Oil Region Alliance

06/26/2026

Did you see the Tarbell House's Facebook post last week for Juneteenth? It's a pretty interesting connection between our region and that part of history. Check it out!

https://www.facebook.com/TarbellHouse/posts/pfbid0yaTjxfe8qjAwuDnyMVEtfUKCWQrzJ5kRzWtVTs1unfuJJ8zXNkj4znGBL4oSqUYUl

06/25/2026

New for 2026 in celebration of the Semiquincentennial -- America 250 National Park Service Passport Stamps!

These stamps are available at the Crawford Center in Emlenton, DeBence Antique Music World in Franklin, Drake Well Museum & Park in Titusville, the Venango Museum of Art, Science & Industry in Oil City, and the Oil Region Alliance office also in Oil City during their normal business hours.

The stamp uses the America250 ribbon logo and includes "Oil Region Nat'l Heritage Area" and "The American Revolution" in text.

Passports are a keepsake for travelers to remember the National Park Service sites they visit and to encourage them to hit all the locations in a given region.

The sites mentioned above have passport stamps with their individual names, which have been in use for many years and can be used alongside the A250 stamp for this year.

A limited number of passports are available for sale at the ORA office M-F 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Don't miss out on having this commemorative item as part of your Semiquincentennial collection!

06/24/2026

Congratulations to Bridge Builders Community Foundations on their record-breaking year for scholarships!

For the 2026–2027 academic year, Bridge Builders Community Foundations awarded $613,440.14 through 226 scholarship awards across 82 scholarship funds.

These scholarships represent more than financial support—they represent the generosity of donors who believe in the potential of local students and the future of our communities.

Congratulations to this year's recipients, and thank you to the donors, families, and scholarship committees who make these opportunities possible.

Read more and view the recipients at https://bbcf.org/2026-2027-scholarship-recipients/

Bridge Builders Community Foundations is proud to announce a record-breaking year of scholarship support for local students.

06/23/2026

Calling all sponsors! There's just about a week left to get your organization's logo on the souvenir sun shirts that will be given to all participants in the Epic Allegheny Odyssey. Commit your sponsorship today for guaranteed inclusion!

We still have room for participants if you're interested in joining us on the water, but sign up soon!

We are going to have an amazing week on the water and we want you to be a part of it!

https://www.alleghenyodyssey.org

06/22/2026

Happy National Pollinator Week! By now we should all know the importance of pollinators -- no pollinators, no food!

You can learn more about this initiative started by Pollinator Partnership at this website:
https://www.pollinator.org/pollinator-week

With pollinators in mind this week, please see the ORA's RFQ for help with a pollinator project at the Oil Creek Memorial Landing. Details can be found here:

https://oilregion.org/the-alliance/rfps/

06/21/2026

Happy Father's Day to all the dads in the Oil Region and the kids of all ages who love them. Where would we be without dads?

And as an extra reason to celebrate -- Happy First Day of Summer! Now it's official!

06/20/2026

Do you have your Independence Day planned?

Franklin has Liberty Fest events starting Friday, June 26 with the Children's Penny Carnival. Other highlights include the Liberty Fest Parade, which will take place at 6 p.m. Saturday, June 27 on Liberty Street, and of course Fireworks over Riverfront Park Saturday, July 4.

Oil City has First Friday festivities taking place Friday, July 3 including live music, art, and food vendors on Seneca Street along with fireworks that night.

Cranberry's Fireworks Spectacular is Thursday, July 2 with live music by The Dan Douglass Band and fireworks.

Make the most of America 250 and hit up all these fun ways to celebrate Independence Day!

06/19/2026

The Oil Region Alliance office will be closed today in observance of Juneteenth. The office will reopen Monday, June 22 at 8:30 a.m. All are encouraged to join in the celebration at Bandstand Park this afternoon.

06/18/2026

Saturday, June 20 the Venango County Historical Society welcomes the PA Bucktails Civil War Unit for displays and programs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

There will be displays of Civil War artifacts and military equipment, and programs about the character of Uncle Sam, the product of actor and singer/song-writer Dan Emmett, as well as displays and demonstrations about daily life in camp and women’s fashions. The programs and displays will be free and open to the public. Please plan to be there and help spread the word about this opportunity.

06/17/2026

Franklin Blues & Barbecue is this weekend in Bandstand Park!

Performances start at noon each day. The event is FREE to attend, and features the nation's top touring Blues artists and the region's best barbecue, along with ice-cold local craft beers.
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2026 Featured Artists:
Nick Moss featuring Dennis Gruenling, John Németh, The Shaelyn Band, Barbara Blue

Food Vendors include: Smokey Martin's BBQ, Smokey and the Brisket, Jim's Smokin' Que, DB's Smokin' BBQ, JP's Tickle My Ribs, Deets Sugar House,
Benjamin's, K2 Creamery, Cowboy Popcorn, Sweet Shivers Sno-Cones, and cold craft beers and seltzers from Trails To Ales Brewery.

The event supports music education in our area schools.

Get details and schedules at https://www.franklinbluesandbbq.org/