From staff reports
Get ready for an unforgettable summer as “Clarion Summer Fest” comes to town. This exciting event spans three event-packed weekends, kicking off on June 1 through 3, followed by July 6 through 8 and wrapping up on Aug. 4 through 7. Whether you’re a local or a tourist, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
This event aims to attract visitors to the area by offering unique and engaging activities. With pop up shops featuring local entrepreneurs, movies at Veterans Memorial Park, KidZone activities, special outdoor events and a Sidewalk Chalk Art on Main event, you won’t want to miss a moment of the fun.
June’s events will encourage visitors to explore the local trails, river, and bike paths as well as pop up shops on Saturday, while July will celebrate the community with kids’ scavenger hunt and magic show, pop up shops, and music on Sixth Avenue. The weekend in August is all about creativity, with a sidewalk chalk art event and special music and food trucks and Saturday’s pop up shops.
But that’s not all. Throughout the summer, all three of Clarion’s local craft breweries, Lost in the Wilds, Mechanistic, and Clarion River Brewing, will be hosting a brewery crawl. Expect special food, live music, and a brewery crawl discount card for unique gifts and giveaways.
Clarion Summer Fest is made possible by the collective efforts of community members and partnerships with organizations including: Destination Clarion Downtown, Clarion Borough, Pennsylvania Small Business Development Center, Clarion Free Library, Clarion River Brewing Co., Clarion River Arts Gallery, and all three outdoor trails including Clarion Chapter of North Country Trail, Rail 66, The Loop and the Clarion Summer Fest community volunteers. The Summer Fest event began from a grant graciously given by Clarion Blueprint Community, Inc.
These events are made possible through the Clarion Blueprint Community and Hotel Tax grant(s), corporate and local organizations and a team of volunteers, whose goal is to create grassroots community spirit, and encourage support for various local businesses, pop up entrepreneurs, outdoor activities, and local arts companies. The goal is to increase tourism, enhance our quality of life, and foster new businesses in Clarion County.
Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to experience the best of Clarion County this summer. Mark your calendars now for Clarion Summer Fest.
Each month will have the following themes for their festivals:
June Clarion’s Big Outdoor Festival, invites visitors to explore local trails, river and bike paths.
July A Hometown Fest will celebrate our community life, showcasing local musical talent with open mic night on Sixth Avenue.
August Music and Arts Fest, features a sidewalk chalk art event, creating a public art installation and music jam stations around Main Street.
The following is a detailed schedule of events:
Thursday, June 1. Clarion’s Big Outdoor Festival
Outdoor activities include: biking time trial on Rail 66, hiking on North Country Trail and The Loop, kayaking, pop up shops, Silver Dollar “Loop” scavenger hunt, brewery crawl, scouts’ camper jamboree, KidZone and music concerts.
4 p.m. Brewery crawl at Clarion River Brewery Co., Lost in the Wild and Mechanistic Brewery
8:30 p.m. Movie@the Park at Veterans Memorial Park. This is a free event. The movie is a karate master teaching a young boy how to win a tournament against his bullies.
Friday, June 2. Clarion’s Big Outdoor Festival
6:30 p.m. Concert at Mechanistic Brewery. “Live” music by Samantha Sears will perform. Food truck by Brick Oven Pizza will be there.
7 p.m. Planetarium show at PennWest planetarium, Science building. For more information, contact Dr. Montgomery at smontogomery@pennwest.edu.
Saturday, June 3. Clarion’s Big Outdoor Festival
7:15 to 8:15 a.m. (check in) and 8:30 a.m. (official start) Eleven-mile point-to-point biking time trial starts on Rail 66 at the Farmington Township Community Park in Leeper and finishes at North West Hardwoods one mile south of Marienville. This is a competitive bike race so electric or motorized bicycles are not permitted. To register, go to rail66tt.com. This event is hosted by Rail 66 and Janney Montgomery Scott, LLC.
8 a.m. to noon Kayaking at Toby Bridge, Clarion River (take 5th Avenue north then turn right before the bridge.) This event is free. It is sponsored by Go Paddle PA and Michelle’s Caf. For more information, go to www.gopaddlepa.com/bigoutdoorfest.
9 a.m. Silver Dollar scavenger hunt at The Loop. You will pick up the clues with directions at the Clarion Summer Fest tent on 6th and Main and head to the Loop. Only one coin per team will be awarded a Buffalo Silver Coin. This event is sponsored by F.L. Crooks and Co. and Mechanistic Brewery.
9 to 11 a.m. Hike the Loop. Hikers will park off east Main Street behind PennWest’s Suites on Main dorm parking lot. A volunteer will greet people with maps at the Loop trailhead. There will also be a volunteer at the riverfront along the trail to explain the development of the Loop Trail. This is about a two mile hike. This event is hosted by: Clarion Chapter of North Country Trail Association.
9 to 11 a.m. Hike the North Country Trail. The North Country Trail Trailhead is just west of the Clarion River Bridge on State Route 322. There is a sign on the river side and a parking lot.
Hikers will park their car at the North Country Trail Trailhead just west of the Clarion River Bridge on State Route 322. There will be two hiking options, a three mile hike (about 60 to 90 minutes) or a six mile hike (about 2 to 3 hours).
Volunteers will be present to give maps and will shuttle participants to the start of the hike. Participants will hike back to their car. Families are welcome. This event is hosted by Clarion Chapter of North Country Trail Association.
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pop up shops on Main Street in Clarion. For more information, contact the localclarioncounty@gmail.com.
9 a.m. to noon Camper’s jamboree on Main Street at Clarion Free Library. Boy Scouts Troop 51 will set up a campsite and will be available to discuss camping and other scout activities.
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Summer Fest sidewalk book sale at Clarion Free Library.
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Chamber’s vintage sale at the Clarion Area Chamber of Business and Industry office located at 650 Main Street in Clarion. For more information, call the chamber office at (814) 226-9161.
From 1 to 3 p.m. KidZone: Outdoor games and face painting on Sixth and Main Street in Clarion.
3 p.m. (arrive at 2:45 p.m.) Children’s nature hike at the bridge on Doe Run Road. This event is for children ages 8 to 12. A teacher will lead the children on a 1.25 milehike (about one hour) along the beautiful Scenic Loop of the North Country Trail.To find the location, meet at the bridge on Doe Run Road.Coming from Clarion on State Rt. 322 make a left onto Doe Run Road which is 0.3 miles west of the Clarion River Bridge. Travel 0.9 miles on Doe Run to the trailhead.The children will need to be picked up at the same location at 12:15 p.m. Space is limited to the first 25 children.You must pre-register for this event. To register, call Linda at (814) 229-1271.
From 4 to 7 p.m. Concert at Mechanistic Brewery. The music will be performed by The Gabarino Family Band.
From 6 to 10 p.m. Live music at Sixth and Main Street in Clarion (will be blocked off) This event you need to bring your own chair.
Thursday, July 6. Hometown Festival
8:30 p.m. Movie at the Veterans Memorial Park in Clarion. This is a free event. The movie showing is animated Spidery-guy. You may bring your own chair and snacks.
All summer Brewery Crawl at Clarion River, Mechanistic and Lost in the Wilds Breweries
Friday, July 7. Hometown Festival
l4 to 7 p.m. Concert at Mechanistic Brewery. Live music performance by The Byson Band.
Saturday, July 8. Hometown Festival
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pop up shops on Main Street in Clarion.
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Summer Fest kids photo scavenger hunt at Summer Fest tent on Main Street.
1 to 3 p.m. KidZone: Charlie the Magician on Sixth and Main Street in Clarion.
4 to 5 p.m. Dance company performance on Sixth and Main Street in Clarion.
6 to 10 p.m. Live music on Sixth and Main Street in Clarion.
Thursday, Aug. 3. Chalk Art and Music Festival
8:30 Movie at the Veterans Memorial Park in Clarion. The movie showing is 12 Angry Dudes. This is a free event. You should bring your own chair and snacks.
All summer Brewery crawl at Clarion River, Mechanistic and Lost in the Wilds Breweries.
Friday, Aug. 4. Chalk Art and Music Festival
7 to 9 p.m. Concert at Mechanistic Brewery. Jefferson County Line will perform.
Saturday, Aug. 5. Chalk Art and Music Festival
8 a.m. (registration) to noon and (9 a.m. event starts); awards ceremony after noon. The event will be held at 516 Main Street in Clarion. To register for the chalk art competition email kris@phrameit.com.
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Street musicians on Main Street in Clarion. Acoustic musicians to perform around town (many locations)
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pop up shops on Main Street in Clarion.
11 a.m. Brewery 5k at Mechanistic Brewery. To sign up for race, go to http://www.eventbrite.com/e/summerfest-beer-run-x-mechanistic-brewing-2023-pa-brewery-running-series-registration-610007798747.
1 to 3 p.m. KidZone: Bubblepalooza on Sixth and Main Street in Clarion.
4 to 5 p.m. Dance company performance at Sixth and Main Street in Clarion.
6 to 10 p.m. Live music on Sixth and Main Street in Clarion. This event features bluegrass music. You will need to bring your own chair.
Sunday, Aug. 6. Chalk Art and Music Festival
1 to 5 p.m. Chalk on Main on sidewalks on Main Street in Clarion. There is a self-walking tour of chalk art exhibited at 516 Main Street in Clarion.
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Community art project on Main Street in front of Clarion Free Library.
For more information, contact event coordinator Nancy Hanna on Facebook or email the localclarioncounty@gmail.com.