Photograph courtesy of Faranda's Farm

Family fun in the outdoors is not only for the summertime. Even with our quickly cooling temperatures, there is still fun to be had before the snow starts to fall and drives us indoors. And if you’re looking for somewhere to enjoy the fall weather and the harvest season, Faranda’s Farm in Hollsopple is a great destination.

Faranda’s Farm is a working pumpkin farm that specializes in agriculture education and tourism. With an annual Harvest Festival that continues during every weekend through October, there is something for all ages. The festival features duck races, llamas, hayrides, refreshments, and of course – the corn maze.

“We have all sorts of activities going on here,” said Phil Faranda, owner of Faranda Farm. “We There are have interactive things for the whole family. It’s a place where you come and spend hours here.”

The theme of the 2010 corn maze is Breast Cancer Awareness, with awareness ribbons worked cleverly into the design of the maze. A portion of the proceeds from the maze will be donated to the Joyce Murtha Breast Care Center. On certain nights in mid-to-late October, the maze is open late for “Flashlight Nites,” which also involves nighttime hayrides and fire ring barnyard activities outside the maze.

Another popular installation on the farm is the hay fort, which shows no age bias when it comes to its ability to entertain. “I have as many adults as kids in the hay fort,” said Mr. Faranda.

The Faranda’s Farm Harvest Festival and corn maze are open to the public Friday-Sunday through October 31, with weekdays being reserved for private parties, scout troops, and school field trips. The farm and corn maze are also open to the public on Monday, October 11 for a Columbus Day celebration.

Click here for a map to Faranda’s Farm, which is located at 1171 Penn Ave Hollsopple, PA.

Learn more by visiting their website: www.farandafarm.net.

The structure that formerly held St. George’s Serbian Orthodox Church is being transformed into a facility that is part gallery, part performance space, part education center. “We wanted to find a way to repurpose this magnificent structure,” says Adam. “The goal is to bring it back to the public.”

VOMA is more than a unique venue—it’s a part of the community. While primarily an art structure, the central theme is education and appreciation of the arts. Efforts are still underway, but the plans are firmly in place and will roll out over the course of the coming year. This includes a fine art gallery and exhibition areas for both music and performance art.

Keeping focused on education, VOMA will be presenting lecture series on pottery, fine art, music and even cooking. Adam says these classes “will provide an opportunity for local artists to speak to the public on their craft and their approach.”

On Saturday, February 6^th, 2010 the public will have the opportunity to support this cause by attending “V.O.M.A. Dawning”, a fundraising event held at Ace’s on Chestnut Street, Johnstown, PA (click here for a map) that will feature an evening of live jazz music, a silent auction and more. Complete details are available on the VOMA blog (see below for URL).

Official online presences for VOMA include:

• Web site
• Blog
• Facebook

Artists interested in learning more about the venue should contact VOMA by calling (814) 410-2245 or by emailing voma.arts (-at-) yahoo.com.

The Venue of Merging Arts is located at 307 Chestnut Street, Johnstown, PA (click here for a map).

Photograph courtesy of the Johnstown Area Heritage Association

When it comes to things to do in the Johnstown area, few attractions can match up to what the Heritage Discovery Center has to offer. The facility, located on Broad Street in the City’s West End, houses interactive exhibits, galleries, a café and a social club. Just in time for summer the Johnstown Area Heritage Association (JAHA) has unveiled two new exhibitions—The Johnstown Children’s Museum and “The Mystery of Steel”, a short film providing insight into the role of the city of Johnstown in the steel making industry.

As it’s the jewel in your own backyard that is frequently overlooked for no other reason than its close proximity, the Heritage Discovery Center is holding a free preview of the new facilities.

On Sunday, June 14th a Grand Opening celebration will be held from 1:00PM to 5:00PM. The Heritage Discovery Center will be open to the public to tour the building and get a brief look at the facility’s new offerings, which include:

• Johnstown Children’s Museum
• Iron and Steel Gallery
• Johnstown Discovery Network
• “Made in Johnstown” exhibit
• “Growing Up in Johnstown—1860-1960” exhibit
• Education Center
• Galliker’s Café

Children’s Museum

The Johnstown Children’s Museum is a long-awaited attraction geared towards children that focuses on the region’s heritage, community  and geography. “What makes the Children’s Museum unique from other museums is that our overall theme is an actual place—the City of Johnstown,” says Shelley Johannson, Director of Marketing and Communication for the Johnstown Area Heritage Association.

A special feature of the museum is the Inclimber – an installation formed in the shape of Johnstown’s Yoder Hill. Children will be outfitted with a lighted hardhat and sent off to explore mine tunnels filled with surprises. The exterior of the Inclimber features a replica of world-famous Inclined Plane, while inside children can use a slide to travel the length of the installation.

“The Mystery of Steel”

The Iron and Steel gallery pays homage to the industry that historically symbolized Johnstown. At the hub of this three-story gallery is a theatre for the showing of “The Mystery of Steel”, a short film on the Johnstown steel industry comprised of historic photography, reenactment scenes and footage shot at the Johnstown Bethlehem mills in the early 1990s.

Beginning Monday, June 15th, 2009, the Johnstown Children’s Museum and “Mystery of Steel” will be open for regular business.

There is much more information on the Heritage Discovery Center at the JAHA Web site (www.jaha.org/DiscoveryCenter/).

Keeping up to date with the Heritage Discovery Center couldn’t be easier. You can subscribe to their email newsletter (click here to register) and receive updates on Facebook (click here to become a fan).

The Heritage Discovery Center is located at 201 6th Avenue, Johnstown (click here for a map).