Foxburg’s 6th Annual Nature Festival is fast approaching. The basis for the Nature Festival all started back in 2006 with a Bird Walk event at Riverstone Farm sponsored by Allegheny RiverStone Center for the Arts. Over time the annual Bird Walks were usually scheduled for the second weekend in May. This can be the optimum time for migratory birds moving through the area, spring wild flowers blooming, and trees budding but not yet fully leafed. Often at RiverStone Farm thousands of dogwood trees are in bloom to add to the enthusiasm and enjoyment of the “Birders.” In recent years the Nature festival has been expanded and is now a Foxburg Town Event. This year the Foxburg Nature Festival is Saturday May 10th and with the “Take Flight” 5K Run/Walk on Sunday May 11th.
Saturday activities at RiverStone begins with the traditional bird walk. This year it will consist of a 2.5 mile hike on the farm taking in both the Allegheny and Clarion River valleys. In years past over 50 species of birds have been seen, heard and identified. Birds include the regulars, robins, crows, blue jays, cardinals, as well as some less seen blue indigo buntings, scarlet tanigers, comerants, and a rare warbler or two beyond this writers memory. Great Blue Herons can be seen nesting their rookery on an island in the Allegheny River. Last year a bald eagle and red tail hawk put on a aerial divebombing show as one crossed into the others airspace.
So who are bird watchers and what is the attraction that brings a diverse group of people together to stand under trees, many with binoculars, speaking in hushed tones as they look through branches of trees and shrubs. Most certain someone says “Do you see it”… “where”…”over there”…”oh it moved”…”where’ …”over there”. But in that moment of frustration you catch a flash of color and hear the undulating tweets and twitters and it can be a moment of awe.
So in simple terms, “the bird is the word!” Come join in the bird moment and tweet your friends from the foxburg nature festival bird walk.
Following is the complete schedule of events

There is an up and coming band making waves in the eastern Ohio, Youngstown and in western Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh music scene that is attracting more attention this fall and they will be playing Sunday October 13th in Foxburg, at the Foxburg Fall Art Wine and Food Festival. JD Eicher & the Goodnights come to Foxburg promoting their recently released third CD “Into Place”.

The new CD is getting great reviews.
“If you can only add one new album to your collection, I would make it this one.” ~ VERTICAL HOPE

“A solid entry into this year’s album of the year competition, …” ~ EAR TO THE GROUND MUSIC
 
“The talented quartet delivers another set of… intoxicating arrangements” ~ THE HERALD-STANDARD

“With ‘Into Place,’ Eicher & Co. wrap up an excellent trilogy of albums.” ~ THE VINDICATOR

Last month their CD release party at Hard Rock Café in Station Square on the Southside of Pittsburgh was standing room, squeeze your way in only as they rocked their way beyond midnight.

They are also making a video for their new song, “You’ve Got a Lot of Growing Up to Do,” and they want you to be in it! Here’s how it works: ONE – Take a video of yourself (or of you and your friends) singing along to the chorus of the song (Don’t worry they are only using the video, not the audio! TWO – Visit wetransfer.com and upload the file, sending to this email address: jdeichervideo@gmail.com
That’s it! They are planning to use the first 15 videos received by October 16th. Don’t miss this opportunity to be there and hear JD & the Goodnights.

The Festival opens at 11:00 AM and JD Eicher & the Goodnights take the stage on the Foxburg Green from Noon till 2 PM. The music line up includes River Nymphs at 11 AM, Woo Hoo Band at 2 PM, and Acoustic Highway at 4 PM.

The fifth annual ARCA Foxburg Scottish Festival will fill the air with traditional Scottish and energized Celtic music. Music will pulsate in downtown Foxburg beginning Friday night with the sound of bagpipes, fiddles and traditional song echoing up and down the river valleys. The Festival begins Friday night August 16th with a traditional Ceilidh at 7:00 PM on the Foxburg Green. The Ceilidh will feature the always very Scottish singer entertainer Carl Peterson, the beloved tartan tenor Robert Murdoch, and the superb Patrick Regan as the opening night piper. Joining these very Scottish fellows for the first time at the Ceilidh will be the very popular sweet celtic/Scottish sounds of Maidens IV. Wholehearted and full of life, Maidens IV delivers high-action Celtic and Roots music. Due to their travel and tour schedule Maidens IV will be performing only at the Friday night Ceilidh. The Ceilidh is a donation supported “Pass the Hat” event.

New for this years festival is an exciting Celtic/Scottish band THE CELTIC MARTINS from eastern Pennsylvania for sure to delight visitors and audience on Saturday August 17th Festival day at RiverStone Farm and in concert Saturday night downtown Foxburg at Lincoln Hall at 7:00 PM. The Celtic Martins, a family band from south-eastern Pennsylvania, is an exciting, energetic group that features traditional Celtic music as well as highland step dancing. A performance by the Celtic Martins will feature the musical ability of the six Martin children, ranging in age from 21 to 6, accompanied by their parents on guitar and bass, and drummer, Elijah Roeder. Instruments include: Irish whistles, mandolin, bagpipes, and percussion along with the fiddle. The Celtic Martins have been performing since 2004 and has quickly become a musical sensation, performing throughout Eastern Pennsylvania and Maryland at various fairs, festivals, and other venues. The closing concert will be opened by bagpipes and a few stories as Highland Bagpiper Patrick Regan warms the audience. Saturday night concert tickets are adults $10.00 students $ 5.00 children under 12 free.

Music will heard throughout the Festival on Saturday August 17th at RiverStone Farm. The MacDonald Pipe Band of Pittsburgh will open the games and festival and will be heard throughout the day. Carl Peterson will headline the music entertainment along with Bob Murdoch the Scottish tenor in the Music Grove on Festival Day. Again there will be a Solo Piper competition, with pipers coming by high and low roads to take part in the competition. Patrick Regan piper and instructor/entertainer will judge the Solo events. An expanded highland dance group will be joining the other music entertainers. The Crazy Piper and the Plaid Chameleons will also be on the grounds as well as the Scottish Tartan juggler. The Scottish dogs will have their day as there will sheep herding demonstrations and obedience and agility ring for Scottish dogs. If it should rain not to worry many of the activities will move indoors. There will also be Athletic Competitions including the tabor toss, a soccer clinic and shoot out contest, Golf hole in one game, face painting, story telling, Scottish food, vendors, carriage rides, and more. It promises to be a great family day at picturesque RiverStone Farm, gate fee for adults is $ 10.00, children 6 to 12 $ 5.00, and children under 6 are free. For more festival information visit ARCA’s website www.alleghenyriverstone.org, or call 412-867-1816.
Scottish Festival Flyer

Just preceding by a day of the Foxburg Food, Art and Wine festival, Foxburg Area Information Center (aka “the Caboose”) committee will be holding their 4th annual Farm & Country Fall Driving Tour on Saturday, the Oct 6th. This is a self-guided tour of several farms in the Allegheny-Clarion Valley river region. Displays to view, crafts to purchase, and deliciousMore