Destination Westmoreland: A guide to fall events and fun-filled days
Plan for great days this season with our guide to autumn celebrations, festivals and Halloween happenings.
Where you are heading for fall festivity … Destination Westmoreland.
Laurel Nursery
Fall in Love at Laurel Nursery. We have the largest selection of pumpkins & gourds, cornstalks, Indian corn and pansies!
3648 Route 30, Latrobe, 724-539-7022, laurelnurseryinc.com
Here’s the scene … It’s 2015 at Laurel Nursery. We decided that for the fall, we needed to up our game. We were already growing mums and selling a few bins of carving pumpkins. Now it was time to add pumpkins, gourds and squash along with cornstalks, ornamental corn and peppers, as well as fall pansies and annuals.
The first shipment we brought in sold out over the weekend. We had to go back and get more products after a couple of days.
In that first year, we realized we were on to something with this fall thing. From that point forward, there was no looking back. It’s a crazy ride every year trying to see how many new varieties we can purchase along with customers old-time favorites.
Our fall ornamentals are brought in early, always the week before Labor Day, to get everyone in the mood to decorate. Each year we have over 100 varieties of pumpkins, gourds and squash. We also do a great job with our fall mums, boasting over 90 varieties that are grown in four sizes to suit everyone’s needs, along with a variety of other fall annuals. There is plenty of parking and we are open seven days a week.
Make sure to come and see why “every season brings a reason to shop Laurel Nursery.”
Ligonier Pumpkin & Spice 2024 Festival
Hello, pumpkins! It’s time for Pumpkin and Spice and everything nice in beautiful Ligonier!
Saturday, October 26
Enjoy pumpkin & spice samplings from local restaurants, bakeries, cafes, wineries and breweries. Don’t miss “The Hey Pumpkin” contest on the bandstand!
And while you are here, vote for your favorite scarecrow from Oct. 18 to Nov. 6. On Friday, Nov. 29, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., we Light Up Ligonier. Join us on Saturday, Dec. 7, for our cookie walk, “Let’s Get Ready to Crumble!” Stroll through our charming Christmas Town and sample delicious sweets from area bakeries and restaurants.
And you will not want to miss the second annual Ligonier Wholidays Town-Wide Open House on Sunday, Dec. 8, from noon to 5 p.m. Enjoy the magic of the season as you do your Christmas shopping in Ligonier. Take a break for lunch or dinner and enjoy a horse-drawn carriage ride and children’s crafts.
To get your tickets for Pumpkin & Spice and the Cookie Walk, and to see more about these events, visit business.ligonier.com/events.
And the 2025 Ligonier Ice Fest will be January 24, 25, 26. So, mark your calendar for a weekend of frosty fun for the whole family.
Plan Your Stay: Ligonier has over 60 specialty shops, galleries, restaurants, and places to stay, and is home to many museums and outdoor adventures.
The scenic valley surrounding the town of Ligonier is so beautiful at this time of year — it is a town for all seasons.
Westmoreland Historical Society
809 Forbes Trail Road, Greensburg, 724-836-1800, westmorelandhistory.org
Here’s a preview of our events this fall:
Historic House Tour / Celebrating Norvelt (Sept. 14): Presentation and book signing by Michael Cary, co-author of “Hope in Hard Times: Norvelt & the Struggle for Community During the Great Depression.”
Toast the Town (Sept. 20): A cocktail party and exclusive tour of the 1812 Thomas Hurst House. The Hurst farm later became part of Norvelt.
Fall Family Day at Historic Hanna’s Town (Oct. 26): Celebrate fall with activities for all ages. Enjoy fall-themed crafts, an 18th-century militia encampment, blacksmithing, a cemetery tour, and trick-or-treating at all the log houses. Halloween costumes encouraged!
Jack O’Lantern Tours (Oct. 25 & 26): Have fun with fears and folklore of the 18th century and explore the Scots-Irish origins of Halloween on this special guided tour of Historic Hanna’s Town. Registration required; tours start at 6 p.m., 6:30 p.m., and 7 p.m.
For more information, visit westmorelandhistory.org or call 724-836-1800.
Flax Scutching Festival
September 14-15
Monticue’s Grove, 1703 Route 711, Stahlstown, flaxscutching.org
It’s the 117th Annual Stahlstown Flax Scutching Festival: Keeping History Alive Since 1907.
Admission is only $5 (children under 12 free) and includes all festival demonstrations, displays, events and concerts. Free parking.
Mt. Pleasant Glass & Ethnic Festival
September 27, 28 & 29. Open daily at 11 am (rain or shine)
mtpleasantglassandethnicfestival.com
Enjoy the warmth and charm of a “front porch neighborhood” festival in Hometown America. There is a welcoming feel of comfortable charm for you, our guests, as you stroll the streets that have been transformed into festive walkways.
Arts & Crafts … A variety of vendors sell their goods, some one-of-a-kind, some handmade.
Ethnic Foods … The “Ethnic” in the festival’s name comes from the foods that are offered: Mexican, Greek, Italian, and Polish.
Glass Vendors … These artisans and collectors put the “Glass” in the festival’s name.
Old Town Mount Pleasant … Here you can experience the story of our town’s past.
Kids Have Fun … At Kid’s Fun Spots
Other events include fireworks, carnival rides, dance performances and multiple bands performing throughout the festival. And on Saturday, the Main Street Parade starts at 2 p.m.
Downtown Greensburg
An Enchanted Evening Awaits!
Experience the magic at the Greensburg Wicked Witches Gala on Saturday, Oct. 5, 4-8 p.m. Experience a mesmerizing performance as the Dancing Witches of Westmoreland County perform at 5:30 p.m. With captivating entertainment, live music, and hauntingly delicious food, explore our marketplace and indulge in a wickedly good time with games. Show off your best witchy attire in a contest. Capture your magical memories in our spooky photo booth.
Join us for a night of thrills and chills. Get tickets here: shopgreensburgpa.com
And on Oct. 19 from noon to 4 p.m. in Downtown Greensburg, it’s Sweets on the Street. Visit participating local businesses throughout the day. Sample sweet treats from various local bakers. Vote for your favorite scarecrow. Don’t miss the fun. Tickets on sale at shopgreensburgpa.com
Shop, Dine, Discover the Heart of Greensburg
Fort Ligonier Days
Westmoreland County’s Premier Fall Festival
October 11, 12 & 13
120 East Main Street, Ligonier, fortligonierdays.com
Commemorating the Battle of Fort Ligonier, a key event of the French & Indian War on Oct. 12, 1758, Fort Ligonier Days draws tens of thousands of visitors each year to the quaint, picturesque town of Ligonier in the beautiful Laurel Highlands.
The three-day event features historic battle reenactments, top-rated juried crafts, delicious foods, local spirits, popular musical entertainment, a grand parade, and a 5K walk/run.
With the backdrop of spectacular fall foliage as its setting, a variety of activities are found on the beautiful Ligonier Diamond, throughout the historic town, and at the authentically reconstructed Fort Ligonier and its world-class, recently renovated museum.
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