Featuring folk musician, educator, and former coal miner Van Wagner.
Songs Celebrating Coal Miners of PA
Sunday, September 28, 2025
Doors open at 1:30 PM / Show begins at 2:00 PM
Victoria Theatre (222 Main St, Blossburg, PA)
Free and open to the public (First come, first seated)
We’re thrilled to welcome folk musician, educator, and former coal miner Van Wagner to the historic Victoria Theatre in Blossburg!
Van’s songs and stories will honor the miners who helped shape the region and reflect on the work ahead to restore the Tioga River.
This family-friendly, FREE event is possible thanks to support from the Susquehanna River Basin Commission, The Jones Foundation, and the Friends of the Blossburg Memorial Library.
Rivers, Coal and Crafts: Highlighting the Tioga River Restoration
This concert is the final event in the Rivers, Coal and Crafts series. The series, coordinated by Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy, Blossburg Memorial Library, and the Tioga County Conservation District. celebrates the Blossburg community and shares information about the Tioga River’s ongoing restoration.
Through hands on workshops, craft projects, and storytelling, participants of all ages are learning about the decades-long impacts of Abandoned Mine Drainage (AMD) on the Tioga River, and how local partnerships are working together to restore the health of the River and its surrounding landscape.
Through the Rivers, Coal & Crafts series, participants of all ages are learning about impacts of Abandoned Mine Drainage (AMD) on the Tioga River, and how NPC and partners are working together to restore the health of the River.
About Van Wagner
Van Wagner is an educator, forester and musical artist. In the classroom, he teaches Agriculture Science at Danville Area High School. He has been selected as Conservation Educator of the Year in 2005 from Schuylkill County and in 2007 and 2009 in Union County.
In 2012 he was awarded the Sandy Cochran award for natural resource education from the Pennsylvania Forestry Association. In 2015 the Red Cross presented Van with the Robert N. Pursel Distinguished Service Award. Outside of the classroom he educates audiences with his music and programs on Pennsylvania History. He received an Outstanding Achievement Award in 2018 from the Pennsylvania Heritage Songwriting Contest.
In 2021 he was recognized with an outstanding alumni award by the Danville High School alumni association. He is the 2025 recipient of the Penn State University School of Forest Resources alumni of the year award. In 2025 he completed his goal of climbing the tallest tree on the tallest mountain in each of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties in an effort to raise awareness about forestry in the state.
In 2024 he was awarded “best male solo artist” of the year from the Central PA music awards. His music has been featured on the History Channel, WVIA tv, Country Music Television (CMT), and in several film productions. He has released 35 original albums and published a book entitled “Coal Dust Rust and Sawdust.”
His music and programs not only entertain but inspire audiences to become involved in learning more.
Visit Van Wagner Music to learn more.
