JOHNSONBURG — Johnsonburg Community Trust will host its annual Christmas Open House from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Heritage-Education & Welcome Center in the historic Armstrong Brick Block.

The event anchors a full day of holiday festivities across downtown Johnsonburg, including the Johnsonburg Area Chamber of Commerce Holiday Market and the Johnsonburg Fire Department Holidayfest.

“You can explore the historic Brick Block, meet local artists and authors, shop two major markets, enjoy lunch at the fire hall, and support small-town revival all in one day,” said Stephanie Distler, president of Johnsonburg Community Trust. “It’s everything we love about community — history, creativity and heart.”

The open house will feature author Tataboline Enos, who will sign copies of her award-winning book “Proudly Made: A Story of Reinvention in the Big Woods and Small Towns of the Pennsylvania Wilds” from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Enos was recently honored with the Governor’s Keystone Award and the Silver Nonfiction Award from the Nonfiction Authors Association.

PA Wilds juried artisans Lisa Conklin (Conklin Studio Pottery, Lewis Run) and Sara Frank (Blue Eyed Silver, Ridgway) will showcase their work, alongside artist demonstrations by Janet Lenze VanEerden and Jesse Gradl of Gallery 29 in St. Marys. Visitors can also explore the Public Typewriter Project, enjoy refreshments and take mini tours of the Brick Block’s ongoing restoration. Admission is free; donations support revitalization efforts.

Businesses under the Brick Block’s cantilevered arcade will offer in-store promotions and special events throughout the day.

At the Johnsonburg Community Center, the Holiday Market returns with dozens of vendors offering handcrafted gifts and locally sourced products. Those interested in joining the vendor waitlist may email johnsonburgpachamber@gmail.com.

Meanwhile, the Johnsonburg Fire Department will host its annual Holidayfest at 99 Clarion Road, featuring 68 vendor tables, raffles, a 50/50 drawing and kitchen lunches prepared by the Fire Department Auxiliary. Gun Bash tickets ($20) go on sale for the first time, with the event scheduled for Feb. 21. A special raffle will offer a chance to win a Henry American Eagle “God Bless America” Golden Boy .22 caliber rifle ($5 per chance; drawing also Feb. 21).

Looking ahead, trust officials announced several upcoming events for 2025 and 2026, including:

• New Year’s Eve Luminary Walk on Market Street
• Quarterly Clothing Thrift Swaps and Art Workshops at the Heritage-Education & Welcome Center
• Eats on the Street — May 16, 2026
• Autumn Harvest Festival — Sept. 12, 2026
• Brick Block Arts & Heritage Festival — Summer 2026, themed “America 250” in celebration of the nation’s 250th birthday

The two-day festival will coincide with the Johnsonburg Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Alumni & Friends Weekend and feature live music, food trucks, heritage exhibits and family activities along Market Street.

The Armstrong Brick Block, once the first outdoor mall in the U.S., continues to be restored by the Johnsonburg Community Trust. Built in the 1890s, the structure remains one of the region’s most significant architectural landmarks.

“We can’t wait to share everything happening within these historic walls,” Distler said. “The work being done today will shape Johnsonburg’s next hundred years.”

For event details or vendor inquiries, contact Stephanie Distler at jbgcomtrust@gmail.com or visit johnsonburgcommunitytrust.org.