Photo courtesy of Alex Byers/GO Laurel Highlands
Overton
GO Laurel Highlands launches fifth annual Pour Tour
Story by Kristin Emery
The Pour Tour is off and running for the fifth year across the Laurel Highlands. Think of it as a bar crawl, wine tasting and beer and spirit sampling that spreads across three counties and lasts the entire year.
The GO Laurel Highlands’ Pour Tour 5.0 launched in January with a kickoff party at Yough River Brewing, hosting 100 craft beverage fans.
Developed by GO Laurel Highlands in partnership with more than 50 craft beverage leaders, the fifth annual Pour Tour trail unites breweries, wineries, distilleries, meaderies and cideries in Fayette, Somerset and Westmoreland counties with craft beverage lovers. How does it work? Just pick up a free Pour Tour passport at partner locations or download the GO Laurel Highlands app, then visit various locations and receive stickers or digital stamps by making purchases. Those stickers and stamps can then win you prizes. It is free to participate in the tour. The app even has a map option and leaderboard for those with a competitive nature.
“We started with 32 craft beverage locations in 2019 and have now grown to 64 — doubling the places that participants can get stickers,” says GO Laurel Highlands Senior Director of Marketing Jennifer Benford. “We have had numerous locations remark how much the Pour Tour has helped draw people to their business. In fact, a smaller distillery location just this past weekend remarked to me that the majority of their in-person business at their physical location are Pour Tour sticker seekers.” More than 30,000 people participated in the tour last year using either the Pour Tour passport or the Pour Tour section of our GO Laurel Highlands app.
Small batch brews
Yough River Brewing in Connellsville will mark its third anniversary this April and prides itself on a delicious variety of craft beer with a very relaxing vibe. “We have a 12-tap system with beers that range from lagers, ales, stouts, sours, IPAs and more,” owner/manager Jacquelyn Humes says. “The tap list is constantly changing; however, we keep three of our beers on tap at all times: Bearded Nomad IPA, Notorious YRB Blonde Ale and Sweet Lou Brown Ale.”
All of their beer is brewed on-site in small batches to ensure the highest quality and freshness. They also offer a cocktail list crafted from Pennsylvania distilleries and cideries for those who don’t prefer beer. Humes is excited to be part of the Pour Tour again this year and even hosted the kickoff party at Yough River Brewing. “The turnout was unbelievable, especially since a snowstorm hit the area that evening,” she says. “With over 120 people in attendance, that speaks volumes for how many people enjoy the Pour Tour and are eager to start the 5.0 passport.” She credits the new passport with increased sales and enjoys meeting people from all over who have learned about the company from the Pour Tour booklet.
Yough River Brewing in Connellsville hosted the GO Laurel Highlands’ Pour Tour 5.0 kickoff party. The brewery is also celebrating its third anniversary.
“We have strategic Pour Tour planners who make full weekends out of it and others who take it at a slower pace, but either way we always enjoy talking to them. We are open Thursday through Sunday. We have local artists who play on Friday and Saturday nights from 7-10 and food trucks on site most days. You can always check our social media to stay up to date with our schedule of events.”
Photos courtesy of Alex Byers/GO Laurel Highlands
Making mead
Matt Falenski owns Laurel Highlands Meadery with his wife, Mandy. He jokingly refers to himself as a mead evangelist or meadmaker. The meadery opened its doors in 2010 crafting mead — also called honey wine.
“The equipment and processes used to make mead are very similar to those used in winemaking, but in our case, honey is used instead of grapes,” Falenski explains. “It typically takes a minimum of about eight months for a batch to be ready for sale. In the case of a barrel-aged mead, that time is even longer. We never rush our mead and let it tell us when it is ready.”
Falenski is dedicated to exploring the full spectrum of what mead can be, from traditional styles that spotlight the pure essence of single honey varietals to more adventurous creations infused with fruits, spices and even barrel-aging techniques.
“We also love incorporating local produce — from fruits and grapes to the occasional vegetable to craft award-winning beverages that cater to a wide range of palates,” he adds. For those unfamiliar with mead, their lineup offers two main styles.
“First, a higher alcohol, still, honey wine that drinks more like a typical wine, which is perfect for sipping,” says Falenski. “Then we have a lighter, sparkling style mead that is bright, refreshing and served chilled. At the heart of everything we do is our passion for honey. We believe honey isn’t just a sweetener — it’s a terroir-driven ingredient bursting with complex flavors and distinct color profiles, all shaped by the millions of blossoms the bees visit.” They partner with local beekeepers to capture the unique essences of the region.
The meadery has been part of the Pour Tour since it first launched. “Not everyone’s familiar with what a meadery is, but thanks to the Pour Tour, we’ve welcomed a wave of curious locals and travelers who pop in to check us out,” Falenski says. “It’s been fantastic, and we’ve converted plenty of them into bona fide mead fans.” Laurel Highlands Meadery offers events on the second Saturday of every month that include music, food and activities along with tastings of all of their products.
How it works
The Pour Tour shines a spotlight on the incredible variety of craft beverage producers in the region, offering a fun, interactive way for people to explore the Laurel Highlands while sampling the wide range of what brewers, winemakers, distillers, cidermakers and meadmakers have to offer. If you pick up a printed passport, it features a map to help locate beverage
makers. If you’d rather use the app, it employs GPS to determine the nearest Pour Tour partner to your location so you can plot your journey. One note: The passport and app cannot be combined; participants must choose one method throughout their tasting tour.
Pour Tour 5.0 prizes include a custom imprinted ice/snack bucket (15 stickers or digital stamps), a longsleeve T-shirt (30 stickers or digital stamps) and a cooler backpack (45 stickers or digital stamps). Prizes for Pour Tour 5.0 must be redeemed by Dec. 20, 2025.
For more details, please visit lhpourtour.com.
First Friday for the Arts brings culture, creativity and curation to Morgantown
Story and photos by Aidan Cornue
First Friday for the Arts, a community-based event showcasing local art, music and performances, has just celebrated its first anniversary.
In January 2024, the Tamarack Foundation for the Arts, a statewide non-profit art organization based in the state’s capital, reached out to the Morgantown community in hopes of jumpstarting arts events and growing the creative community.
“We (Morgantown) are a certified arts destination,” states Jordan Brigman, the creativity connector for the Art Council of Greater Morgantown. “That is something we really love to enforce and grow, especially in our downtown Morgantown area.”
Brigman met with a group of local artists and business owners to create and collect ideas. After brainstorming for a few days, First Friday for the Arts was born.
With annual funding from the West Virginia Association of Fairs and Festivals, First Friday for the Arts has carefully developed the growing arts presence in the greater Morgantown community.
“We have such a prominent creative community as well as a lot of students and artists that are making their way out of college and looking to get immersed into the art world,” Brigman adds. “Morgantown is a great starting point to meet some working artists and talented individuals that have experience in the field as well as garner relationships that help foster economic growth and vitality.”
First Friday for the Arts is a largely exhibition-based call event that features 10 different businesses across Morgantown every month. Each location includes indoor exhibitions, activities and demonstrations by artists, speakers and workshops.
In the year since its creation, First Friday for the Arts has featured over 150 artists and 2,000 visitors, paying over $6,000 to working artists.
“I think it’s invaluable that Morgantown and rural places in West Virginia have access to the arts,” says Virginia Afferman, the Art Museum of West Virginia University program coordinator. “It’s hard for local artists in rural areas to get their works displayed anywhere.”
Accordion player David Harris performs at The Monongalia Arts Center on Feb. 7
Artist Liana Cooper’s piece, “Starry Night,” on display at The Morgantown Art Bar on Feb. 7
Above: A small appreciator of art views the sculptures showcased at Andrew White Guitars on Feb. 7
Left: Artists work to create sculptures for the “Mo’Town Makers Sculpture Smackdown” at The Art Lab on Feb. 7
Afferman believes that Morgantown has some great opportunities for local artists to showcase and display their works. From the art museum and the Mesaros Gallery to the Mon Arts Center and the Creative Arts Center, Morgantown is full of possibilities for artists to curate and grow their talents, especially with First Friday for the Arts.
“It’s such a nice opportunity to be able to connect with people,” says Afferman. “It’s fun and lively and there’s live music, and it’s exciting.”
“Being able to have an event like First Friday for the Arts allows for the opportunity to exhibit and display your work regardless of experience,” says Brigman. “We are always interested in people reaching out and inquiring about the event as well as reaching out with community partners and different businesses in downtown Morgantown that want to be involved.”
Businesses that wish to participate in First Friday for the Arts can email Jordan Brigaman at jordan@artsgm.org for more information and details. Further information regarding specific events and participating businesses can be found at artsgm.org/ initiatives/first-friday-for-the-arts/.
‘The Cold’ sculpture by Staton Davis articulates the process of masking to conform to social pressures.
Artist Jenny Marset’s pottery collection “Kinsugi” on display at Andrew White Guitars
Artists work to create sculptures for the “Mo’Town Makers
Sculpture Smackdown” at The Art Lab on Feb. 7
Accordion player David Harris performs at The Monongalia Arts Center on Feb. 7
• Farm fresh signature dishes!
• Delicious “made from scratch” family recipes!
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We would LOVE to talk!!
The Learning Never Stops
Enjoy a staycation without leaving Washington County
Story by Dave Zuchowski
If you’re looking to kick back and get away from it all yet don’t want to venture far from home, why not stick close by and scout out some interesting attractions in your own backyard?
Using Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village as an anchor, take a day or two more to explore other nearby sites, which offer a diverse range of interesting things to see and do.
You can easily spend a day at Meadowcroft near Avella in the western section of Washington County. Meadowcroft Rockshelter, the oldest site of human habitation in North America, provides a unique glimpse into the lives of prehistoric hunters and gatherers.
This National Historic Landmark features a massive
Courtesy of David Scofield
Andrea Jacobs of the Delaware Nation at Moraviantown, Ontario, demonstrates traditional cooking at Meadowcroft’s American Indian Heritage Week
rock overhang used 19,000 years ago for shelter by the first people in North America. The enclosure at the Rockshelter provides visitors with a unique, neverbefore-seen perspective into the oldest and deepest parts of this internationally renowned archeological excavation.
Additionally, visitors can step back in time to experience rural life over the past 500 years through a series of interpretive villages. The 19th-century village rests on the land Albert and Delvin Miller once owned. Heavily altered by a coal mining operation, the farm’s landscape drastically changed during the 1940s and 1950s.
The Millers were determined to reclaim and restore the land to a new place where youth groups could camp and learn about history and the natural environment.
The Miller family began collecting examples of 19thcentury rural architecture, such as the Pine Bank Covered Bridge from neighboring Greene County, a barn slated for demolition on state game lands, and a log house constructed by their great-great-grandfather in 1800.
By 1969, the Meadowcroft Historic Village and its collection of 19th-century artifacts and structures was ready to open to the public.
Today, visitors can tour the recreated Upper Ohio Valley Village, interact with various re-enactors, and enjoy living history demonstrations designed to show how Western Pennsylvanians once lived.
Get educated with a lesson in a one-room schoolhouse, experience a reassembled 1870s log church and watch a blacksmith forge red-hot iron at the Historic Village.
Nearby, Meadowcroft’s recreated Monongahela Indian Village gives visitors a close look at the everyday lives of 16th-century American Indians.
Explore the interior of a wigwam, inspect carefully recreated prehistoric artifacts and learn about Native American agriculture. Enjoy the traditional Three Sisters Garden and a hunting camp filled with furs, hunting tools and fishing equipment.
Lastly, at the 1770s frontier trading post, visitors can get an up-close look at a trading shelter typical of the first few years of European settlement in Western Pennsylvania.
Meadowcroft, located at 401 Meadowcroft Road in Avella, is open seasonally from May through October. For hours, admissions and more information, phone 724-587-3412 or heinzhistorycenter.org/visit/ meadowcroft.
At the Crafty Alpaca Farm, 115 Rea Road in Avella, visitors can get up close and personal with alpacas and even a llama. For 21 years, Mary Burns has raised alpacas on her farm and offers guided tours where visitors can learn about the animals, touch them and their fleece, feed them and take them hiking in the woods.
In the farm’s education center, visitors can learn more about these animals native to the South American Andes, as well as other fiber animals like sheep, goats, rabbits, camels and yaks and how to spin yarn. For more information, call 724-263-8293 or visit thecraftyalpaca.com.
For a unique place to dine, visit Breezy Heights Tavern and Restaurant, 714 Washington Pike in Avella. This casual family restaurant is noted for its exceptional display of trophy animals in the dining room and bar area. These include lions, bears, Cape buffalo, moose and more.
Constructed in the 1920s as a general store and roadhouse then converted to a tavern and dance hall in
Visitors getting ready to take a tour at Brantview Farms Maple.
Courtesy of Brantview Farms Maple
Courtesy of Bedillion’s Honey Farm
Courtesy of the Old Schoolhouse Players
Courtesy of Heist Spirits
1933 following the repeal of Prohibition, Breezy Heights is noted for its “pressure fried broasted chicken” as well as its ribs, steaks, fish, pizza and sandwiches. Call 724587-3461 or breezyheightstavern.com.
The 250-acre Cross Creek County Park has a public fishing lake for boating and kayaking. Visitors can also hike the nearly 3-mile trail, picnic, enjoy the playground, watch birds and wildlife, and camp overnight in tents. The county’s largest park is near Avella, a half-hour drive from Washington. The phone number is 724-228-6867.
Bedillion Honey Farm is a hub for honey lovers. It offers an expansive selection of local and varietal honey, honeycombs, beeswax candles, soaps, maple syrup, gift items and more.
Stop in to see a working beehive, buy beekeeping supplies or schedule a beekeeping class. Mark and Sara Bedillion are second-generation beekeepers who started with one hive and now maintain more than 1,000 in 30 locations across the tri-state area. Bedillion is located at 1179 Burgettstown Road in Hickory. For more information, call 724-356-7713.
Old Schoolhouse Players is a community theater group founded in 1992. Since its inception, OSP has presented over 100 dramatic and musical productions, and 2025 marks its 33rd season. The theater stages its productions in the Bud Allison Auditorium in the historically preserved Mount Pleasant Township Community Center, 20 Wabash Ave., in Hickory.
The theater recently installed 222 new seats and lighting and renovated the stage. The 2025 season includes five productions of light-hearted dramas and musicals. For a complete schedule, go to osptheater. com or phone 724-344-7467.
Brighten your day with afternoon tea at the Uniquely Yours Tea Room, 91 Main Street in Hickory. Reservations are required for the Thursday through Saturday tea
service — a selection of tea breads, petite pastry sweets and fancy savory bites staged in one of the beautifully embellished dining rooms, all set with vintage lace, silver, crystal and china in the gorgeous Butler House. Phone 412-257-8780 or visit uniquelyyourstearoom.com.
If you enjoy stronger spirited beverages, Heist Spirits, 1606 North Main St. in Burgettstown, is a grain-to-glass distillery specializing in bourbon, rye and gin. Owner Alex Ramsey said that all the grain is sourced from within 10 miles of the distillery.
Heist holds a tasting room where visitors can sample the spirits and order one of the signature cocktails created by Lana Ramsey and features live music on weekends. In clement months, visitors can enjoy the outdoor patio. Tours are offered year-round on Fridays and Saturdays with advance registration. The cost is $20 and includes a walkthrough of the whiskey-making process, one signature cocktail and a spirit-tasting session with an informed narrator. Phone 724-288-0072 or www.heistspirits.com.
Make it a night with a stay at the Hickory House B&B, a restored Civil War-era home nestled in the heart of Hickory. Visitors can enjoy beautiful turn-of-thecentury rooms, fully remodeled and updated to reflect modern comforts, a hot tub, fire pit, complimentary breakfast and free Wi-Fi. Phone 724-356-1006 or hickoryhousebnb.com.
Above left: Courtesy of the Crafty Alpaca Farm At the Crafty Alpaca Farm
Above right: Courtesy of Hickory House An aerial view of Hickory House B&B
Family fun at Seven Springs
Story by Amanda Startare | Photos courtesy of Seven Springs Mountain Resort
Seven Springs Mountain Resort is more than just a destination to ski and snowboard.
Located in Somerset County, an hour and a half from Washington County, it is a resort ready for family fun. In the winter, the most popular activities are skiing, snowboarding and tubing.
But in the summer, offerings include hiking, paddleboarding and the legendary Alpine slide. All year round, there is a tremendous amount of excitement to be had on this mountain, including bowling, axe throwing, arcade games, indoor swimming and an 18hole mini golf course.
As a family, taking to the slopes is a fun and safe bonding experience at Seven Springs. Beginners and black diamond enthusiasts alike can have a blast on the mountain. All trails on the mountain are clearly marked and freshly groomed for the best northeast snow around. For those looking to take skiing or snowboarding lessons, Seven Springs has trainers for all ages. The kids’ lessons start at age 3, making the slopes accessible and fun for the whole family.
Alex Miller, an avid and adventurous skier, grew up on Seven Springs Mountain and recalls his younger years through the lessons he took as a “fun-filled way to meet new people. It was kind of like a daycare where I learned to ski and made new friends.”
These lessons can give some adults time to relax, too. While the kids learn the ropes of the slopes,
mountainside Foggy Goggle is available for cocktails and entertainment. The Foggy Goggle is a great spot for food and family fun during daytime hours.
If taking to the mountain seems a bit too challenging for the whole family, the tubing hill is another fun outdoor alternative. The only requirement is being 42 inches tall. After finishing on the slopes, there’s a whole load of activities inside the resort. Bowling is a good competitive activity to do together, and there’s a restaurant attached to the alley for mid-match snacks. The latest indoor activity offered at Seven Springs is axe throwing. It brings a physical game that professionals safely oversee. There are no age or height requirements to enjoy. Those interested just need closed-toed shoes and a guardian over 18 years old.
The resort offers a heated indoor pool right outside their huge arcade for anyone ready to warm up from the cold. When finished swimming in the Olympic size pool, the kids can choose to play any of the “40 games, including Skee Ball, Ticket Monster and Wheel of Fortune” at The Bear Trap Fun Zone, says Seven Springs. The 18-hole mini golf course, equipped with loads of challenges and interesting designs, is next to the arcade. The course is free for anyone under the age of 2.
When visiting in the summer, the slopes can still be enjoyed through the Alpine slide, a 1,980-foot track down the mountain. Take a scenic chairlift or hike up to the top, enjoy the views and have fun at Tahoe Lake. Seven Springs offers kayaks, paddle boards and paddle
boats so that everyone can enjoy the water on a hot summer day.
No resort would be complete without a calming spa to explore and indulge. “The Trillium Spa is the place where you can relax, unwind and renew”, says Seven Springs. The spa offers massages, facials, relaxation rooms and more. There are manicure/pedicure options for wholesome mommy-daughter moments, as well.
After relaxing at the spa or an exciting and tiring time on the slopes, the only way to end the day at Seven Springs Mountain Resort is at The Gingerbread Dreams Ice Cream Shoppe and Bakery for some delicious sweet treats.
Upcoming Events
APRIL
April 6
Wedding Expo
12pm-5pm
April 12 & 13 GUN SHOW
9am-4pm
MAY
May 2,3 & 4
Kid Mania LLC
9am-6pm Fri & Sat
9am-2pm Sun
& Spa
May 9 & 10
Ag Days
9th-2pm-9pm 10th-10am-9pm
May 16,17 & 18
Leisure Time Hot Tubs
16th-2pm-8pm, 17th-10am-8pm, 18th-10am-5pm
JUNE
June 7
Power Lifting Alpha Fitness
7:45am-5pm
June 21 & 22 Gun Show 9am-4pm
June 27 & 28
All-Clad Factory Sale
27th-9:00am-6pm 28th-9:00am-4pm
FACILITIES FOR EVENTS OF ALL SIZES
From a meeting for 10 people to a trade show for thousands, The Washington County Fairgrounds & Expo Center has the facilities and the experience to help make your event a success. The Fairgrounds venues are situated on 156 acres and include five exhibit halls, ten barns, a show tent, show arena, a three thousand seat grandstand, and more parking than you will ever need.
