What to do
There is always so much to do in each of our communities. We recommend you check their calendars and Facebook pages (on the links below) for upcoming events on specific dates. For an overview of activities in the Oil Region, please check out our Festivals & Events.
Franklin
Venango County
Oil City
Titusville
- Titusville Community Calendar
- Chamber Calendar
- Titusville Renaissance, Inc.
- Titusville Council on the Arts
Foxburg
Oil Region Tourism Awards
2021 Nominees & Winners
Best Dish
Nominees:
Dill Pickle Pizza from Trails to Ales, Franklin
Trail Boss Burger from Trails to Ales, Franklin
Fried Shrimp Taco from Taco Shack, Oil City
Nashville Hot Fried Chicken Sandwich from Curbside StrEAT Co., Titusville
Smashburger from Curbside StrEAT Co., Titusville
Pecan Crusted Chicken from Bella Cucina, Franklin
Wild Mushroom Pizza from Trails to Ales, Franklin
Shrueben Sandwich from Trails to Ales, Franklin
Italian Sub from Villa Italia Restaurant, Oil City
Fettucine Alfredo from Leonard’s, Franklin
Flat Iron Steak from Fat Chad’s, Titusville
Eggplant Parmesan from Maria’s, Titusville
Rise & Shine Breakfast from Sam’s Restaurant, Titusville
Chicken Parmesan Sub from Bud’s Pizza, Oil City
Winner: Italian Sub from Villa Italia Restaurant, Oil City
Best Drink
Nominees:
Iced Latte from Karma Coffee Company, Oil City
Holiday Cookie IPA from Scierka’s Tavern, Oil City
Razzmanian Devil from Trails to Ales, Franklin
Smoked Old Fashioned at Trails to Ales, Franklin
Peanut Butter Milkshake from Villa Restaurant, Oil City
Coffee from Sam’s Restaurant, Titusville
Winner: Peanut Butter Milkshake from Villa Restaurant, Oil City
Best Guest Room
Nominees:
Caboose Motel, Titusville
The Crawford Suite at the Barnard House B&B, Emlenton
Peddlers & Paddlers Inn, Franklin
Winner: Caboose Motel, Titusville
Best Shop
Nominees:
Stonehouse Jack, Titusville
Core Goods, Oil City
Olive Vault, Franklin
Cali Rae’s Haute Spot, Franklin
The Printer’s Cabinet and Curiosities, Franklin
Something Clever, Franklin
Liberty Street Antiques, Franklin
Amy’s Closet, Emlenton
Crisman’s Little Britches, Franklin
Titusville Market Square, Titusville
Cross & Co. Boutique, Seneca
Winner: Cross & Co. Boutique, Seneca
Best Advocate
Nominees:
Ashley Zaccari Smith
Diane Harrison
Leah Carter
Kim Harris
Winner: Ashley Zaccari Smith
Best Industry Partner
Nominees:
Be Here (Program of the Venango Chamber)
Friends of the Railroad
Oil City Main Street Program
Winner: Be Here
Best Must Do Activity
Nominees:
Oil Creek & Titusville Railroad
A Bite of History Food Tours, Franklin
Barnard House B&B, Emlenton
BridgeFest — Oil City Festival in August
Tiffany Window Tours at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Franklin
DeBence Antique Music World, Franklin
Venango Museum of Art, Science and Industry, Oil City
Kayaking with O.A.R.S., Franklin
Unlock the Adventure Escape Experience, Titusville
Oil Creek State Park
Drake Well Museum & Park
Bike Trails, throughout the Region
Oil Valley Film Festival, Oil City
Winner: Bike Trails
Best Landmark
Nominees:
Drake Well Museum and Park, Titusville
Driller Monument at Woodlawn Cemetery, Titusville
Belmar Bridge on the Allegheny River
Civil War, WWI, WWII, Korean and Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Monuments near the Venango County Courthouse in Franklin
Venango County Courthouse courtrooms 1, 2, and 3 with Deac Mong murals (Riding into Fort Machault, Looking over Franklin, and Drake Well)
Freedom Falls, Kennerdell
Kennerdell Overlook, Kennerdell
Murray Scenic Overlook, Oil City
National Transit Building, Oil City
Heisman Monument, Titusville
Winner: Drake Well Museum and Park, Titusville
2022 Nominations & Voting
Nominations were open late August to early September. Winners from 2021 were not eligible to be nominated for 2022. Voting opened Tuesday, September 6 and closes Friday, September 16. Winners will be announced the following week.
Here are the 2022 Nominees:
Best Dish
Pecan Crusted Chicken at Bella Cucina in Franklin
BBQ Bacon Burger at Dawndi’s in Franklin
Liberty Street Burger at Trails to Ales in Franklin
Kale Salad at Iron Furnace in Franklin
Brisket & Gouda sandwich at The Well in Titusville
Smashburger at Curbside StrEAT Co. in the Mercantile in Titusville
Best Drink
Shaved Ice from Sprinklez in the Mercantile in Titusville and Seneca
Boba Drink from Sprinklez in the Mercantile in Titusville and Seneca
Brokenspoke Blueberry Beer at Trails to Ales in Franklin
Thai Iced Tea from Homegrown Kitchen in Franklin
Vanilla Iced Latte at Iron Furnace in Franklin
Best Room
The Witherup House in Franklin
Peddler and Paddlers Inn, Franklin
Haggerty Hollow, an airBnB outside of Franklin
Cottage and Farm House at Two Mile Run County Park
Best Shop
The Printer’s Cabinet in Franklin
Franklin Clothing Exchange
Amy’s Closet and Sassy’s Gifts
Core Goods in Oil City
Cali Rae’s Haute Spot in Franklin
Stonehouse Jack in Titusville
Best Industry Advocate
Ashley (Cowels) Sheffer
Ronnie Beith
Maureen James
Wendy Thompson
Luke Kauffman
Chris Fiely
Kim Harris
JC Caton
Best Industry Partner/Organization
The Venango Chamber of Commerce in Oil City
Franklin Retail Association
Oil Region Library Association
Titusville Iron Works
Best Must Do Activity or Attraction
Historic Pithole City
The Venango Museum
Kayaking
Seneca Lanes
Titusville Iron Works
Applefest
Franklin’s Light Up Night
Two Mile Run County Park
Oil Creek & Titusville Railroad
Tattoo from Austin Ink
The Escape Room in Titusville
Ax Throwing at Allegheny River Retreat Center, Franklin
Farm to Fork Event Sponsored by Titusville Renaissance at Drake Well Train Depot
Best Landmark
The War Memorials at the Venango County Courthouse Parks in Franklin
Barrow Civic Theater, Franklin
Morrison Park, Seneca
Pipeline Alley, Oil City
Two Mile Run County Park
The Driller Monument in Woodlawn Cemetery in Titusville
Wildcat Mansion
Allegheny River Retreat Center in Franklin
And the winners are:
Best Dish
Liberty Street Burger at Trails to Ales in Franklin
Best Drink
Brokenspoke Blueberry Beer at Trails to Ales in Franklin
(This beat the Vanilla Iced Latte at Iron Furnace in Franklin by one vote!)
Best Room
Peddlers and Paddlers Inn, Franklin
Best Shop
Core Goods in Oil City
Best Industry Advocate
Ronnie Beith
Best Industry Partner/Organization
The Venango Chamber of Commerce
Best Must Do Activity or Attraction
Applefest
Best Landmark
Two Mile Run County Park
(This beat the Barrow Civic Theater in Franklin by one vote!)