Spending Time in Berwick, Bloomsburg, & Danville

An Exploration Along the Susquehanna

Three river towns connected by art

Twenty miles of scenic river road connect three historic Pennsylvania towns, Bloomsburg, Danville, and Berwick. Each with its own character, each shaped by iron forges and Victorian prosperity, each now thriving with contemporary creativity. What unites them is The Exchange, a nonprofit organization dedicated to making the arts accessible throughout Columbia and Montour Counties and beyond.

From The Exchange Gallery on Main Street in Bloomsburg to the Coffeehouse Series concerts at Anomaly Craft Brewing in Berwick, from ArtFest's 4,000 attendees to the Art Cart visiting nursing homes and libraries, The Exchange connects communities through creativity. Their digital hub keeps the region updated on exhibitions, performances, festivals, and cultural happenings across all three towns.

Here's how to experience these three connected river communities in one unforgettable weekend.

Photo courtesy of Susquehanna River Valley Visitors Bureau

Day One

Arrive & Explore Downtown

Start your weekend in Bloomsburg, the largest of the three towns and home to The Exchange headquarters and Commonwealth University - Bloomsburg.

Begin with coffee and pastries at Fog & Flame Craft Coffee Roasters. This downtown cafe serves excellent coffee, espresso drinks, and light fare in a welcoming atmosphere.

Take your time strolling Main Street. Bloomsburg's downtown showcases beautiful Victorian commercial architecture, independent shops, university energy, and thriving restaurants. At 24 East Main Street, you'll find The Exchange Gallery—ground zero for the region's arts scene.

Photo courtesy of Fog & Flame Craft Coffee Roasters

The Exchange Gallery & Art of PA

Walk into The Exchange Gallery where it all begins, the hub of arts connectivity across three towns and twelve counties. The Exchange Gallery features three types of exhibitions annually:

  • Invitational Shows highlighting specially invited artists

  • Juried Open Calls with cash prizes for accepted works

  • Members' Exhibits showcasing art by beginners and professionals alike

The gallery welcomes work by artists of all ages and experience levels. No barriers to entry. Browse the gallery shop for original artwork, fine crafts, prints, jewelry, and handcrafted creations.

Learn about ArtOfPA.org, The Exchange's comprehensive digital calendar of arts and cultural events across the region. It features theater, music, visual arts, cultural happenings, family events, venue information, artist interviews, and ticket links.

If you're visiting in late August, ArtFest transforms downtown into a massive outdoor gallery. More than 4,000 attendees browse 50+ art, craft, and food vendors lining Main Street and Market Street, surrounding the monument on the Square.

Photos courtesy of The Exchange.

Commonwealth University Art Displays

Walk to The Gallery at Greenly Center, Commonwealth University-Bloomsburg's downtown gallery space. This free public gallery showcases student projects, faculty exhibitions, and regional and national artists, connecting the university's creative community with downtown through dynamic rotating displays.

You should also visit the Haas Gallery of Art in the Haas Center for the Arts on Commonwealth University-Bloomsburg’s campus. The university's Department of Visual Art regularly hosts exhibitions featuring drawing, ceramics, fabric design, graphic design, mixed media, painting, photography, printmaking, and sculpture.

Photo courtesy of Discover NEPA.

Pause for Reflection & Lunch

Stop for lunch and relaxation at one of Bloomsburg's excellent downtown restaurants:

  • La Familia Cocina Boriqua - enjoy some delicious authentic Puerto Rican food made with love

  • Wally’s Viet-Thai - specializes in a blend of authentic Vietnamese and Thai cuisine with fresh ingredients and quick service

  • The Wagon Shed - cozy tavern with a relaxed vibe serving comfort fare, beers and cocktails

Photo Courtesy of Rose Marie’s.

Parks & Shops

Wander along Mill Street, the town's historic commercial corridor. Stop in local shops and antique stores. Feel the character of a Victorian-era industrial town that's finding new life in the 21st century.

Walk down to Canal Park along the Susquehanna River, which hosts community events throughout the year. If you're visiting in early September, the Danville Heritage Festival transforms this area into a celebration of Montour County's history.

The Festival includes:

  • Living history demonstrations

  • Arts and crafts vendors

  • Historical speakers

  • Cemetery tours with period-costumed reenactors

  • Time Traveler walking tour using historic photographs

  • Eel dam river walks

  • Live music throughout downtown

  • Fireworks over the Susquehanna

This three-day celebration brings thousands to Mill Street, celebrating the iron heritage and river culture that shaped Danville.

Photo courtesy of Uncovering PA.

Main Street Shopping & The Art Cart Story

Spend the late afternoon browsing Bloomsburg's independent shops along Main Street and nearby streets. Then return to The Exchange Gallery to learn about one of their most innovative programs.

The Art Cart, launched in 2015, brings art projects and supplies directly to communities that might not otherwise have access to creative experiences. The Art Cart visits 50+ venues including schools, child care centers, nursing homes, libraries, special-needs camps, and senior living facilities across all three towns.

This mobile gallery on wheels embodies The Exchange's core principle: bringing the arts to all communities. It's democracy in action. Art created by seniors with memory loss, by children who've never been to a gallery, by people with special needs who might never visit a downtown art space. All of it matters equally.

Photo courtesy of Business View Magazine.

Day Two | Scenic Drives Where Art Thrives

Head east on Route 11 toward Danville, this scenic drive follows the North Branch Susquehanna River through rolling countryside, introducing you to the second of your three river towns.

Danville is where Pennsylvania's iron heritage comes alive. This was once a major iron manufacturing center, and the town celebrates that legacy with pride. Today, it's a charming river town with historic Mill Street, local breweries, and the annual Danville Heritage Festival.

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Heritage & River Walks

After lunch, continue exploring Mill Street and the surrounding downtown area. Browse antique shops. Visit local galleries and boutiques. The slower pace of Danville invites leisurely exploration.

If you're not visiting during the Heritage Festival, visit the Boyd House Museum to learn about the town's iron heritage and river history. The center celebrates the community that built America's industrial legacy.

Consider walking along the Susquehanna River near Canal Park. This stretch of river is beautiful and peaceful, quite different from the busier sections upstream and downstream.

Photo Courtesy of Uncovering PA.

Bloomsburg, Danville, and Berwick reveal themselves through art—through The Exchange Gallery where artists receive 80% of every sale, the Art Cart bringing creativity to nursing homes, and intimate Coffeehouse Series concerts. From Bloomsburg's university energy to Danville's iron heritage to Berwick's riverside charm, these three towns prove that accessible art flourishes when communities choose to nurture it. Come for ArtFest or a concert, stay for the realization that The Exchange connects these places creatively—proving art belongs everywhere, to everyone, always.

Artspace Gallery & Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble

Walk down to Artspace Gallery to see fine art and contemporary craft by Susquehanna Valley artists.

Then head to the Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble at the Alvina Krause Theatre. Founded in 1978 by Northwestern University graduates under legendary acting coach Alvina Krause, BTE produces six mainstage shows annually plus family events like TreeFest and improv nights.

Check the BTE schedule to see if there's an afternoon performance or evening show you can catch. The 125-seat intimate theatre in the heart of downtown is worth experiencing. Even if no performance is scheduled, ask if you can peek inside the historic theatre space.

The Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble also operates Theatre in the Classroom and a Theatre School serving students of all ages, making performing arts accessible throughout the community.

Photo courtesy of Cinema Treasures.

Lunch in Danville

Grab lunch at one of Danville's excellent restaurants:

  • Old Forge Brewing Company - Craft beer and elevated pub fare. Old Forge opened in 2008 with a mission to source locally and do things the right way rather than the quick way

  • LT Evans Eatery & Drafthouse - Home town eatery and draft house. Great lunch specials and relaxed vibe. Open Tuesday-Saturday 11am-9pm

  • BJ's M Street Tavern & Oyster Bar - Upscale dining with rotating selection of premium oysters. Open Monday-Saturday 4pm-10pm

Photo courtesy of LT Evans Eatery & Drafthouse.

Berwick & Coffeehouse Series

If you're in Berwick on the second Wednesday of the month, don't miss the Coffeehouse Series at Anomaly Craft Brewing. This intimate concert series begins at 7pm with no cover charge.

Sponsored by the Berwick Arts Association with booking and sound by The Exchange, the Coffeehouse Series features regional, national, and international musicians. Artists like Max & The Magics from Memphis, Harper & Midwest Kind, David Pulizzi, and Whiskey, Ash & Reverie have graced this intimate stage.

Inspired by The Exchange's Listening Rooms in Bloomsburg (last Wednesday of most months), the Coffeehouse Series brings world-class talent to this small Berwick venue. Previously known as A Perfect Blend, Anomaly Brewing has added craft beer to great food in the same welcoming family atmosphere.

This is intimate, community-focused music—where a regional artist from Philadelphia might perform for 50 people who all remember their names by the end of the night.

Photo courtesy of Berwick PA Events.

Alternative: Downtown & Dinner

If the Coffeehouse Series isn't happening, enjoy dinner and explore Berwick's charming downtown:

  • The Forge Pub and Eatery - Gourmet pub food with creative twists. Classic apps and burgers alongside excellent dinner entrees including steaks, chops, and seafood. Relaxed, welcoming atmosphere. In warmer months, enjoy the Foundry outdoor bar and pavilion

  • Amici Italian Grill - Italian cuisine with BYOB policy. Shrimp scampi and eggplant dishes are local favorites

  • Bandit's Roadhouse - Casual family dining meets relaxed bar atmosphere. From steaks to seafood to chicken and salads, plus 15 TVs for sports fans

Photo courtesy of Discover NEPA.

Dinner & Listening Room Concert or Theatre

End your first day with dinner in downtown Bloomsburg:

If you're here on the last Wednesday of the month, don't miss the Listening Room concert at The Exchange Gallery. From 7-9pm, solo artists and small bands perform acoustic and electric sets for an intimate audience of just a few dozen concertgoers.

Alternatively, if the Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble has an evening performance, this is your chance to experience world-class community theater in an intimate historic setting. BTE's season runs year-round with diverse productions.

Photo courtesy of Rose Marie’s.