Planes, trains, automobiles and more: Fun things to do with Dad around Father's Day
Somerset County dads have interests as varied as their names: Some enjoy the outdoors, while others are into airplanes, automobiles, motorcycles and other machinery. There are also dads who are up for a good movie or a nostalgic ride on an antique locomotive with the family.
Because Father's Day is coming up on Sunday, here is a listing of events and activities scheduled in and around Somerset County that can make any day special for Dad.
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Family Outdoor Movie Night
The Somerset Aero Club is sponsoring this free event from 8 to 11 p.m. Saturday at the Somerset County Airport, 159 Airport Lane, Friedens. The movie “How to Train Your Dragon 3” is scheduled to be shown. More information is posted at the club’s Facebook page.
Mountain Movie Night
Laurel Hill State park is sponsoring this free event, scheduled from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. June 24 at Scenic View, 118 Scenic View Lane, Rockwood. Bring camp chairs, blankets and your favorite snacks to watch “The Secret Life of Pets” under the stars. More information is available at https://events.dcnr.pa.gov/event/mountain_movie_night_6343#.YqHo6nbMI2w.
Father's Day Concert
The Somerset County Community Band is to perform a free Father's Day concert at 3 p.m. Sunday on the lawn stage at Laurel Arts, 214 Harrison Ave. in Somerset. Guests are invited to bring along a snack or something to drink and enjoy the performance and a free ice cream sundae, compliments of the band.
World War II Warbird Showcase
This event takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday at the Greater Cumberland Regional Airport, 165 Terminal Loop, Wiley Ford, West Virginia. Capital Wing of the Commemorative Air Force has plans to show several examples of World War II aircraft, including a Fairchild UC-61 Forwarder, a Stinson L-5 Sentinel, a Boeing PT-17 Stearman bi-plane, the TBM Avenger and the B-25 Panchito. There are no parking or entrance fees, but tickets are being sold in advance to ride in these aircraft. Local airplanes and a Maryland State Police medical helicopter are also to be on display. Food is available for purchase on both days. More information is online at capitalwingwarbirdrides.org.
Father’s Day Fly-In Breakfast
The Somerset Aero Club is hosting its 72nd annual Father’s Day Fly-In, Drive-In breakfast and Car Cruise from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday at the Somerset County Airport, 159 Airport Lane, Friedens. Free parking. Event proceeds are to benefit the club’s scholarship fund. Ticket price includes all you can eat breakfast from 8 a.m. to noon. Custom and antique car and bike cruise from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission cost for car cruise participants includes an event T-shirt and a free breakfast. Friedens Boy Scouts are having a chicken barbecue at noon. More information available at Somerset Aero Club’s Facebook page.
Jimmy Stewart Airshow
This event is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily on July 9 and July 10 at the Jimmy Stewart Airport, 398 Airport Road, Indiana. 724-463-3883. Activities include an aircraft display, helicopter rides, aerobatics show and pilot meet-and-greet events, as well as food vendors, kids activities and more. Kids age 12 and under are admitted free. For tickets and a schedule of events, visit jimmystewartairport.com/JSAairshow.
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East Broad Top Railroad
The East Broad Top Railroad is celebrating its 150th anniversary. The railroad is at 411 Meadow St., Rockhill Furnace, and is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday. The telephone number is 814-447-3285. The East Broad Top Railroad offers a one-hour, round trip train ride on the nation’s oldest operating narrow-gauge railroad. Guests can also book a one-hour tour of the railroad’s machine shop and/or a 45-minute vintage electric trolley ride at the Rockhill Trolley Museum. Reservations can be made online, with dates and times available in real time. For more information, visit eastbroadtop.com.
Everett Railroad
The railroad station is at 244 Pullman Drive, Hollidaysburg, and the telephone number is 814-696-3877. The Everett Railroad offers an “Ice Cream Special” round-trip train excursion between Hollidaysburg and Roaring Spring. The 2.5-hour trip includes a one-hour layover at the Roaring Spring depot, where guests receive a scoop of ice cream and can shop for refreshments and souvenirs before making the return trip to Hollidaysburg. Limited dates are available for this train ride and tickets must be purchased online in advance. To buy tickets and get more information, go to everettrailroad.com.
Western Maryland Scenic Railroad
The railroad's Cumberland, Maryland, station is at 13 Canal St., and the telephone number is 301-759-4400. It offers a variety of train excursions, including a round-trip, ice cream train available at either the Cumberland or Frostburg depots. A “Frostburg Flyer” steam-powered train runs between Cumberland and Frostburg on Friday through Sunday, through September. To view the current train schedule and book tickets, visit the website at wmsr.com.
Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad
This railroad is at 149 Eagle Dr., Romney, West Virginia, and the telephone number is 304-424-0736. It offers a 3-hour scenic Trough Trip, a 1½-hour Green Spring Special and other excursions through September, with meal packages available. There are special Father’s Day discounts for new reservations booked on trips from Friday through Sunday. More information is available at potomaceagle.com and at Facebook.com/potomaceagle.
Jennerstown Speedway
Jennerstown Speedway is one of the oldest racing facilities in the country, starting as a small dirt track in the late 1920s. Located at 206 Somerset St., Jennerstown, it offers national-scale racing events and is hosting a NASCAR Advance Auto Parts Weekly Series for the 2022 season. The schedule includes six divisions of racing on Saturday, followed by a concert from The Clarks after the races. Adult advance ticket price includes the races and the concert. Pit gates open at 2:30 p.m., hot laps are from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. and opening ceremonies begin at 5:55 p.m. More information and the link to purchase tickets is posted at jennerstown.org.
Father’s Day Car Show and Cruise-in
This event takes place from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday in downtown Windber, as part of the annual Miner’s Memorial Day Festival from Thursday through Sunday. The festival is sponsored by the Eureka Coal Heritage Foundation. All makes and models of cars and trucks are invited to participate in the car show, with dash plaques given to the first 200 entrants. Live music, a motorcycle show, a basket party, duck race, games and more are planned. The weekend’s full schedule of events can be found at echf.org.
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Lincoln Highway Experience
Located at 3435 State Route 30 East in Latrobe, this museum offers guests a nostalgic trip on U.S. Route 30, aka the Lincoln Highway, during the 1930s and early 1940s. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Saturday and the telephone number is 724-879-4241. Activities include an award-winning 13-minute film, "Through the Windshield; a bicycle trek on the Lincoln Highway across the USA," and displays with lots of neon, a restored tourist cabin, a 1937 Packard auto and vintage gas pumps. Pie and coffee are served in a fully-restored 1938 Serro's Diner, there is "A Penny for your Tots" room for preschoolers and kitschy souvenirs and unique artisan items are sold in its gift shop. Upcoming events also include a car cruise on July 17. More information is available at lhhc.org or Facebook.com/LincolnHighwayExperience.
Mason Dixon Speedway
This dirt track go-kart racetrack is at 10192 Mason Dixon Highway, Salisbury, 814-289-3654. Races are held from 3 to 11 p.m. on Saturdays through October (except for June 25, July 30 and Aug. 27). The current schedule includes a June 18 “Midsummer Night’s Dream” racing program and a July 2 race with fireworks. A food vendor is scheduled weekly. For updates on the race schedule and more information, visit masondixonspeedway.com or Facebook.com/masondixonspeedway.
Somerset County Kartway
This clay oval go-kart track is at the Somerset County Fairgrounds, 7842 Mount Davis Road, Meyersdale, 814-289-1751. Races are held on Saturdays. Pit opens at 2 p.m., hot laps start at 5:30 p.m. and racing starts at 7 p.m. The updated schedule and more information is available at Facebook.com/SCSpeedwaypa.
Thunder in the Valley
The annual motorcycle rally takes place this year from June 23 to June 26 in downtown Johnstown. Vendors, live entertainment, motorcycle manufacturers’ displays and more planned at various locations around the city. The schedule of events and additional information can be found at visitjohnstownpa.com/thunder-valley.
Architecture and Construction
The Laurel Highlands region features several examples of legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s most famous design projects, including Fallingwater in Mill Run. Fallingwater was built in the late 1930s over a waterfall, and it is considered as a prime example of Wright’s “organic architecture” design philosophy, which intentionally combined art with nature. Nearby, Polymath Park in Acme has two additional Wright-designed homes and two homes designed by Wright apprentice Peter Berndston. Tours of Fallingwater and Polymath Park are available by reservation only. For tour dates, prices and more information, visit Fallingwater.org.
Big Mac Museum
In 2007, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Big Mac, the Big Mac Museum was opened inside a working McDonald’s restaurant at 9061 Lincoln Highway, North Huntingdon. This restaurant is approximately 35 miles from where the sandwich was first created and nearly 40 miles from where it was first sold. There is no visitor center or admission cost, but the museum is open whenever the restaurant is open. The restaurant's telephone number is 724-863-9837.
Great American Banana Split Celebration
This is an annual event that celebrates the place where the banana split was invented. This year's celebration takes place Aug. 19-21 at Main and Ligonier streets in Latrobe. Activities include a 5K banana run, live entertainment, a car show, pie-eating contest, children’s activities, food and craft vendors and, of course, banana splits. More information is available at Bananasplitfest.com.
This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Things to do for Father's Day around Somerset County
