Tyrone residents won’t have a problem finding something to do this weekend. With Railfest, Harvestfest and the Autumn in the Alleghenies celebration, individuals should be able to find something to satisfy their appetite.
In conjunction with Railfest 2005, Tyrone will host Autumn in the Alleghenies today from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Individuals participating in Railfest will be traveling by train to Tyrone and other areas throughout the day. Passengers will arrive in town on Saturday at 9 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Then on Sunday, the train will unload at 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., allowing time for passengers to visit area merchants and vendors.
Greeting the passengers will be Mayor Pat Stoner, Jim Kilmartin, Borough Manager Sharon Dannaway, Nancy Kilmartin and Pastor Norman Huff.
Throughout the weekend, there are many special treats planned for residents and visitors. There will be area merchant sales and vendors with food, drinks, candy and baked goods. Also, candles, videos, apparel, crafts, jewelry and assorted items will be available. A brochure of the area merchants and vendors will be distributed to Railfest passengers to help guide individuals through Tyrone.
The Schoch Hollow Band will provide entertainment for the whole family on Saturday at City Hotel Park. Then on Sunday, The Sharp Tones will perform.
Free massages will be available at Rhonda’s Retreat. While there, individuals will also have the opportunity to buy a chance to win the gift basket sponsored by the Tyrone Merchants Association. Chances are $1. The basket has been on display at several area businesses including Joybeans and Silverscreen Video. The drawing for the gift basket will be held at the next Merchants meeting on Tuesday, September 27.
Commemorative Autumn in the Alleghenies T-shirts are available for $10 at the Tyrone Area Chamber of Commerce and local businesses.
The Tyrone Area Historical Society has put together a special exhibit to feature during the Railfest weekend.
The Tyrone Historical Museum will feature exhibits pertaining to the important role Tyrone played in the railroad industry. The historical society will also be offering a selfguided walking tour of Tyrone.
The historical society offers special exhibits of the Walter Main Circus Wreck, and there are photos and interpretation of the event and artifacts excavated from the wreck site. Susie O’Brien will be on site to answer questions.
There will also be a Civil War exhibit featuring the Colonel Train and special trolley exhibit. Items concerning Colonel James E Crowther, “The Colonel from Tyrone” will be on display. Bob Hileman, Jr. And wife Carol will be dressed in attire to answer questions about the Crowther family and its contribution to the Tyrone community. Admission to the museum is free.
Gardners Candy will offer free tours of the downtown candy museum on Saturday and Sunday. Also, Logan Avenue will be closed between 11th and 12th Streets for an Antique Car Show. Admission to both events is free.
For individuals who enjoy art, two Altoona museums will exhibit photographs and paintings depicting Pennsylvania landscapes, including the Tyrone area.
The Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art, 1210 11th Avenue, Altoona, will have a selection of photographs by William H. Rau, the official photographer of the Pennsylvania Railroad on display. This year’s Rau exhibit “Misty Mountain” will focus on Rau’s photographs of the Pennsylvania landscape. Landscape paintings will also be a part of the 2005 Rau exhibit, and catalogs of the entire Rau collection will be available for visitors to view as well. There is no admission fee but donations are accepted.
Also, the Servello Gallery of Art, 1302 11th Avenue, Altoona, will display “Town and Country”, an art exhibit gallery and paintings of the towns and countryside surrounding Altoona. Some of the towns included are: Hollidaysburg, Tyrone, Roaring Spring, Martinsburg, Bellwood, and Loretto. Admission Fee: None, but works can be purchased.
Harvestfest will also be held this weekend at DelGrosso\’s Amusement Park in Tipton. Enjoy a day of ethnic food, crafts, a farmer\’s market, entertainment and much more. Admission is $4 and includes all-day rides. Kids under three-years-old are admitted for free.
