Explore Our Towns: Mars

Traveling to Mars is a lot easier than you think.

In fact, you can get there fairly quickly and it’s only a car ride away. Complete with a flying saucer parked within the town square, residents take full advantage of their town’s unique name and visitors enjoy offbeat photo opportunities. Alien sightings occur on a regular basis in storefront windows, and letters with a Mars, PA, postmark are frequently mailed around the world from the local post office.

The town of Mars dates back to 1792 when the first settler arrived in the area. Mars flourished in its early years because it was located on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad and on the Butler Short Line, the electric trolley route that linked Pittsburgh and Butler. Today, the Mars Area History & Landmark Society operates a museum, including a restored caboose, and a scaleddown version of the Mars Shortline Railroad available to ride for all ages.

If you're looking for some good eats, head to Springfield Grille or Tepache Mexican Kitchen & Bar. For beer enthusiasts, check out Dented Keg Brewing Company or Stick City Brewing Company.

For hands-on activities, learn how to make your own charcuterie board at Nosh & Curd or take a performing arts class at Batavia Studios

Perhaps one of the most intriguing events is the Mars New Year Festival, which celebrates the Martian New Year while highlighting education and innovation. This three-day festival (held every two years, and will next occur in 2025) attracts thousands of visitors to the downtown area, along with representatives from NASA.

For more far-out fun, check out Mars-Bethel Golf, a vintage mini golf course featuring Humpty-Dumpty, pirates and more!

So blast off to Mars — you’ll learn about the town’s rich history, attend one-of-a-kind events, find unearthly souvenirs and capture unique pictures like selfies with a spaceship.