OIL CITY, Pa. (EYT) – The 40th annual Oil Heritage Festival kicks off on Thursday, July 26, this year in Oil City.
(Photos courtesy Oil Heritage Festival)
Sponsored by the Venango Area Chamber of Commerce, the festival will run from Thursday, July 26, through Sunday, July 29, and will include an art show, baseball tournament, a parade, a car and motorcycle cruise-in, a fireworks show, and more.
Live music will be provided throughout the weekend by Mostly Brass, Dream Machine, and Street Level.
exploreVenango.com spoke to Venango Area Chamber of Commerce President Susan Williams, who shared how excited the chamber members are for the 40th year of this much-loved local event.
“This is our 40th festival, and while it continues to carry the name of the Oil Heritage Festival, we want people to know it goes on for more than just that weekend,” Williams said.
“There’s the softball tournament, the Bike and Brew, and seven nights of music, so people need to check the schedule close to see where all of those opportunities are.”
“One thing new, with booking all the music, we have Music on Main which is in the new vacant lot where the chamber used to sit. We want people to come out and bring their lawn chairs, bring dinner, or a snack. It’s a really lovely place there along the creek.”
“Overall, we have a great line-up of entertainment, and there are still opportunities for those interested in participating in events like the parade, the craft show, the 5k, and the Tiny Tot Contest. All of the registration forms are available on the Oil Heritage website,” Williams said.
One change to this year’s line-up of events is the Venango Chamber’s annual golf scramble. Traditionally held in June, the chamber opted to push back the event this year to coincide with and become a part of the Oil Heritage Festival.
“We’d love to get more people and visitors involved in the golf scramble. We welcome people from anywhere,” Williams said.
Williams also noted that, with so many events lined up, primarily outdoors, the weather is always a concern.
“We’ve faced everything from torrential storms to extreme heat in years past,” Williams said.
“The staff of the chamber and the volunteers will be out to try to make sure people are having a good time, whatever the conditions, but we do urge people to use their best judgment when it comes to weather and safety.”
According to the Venango Area Chamber of Commerce’s website, “The festival honors the area’s rich heritage that resulted from the discovery of petroleum and the ‘oil boom’ that occurred along Oil Creek in the mid-1800s. In that oil fueled the Industrial Revolution and the modernization of America’s transportation industry, our region is frequently referred to as ‘the valley that changed the world.’
“The Annual Oil Heritage Festival…depicts our distinctive heritage by incorporating many heritage related events into one of Western Pennsylvania’s major festivals…a fun-filled festival draws thousands of visitors and guests to the region each year.”
For more information on the 40th annual Oil Heritage Festival, visit the Festival Headquarters at 211 Seneca Street in Oil City, Pa., or visit the event’s Facebook page.
Headquarter hours are:
- Wednesday and Thursday: 10:00 a.m. — 5:00 p.m.
- Friday: 10:00 a.m. — 7:00 p.m.
- Saturday: 12:00 p.m. — 5:00 p.m.
- Sunday: 1:00 p.m. — 4:00 p.m.
A full schedule of events is available here.