For special occasions, I take the weekly neighborhood guides outside the city. This week, we’re visiting Mars, Pa., which is celebrating its 150th anniversary. The small community, tucked in a valley along Breakneck Creek, is about a half-hour north of Pittsburgh in Butler County.
Pittsburgh to Mars. (Google Maps screenshot)
Go, See, Do!
Celebrate the community’s fascination with outer space at the Mars New Year Festival on June 9 and 10. The family-friendly event has STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) educational activities for all ages, plus entertainment, food, and community vendors.
Have cosmic-curious little ones? NASA professionals will share their passion for the red planet and space exploration with artifacts like an 8-wheeled Mars rover, sample tubes, rock cores, graphic novels, and more.
Be sure to stick around on both Friday and Saturday evening for a Mars-themed drone show.
And of course, don’t miss the community’s famous, 3,000-pound flying saucer on Pittsburgh Street. (Hey, isn’t that kinda cool? Pittsburgh Street? We’d never see that in the city!)
Eat & Drink
Cheers to Mars with local vendors like Stick City Brewing and Mazzotta Winery at the New Year Festival. And if you need a pick-me-up, the charming Mars Brew House feels like being welcomed into a friend's living room.
Shop Local
If you’re looking to add some character to your home with vintage or restored pieces, Salvaged PGH is worth the trip. They have doors, windows, decorative items, bath and kitchen fixtures, lighting, antique furniture, and more.
