Area Events
Threre's so much fun going on at Bear Run Campground, and in the surrounding area too! Check out all there is to do in the local area, and plan your stay at Bear Run so that we can be your base camp for family adventure and memory-making in Western Pennsylvania!
PLEASE NOTE:
Due to COVID-19, Area Events surrounding Bear Run Campground are undergoing a variety of changes or being cancelled. We update this information frequently, but please be aware that this page is subject to change without notice and the events here may not be fully up to date. Thank you!
May 14 & 15: Portersville "Gas Up" Spring Steam Show
1512 Perry Highway ( Rt. 19 North) Portersville, PA 16051
The Steam Show has a large variety of activities for all, including: gas engines, steam engines, tons of tractors, large traction engines, pedal power, steam building and tractor pulls. Sponsored by Northwest PA Steam Engine & Old Equipment Association.
Officially known as the Northwest Pennsylvania Steam Engine and Old Equipment Assn. Inc., our group formed in 1963, around the nostalgia of the steam traction engine, and the threshing process. Our club was built around a single 1911 Case engine, owned by Charles McMurray. This engine is still a prominent feature, now owned and displayed, by the family of the late Wendell Bintrim.
In 1975, after exhibiting at the New Castle and Butler fairs, and at the Lancaster Township community center, the club purchased an abandoned strip mine located in Portersville, Pa. Expansions have increased the show grounds to over 20 acres. We currently host 3 shows annually. The Spring Gas-Up is held on the third weekend in May. Our largest, the Summer Show, is the first full weekend in August. Occurring the first weekend in October, the Fall Apple Festival rounds out our show season.
The Portersville Steam Show provides a large variety of activities for the whole family. A vintage village, saw mill, cider press, gas engines, oil field equipment, farm animals, train rides, steam engines, flea market, crafts, great food, kid’s pedal tractor pulling, tractors, large traction engines, ice cream, tractor pulls, and steam building are some of the features you may enjoy.
May 29: PA Fish for Free Day - No Fishing License Required
State of Pennsylvania
Fish-for-Free Days allow anyone (resident or non-resident) to legally fish on Pennsylvania waterways on the designated days with NO FISHING LICENSE REQUIRED (Trout/Salmon and Lake Erie permits are also NOT required).
Fish-for-Free Days are great ways for families to “catch” the fun of fishing!
June 10-12: 10th Annual Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival
Cooper's Lake 205 Currie Road Slippery Slippery Rock, PA 16057
If there’s a Jeep® in your driveway, it needs to be here! The Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival is a premier annual event that attracts Jeep enthusiasts from all over the world. Join us June 7-9 for the 9th annual Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival in Butler County, PA – birthplace of the Jeep. You’ll meet more than 15,000 people who love Jeeps as much as you do. Off-road trails, Jeep Playground obstacle course, the original Jeep Invasion street party and more will make this the best Jeep® road trip of the year!
Jeep Invasion takes place in downtown Butler. All other Festival activities take place at Coopers Lake Campground in Slippery Rock, PA. Just 5 miles away from Bear Run Campground.
June 17-19: Big Butler Parts A Rama
Butler Fair Grounds 1127 New Castle Rd. Prospect, PA 16052
Pittsburgh’s largest Auto Swap Meet!
July 1–9: Big Butler Fair
1127 New Castle Rd. Prospect, PA 16052
The largest fair in western PA and considered by many to be the best in the country. Families from all over PA, OH, NY and WV come to enjoy fireworks, the midway, games, demolition derbies, concerts and truck pulls. $7-$9. 9 AM-10 PM
July (TBA): PA Fish for Free Day - No Fishing License Required
State of Pennsylvania
Fish-for-Free Days allow anyone (resident or non-resident) to legally fish on Pennsylvania waterways on the designated days with NO FISHING LICENSE REQUIRED (Trout/Salmon and Lake Erie permits are also NOT required).
Fish-for-Free Days are great ways for families to “catch” the fun of fishing!
July 21-23: Horse Trading Days in Zelienople
100 S. Main Street Zelienople, PA 16063
This year’s event showcases crafts, food, games and much more – good wholesome family fun! The Horse Trading Days Committee welcomes you to our region and invites you to return to Zelienople to tour the many historic sites, explore our unique stores, and dine at our fine restaurants and cafes.
The event, celebrated for over 55 years, has grown to one of the largest in the area and welcomes as many as 40,000 guests each year. We encourage you to tour the historic sites, enjoy the free concerts, explore our unique stores, and dine at our fine restaurants and cafes.
Horse Trading Days is an annual event of the Zelienople-Harmony Business Association and is made possible through the support of local residents, businesses, police and fire police, Zelienople Borough, and many more.
How did it all start?
The first Horse Trading Days festival was introduced in 1963 by Ron Roach, Jim Cleaver, Franklin Health and Donald Waltman as a way of promoting the Harmony and Zelienople areas.
August 5-7 : Moraine State Park Regatta
Moraine State Park – South Shore 225 Pleasant Valley Road
The Moraine State Park Regatta (formerly called Regatta at Lake Arthur) is an annual 2-day regional event celebrated on Moraine State Park’s South Shore the first weekend in August.
There is no admission or parking charge and many Regatta events are FREE.
This annual event brings thousands of visitors each year to experience and enjoy the 3,225 acres of Lake Arthur with over 40 miles of scenic shoreline. The Regatta offers land and lake activities along with exciting new opportunities to enjoy the natural resources of the park (with recent years averaging 15,000 – 20,000 visitors).
Our mission is to be the premiere, all-ages, eco-recreational event in the region. While we are nestled in the heart of Butler County, we welcome visitors from across the region and beyond. If you enjoy being active in the great outdoors, then this is a weekend you simply don’t want to miss! We are excited to continue to promote a healthy lifestyle, feature wholesome food options and continue to increase opportunities for you to get out and active at Moraine.
August 4-7 : Portersville Summer Steam Show
1512 Perry Highway ( Rt. 19 North) Portersville, PA 16051
The Steam Show has a large variety of activities for all, including: gas engines, steam engines, tons of tractors, large traction engines, pedal power, steam building and tractor pulls.
Sponsored by Northwest PA Steam Engine & Old Equipment Association.
Officially known as the Northwest Pennsylvania Steam Engine and Old Equipment Assn. Inc., our group formed in 1963, around the nostalgia of the steam traction engine, and the threshing process. Our club was built around a single 1911 Case engine, owned by Charles McMurray. This engine is still a prominent feature, now owned and displayed, by the family of the late Wendell Bintrim.
In 1975, after exhibiting at the New Castle and Butler fairs, and at the Lancaster Township community center, the club purchased an abandoned strip mine located in Portersville, Pa. Expansions have increased the show grounds to over 20 acres. We currently host 3 shows annually. The Spring Gas-Up is held on the third weekend in May. Our largest, the Summer Show, is the first full weekend in August. Occurring the first weekend in October, the Fall Apple Festival rounds out our show season.
The Portersville Steam Show provides a large variety of activities for the whole family. A vintage village, saw mill, cider press, gas engines, oil field equipment, farm animals, train rides, steam engines, flea market, crafts, great food, kid’s pedal tractor pulling, tractors, large traction engines, ice cream, tractor pulls, and steam building are some of the features you may enjoy.
August 15-20: Lawrence County Fair
464 Midway Rd., New Castle PA
Motor-X Gold Cup Racing and Monster Trucks in the grandstand as well as some fan favorites events like the Rodeo and Demolition Derby
Lawrence County Fair will be providing great opportunities for Livestock Breeders, Agricultural Exhibitors, Homemakers and 4-H and FFA members to display to the public their products, crafts, clothing, baked goods, and animals.
August 17th- August 21st: North Washington Rodeo (2021)
2225 Oneida Valley Rd, Petrolia, PA 16050 (724) 679-5270
Bringing professional rodeo back to North Washington, PA with world champion cowboys and cowgirls, for the 61st year, under the sponsorship of the NWVFD.
Aug 26-Aug28 : Butler Italian Festival
Main Street Butler, PA 16001
Italian-themed event with craft vendors, food vendors and entertainment each day.
September 24-25: Tough Mudder Pittsburgh
Cooper's Lake 205 Currie Road Slippery Slippery Rock, PA 16057
Tough Mudder is an endurance event series in which participants attempt 10–12-mile-long obstacle courses. The obstacles often play on common human fears, such as fire, water, electricity and heights.
October 1 & 2: Portersville Fall Fling Steam Show
1512 Perry Highway ( Rt. 19 North) Portersville, PA 16051
The Steam Show has a large variety of activities for all, including: gas engines, steam engines, tons of tractors, large traction engines, pedal power, steam building and tractor pulls. Sponsored by Northwest PA Steam Engine & Old Equipment Association.
Officially known as the Northwest Pennsylvania Steam Engine and Old Equipment Assn. Inc., our group formed in 1963, around the nostalgia of the steam traction engine, and the threshing process. Our club was built around a single 1911 Case engine, owned by Charles McMurray. This engine is still a prominent feature, now owned and displayed, by the family of the late Wendell Bintrim.
In 1975, after exhibiting at the New Castle and Butler fairs, and at the Lancaster Township community center, the club purchased an abandoned strip mine located in Portersville, Pa. Expansions have increased the show grounds to over 20 acres. We currently host 3 shows annually. The Spring Gas-Up is held on the third weekend in May. Our largest, the Summer Show, is the first full weekend in August. Occurring the first weekend in October, the Fall Apple Festival rounds out our show season.
The Portersville Steam Show provides a large variety of activities for the whole family. A vintage village, saw mill, cider press, gas engines, oil field equipment, farm animals, train rides, steam engines, flea market, crafts, great food, kid’s pedal tractor pulling, tractors, large traction engines, ice cream, tractor pulls, and steam building are some of the features you may enjoy.