FIND A VE TO LO PLACE e, s Guid Home e 25 g Pa
TOUCHSTONE CENTER Crafting art for all 10
Tissue Farm
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Pour Tour
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Holiday Cheer
Celebrating the season
Fall/Winter 2025 | Vol 09 | Issue 02
Roughing it in Style.
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FIND A TO LOVE PLACE
O N T HE CO VER
Guide, Homes 25 Page
An artisan at work at the Touchstone Center for Crafts. Photo by Heidi Lewis
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Touchstone Center
Teaching and making art
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Tissue Farm
TIME FLIES, AND WINTER’S HERE AGAIN IN THE LAUREL HIGHLANDS. And winter in the Highlands means it’s time to dust
off the skis, pull the parka from the back of the closet, and head for the slopes! What about those who don’t ski? Or when a skier wants to take some time away from the slopes? What is there to do? Keep reading, and we’ll show you three places or events to while away the time. In Farmington, you’ll find Touchstone Center for Crafts, an artist haven nestled among the Appalachian foothills. The center draws visitors and artists from far and wide, and some artists even stay on the grounds while they learn more about their crafts. Turn to page 6 for more details. The Tissue Farm may have an unusual name, but this coffee shop/art gallery is a top spot in Confluence. You’ll want to stop for an espresso and to take a look at the latest exhibit in this historic building named for Capt. William Tissue, who purchased the land in the late 1700s. And you may get lucky and find yourself enjoying the annual Holiday Artisan Fair, an event that heralds the farm’s closing until spring. Learn more on page 10. Of course, you can always drive the back roads and enjoy the spectacular scenery. One way to see the sights is through the annual Laurel Highlands Pour Tour, visiting the local craft breweries, wineries and distilleries that call the Highlands home. The tour is a yearlong choose-your-own adventure of the region’s spirits, while you collect stickers and then redeem the booklet for prizes. Discover a few of the locations on the pour tour on page 14. Don’t forget to have a designated driver! We’ve also included a listing of area events on page 20; you’re sure to find something to do among the shows and holiday festivities listed. Winter in the Highlands may mean snow sports galore, but you can also find quieter, gentler pastimes in the region. If you know where to look.
Coffee, art, and more
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Pour Tour
PHOTO Heidi Lewis
Explore the Highlands
ENJOY! Fall/Winter 2025 | Vol 09 | Issue 02
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Laurel Highlands Magazine
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Participants enjoy the 2024 Bonfires Barrels Boos event.
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Touchstone Center for Crafts welcomes visiting artists and interested tourists to the Laurel Highlands.
Discover craft breweries, wineries and distilleries along the Laurel Highlands Pour Tour.
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A Unique Art Complex
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Curating a Dream
Tissue Farm creates community through art and coffee while honoring history.
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Barrels of Fun
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highlands resort realty homes guide
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A Unique Art Complex Touchstone Center for Crafts welcomes visiting artists and interested tourists to the Laurel Highlands. BY Jordan Crosby
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PHOTOS Heidi Lewis
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he visual arts are alive in the Laurel Highlands yearround. Local and internationally recognized painters, sculptors, artisans, and architects showcase their work in museums, community art centers, and historic sites throughout southwestern Pennsylvania. From May to October, those seeking hands-on involvement in the art-making process can visit Touchstone Center for Crafts in Farmington. Known as a wooded retreat where artists come to create and teach, this creative haven has captivated visitors since it opened in 1983 beside Forbes State Forest, about ten miles southeast of Uniontown. Edna Steane, an elementary school teacher from Normalville, sought to move beyond traditional academic measures of success for students with special mental and emotional needs. She believed these children could develop focus and dexterity by working with clay, fiber, metal, and wood—materials that also reflected the folk art traditions of the region’s Native American and Pennsylvania Dutch heritage. Agnes Dodds Kinard, accomplished in law, government, history, and real estate, shared Steane’s conviction that reviving hands-on craftsmanship could help a new generation reconnect with their mountain roots. Together, their ideas shaped the philosophy that inspired the Pioneer Crafts Council. During the 1970s, as the American crafts movement experienced a resurgence, artists, educators, and community leaders rallied around that vision. Their efforts culminated in 1983 with the council’s establishment of a permanent home as the Touchstone Center for Crafts. The center’s name, Touchstone, comes from the smooth, dark stone once used to test the purity of The peaceful grounds of precious metals. Just as that stone Touchstone; heating iron before shaping it on an anvil. revealed a metal’s true worth through contact and comparison, Touchstone Center for Crafts continues to reveal and refine artistic talent through practice and connection. Coupled with the teasel-thistle emblem adopted as the council’s logo—and reimagined many times over the past 40 years—the name Touchstone embodies both tradition and transformation. Together, they capture the enduring spirit of craftsmanship and discovery at the heart of this mountain retreat. An Art Complex Nestled on a slope in the Appalachian foothills is a sprawling cluster of cabins, studios, and guest houses sitting beside a stream known as McIntire Run. There is little noise apart from the
occasional calls of grouse, thrushes, and sparrows, along with a gentle breeze rustling the trees. More than 200 additional undeveloped acres are available to explore. This serene setting fosters focused contemplation and quiet self-reflection, both essential for art-making. The Center’s meditative environment appears deceptively still, because the vital energy of the creative process thrives here. As a visitor, your purpose unfolds under a studio roof. Drawing and painting, you channel your experience of nature. You use clay, metal, natural fibers, or glass with state-of-the-art equipment— and often fire—to experiment and bring your designs to life. You uncover new skills and rediscover yourself as you gain mastery of your chosen medium. For a few hours or several days, you’re immersed in the techniques and tools of a craft, engaging all your senses. With patience, you produce original works of art alongside professionals. Set atop its own hill, respectfully nicknamed Metal Mountain, the large Hart Moore Blacksmithing Studio with its sooty dirt floors holds a collection of forges, presses, and furnaces ready for use. The fact that the building is located along historic Wharton Furnace Road adds another layer to the work of the studio’s supervisor, Dr. Andrew J. Welton, who specializes in making spearheads and culinary blades from steel. Participants in his classes inevitably become part of a performative ensemble he conducts with an interactive approach to teaching and managing the equipment. The wood-fired noborigama kiln at Touchstone is an artistic masterpiece. The interiors of its two dome-shaped chambers are lined with shelves. During a series of three-day community firing events, these shelves hold pieces created by many different ceramic artists each session, with the objects grouped by artist in designated areas of the kiln. Instructors Meghan Burke and Daniel Tomick share their expertise as they guide groups through the technical steps of a successful firing. Dean Simpson, the center’s communications director, says he has “always believed in the power of the arts—how creativity helps us heal, connect, and express ourselves. Since joining Touchstone in 2017, I’ve witnessed that magic every day, in the stories people share and inside my own journey here.” Such stories overflow. Just ask Beth Staley, a new staff member who welcomes visitors at Blaney Lodge, which houses Touchstone’s offices and features rotating exhibitions Laurel Highlands Magazine
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rest,” says executive director Lindsay Ketterer Gates, who, after seven years in the role, is currently on sabbatical. A sought-after textile and fiber artist, Gates has cultivated a dynamic network of instructors and collaborators. Under her direction, Touchstone has built a rich structure of opportunities grounded in relationships with remarkable artists who continue to blaze new trails in their craft.
of local and international crafts. Items representing more than 80 different artists are sold in the lodge’s retail area. Staley and her colleague, interim director Stefanie Glover, explain that they were once guests at Touchstone, then over the years found themselves spellbound, drawn to working at the center. An Inclusive, Immersive Experience Tucked into the hills, Touchstone is easy to overlook, but its creative energy is anything but hidden. The center now boasts a robust events calendar and a vibrant presence on both a physical and creative level. A new generation of stewards—artists, administrators, and interdisciplinary thinkers—has opened an inclusive gateway to one of the most distinctive experiences in the Laurel Highlands. For the 2025 season, Touchstone offered workshops for individuals and groups ranging from casual drop-in sessions to immersive multi-day programs, complete with on-campus housing and meals. Classes covered an impressive spectrum of disciplines: wheel-thrown pottery, flameworked glass sculpture, Damascus steel jewelry, Yoruba batik, and willow basketry, among others. Specialized programs also welcomed couples seeking a creative date night, young artists aged 5 to 13, teens, veteran craftspeople, educators and U.S. military veterans—each finding inspiration in this wooded retreat. Touchstone’s staff also regularly organizes and tailors onetime creative retreats and symposia for private groups with shared interests. “Come and learn from the best, and let us worry about the
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A New Chapter This past year, Touchstone opened a satellite location, Touchstone by the Falls, at 1 Sherman Street in Ohiopyle, a prime spot in the Laurel Highlands that attracts more than a million visitors each year and just 20 minutes from the main campus. Housed in the former Falls City Baptist Church, Touchstone by the Falls also served as Fayette County’s home base for Bells Across PA, a public-art initiative of the Pennsylvania Commission for the United States Semiquincentennial (America250PA). In the spirit of liberty that began in Philadelphia, each of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties received a fiberglass bell created by a local artist. James Mochnsky, a Touchstone board member and artist, has helped lead the creative process that brings these bells to life. At the Ohiopyle site, visitors have been able to watch and even join in artmaking sessions on Saturdays, guided by Touchstone’s team. Whether at the main campus or at pop-up events off-site, Touchstone’s programs create connections between artists and visitors, learners and educators. Guests from diverse backgrounds bring fresh perspectives, sparking lively and unexpected exchanges. In any workshop, a novice might find themselves seated beside a seasoned professional. Free from screens and distractions, participants quickly discover that teaching and learning are fluid— often one and the same. As they push one another forward, they find renewed meaning in art and craft, in history, and in themselves. These moments become touchstones of connection and well-being—for some, a one-time creative spark; for others, a ritual that unfolds over a lifetime. Touchstone Center for Crafts offers a state of mind and spirit found nowhere else.
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For More
Touchstone Center for Crafts 1049 Wharton Furnace Road | Farmington, PA 15437 724-329-1370 | www.touchstonecrafts.org
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Dream
Curating a
Tissue Farm creates community through art and coffee while honoring history. BY Jodi Buchan
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PHOTOS Heidi Lewis
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group of cyclists veers off the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) bike trail in Confluence. They pedal down residential streets bisected with alleys, past the town square, toward the small commercial center. They instinctively steer toward a brick building, squeeze their handbrakes, and stash their bikes in the rack next to a mural. The mural shows a woman holding a cup of steaming coffee, reminiscent of a mid-century magazine ad. Above the mural, in large block letters, is the name of the place and its promise: Tissue Farm Espresso. The cyclists need sustenance. Caffeine calls. “People know us,” says co-owner Jeffrey “Pope” Pankey. He says they might be returning to ride the GAP trail or staying at one of the numerous campgrounds, Airbnbs or bed & breakfast locations in the area. “We have fans who come in every year.” Pankey co-owns Tissue Farm with Suzanne Ragan Lentz. They are kindred spirits, partners in life, coffee and art. Both spent years working in the northwest Nevada desert at the cultural phenomenon Burning Man. Both are baristas. Both are artists. They’d been living in Seattle for 20 years when they came to an unspoken agreement that it was time to make a change. They knew they wanted to open a coffee shop with an art gallery. The only question was where. Turns out Confluence was a trifecta: location, nature and opportunity. Even though it was across the country, they had both been there before—Pankey to float the river and Lentz to visit a college friend. Lentz grew up in neighboring Maryland, so family would be only a car ride away. The Appalachian landscape just outside the door, with its mountains, valleys, and waterways, offered respite from Seattle’s concrete tech jungle. “Everything I love … rivers, bike trails, skiing,” Pankey says. “It’s all right here.” Opportunity came in the form of an old auto dealership. After a video tour, they saw its potential. “It was everything that we thought it could be,” Lentz says—but they needed to see it in person. Lots of History The site had roots in bygone days, and that history appealed to them. Its foundation was an old hotel built around 1882. After the aging hotel was razed, new owners built a newly envisioned structure that housed a Chevrolet dealership, complete with a windowed showroom that featured one new car a year and two garage doors opening to the repair bay. They recycled as much as possible, including the hotel’s original wooden timbers that stretched across the tall ceiling of what Lentz and Pankey saw as a potential gallery space. It was also appealing that the previous owners had converted the upper floor into living space. Their dream was becoming a real possibility. They wanted their venture to have a unique name, one connected to Confluence’s history. The name ended up not only honoring the past but also sparking customer speculation and curiosity. “We named it Tissue Farm because everything that is Confluence used to be (part of the) Tissue Farm,” Pankey says. The property’s namesake, Capt. William Tissue, Laurel Highlands Magazine
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Suzanne Ragan Lentz and Jeffrey “Pope” Pankey
For More Tissue Farm
446 Latrobe Ave. | Confluence, PA 15424 814-395-2233 | www.thetissuefarm.com Open from April until Thanksgiving weekend 7:30 a.m. to noon Monday, Thursday & Friday 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday & Sunday The Chevrolet auto dealer and body shop.
play purchased the land in the late 1700s (see the sidebar below).
community members to gather while they nibble, sip and browse a lending library pick or relax while chatting with a neighbor.
Tourist Stop, Community Hub In its relatively recent form, Tissue Farm On Display has built a reputation among locals and Lentz curates four shows or events a visitors alike. The espresso counter serves year. They might be thought-provoking coffee from roasters with beans that hint installments like Nick Falwell’s “No at flavors like hazelnut and chocolate. Relation,” an author series with writers The drink menu also features Lentz’s such as Tim Palmer (Youghiogheny: hand-crafted chai, a recipe she’s been Appalachian River) or documentary perfecting for more than 20 years. They screenings, such as WQUE’s The Great source honey, maple syrup, and sugar from Ride: Landmarks nearby businesses Along the Trail. such as Sechler Sugar Each year, interns Shack, Miller’s (sweet from Touchstone treats) and Hanna Center for Crafts in House Bed and Farmington exhibit Breakfast. Alongside their art in Tissue the Americanos, Farm’s gallery. When cappuccinos and cold choosing a show, brews, they serve Revolutionary War Capt. William Lentz relies on “a crave-worthy scones Tissue bought 250 acres of land feeling about the (sweet and savory), in Appalachia back in 1798. work,” emphasizing muffins and cookies It included a tract trisected their focus on baked by Noel Cowel. like a turkey’s foot by the highlighting regional Lentz sets a high Youghiogheny River, Casselman artists and “creating benchmark: “I don’t River and Laurel Creek. The land local partnerships.” serve anything that was thenceforth called “Tissue (For more on isn’t exceptional.” Farm” until about 1871, when he Touchstone Center For browsing sold the farm to his sons, Isaac for Crafts, turn to and shopping while and William Jr., before his death. page 6.) sipping, tales by The name lay dormant in the In the spirit of local authors fill the archives of history for 150 years community, Tissue bookshelves. There are until Lentz and Pankey opened Farm hosts a Holiday coasters and cutting their business in May 2021. Artisan Fair on boards by woodwork the Saturday after artist Scott King, Thanksgiving. The along with a selection event offers local and regional artisans of all-natural essential oils, balms and to display and sell their wares. Shoppers soaps by Fernwood. And in a prominent looking for unique gifts browse through nook, a bright blue 1949 Chevy Coupe, offerings like fabric art by Amy Childers acquired from the Phipps Conservancy in and Sticks & Bones Knits by Siobhan, the Pittsburgh, takes center stage. It’s flanked lead Tissue Farm barista with a fondness by images on the walls that take visitors for hazelnut lattes. Patrons sit around the through history, part of the graphic journey fire in the wood-burning stove, enjoying Pankey created for Confluence’s 150-year the moment and each other’s company. celebration in 2023. “Everybody loves it,” says Lentz. Behind the bar and the books, the When the fair ends, Tissue Farm goodies and the gifts is the art gallery. closes for the season. Lentz and Pankey The front and left walls of the gallery are go into creative hibernation, reawakening painted a classic museum white, creating in April, when they once again welcome a simple backdrop that highlights the neighbors, wanderers, campers and artwork. Along the back brick wall, connoisseurs of espresso who recognize multiple paned windows the size of garage authenticity when they find it … by doors fill the space with natural light. discovery or by design. To the right, tables invite customers and
Artists in Residence
What’s in a Name?
Suzanne Lentz, a fiber artist, grew up in nearby Maryland and studied for seven years at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She started visiting the area around Ohiopyle in 1990. Over the years, she visited a college friend in Confluence— even sharing dinner in the building that she would one day own. Lentz has been recognized by Pennsylvania Business Central as “one of Women in Business’ 50 to Follow Women-Owned Businesses for 2025.” Born in LA and raised in Idaho, Pankey worked at Microsoft and Burning Man. He believed these would be his legacy, but now he says it’s Tissue Farm. His creations focus on a conventionchallenging style that uses thought-provoking and nonsensical imagery. Drawing from his AI expertise and creative expression, his artwork leans toward the “weird” and “strange,” he says. This amalgam defines him as a modern-day, self-described “absurdist artist.”
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Barrels of Fun Discover craft breweries, wineries and distilleries along the Laurel Highlands Pour Tour. BY Josie Cellonei
PHOTOS COURTESY GOLaurelHighlands.com
Laurel Highlands Magazine
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The signature lager at Whitehorse Brewing starts with 60 pounds of honey.
“There’s a five-gallon bucket in each batch,” says owner George Walker, “and it’s all sourced locally from licensed beekeepers.” The 10-barrel brewery in Berlin, Pennsylvania, started distribution in 2012 and has expanded to a taproom that’s open year-round, plus an outdoor pavilion that seats up to 75 people. Walker’s experience exemplifies the growth of craft brewing in the region. “Once people were able to understand and appreciate beer on a smaller scale, it all snowballed from there,” he says. “People started to acquire a different taste and understand the craft itself, the different ways things can be formulated.” Today, Whitehorse Brewing is one of 64 locations featured in the Laurel Highlands’ Pour Tour, a yearlong choose-your-own-adventure of craft beer, wine, spirits, cider and meads in the region. Now in its fifth iteration, the Pour Tour offers a Laurel Highlands Passport that allows visitors to collect stickers at each location and redeem the booklets for prizes. Redeem this year’s Pour Tour booklets by December 20, 2025. Visit 15 locations to reach the first tier and earn a Pour Tour ice bucket. Reach the second tier by visiting 30 locations and get a long-sleeve T-shirt. If you visit 45 locations in a year, you’ll snag the top prize: a cooler backpack. GO Laurel Highlands, which coordinates the program, gave out nearly 30,000 passports last year, with more than 3,000 people redeeming prizes, according to Jennifer Benford, senior director of marketing. “People love to keep the passports as souvenirs,” Benford says. She copies the programs for prize redemption but always returns them, as participants fill the back pages with notes on the venues and which varieties they enjoyed—a few booklets even have phone numbers from friends they met along the way. There’s a digital version of the passport as well, which can be downloaded on the app store for iOS or Android, with an interactive leaderboard for participants to track their progress. “It gives people a way to explore places they never would,” Benford says. “We hear people say all the time, ‘I discovered this place because of the Pour Tour.’” Ponfeigh Distillery Maximilian Merrill of Ponfeigh Distillery in Somerset says 20% to 25% of his visitors are passport holders. “It’s an awesome program,” Merrill says. “It’s a great educational tool for what’s out there. There are countless people who say they heard about us through the Pour Tour.” Ponfeigh offers separate distillery tours from 1 to 4 p.m. on Saturdays, but entertainment runs all year long, with bar trivia, boozy charades, line dancing classes in their tasting room and event center, and food trucks and live music on the weekends. Its signature brand is a Cask Strength Single Barrel Westsylvania Rye made with grain from the Monongahela River Basin. A Posted Rye-Shine, only available to Pennsylvania customers, is sold online, straight off the still and “in an easy carry flask for your camping trip,” according to the website. Tall Pines Distillery About 20 miles down US 219 in Salisbury, Tall Pines Distillery will host a “Meet the Maker” mixer featuring Keith Welch as part of the Pour Tour in June. “My husband loves to talk about his passion,” says owner Lisa Welch. Tall Pines is family-owned and operated; their two adult sons craft recipes and manage the bar and outdoor event space. Welch says they peel tons of bananas to fill up an 800-gallon mash tank for their Banana Foster Moonshine. Tall Pines does the same thing with peaches in season and currently is serving a Strawberry Rhubarb Moonshine made from puree. Everything is locally sourced, from the grains to the fruits.
Laurel Highlands Magazine
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Request Your Passport www.golaurelhighlands.com/pour-tour
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Tall Pines is now open seven days a week, though Welch originally needed convincing to start the business. Her mind was changed after she went on a girls’ trip through Virginia, and the group stopped at a distillery. “The stuff was terrible, but the marketing was wonderful, and people were walking out with bottles and bottles,” she says. She saw the potential. After spending $1,500 for a micro-distiller license, “our very first batch did not go well,” Welch says. “We put it in the steel, and it did not make alcohol.” Nine years later, they’ve perfected the formula—a blend of art and science—and have been around long enough to offer a barrel-aged bourbon this summer. During lockdown in the summer of 2020, Tall Pines opened a little outside bar with a deck and pavilion. Today, they have a huge mash room and an indoor saloon that looks like you’re going back in time with a window into distillation room. They’ve become a destination, attracting visitors from Deep Creek Lake, Pittsburgh, Washington, D.C., and Delaware. “One of our food truck vendors asked us, ‘How do you do it? None of these people know each other, but it’s like a backyard barbecue,’” Welch says. “It’s not a dull business— you meet all kinds of people.” All Saints Brewing Co. Westmoreland County has a rich history of brewing, from the monks who founded St. Vincent Seminary to the Latrobe Brewing Co., which produced the iconic Rolling Rock beer. Jeff Guidos, the founder and brewer at All Saints Brewing Co. in Greensburg, says it’s the good water that makes the great beer. Guidos got into brewing in 1998 as a chemistry student at St. Vincent’s College. “It’s a true passion, and I’m truly blessed to be doing it this long,” Guidos says. “At the end of the day, we’re here for the people, the beer drinker.” All Saints’ flagship is its Crimson Halo, an amber ale. Like many of the businesses on the Pour Tour, All Saints started with distribution, added a taproom and now hosts a full calendar of musicians and events. Back at Whitehorse Brewing, Walker was preparing for the weekend’s launch of Backdraft 628, a red ale brewed to help fundraise for the local fire hall. They were brainstorming a name for a new strawberry and rhubarb pilsner, made in honor of the monthly book club that meets at their brewhouse. “A lot of our customers wouldn’t make it to this side of town without the Pour Tour,” Walker says. “It’s brought people together across Somerset County.”
18 Laurel Highlands Magazine
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Start Your Pour Tour
ALL SAINTS BREWING CO. 1602 US 119 Greensburg Taproom open Wednesday–Sunday Try: Crimson Halo PONFEIGH DISTILLERY 893 Storystown Road Somerset Tours 1–4 p.m. Saturdays Try: Cask Strength Single Barrel Westsylvania Rye TALL PINES DISTILLERY 9224 Mason Dixon Highway Salisbury Open seven days a week Try: Bananas Foster Moonshine WHITEHORSE BREWING 824 Diamond St. Berlin Taproom open Thursday–Sunday Try: Honey Lager
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events
Events 2025/2026
Mid-November through mid-April
November November 19 American Pride: Toby Keith Tribute The Palace Theatre, Greensburg $34–$75 Featuring Mike Sexton, this tribute show brings all of the hits from the late Toby Keith to the Palace stage. Listen to hits such as “Should’ve Been a Cowboy” and “That’s Country, Bro.” 7:30 p.m. www.westmorelandculturaltrust.org/ events/american-ride-2025
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November 19, December 11 Greensburg Night Market Downtown Greensburg Free The market now encompasses four city blocks and hosts more than 500 vendors. Started in 2019, the night market was designed to bring the community together and celebrate Greensburg. No pets allowed. 5:30–9:30 p.m. www.greensburgnightmarket.com November 20 The Ultimate Doors Experience The Palace Theatre, Greensburg $33–$75
Experience the music of The Doors as this tribute band takes the stage. The Ultimate Doors preserve the music of The Doors and bring an authentic performance to audiences everywhere. 7:30 p.m. www.westmorelandculturaltrust.org/ events/doors-experience-2025 November 20 Yough Defense Party Falls City Pub, Ohiopyle General admission $25; various sponsorship packages available The Mountain Watershed Association and the Youghiogheny Riverkeeper host the annual Yough
PHOTO Adobe Stock/Christina Saymansky
All dates and times are subject to change. Please contact the venue before leaving home.
events Defense Party to raise funds for the Yough Defense Fund, which allows MWA to organize cleanups, monitor for pollution, conduct conservation efforts and more. Attendees will enjoy live music, free snacks, door prizes, a raffle and silent auction, plus merchandise deals. Consider bringing a potluck food item to help fill the snack table. Volunteers welcome. 4–11 p.m. www.mtwatershed.com/event/ yough-defense-party-3 November 21–22 Elton Rohn, a Tribute The Lamp Theatre, Irwin $40 With the look and sound of Elton John, this show offers all the hits and harmonies you’ll recognize. Clap and sing along to all your favorites! 8 p.m. www.lamptheatre.org/elton-rohn November 20–23 Oliver The Geyer Performing Arts Center, Scottdale $21.85 with fees The 1968 hit musical movie Oliver comes to the center’s stage. Watch Dickens’ story about an orphan in 1830s London come alive. “Please, sir, I want some more.” Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, 2:30 p.m. https://geyerpac.ludus. com/index.php November 21 to December 26 Winter Nights The Westmoreland Museum of American Art, Greensburg Free; please register Staying open on Fridays, the Westmoreland Museum presents Winter Nights, a winter wonderland filled with lights, with the permanent collection, an immersive installation, and special activities and music. See website for the activity and entertainment schedule. 5–8 p.m. www. thewestmoreland.org/event/winter-nights/2025-11-21 November 23 Destination Soultown The Lamp Theatre, Irwin $31 Featuring the Sensational Soul Cruisers, the evening will bring you the best of Motown to clap and chair-dance to. Let loose with these fabulous tunes! 3 p.m. www.lamptheatre.org/ destination-soultown-feat-soul-cruisers
The one and only Boz Scaggs continues his solo career begun in the late 1960s after playing with the Steve Miller Band. He formed Toto with friends David Paich, David Hungate and Jeff Porcaro after Scaggs’ hit album Silk Degrees. 7:30 p.m. www.westmorelandculturaltrust.org/events/bozscaggs-2025 November 27 Thanksgiving Buffet Seven Springs Mountain Resort Adults $56; children (ages 8–12) $28; children (ages 4–7) $11; reservations and deposit required Let the resort’s culinary team prepare a delicious Thanksgiving dinner for your family in the Slopeside Dining Room and the Grand Ballroom. The buffet will be from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the Slopeside Dining Room and from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom. www.7springs.com (Explore the Resort/Activities and Events) November 28 Light Up Ligonier Downtown Ligonier Free Welcome Santa for his annual visit and join in the countdown to the light show on the Diamond. Horse-drawn sleigh rides and visits with Santa are part of the fun! 6:30–9 p.m. https://business.ligonier.com/events/Details/lightup-ligonier-1377966 November 29 5th Annual Holiday Artisan Farm Tissue Farm, Confluence Free Local artists showcase their wares during this yearly event in Tissue Farm’s art gallery (for more on the farm, turn to page 10). Browse booths filled with artwork, fabric art, baked goods, health-care & self-care products, woodworking and more. 10 a.m.–3 p.m. www.thetissuefarm.com November 29 Light Up Somerset Downtown Somerset Free Kick off the holiday season with a trip to downtown Somerset where you’ll find carolers, kettle corn, dancers and more fun! 5–8 p.m. www.uptownsomerset.org
November 24 Champions of Magic: Holiday Spectacular The Palace Theatre, Greensburg $39.75–$79.75 A mind-blowing performance awaits as the Champions of Magic appear with their holiday show filled with illusions, magic and more surprises for the whole family. It’s a once-in-alifetime experience! 7:30 p.m. www.westmorelandculturaltrust.org/events/ champions-of-magic
November 29 Six Gun Sally The Lamp Theatre $26 Classic rock with southern soul and unstoppable energy, Six Gun Sally features rock legends bassist Greg T. Walker (Lynyrd Skynyrd, Blackfoot) and drummer Carmine Appice (Vanilla Fudge, Rod Stewart, Jeff Beck). Rock the night away and enjoy the show; also appearing, special guest East Coast Turnaround. 8 p.m. www.lamptheatre.org/sixgunsally
November 25 Boz Scaggs: Rhythm Review 2025 The Palace Theatre, Greensburg $89.75–$225
November 29-30 Holiday Market at Seven Springs Free Kick off the holiday season with the Seven
Springs Holiday Market. Enjoy festive fun with activities for the entire family, including craft vendors, visits with Santa, rides on the holiday train and more. 5 to 9 p.m. Friday; 3 to 8 p.m. Saturday. www.7springs.com/explore-the-resort/ activities-and-events November 29–30, December 13–14 Celebrating the Yuletide Compass Inn Museum, Laughlintown Adults $15, seniors 62+ $13, youth (6–17) $10, children 5 and under free Enjoy the Compass Inn Museum by candlelight for this annual tradition you don’t want to miss. 4–8 p.m. each night. www.compassinn.org/ eventcalendar/compass-inn-museum-by-candlelightcelebrating-the-yuletide-fmkb7
December December 3 Cirque Musica Holiday Wonderland The Palace Theatre, Greensburg $39.75–$199.75 Blending circus artistry and holiday music, the production offers a chance for the audience to experience a winter wonderland they’ve never seen before. An evening with acrobatics, aerial performances and magical music is the perfect way to celebrate the season! 7:30 p.m. www. westmorelandculturaltrust.org/events/cirque-2025 December 3 Jazz Concert with RML Jazz The Westmoreland Museum of American Art, Greensburg Member $20; nonmember $25 Another season of great jazz at the museum. Come and enjoy the smooth sounds of this Pittsburgh-based trio specializing in modern jazz and updated standards. 7–9 p.m. www. thewestmoreland.org/event/jazz-concert-rml-jazz December 4 56th Annual Luminary Night Downtown Greensburg Free Stroll through the luminaries decorating downtown, enjoy live music, shop at the holiday markets and local businesses, visit with Santa and enjoy the festivities for all ages! 5–9 p.m. www. shopgreensburgpa.com/events/56th-luminary-night December 4 Christmas with Sal “The Voice” The Palace Theatre, Greensburg $51–$71 Sal Valentinetti lends his Rat Pack-style vocals to a mix of timeless hits and seasonal favorites. A finalist on America’s Got Talent, Sal leaves audiences spellbound with the sounds of Dean Martin, Tony Bennett and Frank Sinatra. For an additional $50, meet Sal after the show for a photo op and a meet-and-greet event. 8 p.m. www.westmorelandculturaltrust.org/events/ christmas-with-sal
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events December 4–6 Holiday Mart at the Museum Shop The Westmoreland Museum of American Art, Greensburg Free; please register Regional artists will showcase their wares during this annual tradition. Find unique, handcrafted gifts for everyone on your list. Enjoy live entertainment while you shop; free gift-wrapping, cookies and hot chocolate; a 10% discount and raffles. Museum members receive an additional 10% off. Thursday, 5–8 p.m.; Friday, 12–8 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. www.thewestmoreland. org/event/holiday-mart-dec4-2025
farmers market, live entertainment, Santa in the Park, storytime with Mrs. Claus and lots more! Festivities end at 5 p.m. www.hollyjollylatrobe.com
December 5 The Drifters, The Platters & Cornell Gunter’s Coasters The Palace Theatre, Greensburg $52–$102 Live in concert, these three legendary vocal groups—all Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees— combine for an amazing night of iconic songs. Sing along to “Under the Boardwalk,” “Save the Last Dance for Me,” “Only You,” “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes,” “Yakety Yak,” “Charlie Brown” and more! 7:30 p.m. www.westmorelandculturaltrust.org/events/ drifters-platters-coasters
December 6–7 Holiday Makers Market West Overton Village, Scottdale Free Different vendors will be on hand both days at the museum, offering artwork, baked goods, home décor and more. Shop local for those on your holiday gift list. 10 a.m.–3 p.m. www.westovertonvillage.org/events/holidaymakers-market-2025
December 5 It’s a Wonderful Life State Theatre Center for the Arts Adults $7, seniors/students $5 Part of the All-American Classic Film Series, this film is a yearly tradition for many families. No previews; shows at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. www.statetheatre.info/#event=78048182 December 5 Screaming Orphans Christmas Show The Lamp Theatre, Irwin $30 The all-sister band from Donegal returns to the Lamp stage, bringing their pitch-perfect harmonies and award-winning show featuring original pop songs and traditional Irish music. 8 p.m. www.lamptheatre.org/screaming-orphans December 5–7 Christmas in the Mountains Greater Donegal Free Use this unique event to wrap up your holiday shopping as you visit all the participating businesses in Donegal to celebrate Christmas in the Mountains. Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. www.christmasinthemountains.info December 5–7 Holly Jolly Christmas in Latrobe Downtown Latrobe Free Kick off the holiday weekend with Light Up Latrobe and the Holiday Night Market from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday. Weekend-long events include a gingerbread house contest, Holiday Artist Market and a Holiday Merchynt Raffle. Saturday’s events begin at 10 a.m. and include
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December 6 Christmas Brasstacular The Palace Theatre, Greensburg $30–$47 Join River City Brass for a show filled with the season’s hits, including new arrangements of “Home Alone,” “A Christmas Carol,” and “Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker.” 7:30 p.m. www.westmorelandculturaltrust.org/events/ christmas-brasstacular
December 6 Let’s Get Ready to Crumble Downtown Ligonier Registration requested As you wander downtown Ligonier and the Diamond, stop in at the myriad bakeries to sample cookies of all kinds! 11 a.m.–2 p.m. https://business.ligonier.com/events/Details/let-sget-ready-to-crumble-1466013 December 6 Sun King Warriors The Lamp Theatre, Irwin $20 in advance; $25 at the door With special guest The Jaded Lips, the Sun King Warriors bring a blend of heavy rock with hard-hitting drums to the stage. 8 p.m. www.lamptheatre.org/jim-donovan-sunking-warriors December 6 Winter Showcase & Holiday Sale 2025 Touchstone Center for Crafts, Farmington Free A holiday event filled with unique items crafted by more than 80 artists, including Touchstone instructors, staff and friends. For more, turn to page 6. 11 a.m.–4 p.m. www.touchstonecrafts.org/ event/winter-showcase-holiday-sale-2025 December 7 Ethnic Traditions Dinner 131 S. Main St., Friedens, PA Check website for ticket/table prices Hosted by the Somerset Historical Center, this annual event brings together area residents from different cultures and backgrounds for an evening of food, music, and discussions of traditions. 5:30–8:30 p.m. www.somersethistoricalcenter.org/ news-events/event-calendar.html
December 7 Ligonier Wholidays Town-Wide Open House Downtown Ligonier Free Finish up your holiday shopping with local merchants while enjoying the season’s magical wonders. If the weather permits, there will be horsedrawn sleigh rides and children’s crafts. 12–4 p.m. https://business.ligonier.com/events/Details/ligonierwholidays-town-wide-open-house-1466019 December 9 A Musical Showdown: Beatles vs. Stones The Palace Theatre, Greensburg $25–$75 In this corner, representing the Fab Four, tribute band Abbey Road. Their opponent is the Rolling Stones tribute band Satisfaction. The groups perform alternating sets as the audience enjoys all the classic hits of these two legendary bands. 7:30 p.m. www.westmorelandculturaltrust.org/events/beatlesvs-stones December 12–13 EagleMania The Lamp Theatre, Irwin $42 With the sounds of the original band, EagleMania is the world’s greatest Eagles tribute band, bringing all the hits you remember. You’ll enjoy the greatest hits of the Eagles along with songs from the solo efforts of Don Henley, Glen Frey and Joel Walsh. 8 p.m. both nights. www.lamptheatre.org/eaglemania December 12–13 The Nutcracker The Palace Theatre, Greensburg $20–$67 The timeless beauty of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker is an annual tradition for many families. Visit the land of the Sugarplum Fairy, filled with dancing snowflakes, swashbuckling mice and talking toys! Friday, 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. www.westmorelandculturaltrust.org/ events/the-nutcracker-2025 December 13 Tapestry: The Carole King Songbook Arcadia Theater, Windber $44–$52 Suzanne O. Davis and company is one of the top tribute bands to the one and only Carole King. You’ll experience the sights, sounds and vibe of a 1970s concert featuring King’s legendary album, Tapestry. 7:30–9 p.m. www.arcadiawindber.com/ event/tapestry-carole-king-songbook December 14 Home for the Holidays, Too The Lamp Theatre, Irwin $25 Celebrate the holidays with George Dvorsky, along with Victoria Stubbs and the Mon Yough Chorale. A Broadway favorite, Dvorsky brings his magical holiday show to Irwin, spreading the spirit of the season. 7 p.m. www.lamptheatre.org/george-dvorsky
events December 14 Sounds of Christmas The Palace Theatre, Greensburg $30–$50 A festive Christmas experience, the show features the Latshawn Pops Orchestra with special guest 13-year-old Victory Brinker, along with Mike Latham, Lindsay Fitzpatrick, Josie Crooks and Frank Czuri. Santa Claus will also put in an appearance. 3 p.m. www.westmorelandculturaltrust. org/events/sounds-of-christmas-2025
December 21 A Touch of Holiday Magic The Geyer Performing Arts Center, Scottdale $27.10 with fees Presented by Extreme Illusions & Escapes, this magical experience stars Josh Knotts and Lea in a family-friendly Las Vegas-style show filled with illusions, escapes, audience participation and more. Santa Claus will make an appearance. Special guest will be ventriloquist Kevin Horner. 2:30 p.m. https://geyerpac.ludus.com/index.php
December 15 A Motown Christmas The Palace Theatre, Greensburg $34–$79 Assembled from the ranks of such legendary groups as The Miracles, The Contours and other Motown Legends, The Motortown All-Stars consists of vocalists who have performed the world over. Accompanied by the best of Motown musicians, including live brass, the All-Stars deliver the hits you’ll remember and the holiday tunes you want this time of year. 7 p.m. www.westmorelandculturaltrust. org/events/motown-christmas
December 25 Christmas Day Buffet Seven Springs Mountain Resort Adults $55; children (8–12) $27; children (4–7) $13; reservations recommended Celebrate the holiday with family and friends at the Slopeside Dining Room as the resort’s culinary experts put on a buffet spread you won’t soon forget. Entrees include prime rib, ham, turkey, broiled cod, baked salmon, and all the sides and desserts you crave! 11:30 a.m.–8 p.m. www.7springs.com (Explore the Resort/Activities and Events)
December 19 Billy Price Holiday Show The Lamp Theatre, Irwin $25 Vocalist Billy Price has recorded and released 20 albums. He’s appeared with guitarist Roy Buchanan and played with the Keystone Rhythm Band and the Billy Price Band. His latest album is Person of Interest. 8 p.m. www.lamptheatre.org/billy-price December 20 Home for the Holidays The Palace Theatre, Greensburg $23.18–$81.88 Featuring the All-Star Choir of Westmoreland County, conducted by Andres Franco, this holiday extravaganza brings local vocalists and musicians for a festive night of holiday cheer. 7:30 p.m. www. westmorelandculturaltrust.org/events/wso-holiday December 20 White Christmas The Lamp Theatre, Irwin General admission $26; VIP $36 Experience this classic movie in ways you have never dreamed of! At 1 p.m., you can sing along with all the hits by Irving Berlin as you watch this 1954 favorite. There will be live music, a visit by Santa and youth activities before the show. At 6 p.m., the movie comes alive with live performers and magical surprises. www.lamptheatre.org/whitechristmasmovie December 21 Holiday Open House Downtown Greensburg Free Presented by the Greensburg Business & Professional Association, the 57th annual open house features in-store promotions, delicious treats and plenty of local bargains. 12–5 p.m. https://shopgreensburgpa.com/events/57th-annualholiday-open-house
December 31 Hidden Valley Family New Year’s Eve Party Hidden Valley Resort $25-40 per person Gather your family and friends and head to the Clocktower and Yukon Room for a fantastically fun, family friendly New Year’s Eve Party. Celebrate with music, food and games! 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. www.7springs.com (Explore the Resort/Activities and Events) December 31 Seven Springs Family New Year’s Eve Party Seven Springs Mountain Resort $25 to $40 per person Ring in the New Year at a spectacular neon glow party in the Grand Ballroom and Exhibit Hall. Enjoy live music, party games, strolling entertainers, face painting and a video game wall! 8 p.m. to midnight. www.7springs.com (Explore the Resort/Activities and Events) December 31 Seven Springs Foggy Goggle New Year’s Eve Party Seven Springs Mountain Resort $70 per person 21 and older Celebrate the New Year at the legendary Foggy Goggle at Seven Springs! DJ Jan Jursa will be spinning today’s biggest hits to keep you dancing the night away. 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. www.7springs. com (Explore the Resort/Activities and Events) December 31 Seven Springs Matterhorn New Year’s Eve Party Seven Springs Mountain Resort $45 per person Ring in 2026 in the Matterhorn Lounge at Seven Springs. DJ Hypnotyza and his saxophone accompaniment will provide live music. 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. www.7springs.com (Explore the Resort/ Activities and Events)
January January 2–3 Get the Led Out The Palace Theatre Check website for ticket prices Celebrate the new year and the music of the great Led Zeppelin as Get the Led Out brings its tribute to the Greensburg stage. This Philadelphia-based band focuses on the live sound of the original, recreating a high-energy Zeppelin experience. 8 p.m. both nights. www.westmorelandculturaltrust.org/ events/get-the-led-out-0102 January 8 The Relatable Tour The Palace Theatre, Greensburg $39–$125; VIP tickets $250 Comedian Trey Kennedy goes on the road after his recent special Grow Up, found on his YouTube channel and Hulu. He says, “I promise to give you a good time, and in return, I just ask for your thoughts and prayers—I’m bringing my wife and two kids under 2 on the tour bus.” 7:30 p.m. www.westmorelandculturaltrust.org/events/treykennedy-0108 January 10 The New York Bee Gees The Palace Theatre, Greensburg $41–$81 Revisit the 1970s with The New York Bee Gees Tribute show featuring the timeless hits of the Bee Gees. Listen to “Stayin’ Alive,” “Night Fever” and more! Also featuring special guest Nikki Torres with her Donna Summer tribute set. 8 p.m. www. westmorelandculturaltrust.org/events/ny-beegees-2026 January 14 Jazz Concert with Eric Barchiesi The Westmoreland Museum of American Art, Greensburg Member $20; nonmember $25 Enjoy another evening filled with jazz performed by Eric Barchiesi. Cash bar and complimentary snacks will be available. Bar opens at 6 p.m.; 7–9 p.m. www.thewestmoreland.org/event/jazzconcert-eric-barchiesi-2 January 16 Miracle State Theatre Center for the Arts Adults $7, seniors/students $5 Part of the All-American Classic Film Series, this film retells the story of one of the greatest sports events: The 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team taking the gold! No previews; shows start at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. www.statetheatre. info/#event=78048185 January 16–18 Annual Fire & Ice Uptown Somerset Free Marvel at more than 40 ice sculptures as you enjoy fireworks, live music, food, and a marketplace. Check website for times. www. somersetcountychamber.com/event/annual-fire-ice Laurel Highlands Magazine
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events January 17 The Unlikely Union: A Storytelling Symphony of America The Palace Theatre $29–$99 Performed by Professor Greg Jackson, host of the podcast History That Doesn’t Suck!, The Unlikely Union tells the story of the United States’ first 250 years. It’ll be a memorable night of history, music and more. Accompanied by the Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra conducted by Daniel Meyer. 7:30 p.m. www.westmorelandculturaltrust.org/events/ unlikely-union-2026 January 18 Martin Luther King Jr. Day Open House The Westmoreland Museum of American Art Free Celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. with a day filled with community connection. Performances will honor Dr. King and his vision; art-making activities will be available for all ages. Concessions available for purchase. 10 a.m.–3 p.m. www.thewestmoreland.org/event/martin-lutherking-jr-day-open-house-2 January 23–25 Ligonier Ice Fest 2026 Downtown Ligonier Free With more than 50 ice sculptures from Glacial Ice Works of Jeannette on display, the Diamond will be full of festivities and fun. The ice sculptures will be on display 24 hours a day until they melt or start to fall. Live sculpting is set for Friday and Saturday. Browse vendors and local businesses, take a horse-drawn sleigh ride (weather permission); and enjoy a spaghetti dinner on Saturday in the Town Hall community room. Big Fat Jazz free concert is set for 3–4 p.m. Saturday in the Town Hall Auditorium. Festival hours: Friday, 12–5 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m.–5 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. https://business.ligonier.com/events/ Details/ligonier-ice-fest-2026-1466024 January 30 Art on Tap: Comedy Night The Westmoreland Museum of American Art Members $12; non-members $15 Attendees will enjoy a comedy performance, a museum-wide scavenger hunt, live entertainment, light refreshments, a signature cocktail and one free drink from the cash bar. 6–9 p.m. www. thewestmoreland.org/event/art-on-tap-comedy-night January 30 Hugo: The Ultimate Journey Tribute The Palace Theatre, Greensburg $41–$81 Bringing his experience with Voyage and Valentine, Hugo Valenti capitalizes on his resemblance to Journey frontman Steve Perry to bring his Journey tribute to nationwide audiences. 8 p.m. www.westmorelandculturaltrust.org/events/hugojourney-2026
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February February 6–8 Godspell Greensburg Civic Theatre, Greensburg Advance tickets: adults $20; seniors $18; students $15 + processing fee At the door: adults $23; seniors $21; students $18 Broadway musical Godspell has been an international sensation. Using music, dancing, and storytelling, the musical follows Jesus in his ministry and a group of people helping to illustrate the parables and messages of love, kindness and tolerance. Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m. www.gctheatre.org/our-season February 14 Rhapsody in Blue The Palace Theatre, Greensburg $23.18–$81.88 Pianist Janice Carissa performs Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue as well as Symphony No. 2 by Randall Thompson, both pieces celebrating the music and spirit of America. Accompanied by the Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra. 7:30 p.m. www.westmorelandculturaltrust.org/events/wso-rhapsody February 19 Who Are You with Carl Dixon The Palace Theatre, Greensburg $35–$75 Relive the rock era of The Who with this tribute band. Who Are You, fronted by Carl Dixon, performs Who hits, including the rock opera Tommy. 7:30 p.m. www.westmorelandculturaltrust.org/events/thewho-tribute-2026 February 20 Glory State Theatre Center for the Arts Adults $7, seniors/students $5 Part of the All-American Classic Film Series, Glory stars Denzel Washington and Matthew Broderick and tells the story of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, one of the first all-Black volunteer units in the Civil War. No previews; shows start at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
March March 5 Strange Magic: Electric Light Orchestra Tribute The Palace Theatre, Greensburg $35–$75 Re-creating the amazing sound of ELO, Strange Music incorporates the music and more into a multi-media show that will amaze the audience. Listen to “Evil Woman,” “Strange Magic,” “Shine a Little Love” and more! 7:30 p.m. www.westmorelandculturaltrust.org/events/elotribute-2026
March 6 Yellow Brick Joel The Palace Theatre, Greensburg $41–$81 In a tribute to two legendary piano men, Billy Joel and Elton John, this show features David Clark in All About Joel and Bill Connors in an Elton John Tribute. Enjoy the nostalgia with all their hits from years past. 8 p.m. www. westmorelandculturaltrust.org/events/yellow-brick-joel March 7 An American Tail State Theatre Center for the Arts Adults $7, seniors/students $5 Part of the All-American Classic Film Series, this animated film from executive producer Steven Spielberg tells the tale of a Russian mouse emigrating to the U.S. and separated from his family. No previews; show starts at 2 p.m. www.statetheatre.info/#event=78048190 March 7 Celtic Connections The Palace Theatre, Greensburg $30–$47 Along with the River City Brass, enjoy the music of the Pipes and Drums of Carnegie Mellon and the moves of the dancers from the Bell School of Dance. Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day! 7:30 p.m. www.westmorelandculturaltrust.org/events/celticconnections March 20 Avalon State Theatre Center for the Arts Adults $7, seniors/students $5 Part of the All-American Classic Film Series, the film follows three generations of a Jewish family that first emigrated from Poland to the U.S. in the early 20th century. No previews; shows start at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. www.statetheatre. info/#event=78048193 March 25 Symposium Series: Diving Deeper into the Fred Rogers Archive Fred Rogers Institute, Latrobe Registration required; Zoom event Archivist Emily Uhrin will lead a virtual conversation about the information in the Fred Rogers Archive as part of the collection’s new and expanding digitization. All who register will receive a link to the recording of the event. 11 a.m., CST. www.fredrogersinstitute.org/events
April April 18 The Planets The Palace Theatre, Greensburg $23.18–$81.88 Appearing with The Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra will be accordion virtuoso Radu Ratoi playing Bach’s Concerto in D minor, then the orchestra will perform Holst’s The Planets, a musical tour of the solar system. 7:30–9 p.m. www.westmorelandsymphony.org/event/the-planets
CAFE & GRO C E RY • BE E R & W I N E • P I Z Z A S H O P • C AT ERING
A T RUE TA STE O F TH E MOUNTAINS! The Highlands Market is proud to showcase the bounty of the Laurel Highlands! Our thoughtfully-curated selection is complemented by a wide variety of local and artisanal products, a wide selection of wines, craft beer and domestic beer, as well as any essentials you may need for your stay in the Seven Springs area. Dine in with us in our cozy cafe and peruse our menu of hearty breakfast favorites, deli sandwiches, hot soups and fresh salads, or place your order for mouthwatering ovenbaked specialties from the pizza shop!
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