(File Photo of a Fireworks Burst)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Beaver County, PA) As 2025 is ready to come to an end, some local events like light shows are going on in Beaver County and beyond to celebrate the end of that year. According to the Beaver County Times, here is a list of these events for you and your family as the new year of 2026 approaches:

Events

• Pinball PA video arcade and museum, 2284 Brodhead Road, Suite 10B, Hopewell Township, 412-423-8532, is hosting a New Year’s Eve party from 2 p.m. December 31st, 2025 until 2 a.m. January 1st, 2026. Admission tickets are available online by clicking here for individuals or a group of up to four players and offers free play on all pinball and video games, with random giveaways throughout the evening and snacks and soft drinks are provided. The ticket also includes a raffle ticket for a special prize, awarded at midnight, for a one-year admission with unlimited visits to Pinball PA. Celebrate the new year surrounded by the lights, sounds and joy of your favorite arcade games.
• Three Rivers Karting Entertainment Park, 541 Avenue B, Suite 10, Leetsdale. 412- 527-8464. Open from 12-6 p.m. on December 31st, 2025 and normal hours on and after January 1st, 2026. It offers its Winter Wonderland go-kart track through January 5th, 2026 with over 50 decorated trees, where guests age 10 and over can race through the twinkling lights of the darkened track. Racers can also take part in the Rudolph Race-Off Sweepstakes, where racers who make a set lap time on the track are entered into a raffle to win a handful of prizes. For the younger guests, there is also a “Find The Hidden Golden Ticket” in the upstairs arcade to win a free prize.
• Tickets are sold out for the Neighborhood North Museum of Play’s New Year’s at Noon celebration in Beaver Falls on December 31st, 2025. However, there is a waiting list available by clicking here for those who are interested in attending if a guest cancels their visit. The museum also plans a “Snow Much Fun” event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on January 24th, 2026, and registrations are open now for that event.by clicking here.
• Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, 10 Children’s Way, Allegheny Square, Pittsburgh. 412-322-5058. “Countdown to Noon,” a faimly-freindly countdown to end 2025, takes place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. December 31st, 2025 at the museum. Activities include music from Lee Robinson and ISKA as the clock ticks down to noon and a balloon drop at noon in the garage; share your hopes for the new year live on the radio with SLB Radio Productions; make confetti and confetti art in the art studio; make a party hat and other party accessories in MAKESHOP and explore ice mold making in Waterplay. Activities are included with museum admission; tickets can be purchased online in advance or in person at the museum that day. The Children’s Museum is closed on January 1st, 2026 and the MuseumLab is closed on December 31st, 2025 and January 1st, 2026.
• First Night Pittsburgh takes place from 6 p.m. to midnight on December 31st, 2025 throughout the city’s Cultural District. A variety of family-friendly activities are included in the schedule of events, including the Citizens Activity Zone from 7-10 p.m. at Highmark Fifth Avenue Place; Dollar Bank children’s fireworks and a New Year’s Eve countdown for kids at 8 p.m. at the Highmark stage; live ice sculpting from 8-11 p.m. at Seventh and Penn parklet; Pittsburgh Cultural Trust children’s book giveaway from 7-10 p.m. at the Benedum lot and a family dance party from 7:15 to 7:59 p.m. at the Highmark Stage.

New Year’s Eve Light Shows

• Parade of Lights, New Castle. Open from 5-11:30 p.m. nightly through January 1st, 2026 at Pearson Park, 179 Pearson Park Drive. Use the Mercer Road entrance to the park.
• Christmas Light Up Celebration, Findlay Township. Open from 5-10 p.m. nightly through January 3rd, 2026 at Clinton Park, 600 Clinton Park Drive. For GPS directions, use Findlay Township or Imperial for the city. A $10 admission fee is charged per car, cash only. Proceeds go to community charitable organizations.
• Moon Holiday Lights, Moon Township. This drive-through light display is open from 5-10 p.m. nightly through January 7th, 2026 at Moon Park, 1350 Joe DeNardo Way.
• Oglebay Festival of Lights, 465 Lodge Drive, Wheeling, West Virginia. Open nightly, dusk to dawn through January 4th, 2026. This 6-mile, drive-through light show features over 100 displays and places to shop, eat and have fun along the way.
• Overly’s Country Christmas, 116 Blue Ribbon Lane, Greensburg. Open from 5:30-9 p.m. on select days through December 30th, 2025; visit its website by clicking here for more details. A walk-through Christmas village display with lights, a model train display, Santa’s workshop, a talking Christmas tree, a Country Kitchen and more.
• Kennywood Holiday Lights, West Mifflin. A walk-through lights display open through January 4th, 2026, hours are either 3-9 p.m. or 5-9 p.m., depending on the date. New this year are the Gingerbread Express, a train ride through a gingerbread village; a meet and greet with Santa Claus in Gingerbread Junction and new shows and entertainment. More information and ticket sales are available online at Kennywood Holiday Lights by clicking here.
• Wild Illuminations: A Holiday Lantern Experience at the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium, 7370 Baker St., Pittsburgh. Open for walk-through only this year, on select nights through January 11th, 2026. This year’s show features silk and steel lanterns paired with light displays. Guests who need a wheelchair or an electric scooter should reserve one in advance. Show times, prices and ticket reservations are available online by clicking here.

(File Photo of Police Siren Lights)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Clarion Township, PA) Pennsylvania State Police confirm that an investigation is underway following a multi-vehicle crash along a portion of I-80 in western Pennsylvania yesterday. According to a release from PSP Clarion officials, a multi-vehicle crash occurred at mile marker 69 in Clarion Township at 1 p.m. Officials state that it is unclear how many people were injured. After the crash happened, PennDOT issued a speed limit restriction between Exit 53: PA 338 – Knox and Exit 73: PA 949 – Corsica as speed limits are restricted to 45 mph for all vehicles. Commercial vehicles must also move to the right lane. 

(File Photo of a Police Siren Light)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Allegheny County, PA) A person was injured because of a crash that occurred on McKnight Road yesterday. According to Allegheny County dispatchers, crews were called to the intersection of McKnight Road and Braunlich Drive at 7:03 p.m. Two vehicles appeared to have been involved in this crash and one person was taken to the hospital from the scene.

(File Photo of Representative Aaron Bernstine)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Butler County, PA) According to a release yesterday in Butler County from Representative Aaron Bernstine’s office, Representatives Bernstine (R-Butler/Lawrence) and Marci Mustello (R-Butler) announced yesterday nearly $2.6 million in state funding has been awarded for transportation infrastructure improvements in Butler County through the Multimodal Transportation Fund. This funding will support the rehabilitation of five bridges that are currently rated in poor condition in Penn and Jefferson Townships, which will help to improve safety, reliability and mobility for businesses, emergency responders and residents. 

(File Photo: Source for Photo: Police respond to an active shooter situation at the Tree of Life synagogue on Wildins Avenue in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pa., on Saturday, October 27, 2018. (Pam Panchak/Post-Gazette via AP)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Over two years after a jury sentenced the Tree of Life synagogue shooter, Robert Gregory Bowers to death, his attorneys are taking the next step to reverse the decision by seeking a resentencing. Bowers shot and killed eleven people and wounded six others at the Tree of Life Congregation synagogue in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh on October 27th, 2018. Bowers was sentenced to death in August of 2023. In an almost 500-page appeal, the lawyers of Bowers asked for a new sentencing hearing after accusing the prosecution and the court of “overreach.” They brought up 16 issues, which included jury selection, whether a juror who said they reviewed death sentences and oversaw executions in China should have been seated, and whether two jurors who shared reservations about the death penalty should have been struck. 

(Photo Provided with Release Courtesy of AAA East Central)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) Gas prices are six cents lower in Western Pennsylvania this week at about $3.16 per gallon, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report. The national average for a gallon of unleaded gas has fallen three cents to $2.82 over the past week. The report states that at this time a year ago, the average price for a gallon of gas in Western Pennsylvania was around $3.36, and the average price that you can expect for a gallon of gas in Pittsburgh is about $3.17. According to a release from AAA East Central and AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report, here are the average prices of unleaded self-serve gasoline this week in various areas:   

$3.076      Altoona
$3.180      Beaver
$3.424      Bradford
$3.028      Brookville
$3.148      Butler
$3.068      Clarion
$3.014      DuBois
$3.090      Erie
$3.053      Greensburg
$3.129      Indiana
$3.181      Jeannette
$3.275      Kittanning
$3.134      Latrobe
$3.054      Meadville
$3.322      Mercer
$3.035      New Castle
$3.151      New Kensington
$3.159      Oil City
$3.167      Pittsburgh
$3.148      Sharon
$3.085      Uniontown
$3.554      Warren
$3.124      Washington

(File Photo of a Gavel)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) First Assistant United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced yesterday that a resident of Beaver Falls has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on a charge of violating a federal firearms law. The sole defendant of the one-count Indictment was twenty-three-year-old Javon Turner. According to the Indictment, on or about August 16th, 2025, Turner had a firearm and ammunition in his possession after previously having been convicted of a felony on a state robbery charge. Federal law prohibits a convicted felon possessing a firearm or ammunition. According to Revetti, Turner could receive a maximum total sentence of up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, or both, provided by the law. 

(File Photo: Source for Photo: FILE – This April 2, 2021, file photo shows bridges spanning the Allegheny River in downtown Pittsburgh. Republicans in Congress are making the politically brazen bet that it’s more advantageous to oppose President Joe Biden’s ambitious rebuild America agenda than to lend support for the costly $2.3 trillion undertaking for roads, bridges and other infrastructure investments. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) The Fort Pitt Museum in Point State Park will be closed for the next two months so that preparations can be made for the hosting of the 2026 NFL Draft in the Steel City and for celebrations of the 250th anniversary of the United States. According to the Fort Pitt Museum, while it is closed through the months of January and February, exhibitions will be updated and facilities will be improved. March 1st, 2026 is when the museum is expected to reopen. When it reopens, there will be a new exhibit there called “Pittsburgh’s Revolution” which will feature rare artifacts, interactive activities, and pictures from Fort Pitt’s role in the Revolutionary War. A temporary exhibition will also open in June of 2026 ahead of the 250th anniversary of the United States that will focus on weapons and tactics used during the 18th century.