Discover Edinboro: Art, Festivals and Nature

Edinboro offers a variety of reasons to plan a trip: art and educational programs, recurring cultural events, and recreation at Edinboro Lake and in gardens. These activities have different focuses. When deciding what to do, it may therefore be helpful to consider whether to focus on a festival, galleries and insights into the art department, or activities at the lake and in a garden setting. The following places and dates offer specific guidance.

Art and Education in Edinboro

The PennWest Edinboro Planetarium is on the first floor of the Cooper Science Center, 230 Scotland Road, in Edinboro. It offers family-friendly educational programs. If you’re planning a visit, check the current programs and dates, as schedules may change.

The Bruce Gallery is on the first floor of the Baron-Forness Library. It exhibits selections from its permanent collection, along with works by regional and national artists, both emerging and established. It also features works by faculty, students, and alumni. You’ll encounter a range of artistic perspectives and several generations of the art scene.

At PennWest Edinboro, you can tour the art department’s studios, classrooms, and galleries with a currently enrolled art student. Tour availability may change, so confirm it before your trip. The areas available to visit include studios and classrooms as well as gallery spaces.

Festivals: Art, Music, and Scottish Culture

The Edinboro Art & Music Festival takes place every year on the third full weekend in May. It lasts four days and celebrates grassroots art and music in the spirit of Appalachian culture and tradition. The organizer may change the schedule, so check the dates before your trip. At the festival, visitors can attend an art exhibition and workshops, and learn about the creative process from demonstrating artists. The activities on offer may vary from one year to the next.

The Edinboro Highland Games & Scottish Festival offers a different cultural focus. PennWest Edinboro hosts the annual event as a celebration of Scottish culture. While art, music, and workshops are at the heart of the Art & Music Festival, Scottish culture and tradition define the Highland Games. The two events therefore offer different themes to consider when planning your trip.

Edinboro Lake and Goodell Gardens

The recreational area at Edinboro Lake includes a lifeguarded beach, two free boat launches with public parking, a fishing pier designated for people with disabilities, and a large playground complex at Billings Park. This offers several specific options: a visit to the beach, use of the boat launches, fishing at the designated pier, and time at the playground. Which of these options suits your plans depends on what you want to focus on during your stay.

Goodell Gardens & Homestead combines gardens with historic buildings. Its living collection of notable plants spans 80 acres in Edinboro and includes formal gardens and an accredited arboretum. The focus here is on plants and garden spaces; at Edinboro Lake, the main attractions are the beach, boat launches, fishing, and playground facilities. These different themes can help you choose suitable reasons to visit during your trip.

If you’re looking for a hotel for your trip to Edinboro, two planning considerations may affect your dates: the Art & Music Festival takes place on the third full weekend in May, while tours of the art department depend on current availability. Check the festival dates and tour availability before planning your accommodation.

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