Hello neighbors. May is finally here! It's time to get outside to discover, stretch and explore. With the price of gas changing almost daily, local fun and events offer great value and convenience.
As the warmer weather signals the beginning of tourism season, it's time to embrace being a backyard tourist and encourage friends and family to come visit the beautiful Susquehanna River Valley.
For the sixth year, the Susquehanna River Valley Visitors Bureau will be hosting "Backyard Tourism Week" Monday through May 11. Let us be your resource for planning a fun and memorable "staycation" in the Susquehanna River Valley.
During Backyard Tourism Week, stop by our visitors center in Lewisburg to discover a wide variety of inexpensive things to do and enjoy right in your own backyard. We offer brochures, a calendar of events, maps and daytrip suggestions for everyone. You will find information on bird-watching, boating, hiking, camping, zoos and wild animals, golf, museums, historic walking trails, restaurants, spring concerts, music-in-the-parks, festivals, state parks and attractions, antique trails, heritage trails, area wine trails, kid-friendly attractions, plus information on destinations throughout Pennsylvania.
Be sure to check out our new postcards from our photo contest winners that reflect the year-round beauty of the Susquehanna River Valley. And don't forget to register for a variety of prizes.
Between you and me, I'm blown away by how many things there are to do in the area in May. So, please forgive me for not sharing specific dates and times. Simply go to www.VisitCentralPA.org for the calendar of events where you will find all the details you need to have more fun than you have hours in the day.
Ready, set, let's go with things to do in May:
Green thumbs will want to attend workshops and classes, focusing on a variety of floral planters.
Race enthusiasts will want to push their limits in the River Towns Marathon and Half Marathon, the 75 Miles of Montour, or, the Celebrate the Valley 5k walk/run in Selinsgrove.
Outdoor and nature lovers will enjoy farm tours, sheep camp and dinner and music at Owens Farm; spring bird walks or an Audubon field trip; canoe and kayak trips on Buffalo Creek, the West Branch Sojourn, the "Lewisburg Appetizer" guided kayak tour starting at Milton State Park, or the North Branch Canal Cruise, not to mention Memorial Day activities at R.B. Winter State Park, a garden tour of Lewisburg, or Tee to Green Golf Center's activities.
Animal lovers won't want to miss Clyde Peeling's Reptiland's popular annual butterfly exhibit and the return of their amazing animatronic dinosaurs, or the opening of T and D's Cats of the World.
May happenings also include the Middlecreek Valley Antique Association antique show; Mifflinburg's MayFest and Buggy Day; Shamokin's Anthracite Heritage Festival of the Arts; Mount Carmel's Lions Oak Street Festival and Bargains in the Park and Pig Roast; Miton's SpringTIME Celebration, fifth annual cultural festival and Night at the Races Derby Style to benefit the Milton Public Library; Spyglass Ridge Winery's annual blues festival; Hunter Valley Winery's open house and craft fair; New Berlin's community yard sales; the grand opening of Vargo Outdoors on the Buffalo Valley Rail Trail; Grizzly Industrial's annual tool tent sale, or the Jules Artwear Trunk Show at Pepper's Artisan Collective in Selinsgrove.
More fun and events include, dance classes and glass blowing workshop at Post and Lintel in Selinsgrove; colored pencil workshop at Brushstrokes Art Gallery in Lewisburg; summer camps at the Ned Smith Center for Nature and Arts; jazz and Celtic music at Purseil's Irish pub; "Lewisburg Live!" music throughout downtown Lewisburg; Buffalo Valley Singers concerts; "Sesame Street" and "Beauty and the Beast" live at the Community Arts Center, or the high school rodeo state finals at the Beaver Community Fairgrounds in Beaver Springs.
Be sure to get out in May and enjoy all the amazing things to do and discover in the Susquehanna River Valley.
For more information, go to VisitCentralPA.org or call us at 1-800-525-7320.
(Miller is executive director of the Susquehanna River Valley Visitors Bureau.)