Week of October 6, 2024

Good morning, 🫎 Neighbor!

This is What’s Up Elk, your weekly source of inspiration that finally puts an end to that age-old lie that “there’s nothing to do!”

In today’s newsletter:

• ✨ Imagine: You, center stage

• 🫎-toberfest

• ☕️ Coffee with Kathleen

Let’s get to it.

-Kathleen

_{P.S. Just a side note: when you see something highlighted and underlined in blue, make sure to click on it if you’re interested. These are links and will give you more information about the event.}

🎶 Calling all men who like to sing: The Singing Dutchmen Men’s Chorus is looking for you! Rehearsals are on Sunday afternoons from 2-4 PM in the Shiloh Evangelical Presbyterian Church Sanctuary in St. Marys. Not only does the group perform locally, but they give back with two scholarships through the Elk County Community Foundation. For more information, contact Ed Schwer at 814-834-7733. — 📍217 Washington Street, St. Marys

🌌 Next time you find yourself looking up, in awe of the night sky, pull out your camera and take a shot 📸 — there might be some cold hard cash in it for you! Interested? The PA Great Outdoors Visitors Bureau is running a Stargazing Photo Contest that lasts through December. Submit your photo (rules and guidelines are available by clicking the link above) and cross your fingers: finalists’ photos will be posted online and the top entries will win a cash prize. Good luck!

🦃 Would you like to have your Thanksgiving meal made this year with local, farm fresh ingredients? What if it only cost you $10? Well, it might be possible if you buy a chance on a Farm to Table Thanksgiving dinner being given away by Big Maple Farm’s Natural Therapies to support their therapeutic riding program. Only 200 chances are being sold so get your ticket now before they sell out.

🍁🛻  Just a head’s up: The Splash of Fall: Colors of Elk County 2024 ATV ride is happening next Sunday, October 13 between 9-11 AM. A 30+ mile ride, there will be raffles along the way, a 50/50 and dice rolls. It’s $35 per ATV with 1 rider ($5 per additional rider) — funds raised will benefit Trail of Dreams. You can pre-register here or on-site. — 📍632 Boone Mountain Road, Kersey, PA

SUNDAY (10/6)

⛪️ The St. Marys Heritage Preservation Group is hosting an Historical Churches Tour which will talk about how faith and community helped shape the city. It starts at 1 PM. Participants will visit a variety of local churches and hear from speaker Ray Beimel. Tickets — which are available at the St. Marys Chamber of Commerce — are $10 and include bus transportation and a social afterwards. — 📍St. Marys Catholic Church, 315 Church Street, St. Marys

🫎 If you’d like to learn more about the animal that our county is named after, go to the Elk Country Visitor Center at 2 PM — you can join a staff member for a walk on the trails around the center to discuss a history of the property and the wildlife that often inhabit the fields. FREE—📍950 Winslow Hill Road, Benezette

THURSDAY (10/10)

🖼️When is the last time that you did something creative, just for fun? How about taking a watercolor class? Janet VanErden is teaching one at 5 PM at the St. Marys Public Library. The best part is that all the materials for the class are provided. Oh, and did I mention that it’s FREE? — 127 Center Street, St. Marys

🔴 Are you a hunter, gatherer, canner or foodie who wants to make sure you know the basics of food preservation? Well, you’re in luck because The Ridgway-Elk Chamber of Commerce, in conjunction with Penn State Extension, is presenting HOME FOOD PRESERVATION: WILD GAME from 6-8 PM at Awakening Alliance Church. This series will provide you with the scientific background, preparation tips, and safe processing methods to preserve food at home, especially when it comes to preserving the fruits of your hunt. The cost is $5/person. Get more information and register now. — 📍16195 Boot Jack Hill, Ridgway 

👻👟Today is the last day to register for the Trick or Trail 12K/6K Run or the 2-Mile Spooky Walk. The event — which is a fundraiser to add more trails to the Laurel Mill Ski Trails and to keep them open — will take place on October 20 at 1 PM. The cost is $30. You can register here.

SATURDAY (10/12)

🏫 Germany may have Oktoberfest, but do they have ELKtoberfest? No? Didn’t think so. Benezette does, though, and you should go (hey, that all rhymes). It’s hosted by the Benezette School Committee and it’s happening between 10 AM-4 PM.

• 🍂 40 vendors

• 🎶 Live music (see “LIVE MUSIC”, below)

• 🍲 A special menu with homemade chili, homemade chicken noodle soup, smoked pork sandwiches, hot dogs and brownies.

• 🚛 Food Trucks: Hot Coffee, Cotton Candy and Ice Cream

All proceeds from this event will go towards a continued effort to restore the town’s beloved 100+ year old school house. — 📍Benezette School Grounds

🏞️ Learn more about hunting elk in Pennsylvania at the Elk Country Visitor Center at 2 PM. Information about the application process, regulations, zones, seasons, equipment, tips and tactics will be covered. FREE. —📍950 Winslow Hill Road, Benezette

🇺🇸 The American Legion Riders (Chapter 103) are holding a benefit at the St. Marys Knights of Columbus from 5-9 PM.

There will be:

• 🍕🥤Unlimited pizza, wings and refreshments

• 🎟️ 50/50 and Raffle Baskets

• 🎤 Live music by Freedom - Day of Reckoning

Get a ticket for $25 — while supplies last! — 📍3 Washington Street, St. Marys

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SUNDAY (10/6)

F.O.E. 536 (St. Marys Eagles) | Midnight Revival | 2-6 PM (Member and Guest Event)

Wildwoods Bar & Grill | Darkwater Duo | 4-7 PM

The Summit Lodge & Grill | Garrett Rowan | 4-7 PM

THURSDAY (10/10)

The Brew Bank Brewing Co. | JB Unplugged | 6-9 PM

FRIDAY (10/11)

The Dented Keg Taproom | John Michalowski | 6-7 PM

Gunners | Dan Weyant | 7-10 PM

Ridgway Elks | Billy Mac | 7-10 PM

The Summit Lodge & Grill | Karaoke | 7-11 PM

Casalis (Dining Room) | Nook and the Animals | 8 PM

SATURDAY (10/12)

Elktoberfest @ Benezette School | Eric Koval | 12-2 PM

The Winery at Wilcox | Jim Ronan | 2-5 PM

Medix Hotel | Karaoke with Missy C.| 8-11 PM

F.O.E. 536 (St. Marys Eagles) | Hellbent | 9 PM - 1 AM (Member and Guest Event)

🚴🔧 Jason Armagost of Mudbear’s Bikes and Boards will be teaching simple BIKE REPAIRS at the St. Marys Public Library on Wednesday, October 9 from 3:30-4:30 PM. This event is geared more towards middle school kids, but all ages are welcome to attend. FREE. — 📍127 Center Street, St. Marys

📖🌿 I mentioned this event to you last week, but the day is finally here: There will be an unveiling of the Ridgway Public Library Story Walk on October 12 at 11 AM and you are invited to take part with your family. An interactive experience, it will be a permanent installation featuring 18 stops all within the first mile of the Clarion-Little Toby Creek Trail. Each family in attendance will receive a free book. The event will also include a Family Story Time where children will walk and hear their first story —“Tidy” by Emily Gravett — and then make nature journals to help commemorate the event. — 📍First Mile of Clarion-Little Toby Creek Trail

THANKS!

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_{Disclaimer: Please verify event details with the respective establishments before attending, as schedules may change and events listed may have updates. The information provided is gathered in advance, and we do not confirm the status of events before publishing.}

_{If you know of any upcoming events or live music that is happening in Elk County and would like to see them featured in What’s Up Elk, please reply to this email with the information.}