Hello neighbors! By now you know that beast predicted six more weeks of winter weather. However, do not let that get you down. There are amazing things happening in the Susquehanna River Valley in February.
Music lovers will be thrilled with the wide variety of music offered. The Williamsport Symphony Orchestra celebrates classical ballet music with an "Invitation to Dance" Tuesday, and embraces "Mostly Mozart" Feb. 26. The Williamsport Community Art Center hosts the Uptown Music Collective Saturday, with proceeds going to the Wounded Warrior Project, which helps wounded warriors and their families.
Puirseil's Irish Pub in Lewisburg offers live jazz every Wednesday and the Celtic music of Lux Bridge every Friday evening. There are two unique Valentine dinner buffet concerts Saturday. The Front Street Station will feature the legendary Blue Notes for their annual "Best of the Oldies" show, and the Country Cupboard hosts "True Heart Quartet" in the Colonel John Kelly room. Care to croon your tunes with local musicians while enjoying your favorite beverage? Then grab that instrument and BYOB (21 and over) and head to the Post & Lintel in Selinsgrove on the first and third Saturdays of every month.
Dance lovers can enjoy many options. Bucknell University's Weis Center presents choreographer Bill T. Jones' "Body against Body" Saturday and showcases a free performance of Shelley Oliver Tap Dancers with the David Leonhardt Jazz Trio on Feb. 18. If you're feeling the need to get your dance on, head to the Donald Heiter Community Center in Lewisburg Saturday for a Contra Dance (rooted in Irish, English and Scottish jigs, reels and waltzes), or head to the Frosty Valley Country Club in Danville on Feb. 11 to attend the Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble's annual fundraising event, "Dance Your Heart Out."
Theater lovers will not want to miss the Valley Players dinner theater production of "Roses in December," today through Feb. 18 at the Packer House in Sunbury or the Walnut Street Theatre's production of the Tony-award winning play "Proof" at Bucknell's Weis Performing Arts Center on Feb. 24.
Food lovers won't want to miss "Buy one entrée and get the second half off" every Wednesday at the Temperance House in Lewisburg, Thursday's all-you-can-eat fish and chips night at Purseil's Irish Pub in Lewisburg, or the Front Street Station's Tuesday and Thursday pasta night which includes a complimentary glass of wine. Speaking of wine, the Inn at New Berlin offers half-price wine night every Wednesday, and the Susquehanna Heartland Wine Trail will host their popular Good Taste and Adventure wine trail event throughout the entire month of March. Ticket owners will enjoy food and wine-tasting and music throughout the wine trail that includes Hunters Valley Winery, Spyglass Ridge Winery and Shade Mountain Winery.
Outdoor adventures include R.B. Winter State Park's Snowfest Sunday, featuring a variety of winter activities - 3 1/2-mile trail race, snow volleyball, broomball, an ice sculpture demonstration, kid activities, and more. Bird enthusiasts will enjoy R.B. Winter's 14th Annual Great Backyard Bird Count on Feb. 17. Other flying creatures are showcased during Batfest at Lincoln Caverns (which are a comfy 52 degrees in winter) Saturday. PPL Montour Preserve will host their maple-sugaring program Feb. 25 and March 4. It includes a trek to the sugar shack for a more hands-on experience.
Unfortunately, I'm running out of space. Go to our website for more details on these events: university art exhibits; Ned Smith Center exhibits and programs that include a screening and live score of Buster Keaton's silent film classic "The General"; Bucknell's amazing series (February through April which includes a trip to Monticello) about the relationship between Sally Hemings and Thomas Jefferson; Black History Month programs and education; Pastel Passions workshop at Brushstrokes in Lewisburg; Colonial Candlecrafters' 40th anniversary celebration; open house and garden celebration at Country Farm and Home; inspiring children's workshops and classes at the Children Museum in Bloomsburg, Packwood Museum's annual attic tag sale, plus so much more!
For complete details, times, prices and information on these and other events in the Susquehanna River Valley, log onto VisitCentralPA; download our mobile app, or call us at 1-800-525-7320. Don't let "cabin fever" get the best of you. February rocks in the Susquehanna River Valley.
(Miller is executive director of the Susquehanna River Valley Visitors Bureau. "Backyard Tourist" is typically published on the first Monday of each month, but was delayed for a week this month.)