We're on the Savvy Grouse again

We are on the Savvy Grouse again! See our post about Centralia!

Happy Indie Day!

Looking for a way to celebrate your Independence? Well, there should be no shortage this weekend: from reenactments at Gettysburg to one of the oldest continuous fireworks shows in Lititz.

One of the bigger celebrations will take place in our own capital of Harrisburg from Friday, July 3 to Sunday July 5th. The riverfront will be crowded with various vendors, concessions and musicians. The annual Music Fest features loads of up and coming local bands as well as more established artists. Asia is headlining this year.

The 3-day festival features 6 stages and music covering all genres from rock to county to classical and everything in between.

If you are looking for a conscientious rapper with talent, we recommend E-Will. He'll be performing during the Hip Hop Hour on Sunday, July 5th at 7 p.m. Besides having something to say, as opposed to most hip hop artists these days, he's a personal friend of Outta the Way's.

Fireworks are held all 3 days of the event, so as we struggle to balance our state budget, we can see our tax dollars literally go up in smoke. Hey, at least it's free.

Music Fest runs from Friday, July 3 through Sunday July 5th; 12 noon - 10 p.m. each day.

The Colonial Theatre (The Blob) Vol.3

The Colonial Theatre is one of those rare places that doesn't seem to exist anymore: a local hometown business that is still thriving.

It has the distinction of being the location of where the theatre scene in The Blob was filmed. Each July the theatre hosts Blobfest, complete with a theatre running out reenactment.

The theatre also has midnight showings of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Most of the theatre's business seems to come from the art house crowds, since they run a lot of indie and foreign films here as well.

In this age of box office schlock that attracts the masses, it's nice to see a local theatre with a brain, for that Outta the Way sends a standing ovation.

Knoebels Part II

Knoebels not only offers great family fun at an affordable price, they also feature a few quirky museums and other oddities. What other amusement park do you know with a covered bridge in it.

The Mining Museum located near the back of the park gives a fun glimpse into anthrocite mining, which is very big business in the area. You'll see old mining tools, artifacts, accidental mining records and even a giant dinosaur?!


Within the Mining Museum is the Knoebels History Museum, following over 80 years of the park's history. You'll learn about the Phoenix Roller coaster, which was built in 1947, and was at that time the largest coaster in the world. Find out how it ended up at Knoebels, as well as the majority of the other rides the park offers.

At the Knoebels Carousel Museum, you'll see thousands of animals that were made for carousels throughout the years and world. Not just the usual horses, but also specialty pieces. You'll see pieces resembling roosters, dogs and other animals we don't normally associate with carousels. You'll also learn about the carvings and carvers who still carry on this tradition.

If that's not enough for you, near kiddie land lies "the world's largest baseball bat." The bat sits in front of the large steam-powered antique lathe it was made on. Nearby are also several wood carvings made from chainsaws, as well as a 200-year-old log.

All attractions are free and quirky only adding even more charm to Knoebels.


Knoebels is open daily from Memorial day through Labor Day.

Knoebels Grove Part 1

[the swings]

[a view from the ferris wheel]

Tired of long lines and overpriced amusement park tickets? Not feeling like you got your money's worth? Try a visit to Knoebels Grove. Nestled in the woods of Elysburg, PA, it's the perfect getaway for cash-strapped families.

Admission and parking are free; you only pay for what you ride. There is also an affordable campground on the property if you want to make a weekend of it. Knoebels offers the feel of an old time fair with the modern flair of the new theme parks. Featuring over 50 rides, including a carousel with a brass ring arm, an actual scary haunted house (Kim has never opened her eyes in it!) and one of the oldest and top-ranked coasters in the nation, it's not difficult to see how everyone would be pleased. From the young ones to the thrill riders, Knoebels is sure to please. And because you pay as you go, you don't feel frustrated or rushed to get your money's worth, so you can all easily go as a group.

Picnics are allowed and even encouraged with lots of picnic tables and pavilions, but the food in the park is affordable and tasty. For approximately $100, a family of 4 should have no problems making a day of it. Try doing that at Hearshy or Dorney Park.

Knoebels is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

Check out next week's blog for more on Knoebels and some of the oddities they offer as well.

[taken from the train ride, which goes under this coaster]

The Savvy Grouse - the Yuengling Brewery

We did a guest post on the Savvy Grouse yesterday. You can read all about Our Day at the Yuengling Brewery there!

School Spirits/Gravity Road Lewisberry, Pennsylvania

In Northern York County, there's a road thought to be haunted by a local football team who met their fate when their bus rolled over a mountain. These boys don't want you to be another victim so they help to push your car back up the hill they lost their brakes on. This road is actually a gravity hill and if you put your car in neutral (or put an object on the ground such as a bottle), your car will go backwards up the hill. There are many more of these gravity hills located throughout the world, all with no real explanations.

For more information on these school spirits, check out the Outta the Way Zine.