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Indiana County, Pennsylvania is located in the foothills of the Allegheny Mountains -just one hour east of Pittsburgh and has several unique attractions and entities that make it a very desirable travel destination.

Indiana County is home to: 64 miles of Rails to Trails and more than 15 miles of single track mountain biking, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, a robust Agritourism industry, old order Amish families, and a wealth of history ranging from the French and Indian War to our own hometown hero, Jimmy Stewart.


Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Saltsburg Canal Days 2012

The 31st Annual Saltsburg Canal Days Festival was held June 1st through June 3rd this year!

Festivities for the fun-filled weekend included a wide range of activities - from a parade, music and food to crafters, live entertainment and fireworks!

Upon entering the festival area, I found the signs below indicating the connection of Saltsburg Canal Park to the PA Main Line Canal from 1829-1864 and the history of Saltsburg.




While waiting for the parade to start on Saturday morning, I headed down to the river.  You could tell that some intense rains had hit the area the day before through the elevated water levels and the muddy appearance of the river!




Look at the easy access into the river for those interested in taking a canoe and/or kayak trip!


Since I still had a few minutes before the parade kicked off at noon, I headed to the rear of the Stone House Museum to see the Herb Society's display.  They were selling perennials, herbs, annuals, roses, brunnera, globe thistle, climbing spinach, stepping stones, homemade breads and assorted garden items.





Next up, it was time to grab a Fried Dough Sandwich from the Saltsburg Volunteer Fire Department to enjoy while watching the parade.   I must say, that of all the food I've eaten over the years at various fairs and festivals, this sandwich was truly one of the best I've ever had!  I opted for the "traditional" salami version of the sandwich versus the "new" ham version that they now make, too - though the ham looked great too! Anybody out there know where else the Volunteer Fire Department sells their sandwiches during the year - if so, leave a comment - we'd love to know!  They are awesome!


Finally, it was time for the parade to begin!  The parade featured area bands, cheerleaders, emergency response vehicles - firetrucks and ambulances, plus many more other groups!












At the conclusion of the parade, spectators made their way back to Canal Park for the festival!











Also occurring nearby, those participating in a sojourn were getting their kayaks and canoes ready to launch into the river! 










The West Penn Trail runs parallel to the river in this part of Saltsburg so my family and I decided to capitalize on this beautiful weather and take a short hike down the trail!  Below are photos from the very beginning of our hike!




Here you can see an example of the many placards that line the trail with interesting tidbits of information for hikers to enjoy along their travels.


Before heading home, we had to stop and take a photograph of the John T. Crawford Camp #43 Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War Department of Pennsylvania. Throughout the entire weekend, these re-enactors and re-enactors from the Carpenter's Battery were present.  Spectators could visit their camps to see how Civil War soldiers lived.




Additional entertainment and activities throughout the three day festival included:  Tours of the Stone House Museum, Loyal Hannah's Guild Quilt Show, Flag Retiring Ceremony, Karaoke Contests, Clowns and a Duck Race.

Next year, during the first weekend in June, be sure to plan to stop by the Canal Days Festival for a great time! We hope to see you there!

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