March 29, 1860 the Pennsylvania Legislature approved taking portions of Clinton, Elk, McKean and Potter Counties and renaming it Cameron County. It was named after Simon Cameron, a controversial politician in the Abraham Lincoln Administration.
The celebration begins Monday, March 29, when the Remembering Cameron County banners are unveiled. Sylvan Heritage Council collected pictures and information about former and present residents that helped shape the county over the past 150 years. The banners are professionally made and will be unveiled at 7:00 PM. Free birthday cake and coffee will be served at the Cameron County Chamber of Commerce & Artisan Center. The banners will stretch throughout the county. A booklet giving the stories behind the people on the banners will be available at the end of March for sale at a nominal cost. You can call 814-486-4314 to reserve your booklet. The Cameron County Chamber of Commerce has purchased a banner remembering Esther Bosnik since the chamber has opened an artisan gallery. Bosnik had the first gallery in Emporium and organized the Cameron County Arts.
Cameron County Chamber of Commerce & Artisan Center selling raffle tickets. the tickets are $5.00 each and prizes range from a GPS unit to a one of a kind rifle valued at more than $3,000.00. Drawings will being March 29. the winner will receive a GPS Tom Tom XL220S valued at $199.99. Drawings will be held throughout the year and culminate September 4 when the gun will be awarded. The drawing is based on the PA Lottery Night Big Four Drawing. Sellers of winning tickets will also receive cash. You can pick up your ticket by contacting the chamber at 814-486-4314.
April 3 Cameron County Canoe and Kayak Classic. This event will highlight the history of the county. Paddles awarded will depict a drawing highlighting the rafts used during the lumber era. To register for the 18 mile paddling event click here.
April 21 Cameron County Historical Society Spring Dinner. Enjoy dinner rubbing elbows with residents who have first hand knowledge of the legends of the county! Following the dinner, Dr. Daniel Barr will present a program on Northwestern Pennsylvania and the American Revolutionary War.
May 31 Cameron County Memorial Day Parade salutes the men and women of the military. the parade begins at the VFW and ends at the Big Flag Monument.
June 5 National Hiking Day Come hike to one of Cameron County's most famous spots...the Woodsman of the World Monument. Call the Cameron County Chamber at 814-486-4314.
June 10 Celebrate with the Cameron County Chamber of Commerce on the Golf Course! Foursomes who dress for the day in knickers and derby's will receive special prizes! Register by calling the chamber at 814-486-4314.
July 1 Brother of the Brush Pins are available. Men in Cameron County must be in possession of a pin in order to have facial hair. Those with hair and without a pin are subject to shaving or a fine! This benefits the Cameron County Fair Association.
July 3 Fireworks light up the sky in Emporium! The second raffle drawing will be held. The winner will take home $1,000.00 in cash!
July 24 Renaming of a portion of Route 120 through Emporium to General Joesph T. McNarney Boulevard. Members of the United States Army are expected to take place in the ceremony. The Little Museum in Sterling Run will have his personal and military items featured.
August 21 Come hunt for Big Foot in the PA Wilds! Mountaineer Search and Rescue will oversee the "hunt" which begins at sunrise till 1:00PM. Cash and other prizes will be awarded during the Weekend in the Wilds event at the chamber office starting at 2PM. Hunting Licenses are $5.00 each. The third Sesquicentennial Raffle Drawing will take place on August 21. The winner will receive $1000.00 in cash!
August 27-29 Bucktail Reunion at Cameron County Fair Grounds. The Bucktails have only returned to Emporium once for a reunion and that was in 1896. This year more than 100 will come from as far away as Maryland and Virginia. visitors can watch them skin logs to make rafts for the trip from Driftwood to Harrisburg. They will cook using only the utensils available to those brave soldiers during the Civil War. On Sunday they will visit Cameron County cemeteries and honor Bucktailers buried in the county. For more information contact Michael Parana at mbparana@pa.net.
September 4 Spend Labor Day Weekend in Cameron County! A parade will step off at noon on Saturday! Bands, floats, helium filled balloons horses and fire trucks will fill Fourth Street! The final. drawing will be held and the lucky winner will take home the rifle! The winners of the Brothers of the Bush beard growing competition will be announced.
October 16 The geocaching Capital of the World will host a geocache weekend. Some of the 600 caches within 25 miles of Emporium will include collectible Sesquicentennial Coins. These coins are only available during the geocache weekend and cannot be purchased anywhere.
December 11 Emporium Garden Club celebrates the Sesquicentennial and its 50th Anniversary with a Flower Show. The 12 Days of Christmas will be the theme.