENT

Photo provided

Riders slide down one of the two water slides available at Knoebels.

the “Phoenix.” Knoebel said the coaster “really helped put us on the map ... and marked the start of rapid growth for the resort.”

Over the years, they’ve added newer rides, such as the Impulse roller coaster, while also holding onto their unique classics, he said.

They currently also offer 26 games, 26 gift shops and 12 attractions.

Some guests come simply to catch a free show and play a game, or to enjoy the award-winning food, and while there they may run into one of the park’s fun mascots (Kozmo the chipmunk, Dexter the raccoon, Piper the red fox, and Kreeper, who appears during the Halloween season). The park includes 40 food and beverage locations and offers fullservice catering and birthday party packages. The resort also includes the Crystal Pool, Knoebels Campground, Lake Glory Campground, Three Ponds Golf Course, and Nickle Plate Bar & Grill.

Knoebels has won the Best Food category from the Golden Ticket Awards 22 out of 26 years, eventually earning the coveted “Legend” title, Knoebel said, “for having the best food at an amusement park anywhere in the world.”

Photo provided

The Grand Carousel is more than 100 years old with hand-carved horses and a ring game.

Photo provided

The Impulse rollercoaster was added to Knoebels offerings in recent years.

Inside PA reporter Tricia Kline interviewed John Fetterman, who is the longest-serving current employee at Knoebels:

In what ways are you currently serving and what is your role at the park?

I developed and maintain the Park’s Parts Ordering and Parts Inventory systems. I developed and maintain the maps of miles and miles of underground utilities. I developed and maintain a database of service work done to park attractions over the past four decades. I always try to be available for help in assisting other workers to improve their performance, no matter the subject.

How long have you been working at Knoebel’s? In what capacities since you began?

I started working for the company at the commencement of the 1970 summer season as a ride operator. I later moved on to help maintain the games in the park as well as helping to design new games. I soon became in charge of operations and maintenance of the park’s Jet Star roller coaster, and that lead to other roller coaster work. I have designed the layout of several park

rides, including the Antique Autos, the Log Flume, Twister, Flying Turns, and other rides. Over the years, I have gathered quite a bit of historical knowledge about the amusement industry. I am not an engineer, but proudly describe myself as a “Farmer Engineer,” a very apt description for many of the amusement business’s historical Movers and Shakers.

What drew you there at first, and what has kept you there for so many years?

I started working at Knoebels the summer before heading off to college at Lehigh University, where I would major in Mathematics, with a “minor” in Pinball Machines! The Knoebels job helped to pay for that Lehigh degree; and that unofficial pinball “minor,” in which I operated several pinball machines, and taught myself how to repair and maintain the games, and searched into the fascinating history of those games — all which lead me to a lifelong fascination with “things our grandfathers made popular,” an interest which morphed into a general interest in the historical aspects of amusement parks. I have stayed at Knoebels for six decades because it has allowed me to express my interests and na-

tive talents.

How would you describe Knoebels, compared to other amusement parks?

During the years I have worked here, Knoebels went from being a mere youngster, a “tip-of-the-hat” to older, more established local parks such as Edgewood Park in Shamokin, Rolling Green in Hummels Wharf, and Rocky Glen Park in Moosic, to having become a park which has outlasted and surpassed all of those now-closed parks. While Walt Disney famously opened his Disneyland Park in the mid-1950s as a “superior alternative” to mere amusement parks, and in the process spawning scores of “theme park” imitators across the country, Knoebels has instead demonstrated that the original concept of an “amusement park” has a solid, valid and cherished place in the hearts of its visitors. The efforts of the Knoebel family have produced a park which is unlike so many other offerings across the country, and across the entire world. The park is rooted in the rich history of the business — like no other park, anywhere — while nevertheless generating new and exciting experiences for our guests.

—TRICIA KLINE

Photo provided by Knoebels

“Who would have ever thought this little park in the middle of nowhere would become worldrenowned?”

But the resort, he said, is about more than just the offerings — it’s also about the entire experience.

“It’s not just about cotton candy and carousels,” he said. “It’s the atmosphere, the setting, the food, the affordability and the hospitality our team provides, to name a few.

“We are offering something unique,” he said, which is seen in something as practical as plenty of places to sit and rest.

“While some parks hardly provide a place to sit as they want you spending money,” he said, “we’re just the opposite. I challenge you to find another park our size with as many park benches, with hopes you sit back, relax and take in the sounds, the aroma, and the smiles our family and our team provide.”

As they look to the future, Knoebel said their biggest hope is that they would stay true to what has made them so successful over these last 100 years.

“We never want to lose what makes Knoebels special,” he said. “If we can keep that feeling, where families can come here and make memories the same way our guests have for generations, then we’re doing what we’re supposed to do.”

Robert Inglis

Riders raise their hands and shout while zooming along on the Phoenix at Knoebels.

Photo provided

Kids enjoy the Flying Tigers ride at Knoebels.

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Photo provided The original Knoebels billboard.

, camera, action

Film festivals showcasing, promoting filmmakers

By Jason C. Klose

For the past few years, area organizers have been trying to uplift local filmmakers across the Susquehanna Valley by bringing film festivals to local theaters and venues, hoping to turn the area into a cultural point for filmmaking and connect audiences

with compelling stories from around the world and here at home.

In the heart of the local arts scene, these festivals feature up-and-coming independent filmmaking and community events, showcasing and highlighting independent

Photo provided

Moviegoers hit the concession stand before Riot in the River Film Festival at the Campus Theatre in Lewisburg.

Photo provided Wellsboro Film Festival Director Thomas Verdi and River Valley Film Festival Director Cory Baney pose on the red carpet prior to the River Valley Film Festival.

creativity as well as artists in the area and regionally.

Most notable among these events include: the River Valley Film Festival, the Shamokin Film Festival, the Riot in the River Film Festival, and the Whistle to the Maples Horror Film Festival.

In an area that has always been supportive of independent arts, these festivals will continue to grow and develop by bringing meaningful, independent cinema to communities, promoting art in cinema, and supporting regional and local filmmakers at all stages of their careers.

RIVER VALLEY FILM FESTIVAL

The River Valley Film Festival was founded in 2019 when founder and director Cory Baney got the spark to bring together two things he loves: The independent film community and his local community in Williamsport.

“We launched in January 2020 to have our inaugural festival in July 2020, which was stalled due to this random global pandemic,” Baney said. “During our downtime, I met Jonathan Decker at a local drive-in theater, where he said he’s ‘all in.’ From there, we relaunched in January 2025 and became a part of Lycoming Arts in February 2025.”

The inaugural River Valley Film Festival opened with Red-Carpet Friday, a First Friday-type event, to bring the filmmakers into the community and showcase what they do. This was followed by the opening-night film, “Rap Dixon: Beyond Baseball,” a great tie to Pennsylvania and local Little League history.

“Throughout the weekend, we had over 800 attendees with Q&As that differed from the traditional industry ones that I’m accustomed to,” Baney said. “The audiences were invested in the films and the filmmakers, often meeting filmmakers with questions around how they could help get the film to more audiences.”

The River Valley Film Festival offers local filmmakers the resources to help them succeed in their productions.

“During the River Valley Film Festival, we highlighted many local filmmakers from our opening night film, ‘Rap Dixon: Beyond Baseball,’ to our closing night film ‘Mountain Souls,’” Baney said. “We highlighted the best of what Pa. offers: Amazing scenery, people and stories that captivate and engage audiences.”

The 2nd annual River Valley Film Festival in July is already looking to be bigger than the first, including panels and potentially adding a second screen to accommodate growing submissions.

“The panels will feature a local production panel, where we will showcase those who have made films in Pennsylvania, highlighting the struggles and benefits of filming in smaller communities,” Baney said. “As we continue to grow, we plan to include workshops leading up to the festival. These workshops will offer locals an opportunity to learn more about the film industry and make their own films here in Pa.”

The River Valley Film Festival’s plan includes a proposed Film Office within Lycoming Arts, that will provide many necessary resources for filmmakers.

“I think there’s an amazing opportunity within Pa. to capture the filmmaking world and become a central hub,” Baney said. “This will change the thought that you must leave to succeed in the film industry, proving you can achieve success right here at home.”

Shamokin Film Festival Facebook page

The inaugural Shamokin Film Festival was held at the Artisan Alley Fine Arts Gallery.

KEY DATES

River Valley Film Festival

May 22: Late deadline

May 29: Notification date

July 17-19: Event date

The Shamokin Film Festival

July 31: Submission deadline

Aug. 20: Late deadline

Aug. 23: Notification date

Sept. 24-26: Event date

SHAMOKIN FILM FESTIVAL

For a decade, Shamokin Film Festival founder and director Matt Spade filmed several short films and two features in the Shamokin area using locals in front of and behind the camera. Turnouts for the screenings were packed and well-received.

“I figured — with all the talent we have in Shamokin and the audience for it — why not host a festival that would bring people to our region?” Spade said.

The Shamokin Film Festival was held at the Artisan Alley Fine Arts Gallery in Shamokin last August.

The inaugural year of the Shamokin Film Festival was a success, with several filmmakers from Shamokin and Coal Township, along with some from outlying areas such as Bloomsburg, Sunbury and more.

“We did two screenings — one outdoors at the new pocket park Illumination Station and at Artisan Alley,” Spade said.

For some filmmakers, the Shamokin Film Festival was their first festival, and their films were very well received.

“Having an audience member tell them how much they enjoyed their work can be a major boost,” Spade said.

“Outside of that, we post their posters and trailers in the hopes that it will gain a new audience for them.”

The 2nd annual Shamokin Film Festival will be held Sept. 24-26. For this year’s event, the festival added an “Animation Night” with some big names such as Oscarnominated animator and director John Dilworth. This night also introduces a fantastic new venue for screenings, The Screen Arts Institute in Shamokin.

“I’m always nervous about submissions, but I’d love to see it be a 3-to-4-day event where various venues from coffee shops and bars to theaters can screen films,” Spade said.

Spade said he loves that more festivals continue to pop up in the region.

“I want to assume that when people travel here, they are spending money, supporting local businesses and hopefully wanting to return,” he said.

RIOT IN THE RIVER FILM FESTIVAL

Over the past 15 years or so, the Campus Theatre in Lewisburg has hosted many one-day film festivals with other organizations and filmmakers. Following a lot of discussion and planning for two years, the Campus Theatre wanted to establish a film festival that could cover a threeday event and draw in features, shorts, documentaries and music videos covering different focuses and genres.

“One of our primary goals was to make the experience as accommodating and enjoyable for the visiting filmmakers,” Campus Theatre Technical Director Andy Seal said. “Out of 20 selections screened across three days, the festival brought ten of those filmmakers to our area. And had the weather cooperated with us, we would have had more in attendance. Nevertheless, we had a lot of fun at the screenings and the post-film Q&A.”

The first Riot in the River Film Festival premiered at the Campus Theatre last February and kicked off with an afternoon mini symposium at the Bucknell Small Business Development Center, where they discussed the creative strategies for artists and filmmakers to promote their works.

“We also provided remote post-film discussions via Zoom on-screen, which was well received,” Seal said.

“Feedback from the filmmakers and attendees was

Photo provided

The Campus Theatre hosts Riot in the River Film Festival.

very positive.”

The majority of the festival’s promotion was worked through Riot in the River’s Instagram and the Campus Theatre’s website and social media. Print and radio promotion were also vital supports.

“We encouraged the filmmakers to create their own reels to introduce themselves and their film in the two weeks leading up to the festival,” Seal said. “We learned a lot from our promotions, and I think we are even better positioned for a larger outreach in next year’s festival, which is scheduled for early April.”

Seal feels that the festival is progressing and growing.

“We learned a lot from the experience — particularly the timing of our promotion of the films and filmmakers, as well as the timing and calendar placement of the festival,” he said. “We also hope to add one or two screening locations to increase the number of selections and/or replay a film — increasing the viewership for attendees who could not stay for the entire three days.”

Seal believes the area provides plenty of resources to give exposure to aspiring artists, including filmmakers.

“It’s the scenery and the buildings, and it’s also a costeffective area for a team to set up a production for a few weeks,” he said. “I want to add that the audience support and interest in independent and student artists is extremely strong and has been the core to all of their success.”

WHISTLE TO THE MAPLES HORROR FILM FESTIVAL

The Whistle to the Maples Horror Film Festival started four years ago after organizers toured the film festival circuit with their short film.

“We saw how many incredible, independent storytellers there are out there, and we wanted to be able to create an opportunity to help to showcase their work,” Point Five Films, LLC founder and festival director Tom Robenolt said.

“Part of that was to give their work the respect it deserves and to hold our event at a ‘real’ theater. That is why the Campus Theatre in Lewisburg was so critical; and partnering with them since 2022 has been nothing but a dream.”

By 2025, Robenolt believed he understood the submission, review and judging process much more intricately, with some of the best short films to screen that they have seen.

“Independent filmmaking, especially in the horror genre, is such a living, breathing and ever-evolving medium,” he said. “Each year we’re delighted to see what our contemporaries in the industries bring to the table to raise the bar higher and higher.”

Each year, Whistle to the Maples receives submissions from all over the world, but the ones they enjoy seeing the most are the Pa.-based filmmakers and locals.

“Getting the chance to meet the filmmakers, shake their hands, and see how excited they are to arrive to the Campus Theatre with the bright marquee always made the work

Photos provided Whistle to the Maples Horror Film Festival began four years ago and is held at the Campus Theatre. Above: An award for best film at the Whistle to the Maples Horror Film Festival.

to put the event together worthwhile,” Robenolt said. “We used to be those young, up-and-coming filmmakers who wanted a chance to showcase our work.

“Being able to provide this opportunity to them is everything to us.”

Each fall since 2022, the Whistle to the Maples Horror Film Festival has been a chance for horror fans and film fans alike to come together and experience the vast variety of sub-genres of horror. Unfortunately, 2026 will be the first year they will be skipping their film festival.

“With the release of our feature-length horror film and namesake of the film festival, ‘Whistle to the Maples,’ as well as other feature-length projects in the works, we were too busy to be able to take the time that the film festival deserves,” Robenolt said.

Robenolt points out how costly these film festivals can be — not only for the organizers to put together but for the filmmakers to submit to.

“At the end of the day, sometimes there just isn’t enough time available to showcase every film that was submitted that meets the quality standards we set and that deserves to be seen,” he said. “Having multiple film festivals available for filmmakers to be able to submit to increases their chances of being able to be seen. We don’t have anything set in stone at the moment, but we are hoping for a 2027 return.”

“I T’S THE SCENERY AND THE BUILDINGS, AND IT’S ALSO A COSTEFFECTIVE AREA FOR A TEAM TO SET UP A PRODUCTION FOR A FEW WEEKS. I WANT TO ADD THAT THE AUDIENCE SUPPORT AND INTEREST IN INDEPENDENT AND STUDENT ARTISTS IS EXTREMELY STRONG AND HAS BEEN THE CORE TO ALL OF THEIR SUCCESS.”

CAMPUS

Photo provided Theater-goers mingle at the Riot in the River Film Festival.

Photo provided

Simon Stockdale, director of “What Really Happened,” participates in a Q&A with Cory Baney, River Valley Film Festival director, during last year’s event.

THEATRE TECHNICAL DIRECTOR ANDY SEAL

May 30

5TH ANNUAL AVIATION DAY

Penn Valley Airport, Selinsgrove Delight in delicious food, wonderful friends, and excellent company, brought to you by the Penn Valley Pilots Organization. The event, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., will showcase aviation groups, vendors, exhibitors, fire companies, fullmotion simulator, airline recruiters, aircraft fly-ins and static displays. Local food and drink truck vendors will be present. Local hobbyists and surrounding EAA chapters have been invited. Airline recruiters will be present from numerous airlines. Aircraft manufacturer Cirrus will be present with a new G7 model with the possibility of a Cirrus Vision Jet.

For more information: 5th Annual Aviation Day on Facebook

May 30

Hufnagle Park

Events around Inside PA

HEART OF LEWISBURG SUMMER CRAFT FAIR

Spend the day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in downtown Lewisburg exploring incredible handcrafted goods, connecting with talented artisans and enjoying food vendors.

For more information: Visit lewisburgpa.com

June 6

2026 UNION COUNTY BENEFIT AUCTION

Buffalo Valley Produce, Mifflinburg

This community-driven event brings neighbors together

starting at 7 a.m. for a day of spirited bidding and incredible food, with all proceeds directly supporting the Clinic for Special Children. The auction floor features an expansive selection of handcrafted furniture, intricately stitched quilts and high-quality toys. You can also bid on premium sporting goods, curated gift baskets, vibrant plants and unique specialty items. The menu features warm, freshly made donuts and soft pretzels, along with savory pizza, crispy french fries, and cold ice cream. You’ll also find a massive variety of homemade baked goods and other seasonal treats to enjoy throughout the day.

For more information: Visit clinicauctions.com/union

June 14

8TH ANNUAL KID-A-PALOOZA

Whispering Oaks Vineyard, Sunbury

Whipering Oaks Vineyard will host an afternoon packed

Justin Strawser

Liam Rising and his brother, Kamden Rising explore the Life Flight helicopter on display during last year’s open house at Penn Valley Airport.

Photo provided

The Summer Craft Fair will be held on May 30 in Hufnagle Park, Lewisburg.

with energy, creativity, and family fun at its 8th annual celebration of kids and Earth Day from noon to 4 p.m. The event includes a live dance performance by Heath’s Dance Crew, live music by The Codi and Joe Show and a yard full of free games and activities for kids of all ages. Additional food, games, and activities hosted by HGDC (available for a small fee).

For more information: 8th Annual Kid-A-Palooza on Facebook

Saturday,June13th,2026

Bu gg yR ide s•C ra ft s•F ood Tr uc ks

Fo od •E nt er ta in me nt

De mo ns tr at io ns •Tou rs

PENNSYLVANIA LAVENDER FESTIVAL

Blue Sparrow Farm, Milton

Relax on the farm and enjoy the lavender, vendors, food trucks, music, demonstrators and visit the ponies. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 on site.

For more information: Visit palavenderfest.com

ALOHA LUAU DINNER PARTY

Blooming Meadows Farm, Watsontown

This Aloha Luau Dinner Party is a tropical celebration filled with great food, playful activities and laid-back island vibes. The night kicks off with guests creating their own colorful leis. Enjoy a delicious island-inspired meal catered by Shanty’s Secrets. Test your skills with coconut bowling, see how low you can go in a lively limbo competition and jump into additional outdoor games and surprises sprinkled throughout the evening. Guests are encouraged to come dressed in their best Hawaiian shirts, grass skirts, florals or island attire. This event is open to all ages and perfect for families, friends, couples or anyone looking for a fun night out on the farm. RSVP early and get ready to hula the night away. The event will be held from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Cost is $60 with an optional U-pick bouquet for $15. Rain date is July 26, 6 to 8:30 p.m.

For more information: Visit visitcentralpa.org

July 25

VICTORIAN GARDEN PARTY

Greenspace Center, Lewisburg

Enjoy a grand promenade, costume contest, scavenger, performance by Strictly Ballet dancers and storytelling with Tradition Keeper.

For more information: Visit visitcentralpa.org

Aug. 1

2026 SUSQUEHANNA GREENWAY OUTDOOR EXPO

Shikellamy State Park, Sunbury

The Susquehanna Greenway Outdoor Expo hosts more than 50 booths of outdoor gear and information to explore. Learn from the experts in hiking, biking, paddling, fishing, camping and more through hands-on clinics, presentations and demos. Featuring food trucks, kid-friendly activities, a music tent and more. There will also be an opportunity to win a kayak.

For more information: Visit suquehannaexpo.com

Aug. 1

5TH ANNUAL THARPTOWN COMMUNITY DAY

Union Fire Company, Coal Township

The 5th Annual Tharptown Community Day will be held from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The event will include food, live music, games for kids, vendors and a large silent auction.

For more information: 5th Annual Tharptown Community Day on Facebook

Aug. 8

FERO FEST

Fero Vineyards and Winery, Lewisburg

Celebrate summer with a fun-filled afternoon from noon to 5 p.m. of shopping, sipping, and live entertainment. The event will include a variety of local artisan and craft vendors, live music, food trucks, wine, beer and craft cocktails and vineyard views with a relaxed, familyfriendly atmosphere.

For more information: Visit visitcentralpa.org

Aug. 15

CELTIC FEST

Spyglass on the Ridge Winery, Sunbury

From children’s games and storytelling to cultural workshops and interactive demonstrations, there’s

Photo provided Finley, a mini-Highland cow, greeted guests at the 2025 Pennsylvania Lavender Festival.

Jerri Brouse Ballet dancers perform at Strictly Ballet’s Victorian Fairy Garden Party in 2024.

Rick Dandes

The 2026 Susquehanna Greenway Outdoor Expo will be held on Aug. 1 at Shikellamy State Park.

something for everyone to enjoy. Enjoy local brews, wines and spirits from a variety of regional establishments. Tastings will be offered throughout the day, with the option to purchase your favorites to enjoy at the event or take home with you. Explore a variety of vendors offering artisan crafts, authentic goods, period presentations and much more. A variety of Celtic artists will be performing throughout the day. Get your tickets at https://app.showslinger.com/v4/valley-fusion-celtic-fest.

For more information: Visit valleyfusion570.com

Aug. 22

18TH ANNUAL ARTFEST

Market Street, Bloomsburg

ArtFest will take place between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. on the south side of Main Street in downtown Bloomsburg, surrounding the monument on the Square and down Market Street past 3rd Street, with more than 50 art and craft and food vendors, plus activities for adults and children from a dozen local nonprofits, plus food trucks, and live music by local and regional performers all day.

For more information: Visit exchangearts.org

Aug. 22

NEW BERLIN DAY ANTIQUES, ARTS AND CRAFTS FESTIVAL

Market Street, New Berlin

New Berlin Day is an outdoor antique, arts and craft show. It is always held on the fourth Saturday of August with free admission and free parking. In addition to browsing a wide variety of crafts and antiques, you will enjoy outdoor entertainment and food vendors.

For more information: Visit visitcentralpa.org

High school student races across U.S., internationally

Danville bicyclist competing against Olympians

By Elyse Spahr

Ingrid McElroy’s earliest memories of biking are of towing her friends around her yard. One could argue that the reason she is so successful is because her passion for biking has always been derived from the joy it brings her. It could be due to her intense work ethic and discipline. Regardless of the reason, McElroy is one of the most successful athletes to leave Danville, and her athletic career is only beginning.

McElroy first started mountain biking after her father, Matt McElroy, started the local team the Danville Hammers.

“I wanted an alternative sport for the kids who were not doing the traditional high school and junior high sports and a way to make fitness part of their lives,” Matt McElroy said.

After biking for the Hammers for six years, Ingrid McElroy wanted to up the intensity and opportunity. She joined the Bear National team, a team based

out of California comprised of bikers across the country seeking specialized training. To join this team, McElroy had to apply and be specially selected, so joining Bear was a feat among itself.

“A lot of my training is individual. When I’m in Danville, I do a lot of rides by myself. Then at races, we all come together,” she said.

MOTIVATION FOR TRAINING

This individualized training means McElroy is in charge of her own schedule and maintaining her fitness.

“No one’s gonna check in on you

Photo by Cooper Spillman

other than your coach,” she said.

The thing that keeps her focused is the payoff when she crosses the finish line.

“I really enjoy racing and I know if I complete my training to its fullest, then the racing will come as well.”

The discipline has shown through her race results. Over the past year, McElroy has won two national titles, competed at worlds, and raced against Olympians.

“I think (racing Olympians) was the biggest moment of just trusting your own process and trusting in your own training and just coming to the start line as confident as possible,” she said.

McElroy is training 10 to 20 hours per week with a mix of three to fourhour endurance rides and two to threehour interval rides that are shorter but with race based efforts. In addition to biking she does yoga daily and lifts twice a week.

While all this training and racing seems intense, McElroy views it as the opposite: An opportunity to slow down.

“I enjoy the break from every day when we’re so, like, connected all of the time, whether it be like to your phones or just always doing something, having a time where you’re just by yourself, in your own thoughts. It’s really nice,” she said.

BALANCING EDUCATION

Her rigorous racing schedule has required McElroy to miss a lot of school. This year, so far, she’s accumulated almost 50 absences.

“Right now, I’ve made good relationships with all my teachers, so I’ve

“I ENJOY THE BREAK FROM EVERY DAY WHEN WE’RE SO, LIKE, CONNECTED ALL OF THE TIME, WHETHER IT BE LIKE TO YOUR PHONES OR JUST ALWAYS DOING SOMETHING, HAVING A TIME WHERE YOU’RE JUST BY YOURSELF, IN YOUR OWN THOUGHTS. IT’S REALLY NICE.”

INGRID MCELROY, LEFT

figured out how I can learn the content and still miss as many days as I do,” she said.

However, with McElroy leaving for college next year, she perceives this will change.

“I’m going to make sacrifices toward racing so I can focus on academics a

little bit,” she said. She hopes though, by attending Milligan University, a cycling school, her professors will be accommodating as well.

“I’m going to have to play it by ear once I get there,” she added.

At Milligan University, she plans on studying exercise science, a subject

Photo by Alec Levy O’Brien

Photo by Cooper Spillman

she found through her love of biking. This year, she dived deeper into the topic through her Advanced Placement research project, for which she studied relative energy deficiency among younger female athletes.

Looking forward, McElroy is excited to meet her college team and compete in World Cups now that she is in the U23 age bracket.

“It’s just the highest level of competition. All of the athletes are there from all around the world,” she said. McElroy said she is eager to face the best bikers in the world, but her big goal is to continue doing what she loves.

“I just want to maximize my time in the sport now, while prioritizing longevity.”

Photo by Cooper Spillman

MAN MAKES MARK IN AMERICAN REVOLUTION

Sharpshooter joined battalion in Northumberland

By John L. Moore

The story of Timothy Murphy, a backwoods Pennsylvanian who became the most famous sharpshooter of the American Revolution, begins in Northumberland and Sunbury in June 1775.

We know this because a clergyman, Phillip Vickers Fithian, happened to be in Northumberland on June 28, and saw a group of 30 rifle-toting frontiersmen — “all expert riflemen, with a drum and fife” — pass through the village.

Commanded by Capt. John Lowdon, of Mifflinburg, they were bound for British-occupied Boston, nearly 400 miles away, where they planned to join the American army.

Along the way, they stopped in towns and villages to recruit additional men. Murphy, who was born in 1751, joined them at Northumberland.

The next day they were in Sunbury where they were sworn in as mem -

National Historic Marker Database

Historical marker along North Front Street, Sunbury, mentions Timothy Murphy as a member of Capt. John Lowdon’s company of riflemen.

Photo provided

A monument honoring rifleman Timothy Murphy stands in a cemetery in Middleburgh, N.Y., southwest of Schnectady.

bers of the Pennsylvania Rifle Battalion.

It took the riflemen until September to reach Boston, where they joined the new Continental Army. Gen. George Washington placed them on the front lines with orders to pick off British officers at distances that soldiers armed with muskets couldn’t reach.

The insides of musket barrels were smooth. In contrast, gunmakers placed spiraled grooves inside rifle barrels. The spirals made a bullet spin when the rifle was fired. As a result, bullets fired from rifles traveled significantly greater distances and with better accuracy than balls fired from smooth-bore muskets.

According to the New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center, expert marksmen such as Murphy were “able to hit a seven-inch target at 250 yards.”

Murphy won lasting fame in October 1777 in upstate New York during the Battle of Saratoga. Tradition credits him with firing the shot — over an incredible distance — that killed a top-ranking British general. With the general down, the Americans carried the day, eventually capturing the entire army of British and Hessian soldiers.

The American victory prompted France to come into

the war as an ally of the new United States.

Gen. Benedict Arnold, still a loyal American, played a crucial part during a key moment in that day’s fighting, which took place at Bemis Heights.

The British had begun the fighting that day by attacking, but the Americans soon seized the momentum, and the British began an orderly retreat.

Historians George F. Scheer and Hugh F. Rankin reported in Rebels and Redcoats, “General (Simon) Fraser, prominent on a big gray horse, … was shifting to form a second line to cover their retreat. Arnold shouted to (Col. Daniel) Morgan that the Scot was a fair target for a sharpshooter, and one of them — tradition finally named Tim Murphy — brought him down with a mortal wound.” Morgan commanded a regiment of riflemen.

During the 19th and 20th centuries, historians accepted Murphy as the shooter. Later researchers, however, concluded there’s no documentation to support it.

They contend that the claim depends on a single account made in an 1845 history book by Jeptha Simms.

According to Simms: Morgan “selected a few of his best marksmen, who were placed in a favorable position, and instructed to make Fraser their especial mark. Timo -

John L. Moore

In September 1779, a Continental Army patrol led by Lt. Thomas Boyd walked into an ambush at this site near Geneseo, N.Y. Seneca warriors vastly outnumbered the men in Boyd’s detachment, which was part of Maj. Gen. John Sullivan’s campaign against the Iroquois Indians. Survivors included rifleman Timothy Murphy.

thy Murphy ... was one of the riflemen selected to execute this unholy design. The party thus stationed had each a chance to fire, and some of them more than once, before a favorable opportunity presented for Murphy …

The gallant general was riding upon a gallop when he received the fatal ball, and after a few bounds of his charger, fell, mortally wounded.”

Simms added that “the fact that Murphy shot Gen. Fraser was communicated to the writer by a son of the former.”

In a 2013 online article titled “The Myth of Rifleman Timothy Murphy,” author Hugh T. Harrington noted that when Simms set out in 1837 to gather material for a book about the Revolution in Schoharie County, New York, Murphy had been dead for nearly 20 years.

southwest of modern Rochester.

Lt. Thomas Boyd, a Pennsylvania officer from Northumberland County, led the patrol. An Oneida chief, Hen -

“T

HIS MURPHY IS A NOTED MARKSMAN AND A GREAT SOLDIER, HE HAVING KILLED AND SCALPED THAT MORN -

ING, IN THE TOWN THEY WERE AT, AN INDIAN, WHICH MAKES THE THREE AND THIRTIETH MAN OF THE ENEMY HE HAS KILLED, AS IS WELL KNOWN TO HIS OFFICERS, THIS WAR.”

LT. COL. ADAM HUBLEY OF THE 11TH PENNSYLVANIA REGIMENT

Harrington noted that Simms neither identified the son by name nor reported “when or how the son learned of the story, or any other information surrounding the event or Murphy’s retelling of it.”

This doesn’t mean that Murphy didn’t fire the shot that brought down the general. One of the riflemen did. It may well have been Murphy, but without documentation, Simms’ account becomes lore rather than historical fact.

Be that as it may. the historical record does document some of Murphy’s undisputed achievements and adventures during the war.

In September 1779, for instance, Murphy and other riflemen took part in Maj. Gen. John Sullivan’s campaign against the Iroquois in western New York. Allies of the British, these Native Americans raided frontier settlements in the Susquehanna Valley and other parts of Pennsylvania, as well as the frontier of other states.

On Sept. 12, Murphy and other soldiers went out on a nighttime scout to locate a Seneca village, Little Beard’s Town. They were in the Genesee River Valley about 40 miles

jost, served as guide. The general wanted Boyd to take only the guide and five other soldiers. Instead, Boyd “took with him 23 men ...making in all 26,” Sullivan said later.

The mission failed. For starters, the patrol got lost. Around sunrise on Sept. 13, it began returning to Sullivan’s camp. It came so close that Boyd “heard our drums and thought himself entirely safe,” Murphy later told an officer. Instead, the soldiers walked into an ambush, and found themselves outnumbered and outgunned.

There was an intense firefight. In late morning, a wounded soldier made his way to camp with devastating news. The soldier “informed us that Lt. Boyd with his party, 18 riflemen and eight musketmen of our regiment ... was entirely cut to pieces,” Lt. Erkuries Beatty of the 4th Pennsylvania Regiment wrote in his journal.

“A little time after, Murphy came in, who told us a very straight story about it,” Beatty said,

Murphy described the moment Boyd realized his men were in

danger. The patrol had walked into “a large party of Indians ... behind trees. He immediately formed his men for action and began a very heavy fire, which lasted some time.”

Murphy said that in the end, the Native Americans, “whose number was so far superior,” surrounded Boyd’s party “and made prisoners or killed the whole excepting a few.”

The prisoners included Lt. Boyd and a sergeant, Michael Parker.

When Sullivan’s men explored the site of the ambush, they found the bodies of six Americans. Lt. Col. Adam Hubley of the 11th Pennsylvania Regiment said they had been slain “in the most inhuman manner, tomahawked and scalped.”

Of the 26 men who went out on the scout, only “nine of the party have got safe in,” Hubley reported.

The Seneca had fled by the time Sullivan’s army entered Little Beard’s Town on Sept. 14. The soldiers found the bodies of the lieutenant and the sergeant. They had been “massacred in the most cruel and barbarous manner that the human mind can possibly conceive. … This evening the remains of Lt. Boyd and the rifleman’s corpse were interred with military honors,” Hubley said.

Before they left, the soldiers burned the town and destroyed the cornfields.

Murphy made a lasting impression upon officers such as Hubley and Beatty, who wrote about him in their journals.

To quote Hubley, “This Murphy is a noted marksman and a great soldier, he having killed and scalped that morning, in the town they were at, an Indian, which makes the three and 30th man of the enemy he has killed, as is well known to his officers, this war.”

A former managing editor of The Daily Item, John L. Moore has written a series of books about the Revolutionary War in Pennsylvania. He lives in Northumberland.

Illustration by 19th century artist Alfred Bobbett. Sketch depicts American riflemen belonging to Col. Daniel Morgan’s battalion in the Revolutionary War. Timothy Murphy served in the unit.

New faces, familiar places

100-year-old Woodward Cave under new ownership

By Cindy O. Herman

Traveling can provide unforgettable views of jutting mountains, buzzing cities, sun-sparkling rivers and charming villages. But for a whole different perspective of our earth, step into the damp, otherworldly silence of a rock-walled cave.

This summer, Woodward Cave and Campground, in Centre County, will celebrate its 100th anniversary for being open for tours — a milestone that was nearly halted.

New owners Chris Sanders and Dave Wigfield took possession of Woodward Cave after the previous owners retired. The State of Pennsylvania planned to buy it, close public access, and make it a protected area for the bats that live there. When that plan failed, the state reached out to Sanders, a bat biologist. The cave owners at that time appreciated the goal of preserving the cave tours and campground.

“This was a perfect melding of our vision for where we felt like it needed to go, overlapping with the state from a conservation standpoint, and with the owners from a tourism standpoint,” Wigfield said.

The new team — led by Sanders, Wigfield, their new manager Meg Hummel, and an army of young tour guides — revamped all the buildings, remade the tour, and started breathing new life into this historic attraction. Last year they hosted more than 3,000 visitors but are hoping to increase that number — something that could almost be done by Wigfield’s enthusiasm alone. It doesn’t take long to see

how completely awestruck he is by the cave.

“There’s a lot that makes Woodward Cave unique, ecologically and geologically, because of how the cave was formed and how cavernous it is above your head,” he said.

“We’re talking about areas having 50-, 60-foot cathedral ceilings, and a lot of people are really surprised by that. It’s not something you’d expect.”

And did he mention the formations? Ancient water flows swirled through the cave to create features such as scalloped walls, ceiling channels, clay chokes and calcified mud shelves.

“We do lay claim to the largest stalagmite in Pennsylvania, the Tower of Babel, one of the largest stalagmites in the United States,” Wigfield said. “People see it and go, ‘Oh my word. This alone is worth the price of admission.’”

The cave itself is still actively growing.

“Part of what makes our tour unique is that we’re a very science-forward walking tour,” Wigfield said. “So when people go through the cave, we literally can take them right up to formations and go, not only is this growing, but here’s how, and here’s what that looks like, and here’s what that process is.”

In the 50-minute tours, guests walk through the cave, which is also ADA accessible. Cave temperature is 48 degrees — the coldest commercial cave in Pennsylvania. Other Pennsylvania caves are about 52 degrees. A jacket and closed-toed shoes are recommended.

Lorraine Jackson Guests exit Woodward Cave, in the mountains of Centre County.

“When you drop down in, you’re like, ‘Whoa, this got really cold really quick,’” Wigfield said. “You’re like, ‘Man this is really a different world.’ It’s super rewarding.”

FOLKLORE

No noteworthy cave exists without legends. Woodward Cave is not haunted, Wigfield said, acknowledging that some people would love if it were. But stepping into a hushed, ballroom-sized space deep inside a cave creates its own allure.

“It’s one of the most cavernous caves in Pennsylvania,” he said. “When you’re in this space, it doesn’t feel spooky. It feels inspiring.”

Still, Woodward Cave is not without its share of drama. People today might not know it was originally called Red Panther Cave, named after an ancient Seneca warrior who got a little too big for his britches and had his tribe’s sacred Beech Tree cut down. Just as he leaned forward to light the tree on fire he was struck by lightning. He was buried in the cave where, according to Woodward Cave’s website, he was left to “sleep his last sleep undisturbed.”

That story, written by Pennsylvania folklorist Henry Shoemaker, has never been substantiated. “That lives in folklore,” Wigfield said, “but it’s a big part of the charm of our story. And it absolutely was called Red Panther Cave until 1926.”

There’s more truth to the story of David Lewis, a notorious highway robber in the early 19th century who, legend says, used Woodward Cave as a final base before he was fatally wounded by lawmen and died in the Bellefonte Jail.

“They called him the Robin Hood of Pennsylvania. As I share on my tours, robbing from the rich was about as far as the comparison went,” Wigfield said.

Before becoming a show cave in 1926, Wigfield was told, local farmers used Woodward Cave for storing food.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Cave tours run from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The campground is open from April 15 to Oct. 15. On the grounds is a 2,400-square-foot wedding and event space that can easily fit 125 guests. Wigfield and Sanders hope eventually to open cabins that can be rented year-round.

In the meantime, they’ll have live music and food on Fridays, and a farmer’s market on Saturday mornings.

On July 25, the cave is hosting an animal-themed community event called Wild for Woodward, with presentations on the importance of bats and the natural wildlife in Pennsylvania.

Aug. 15 is Woodward Cave Day, incorporating 100year events to celebrate the cave itself.

For more information, visit www.woodwardcave.com.

Ryan Maurer Amazing cave formations were formed over thousands of years, one tiny drop of water at a time.

Ryan Maurer A tour guide appears insignificant inside Woodward Ballroom.

People curious about it knocked on the door of a nearby farmer, who would grab a lantern and take them through the cavern.

“The cave used to be choked with mud and debris and stuff. So while we take for granted now that we can stroll through it — we could dance through it — it used to be accessible only by crawling on your hands and knees until you got to some of these great rooms,” Wigfield said.

Worth noting is that Wigfield and Sanders represent the fourth owners of the cave since it opened 100 years ago. They have all valued its unique features.

“One hundred years later, it still feels very much like a wild cave even though it’s been cleaned out,” Wigfield said.

One of the best parts of giving tours is seeing people’s reactions. A lot of cave enthusiasts say it’s every bit as good as more famous caves.

“We show them why this place is special, how it’s growing and how we’ve been protecting it. The environment itself does all the heavy lifting. The cave just presents itself as being amazing,” he said. “The general impression that people are left with is one of absolute wonder. And I know that sounds kind of lofty, but it is true.”

Ryan Maurer

Cave formations are mirrored in Crystal Lake.

Ryan Maurer Woodward Cave closes over the winter to protect the thousands of bats that hibernate there each year.