An hour’s drive east of Pittsburgh, Indiana County is vibrant with small-town charm and countryside landscapes. Each season reveals new excitement.
Merry Things to Do During the Holidays
The Christmas tree is an icon of the holiday season, but did you know that Indiana County is known as “The Christmas Tree Capital of the World”? When the Yuletide rolls around, bring your family and create everlasting memories with a visit to a local tree farm where you can choose your perfect live Christmas tree.
Another must-do holiday experience is watching “It’s A Wonderful Life,” starring Jimmy Stewart—whose birthplace and childhood home is in Indiana. Visit The Jimmy Stewart Museum, which highlights his Hollywood career, military service, and family life.
During the "It’s A Wonderful Life" Festival & Holiday Parade, view a matinee of the beloved holiday classic in The Jimmy Stewart Museum’s 1920s theater, see the lighting ceremony of a 30-foot live Christmas tree, enjoy children’s activities, and welcome Santa as he arrives to town.
Amish Culture, Artisans, and Agriculture
Experience the local Amish community in the town of Smicksburg, where you’ll see horse-drawn carriages sharing the streets with modern-day vehicles. Explore English-owned specialty shops offering antiques, quilts, pottery, and country crafts.
The hard work and talents of our local agriculture community shine at the Indiana County Fair, Ox Hill Community Fair, and Cookport Fair. Here, you will see animal shows, homesteading competitions, and good old-fashioned fair food and fun. Try seasonal activities such as pumpkin patches, corn mazes, you-pick berry farms, sunflower fields, and haunted trails.
Historical Attractions
In Blairsville, visit the Underground Railroad History Center, housed in the former Second Baptist Church, built in 1917. Here, you’ll learn about important sites, people, and stories when the enslaved fled north to freedom before the Civil War. Nearby, the Historical & Genealogical Society of Indiana County houses fascinating local history as well as rotating exhibits.
At one time, Indiana County was home to more than 48 covered bridges, but today, it still features four original bridges, constructed in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Go on a Covered Bridge Driving Tour to see them all.
Culture, Arts, and Entertainment
If you enjoy live entertainment, check out a show or performance at the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex and the Indiana Theater or a production by the Lively Arts at IUP. Complete your experience with a stop at one of our local breweries, wineries, or our distillery. Take a self-guided walking tour of public art displays or visit a local museum or gallery. Experience a variety of seasonal fairs and community festivals including the Northern Appalachian Folk Festival, Potters Studio Tour, Smicksburg Old-Fashioned Country Christmas, and Saltsburg’s Historic Canal Days.
Outdoor Recreation
See a 45-foot waterfall and gorgeous nature trails at Buttermilk Falls Natural Area—where Fred Rogers, host of the children’s TV show Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, spent much of his childhood, as the property once belonged to his grandfather. Enjoy seasonal fun at Yellow Creek State Park where you can hike, mountain bike, swim, boat, cross-country ski, ice skate, or ice fish. Canoe or kayak downstream through the scenic Kiski-Conemaugh River Valley.
Bike or hike along the area’s trails, including 17-mile West Penn Trail, 10-mile Hoodlebug Trail, 1.7 mile Blairsville Riverfront Trail or the 51-mile Ghost Town Trail, named PA DCNR’s 2020 “Trail of the Year”—all part of the Trans Allegheny Trails network.
Get more trip ideas in the Indiana County Visitor Guide.