Tourism Spotlight
The first few months of 2023 have been busy with the KCAC hosting several sporting events such as IUP Basketball, the NCAA Division II Atlantic Region Championships, Keystone State Wrestling Championships, PA State Baton Twirling along with live entertainment and shows. These events have brought thousands of visitors to Indiana County who in turn contribute significantly to our local economy.
The spring months promise to be just as busy with the return of familiar events including the annual Smicksburg Spring Open House, 20th Annual Family Fun Fest and Indiana-Armstrong Builders Association Home Show all this past March. The KCAC hosted the PA State Taxidermy & Wildlife Art Competition Outdoor Sportsman Show on April 1 and live entertainment from Simply Queen on April 14. Downtown Indiana hosts the Easter Bunny Trail on April 1, Third Thursday April 20 and the Arts Walk on April 22. Friends of White’s Woods are hosting a Walk to Whites Woods event on April 22. May will be here before we know it and so will IUP’s Commencement ceremony May 5 and the May Mart Garden & Vendor Expo May 19 & 20. Be sure to stop by the Jimmy Stewart Museum May 20 to help celebrate Jimmy Stewart’s birthday anniversary and you won’t want to miss the annual Delaney Chevrolet Westsylvania Jazz & Blues Festival on May 27, 2023. For a complete listing of area events; https://www.visitindianacountypa.org/indiana-county-events/
ICTB will soon be releasing a new edition of our Seasonal Events Brochure featuring upcoming events for May, June & July 2023. ICTB has received a tremendous response from this new approach to promote our members’ upcoming events. ICTB members are encouraged to continue to submit their events throughout the year.
May 7-13, 2023, marks the 40th anniversary of National Travel & Tourism Week (NTTW). NTTW is an annual industry tradition celebrating the value travel holds for our economy, businesses, personal well-being and more. This year’s theme is Travel Forward and we invite you to join us as we keep moving #TravelForward. We will share more details closer to the date.
The Indiana County Tourist Bureau is pleased to be celebrating our 60th Anniversary in 2023! A special Diamond Jubilee event is planned for June 8, at the Jimmy Stewart Airport. This will be an evening for tourist bureau members and guests to enjoy and reminisce about the history, revel in the present and dream of what the future holds for the residents of and visitors to Indiana County. ICTB members can expect invitations to arrive soon for this exciting celebration.
The Indiana County Tourist Bureau team is pleased to have IUP student intern Carolyn Mankey, Hospitality Management major/Sustainability Studies minor, working with us for the 2023 spring semester. Carolyn has embraced a variety of responsibilities over the past couple months including assisting with social media, visitor inquiries and membership management. Chief among her accomplishments are how she has embraced the office environment, her time management skills, and communication among co-workers and tourist bureau members. It has been a pleasure to have Carolyn in the Tourist Bureau office and we have no doubt that she will be successful in her future endeavors.