Crawford County Convention & Visitors Bureau

06/13/2026

We love telling this story.

In 1860, a famed German-born balloonist named Professor John Steiner was staying at the Crawford House, a hotel in Meadville run by a man named Samuel Thurston. Steiner's stories of flight captivated Samuel so completely that the Professor agreed to train him, and Samuel acquired a balloon of his own.

His neighbors thought he'd lost his mind. Over the next 25 years, he proved them wrong 215 times—every ascension free of charge, at fairs, exhibitions, and Fourth of July celebrations across the region.

His son Alic, born a year after Samuel's first flight, followed his father into the sky. Alic's very first public launch in 1891 snagged on Meadville's brand-new streetlight wiring and never left the ground. He kept going. He built his own balloons, including one he called the "Meadville" — 576 yards of muslin, 64 feet tall. He once flew 180 miles to a forest near Emporium and had to take the train home. And on at least one occasion, he launched a balloon from the roof of the Meadville Market House—the same building still standing downtown today.

In 1988, during Meadville's bicentennial, a group of local volunteers decided the Thurston name deserved more than a footnote. They launched the Thurston Classic, tied it to Father's Day weekend, and it's been here every year since.

This Thursday night, the 36th edition opens with the Night Glow on the Allegheny College fields. It's one of our proudest traditions, and the kind of story that reminds us why this county means so much to the people who know it.

🔗 visitcrawford.org/the-thurston-classic-meadvilles-historic-hot-air-balloon-festival/

06/11/2026

One week from tonight, the 36th Thurston Classic Hot Air Balloon Rally opens at the Allegheny College Robertson Athletic Complex, and we. can't. wait.

If you've never been, here's what to expect: Thursday evening kicks off with the Joyce Stevens Memorial Night Glow, where balloons inflate and stay tethered on the field, glowing against the night sky. It's one of the most beautiful things we get to witness in this county, and we've been lucky enough to support it every year.

Friday and Saturday evenings bring competitive balloon launches from the field. Saturday and Sunday mornings at 6 AM, pilots fly in from miles away and try to drop a bean bag onto a ground target from their baskets It's a sight worth waking up for, and the early risers who come out never regret it.

This year's featured special shape balloon is the American Rocket, built to celebrate America's 250th birthday—a red, white, and blue wraparound flag design with "USA" down the side. What a way to celebrate a birthday.

Admission is free. It has been every year since 1988. Bring lawn chairs, come early for parking, and plan to stay a while. Food, souvenirs, and live commentary are all on site.

📍 Allegheny College Robertson Athletic Complex, 204 Park Ave, Meadville
🔗 visitcrawford.org/events/36th-thurston-classic-hot-air-balloon-rally/
Photo Credit: James Swan

06/09/2026

One of our favorite things to tell people: Pennsylvania's largest natural lake is right here in Crawford County. 🛶

Conneaut Lake is open for the season, and if your family loves the water, this is the kind of place that turns a Saturday into a memory. Swim off the shore, rent a pontoon for the afternoon, bring your own kayaks or paddleboards, or climb aboard the Barbara J. Sternwheeler for a cruise around the lake.

The public access is easy, the pace is relaxed, and on a warm June afternoon there's honestly nowhere else we'd rather be. Pack a cooler and a picnic, or stop for a bite at Rising River Brewing - Lakeside.

If you want to stretch it into an overnight, Hotel Conneaut sits right on the water, and there are lakeside cabins and cottage rentals in the area that book up fast once summer gets going—so plan ahead.

🔗 visitcrawford.org/discover-crawford/the-great-outdoors/
Photo Credit: Katie Wickert

06/06/2026

The first primary election in American history? That started here.

The second city in the world to light its streets with electricity—right after New York City? Also here.

The largest producer of 3D visual media before film or television even existed? Yep. Here too.

Crawford County, PA has been quietly shaping the American story for over 250 years—from democratic reform and frontier journalism to immersive technology most people have never heard of.

Our latest blog covers 12 innovations that prove this region was a testing ground for ideas long before anyone coined the term "Silicon Valley."
Read the full story: visitcrawford.org/before-silicon-valley-the-crawford-county-innovations-that-influenced-america/

06/06/2026

Did you know two of Pennsylvania's top lake vacation spots are right here in Crawford County? ☀️

VisitPA just dropped their guide to the best lake getaways across the state, and Conneaut Lake (PA's largest natural lake!) and Canadohta Lake both made the list.

Whether you're looking for a low-key weekend on the water, a family-friendly escape with fishing and bonfires, or a chance to unplug and slow down lakeside—Crawford County has you covered. Pair your lake days with a visit to the Drake Well Museum, explore charming small towns nearby, or just settle into a cottage and let the water do the rest.

Your summer lake story starts here 👇
🔗 https://loom.ly/F7W849Y
Plan the rest of your Crawford County trip: visitcrawford.org
📸 by Katie Wickert at Conneaut Lake

06/04/2026

Proud to be a part of the beautiful Pennsylvania's Great Lakes Region! ☀️

Did you know they have their own page where they highlight events & destinations across the Western PA region? Give them a follow!

Summer is officially here in Pennsylvania's Great Lakes Region, and all four counties are ready for you. 🌞

Whether you're planning a weekend road trip or a full week away, there's no shortage of new reasons to explore Erie, Crawford, Mercer, and Venango Counties this season. Here's a taste of what's waiting for you:

🎢 Erie County Waldameer & Water World is back for 2026 with major additions — two brand-new five-person raft slides (Presque Isle Plunge and Big Water Bend) plus a reimagined endless river called Winding Waters are all set to debut this month. The fan-favorite Paratrooper ride also returns with a fresh new look next to Steel Dragon. Beyond the park, LEAF's Open Market at Frontier Park kicks off its biweekly Saturday run starting June 13, and the UPMC Sunset Music Series brings live bands back to Beach 1 at Presque Isle State Park on Wednesday evenings through June and July.

🎈 Crawford County Mark your calendars for the 36th Annual Thurston Classic Hot Air Balloon Rally, June 18–21 at Allegheny College in Meadville. This free event fills the skies with color and draws thousands every Father's Day weekend. Meanwhile, Conneaut Lake and Pymatuning State Park are fully open for boating, fishing, and beach days — and the breweries along the Lake Erie Ale Trail are pouring for the season.

🍓 Mercer County Grove City's beloved Strawberry Days Festival returns June 12–14 at Memorial Park. Expect strawberry shortcake, over 100 craft vendors, live music, and free kids' activities in the Shortcake Patch. And golfers take note: Mercer County's lineup of 10+ courses — including Tam O'Shanter, Spring Valley Golf & Lodge, and Avalon at Buhl Park — are all in peak season. The Wine & Brew Trail is open for group tastings and tours, too.

⛽ Venango County Both Franklin Farmers & Curb Market and Oil City Curb Market open for the season starting in June. Looking for an event when the sun goes down? Head to Oil City Night Market (June 18) for local artisans, food trucks, live music, and more. Bring Dad out to the Franklin Blues & Barbecue Festival over Father’s Day weekend for the region’s best barbecue and two days of FREE incredible blues music.

Start planning your summer in PA's Great Lakes Region at pagreatlakes.com

06/04/2026

Come enjoy this FREE jazz concert! Hosted by the French Creek Arts Collective 🎷

Join us for another fabulous evening of music with Freshwater Jazz Project on June 20th from 7-9pm.

Bring your favorite food and beverages to enjoy.

This event is free, thanks to generous sponsorship by the Crawford County Convention & Visitors Bureau !

06/04/2026

Downtown Meadville keeps a rhythm all summer long. Depending on which weekend you visit, here's what's waiting for you:

First Fridays: shops along Chestnut Street stay open late. Stores for books, pets, flowers, apparel and more. Walk Diamond Park. Have a bite to eat at Julian's Bar & Grill-Meadville, PA or Firehouse Tap & Grille, grab dessert at Grammy Stephie’s Bakery or Cup n' Spoon (or both, we definitely don't judge). Support your favorite small businesses. Participate in themed First Fridays—like this month's History Mystery 250 Outdoor Escape Room.

Saturdays: head to the Meadville Market House for the weekly Farmers' Market. This building has been running since 1870—the oldest continuously operating market house in Pennsylvania. Local produce, eggs, meat, home-baked goods, and artisan crafts from the same vendors who show up week after week because this is their livelihood, not a side hustle. While you're there, the new Market House Eatery (run by the team behind The Titusville Mill) is serving breakfast bites and handcrafted coffees out of the restaurant space. Sit down, eat, and take your time.

Second Saturday: the Second Saturday Community Market fills Chestnut Street from 9 AM to 2 PM. Everything sold is local—handmade, homemade, or homegrown. No exceptions. It overlaps with the Farmers Market, so you can do both in one lap of downtown. Second Saturday Night Live is starting its summer series at The Arc Community Greenspace. Free outdoor concert, different act every month, bring a lawn chair. The Greenspace itself is worth a look—a vacant downtown lot that the community transformed into an inclusive, art-filled public space with native plantings and solar installations. It won a statewide planning award in 2023. The music starts, the sun goes down, and you're sitting in the middle of a town that's doing the work to stay interesting.

📍 Downtown Meadville
🔗 visitcrawford.org/regions/meadville/

06/01/2026

June is here, and it's the perfect time to explore all that Crawford County has to offer.

French Creek is running at a perfect paddle level. The wildflowers along Ernst Trail are peaking. Patio season at the breweries is in full swing—and in two and a half weeks, 30+ hot air balloons take over the sky above Meadville for the Thurston Classic.

Crawford County doesn't do crowded boardwalks or $25 parking. What it does is five glacial lakes, 46 miles of trail, a brewery in a reconstructed 1800s barn, and a spillway where the fish are so thick the ducks walk on top of them.

June is the month to come find out for yourself.
Pictured: Patio Season at Riverside Brewing Company
A serene paddle down French Creek
Feeding the fish & ducks at the spillway
Thurston Classic (credit: James Swan)
🔗 visitcrawford.org/events-calendar