New Castle Home to Arts and Culinary History
The City of New Castle, located about 50 miles northwest of Pittsburgh, was once known as “Little New York” for its impressive arts scene. Today, the arts still take front and center, with the town hosting a wide array of activities and events, which is especially notable for a city with a population of less than 22,000 people.
“For a community this size, it’s pretty surprising,” said Kimberly Koller-Jones, executive director of Hoyt Arts Center. “New Castle not only has our arts center, but a playhouse, ballet, historical society, the historic Warner Cascade Theatre Museum, a small opera group and music clubs.
“The area attracted a lot of immigrant cultures back at the turn of the century, who brought their heritage, arts and culture with them,” she added. “Despite the community changing over time, these practices have stayed.”
Koller-Jones adds that the community continues to embrace this part of its heritage, and that it is becoming an even greater focus as New Castle works on developing tourism opportunities in the area and building a better quality of life for residents.
Arts and Entertainment
Hoyt Arts Center, which has been serving New Castle and surrounding areas since 1964, was started by a group of local artists. They were meeting in a downtown building but looking for a more permanent home when banker and philanthropist Alex Crawford Hoyt offered them his deceased sister’s home if they could raise a $30,000 endowment. They succeeded, and today the center is housed in two mansions on five acres, which include galleries, art and dance studios, exhibits, classes, performances, concerts, lectures and workshops.
“The classes we offer are pretty broad and include everything from painting, drawing and ceramics to dance, yoga and all kinds of music lessons,” said Koller-Jones. “In addition to educators on staff, we also contract with 25 different artists in the region for classes and workshops.”
The Hoyt has become a regional destination, with 50% of its audience coming from outside Lawrence County. Daily admission to see gallery exhibits is free, and visitors can tour the Period House for $10.
Every August, the Hoyt holds an annual children’s summer arts festival that is free and open to the public and includes artists from the Carnegie Museum, Pittsburgh Children’s Museum, Oh Wow! Museum and more. September brings an Arts on Fire Festival, and the Hoyt sponsors an annual Scary Tales Tour in October. Holiday house tours kick off on Nov. 22 and continue through December. In 2027, the Hoyt will begin a new tour, called Knock on Wood, about early American superstitions.
“Using the Period House as a backdrop, we’ll be offering gallery talks and activities related to the beliefs and practices of the past,” said Koller-Jones. “It’s going to be really interesting.”
Visitors to New Castle can also enjoy productions at the New Castle Playhouse, which was established in 1958 and offers six full-scale main-stage productions each year, as well as various music, dance and drama productions. The Warner Cascade Theatre Museum, located in the historic building on Mill Street where the Warner Brothers opened their first theater, offers a wide range of films as well as a chance for visitors to learn about Warner Brothers and Looney Tunes history.
Opportunities to Get Outside
New Castle is home to numerous parks, including 72-acre Cascade Park, where the city’s “Back to the 50’s” car cruise is held. As the “Fireworks Capital of America,” the city holds an annual Fireworks Festival in July, and holiday events include an annual Veterans Day Parade and Light Up Night Parade. Cascade Park is also home to winter’s “A Cascade of Lights” event.
Outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy fishing, hiking, biking, camping, boating, kayaking and more at nearby McConnell’s Mill State Park and Moraine State Park. Visitors and locals alike can also fish downtown — the city opened a dedicated boat launch and fishing pier near West Washington Street, and all you need is a Pennsylvania fishing license to use it.
“There are a lot of natural resources here, including the North Country National Scenic Trail, which you can pick up in McConnells Mill, which is only about a 20-minute drive from downtown,” said Koller-Jones.
Sunday Sauce and New Castle Chili Dogs
In an area that embraces its different ethnic cultures, it’s no surprise to find that certain foods have long been a staple in the area. Lawrence County is home to the largest concentration of Italian-American immigrants in Pennsylvania, and that heritage is honored through the Sunday Sauce Trail. Restaurants featuring the slow-simmered tomato sauce include Four Pizzeria Bar and Grill, Gallo’s Italian Villa, both locations of Mangino’s Pizzeria, Pagley’s Pasta & More, Patsy’s Bar & Grill, Valentine Cheese & Dairy Co., the Ladies of the Dukes (only open on Sundays) and more.
New Castle is also known as the “Hot Dog Capital of the World,” and its famous chili dogs are the product of Greek immigrants who came to New Castle in the early 1900s and established restaurants. Influenced by dishes like soutzoukakia (Greek meatballs seasoned with an array of aromatic herbs and spices), the unique sauce caught on and is today served at Bill’s Sandwich Shop, along with other Mediterranean and American dishes, and at M&P Coney Island in New Castle, which has been dishing it up since 1923. You can even get the chili sauce to go.
Of course, locals do have their favorite spots for all kinds of different foods, according to Koller-Jones. “I love Hazel’s Restaurant; it’s a dive diner that’s been around forever where you can get a good meal at a great price — it’s the place to go in town,” she laughed.
For more information on New Castle and Lawrence County, check out www.visitlawrencecounty.com.
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