Fall foliage festivals celebrate the onset of autumn, beauty of changing leaves
- by Kristin Lewis
- September 21, 2019
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Fall leaf peeping is a fun pastime for people living in or traveling throughout the Pennsylvania Wilds in early fall, with residents and visitors alike jumping in the car for a scenic journey along back roads through the forests.
Several communities throughout the region have found special ways to mark the annual occasion.
Two of the largest events include the Autumn Leaf Festival in Clarion and the Flaming Foliage Festival in Renovo.
AUTUMN LEAF FESTIVAL
This year marks the 66th Annual Allegheny Toyota Autumn Leaf Festival in Clarion, where the community comes together and invites hundreds of thousands of guests to come celebrate with them!
The festival, put on by the Clarion Area Chamber of Business & Industry, will kick off on Saturday, September 28, and will run through Sunday, October 6 this year.
The nine-day festival has won international awards and is known to swell the community of about 5,300 people to roughly half a million each fall.
Events and activities include carnival rides and amusements, the Miss Junior Teen and Miss Teen Autumn Leaf Festival Scholarship Program, the Autorama Cruise-In, and the Tournament of Leaves Parade, among other festivities.
Check out the schedule of events here.
Located near the I-80 Frontier and Cook Forest & the Ancients landscapes of the Pennsylvania Wilds, the event provides ample opportunities for visitors to explore nearby natural assets, such as the Clarion River (one of two National Wild & Scenic Rivers of the region and also 2019 River of the Year), Cook Forest State Park, Clear Creek State Park, and more!
FLAMING FOLIAGE FESTIVAL
The Pennsylvania State Flaming Foliage Festival will celebrate its 71st anniversary this year.
The Flaming Foliage Festival will kick off on Friday, October 11 and will run through Sunday, October 13. Every year the festival includes the crowning of a queen, a parade, crafts and vendors, and much more!
The only fall festival so designated by the state legislature, this three-day event swells the small Susquehanna River town of Renovo, Clinton County, from a population of 1,200 to an estimated 30,000 people.
The Flaming Foliage Festival attracts queen contestants who compete for scholarships from nearly 30 high schools in the PA Wilds counties of Clinton, Lycoming, Centre, Potter, Tioga, Cameron, McKean, and Elk…and beyond. This event draws visitors to its large arts and crafts festival and parade, and it offers opportunities to explore nearby natural assets for scenic fall leaf views and outdoor recreation.
An all-volunteer effort, the community of Renovo comes together for a well-organized, time-honored tradition, full of small-town charm and hospitality that’s embraced by newcomers and those who come back year after year.
For more information, click here.
Located near the Dark Skies and Elk Country landscapes of the Pennsylvania Wilds, the event provides ample opportunities for visitors to explore nearby natural assets, such as the renowned vista at Hyner View State Park, picturesque drives on the Bucktail Scenic Byway and Elk Scenic Drive, and more!
KNOW OF OTHER PA WILDS FALL FOLIAGE CELEBRATIONS?
Let us know in the comments!
In the meantime, check out these fall leaf peeping road trip ideas and tips!
