Escape to Clarion County this winter, where cozy stays, festive events and peaceful scenery make for the perfect cold-weather getaway.
Cook Forest Gingerbread Tour
November 7-9, 2025
Location: Cook Forest, PA
Shop the forest along this 20-mile corridor between Cook Forest State Park and Brookville, featuring 14 stores & vendors, 4 eateries, and plenty of gifts to buy in preparation for the holiday season. Making a weekend of your shopping tour? Explore the five sponsored lodging partners in the Cook Forest region.
Light Up Nights
November 21, 24, & 29, 2025
Location: Knox, Clarion, & Foxburg, PA
Celebrate the darker days with Light Up Nights across our three Main Streets. Knox’s Light Up Night will be in coordination with their 35th Annual Once Upon a Christmas event, featuring food, games, crafts, and Santa on November 21st.
Illuminate Clarion’s Main Street snowflakes and watch the town come alive with color on November 24th.
Say goodbye to Thanksgiving and hello to the holidays. On November 29th, witness Foxburg light up as a colorful town along the Allegheny. Be part of the ree lighting, Santa meet & greet, rep your ugliest knitwear for Ugly Christmas Sweater party, mulled wine, and gift shopping at the Red Brick Gallery.
Begin the Holidays with Backtrack Vocals
November 23, 2025
Location: Foxburg, PA
This NYC-based a capella group returns to to Lincoln Hall for a festive performance to kickoff the holiday season. Get ready for vocal harmonizing, beat boxing, and dancing!
Music for the Season: Celtic Music Performance with Keridwyn
December 5, 2025
Location: New Bethlehem, PA
Get into the holiday spirit in the picturesque small town of New Bethlehem with Keridwyn, a Celtic & folk music band that pulls from both traditional and modern influences of these genres. A variety of decorated trees will be on display during this performance at the local historical society.
5th Annual Ugly Christmas Sweater Parade
December 6, 2025
Location: Clarion, PA
Pack your ugliest Christmas sweater for a parade on Clarion’s Main Street. At this event, the unfashionable and out-of-vogue is what you’re vying for. Bonus points for tinsel, lights, and the kitschiest of cardigans. Bring your kids to meet Santa after all of the festivities. Closer to southern Clarion County? Check out the New Bethlehem Christmas Parade on the same day.
TAKE3 Christmas – Classical Flair with Rock-Star Charisma!
December 7, 2025
Location: Foxburg, PA
Experience this genre-bending trio mixing pop, classic, and rock together to celebrate Christmas with knock-your-socks-off violin, piano, and cello music that defies expectations.
A Joyous Wurlitzer Christmas with Dave Wickerham
December 14, 2025
Location: Foxburg, PA
Awarded “Organist of the Year,” Wickerham will be playing a wide collection of Christmas music and improvisational arrangements on the McKissick Wurlitzer.
Christmas Bird Count
December 20, 2025
Location: Clarion County, PA
Take part in this national conservation effort with the region’s chapter of the Audubon Society. Reach out to be placed in a driving & hiking group, where you’ll travel an assigned section of the county from dawn until dusk counting and identifying birds.
Let the Trumpets Sound! C Street Brass Christmas
December 7, 2025
Location: Foxburg, PA
Returning from their nationwide tour, C Street Brass returns to Lincoln Hall for a collection of Christmas music to set the tone for the holiday.
First Day Hike
January 1, 2026
Location: Cook Forest State Park, PA
Join the Friends of Cook Forest on this annual hike to usher in the new year held on the Longfellow Trail. As the year resets, take this time to pause, reflect, and walk peacefully amongst the old-growth trees of the Forest Cathedral. Dogs on leashes are welcome to join.
Snowman in the Forest
Date TBD, February 2026
Location: Cook Forest State Park, PA
Celebrate the wintry season in Cook Forest State Park. While it may be cold, this full day of activities will keep you warm, ranging from carriage rides, woodcarving, and snowman building to skating laps on the frozen pond and racing on the sled riding hill. Come hungry for the chili cook-off and bring your happy-go-lucky pups for their “Happy Dog” contest. You may even be visited by Smokey the Bear!
Community Events and Activities
Other than our winter festivals, the community celebrates the coziness of the shorter days through a number of activities and events throughout the county.
Check out our events calendar for all listings.