Butler Winter Bucket List
While some may see snowflakes as a sign to lock their doors and hibernate, winter is the perfect time to explore and experience all that Butler County has to offer.
With so much to experience and celebrate this season, visitors and lifelong residents alike are invited to build a Bucket List of Butler’s winter activities - wearing a few extra layers, of course.
Tag us on social media or use hashtag #ExperienceButlerCounty to document the good times along the way!
Take a Hike!
When it comes to nature, Butler County is an outdoorsman’s paradise; and a little snow won’t stop any nature enthusiast from enjoying these scenic trails (and it definitely shouldn’t stop you!)
If you love the great outdoors, visiting Moraine State Park for a winter hike is a must. With 38 miles of trails - in addition to 26 available miles for snowmobiling - there are so many ways to explore!
If you don’t want to hike solo, bundle up and venture out on the North Country Trail for the annual Cherry Pie Hike on February 22. This moderate hike is seven miles long, starting at Moraine State Park’s Lake Arthur and finishing up at Jennings Environmental Education Center.
Those who aren’t up for the seven-mile challenge can still cross the Cherry Pie Hike off their #ButlerBucketList with one of the 30-minute history hikes or 45-minute nature walks. Get outside, enjoy some pie, and learn about George Washington's ventures in Butler County.
If you’d like to get a jumpstart on your New Years fitness resolutions, sign up for the North Country Trail’s Hike 100 Challenge. This challenge lasts the entire calendar year and encourages movement and exploration. Whether you ski, walk, or hike, complete 100 miles across the trail and earn a badge with bragging rights (your furry hiking partner gets one too)!
What do love and running have in common?
They get your heat beating - and fast!
Get your blood pumping in Cupid’s Chase 5K on the Saturday before Valentines Day. This race at Lake Arthur Golf Club invites runners and walkers of all levels to take a shot at the gold, all while raising funds for those affected by disabilities.
If you’re feeling extra lucky, sign up for Get Fit Families’ annual Shamrock Shuffle, benefiting the Zelienople Rotary Club. This Harmony-based race has an option for every runner, from the one-mile run or the traditional 5K to the challenging half marathon. Athletes looking for an extra challenge can participate in the Triple Challenge - running all three races to total 16.1 miles!
Once you cross the finish line, celebrate your shuffle with a schnitzel from The Harmony Inn or a Short Break beer from Union Brothers Brewing.
Bundle Up
Though the weather outside is frightful, these events are too delightful to miss.
On February 8, head over to Moraine State Park for a local free favorite, Moraine Preservation Fund’s Winterfest. Where else can you watch chain saw carving demonstrations, try your hand at disc golf, ride a horse-drawn wagon, and (depending on the weather) walk on water?
Winterfest is a free event and something you should prioritize on your #ButlerBucketList. If the day is a little extra chilly, not to worry. We know you’ll stay warm with Winterfest’s good company, hot food, live music, and of course, the roaring fire!
And don’t let the fun end there. Visit Moraine throughout the season for scheduled group hikes and other winter activities. Pleasant Valley and Sunken Garden trails are suited for cross-country skiers of all levels.
Go sledding near the Pleasant View Picnic Area on the South Shore, or bring your snowshoes for a winter walk on designated hiking trails. Conditions permitting, 26 miles of trails in the north and west portions of the park can be snowmobiled!
Sippin’ in the Snow is returning to Freedom Farms on February 8! This adult-only event is perfect for you and your friends to sip on your favorite alcoholic beverages, nibble on bites from fantastic food trucks, and listen to live music - all next to ginormous bonfires.
Included in your $35 ticket is a Freedom Farms beanie, drinking glass, and tons of laughs throughout the night!
Make sure to carve out some time for one of the most favored events of the season!
Butler Rotary’s “Carved In Ice” Festival is a free community event held in downtown Butler on the weekend of February 21 & 22.
#ExperienceButlerCounty up close and personal as local artists create elaborate ice sculptures at Diamond Park. Eat while you watch or savor a beer from one of the County’s best breweries.
Be sure to pop by on Saturday for Family Day featuring carriage rides, animals, interactive sculptures, music, and food! The fun won’t even have time to melt!
See a Show!
If you’re looking for a sign to wear that evening cocktail dress, this is it, because Butler County Symphony is opening two concerts during the winter season!
If you have an ear for music, we know you’ll want tickets to Shostakovich Five!, opening Saturday, February 8. This concert will feature David Kim, Violin Concertmaster of The Philadelphia Orchestra, as he explores sentimental Russian pieces on stage.
Let your winter end on a sweet note with Bizet to Brahms. This March concert showcases Maestro Daniel Wiley as he works with high school students to perform nostalgic pieces and enchanting classics!
Even in winter, the show must go on, and Butler Little Theatre is ready to dazzle you with two performances during the cold season. Warm your hearts with some romantic comedy in January with the launch of Outside Mullingar”, an Irish story of unlikely love.
Need a good laugh - and a good cry? Butler Little Theater will perform “Cry It Out”, for two weekends in March. This story explores the comedy and the tragedy of being a new stay-at-home mom and the power of female friendship to survive it all.
If a cure from cabin fever is what you need, we invite you to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Age of Aquarius!
This week-long Music and Art Festival in Downtown Butler will help shake off your February blues with jukebox dances, local performances, and of course, delicious food to keep the energy flowing!
Get Cozy
One of the best ways to #ExperienceButlerCounty on a cold day is to warm up over a hot beverage from a local coffee shop.
After a winter hike, bundle up with a cup of joe from Hillview Coffee, minutes away from Moraine State Park!
Find a new read at The Little Green Bookstore before grabbing a classic tea or house-made soup from Spring and Main Cafe or a specialty treat from Sips And Sweets!
Only a few blocks from downtown Zelienople is Wunderbar Coffee & Crepes, featuring both sweet and savory delights with a window view of Historic Harmony.
Both Saxonburg and Slippery Rock have charming Main Street and staple cafes. Saxonburg Coffee & Tea welcomes you to warm up with a butterscotch latte and biscotti, while Roosters in Slippery Rock invites you to pull up a chair and connect with friends over maple-shaken espresso.
The Bus Stop Coffee Co. is a cozy cafe that brings mobile ordering to the next level: catch the wheels on the bus going round-and-round Sarver and Cabot with pastries and specialty sips! See their Facebook page for a weekly schedule and rotating specials.
In Butler, there is surely a shop that will fit your vibe and fill your cup. Stop at Canella Cafe for brunch, Pennie’s Bake Shop & Espresso Bar for dessert, and Vintage Coffeehouse at any time of the day!
If you’re looking for a unique spot and an Instagram photo op, stop into Bloom Cafe at Quality Gardens and spend some quality time over locally roasted coffee in Valencia, PA.
Make time for a Coffeebrake - either in Evans City or in Cranberry. Enjoy your caramel macchiato with a warm breakfast sandwich in Evans City or a french toastie in Cranberry!
Swing by Cranberry’s other coffee getaway at Maxine’s Coffee. Snag a barstool window seat for a chic hangout, cinnamon latte, and maybe, a chocolate chip cookie or two.
Be on the lookout for a digital trail featuring your favorite shops coming to a cellphone near you! Until then, bundle up and experience this season in Butler County.
Related
225 Pleasant Valley Rd. Portersville, PA 16051 (724) 368-8811 Website
773 Mahood Rd. West Sunbury, PA 16061 (724) 664-4364 Website
118 N. Shore Dr. Portersville, PA 16051 (724) 368-9185 Website
434 Overbrook Rd. Valencia, PA 16059 (724) 586-5551 Website
120 W. Cunningham St. Butler, PA 16001 (724) 712-6230 Website