Allegheny River Music & Arts Festival


Date
September 12–13, 2025

Location
Downtown Oil City, PA — Northside, Southside, Campus, and Justus Park

The festival features live music, artist showcases, artisan vendors, food trucks, kids’ activities, and the Center Street Bridge Light Show. Enjoy performances in alleys, parks, and stages throughout Oil City, plus the Bridge LitFest, art walks, demos, and much more!

Full Schedule – Friday, September 12

6:30 p.m. – Opening Launch & Celebration of The Bridge Literary Journal
 228 Elm Street. Enjoy Celtic/Folk music by Keridwyn, an open mic session, and jazz poetry with the Mark DeWaltz Jazz Band.

7:00 p.m. – Bring Back Broadway
 Oil Region Venango Campus. Production by Oil City Community Playhouse.

Self-Guided Art Walk
 Take a two-mile loop through murals and public art installations across town.

Dusk – Center Street Bridge Light Show

 Saturday from 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. Park and take the free shuttle bus on from one side of the river to the other , to the campus and once an hour to Franklin.

Saturday, September 13 – Northside

10:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m. – Seneca Street
Inside the Transit Art Gallery and Gifts, National Transit Building, 100 Center, and The MAC open with juried artisans and shopping. Sidewalk artists, crafts, and vendors throughout the day.

11:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m. – Oil City Arts Council Art Auction
 Held inside The MAC.

12:00–9:00 p.m. – Busking in Pipeline Alley

Town Square Events

  • 11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. Children’s parachute activity (YWCA) 
  • 1:00–3:00 p.m.Sycamore Street – Chalk Walk with Brianna Gorman, OCMS Public Art Committee. Kids, novice and professionals. Chalk provided.  
  • 3:00–5:30 p.m. Drum Circle (OC Community Alliance Church) 
  • 5:30–6:00 p.m. HOLey Jeans Children’s Choir performance
  • 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Free Ballon Art  
  • 6:00 p.m. Performing Arts Academy with Darin (dance performance) 
  • 9:00 p.m. Outdoor Movie: Lilo & Stitch (2025) — sponsored by Oil City  YWCA (children encouraged to cruise in with their cardboard cars made at the Library that day)The YWCA will be handing out free popcorn to the kids provided by Mayor JKluck. 
  • 11:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m. Sycamore Street  – Elk Food  

Venango Museum (Northside)

  • Oil Boom Spectacular Exhibit on display 
  • 1:00 p.m. & 5:00 p.m. Silent film screening of The Black Pirate (1926) with live Wurlitzer organ accompaniment (free admission, limited tickets available) 
  • 11:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. Calliope presented by DeBence Antique Music World, performed outside the museum
  • Souvenirs can be purchased at the DeBence stand and in the Venango Museum. 

228 Elm Street Events

  • 3:00–5:00 p.m. The Life of Verde Opera Class & Performance with Samuel DePalma 
  • 7:30 p.m. Bridge Lit Jazz Poetry with Mark DeWaltz Jazz Band 

Dusk – Center Street Bridge Light Show

Saturday, September 13 – Campus

8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. – The Bridge LitFest
 Daylong program of writing and songwriting workshops. Details available at bridgeliteraryartscenter.org.

Saturday, September 13 – Southside

Artist Showcases in Local Shops
Featured in Core Goods, Woods & River, Clifford’s Carpets, The Raven’s End Books & Fine Art, Williams Travel Plus, and Sage & Saints.

10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. – Oil City Library Build Your Drive-In Movie Car
 Held at Oil City Library. Children can make and paint cardboard cars and bring them to cruise into watch the outdoor movie at 9 p.m. on the Northside.

11:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m. – Native American Booths and other Arts & Crafters on East First Street

Performances Under the Lights on Lindon Alley

  • 12:00–2:00 p.m. Little Turtle From the East (Native drumming, dancing and story telling) 
  • 2:30–3:00 p.m. Jamie Bastello, opera singer 
  • 3:00–4:30 p.m. Joe Thomson, Americano 
  • 5:30–7:00 p.m. Matt Miskie, singer/songwriter workshop 
  • 7:00–9:00 p.m. That T Plus+, electronic chill

East First Street in front of Clifford’s Carpeting & Rug Gallery – Food Truck

  • 11:00 a.m. – 9 p.m. Mi Empanada – Where Argentinian Traditions Meets PittsburghGrit   

Guided Art Walking Tours

  • 11:00 a.m. – Led by Robin Moon (Oil City Public Art Committee). Meet at Gates & Burns. Two-mile loop. 
  • 3:00 p.m. – Second guided loop, same as above. 

Oil City Curb Market on Central Avenue
 Open 11:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.

Saturday, September 13 – Justus Park

Juried Art and Demonstrations 11 a.m. -8  p.m.

  • Kaleb Lewis — SFX makeup demonstration: River Creature (sponsored by the Democratic Party & John Kluck) Photo opportunities and merchandise. 
  • John Mander — free caricatures from 4:00–7:00 p.m. (sponsored by Representative Lee James) 
  • Skylar Austin — plein air painting 
  • Studio XII — glass blowing demonstration 
  • Evergreen Pottery — pottery making 
  • Austin Ink Tattoo & Body Piercing — temporary tattoos
  • Clifford’s Carpets — stained glass hands-on activity from 4:00–7:00 p.m.
  • Patrick Hughes – spray paint art 

Live Music on the Bandstand

  • 12:00–1:30 p.m. Timothy Wolfe (Rap) 
  • 2:00–3:30 p.m.Killing Time (Country) 
  • 4:30 – 6:30 Sons of a Beach (Jimmy Buffet Tribute Band) 
  • 7 :00 – 10:00 p.m. Pipe Dreams ( Tribute to West Coast Sound) 

Food Vendors available at Justus Park 11am – 9pm. 

  • El Rincon – Mexicano 
  • Marta’s Pirogies
  • Big Mike’s Food Shack
  • Oil City Elks
  • Venango Snow
  • Frankie’s Custard
  • Mitchy’s Kitchen
  • Yeany’s Kettle Corn
  • Mi Empanada – Southside

Whistle Stop 21 and older 5 p.m. – 10 p.m.

  • Cork n Screw
  • TrAils to Ales

The Festival Passport connects you with participating businesses—collect codes to win prizes!

View the Full Schedule & Passport (PDF):
ARMA Fest Schedule & Passport

For updates and announcements, follow Oil City Main Street Program on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/oilcitymainstreet