Here’s a fun fact: In the 1950s, the United States was home to more than 4,000 drive-in movie theaters offering Americans movie magic from the comfort of their vehicles. Those numbers have dwindled over the decades, but even as a kid in the ’80s in South Jersey, I don’t ever remember having to drive terribly far to catch a movie at a drive-in.

Fast-forward to today, there are fewer than 300 drive-ins still operating—but Pennsylvania is the state with the most drive-in movie theaters. The commonwealth boasts about two dozen still screening movies under the stars, including the oldest. The Lehigh Valley’s Shankweiler’s Drive-In Theatre originally opened in 1934 as the second drive-in theater in the US and is now the oldest drive-in theater still in operation. 

Shankweiler’s is one of six drive-ins in the Lehigh Valley and NEPA that our food and travel writer Kalena Thomhave is highlighting in this story.

With AI creeping into so many aspects of our life (friendly reminder: living, breathing human beings bring you this newsletter), we’d like to know:

How do you feel about the idea of AI becoming more integrated into everyday life? 

Here’s what you’re saying:

“It is not needed. We are becoming a society that wants no human interaction. Humans need to use their God-given brains and stop relying on the easy way around.”

— Karen, Titusville

“My concern is that the tech industries introduce new developments into the economy without substantial testing. In effect, we are the guinea pigs for unproven new technologies, sometimes with fatal results. Slow this down!”

— Jay Grossman, Philadelphia

“Last year, I heard a tech analyst say that one of the hallmarks of AI is that it’s non-consensual. At the time, I thought she was being hyperbolic. I don’t think so any more.”

— EM, Pittsburgh

“I find it a bit unsettling for future generations and the impact on youngsters. And also the impact on healthcare.”

— Barb Ritchie, Pittsburgh

“I like using Waze to get more accurate estimates of travel time, but I don’t trust AI to be able to make complex decisions, since it depends on data which could be manipulated by those who feed it information. My guess is that AI will also be overly legalistic in its decision making, no matter what its source of data is. For summarizing large amounts of data it could be useful, but as an ethical decision maker, I’m not sure it’s capable of such work. I prefer humans, even though we have flaws in our decision making. If AI gets something wrong, who’s responsible?” 

— Doug, Lansdale

Reply below with your answer, and please let us know where you live!

A young festival attendee embraces an alien statue at the 2023 Kecksburg UFO Festival in Kecksburg, Westmoreland County. (Kecksburg UFO Festival)

The annual Kecksburg UFO Festival returns this weekend, celebrating all things alien in “Pennsylvania’s Roswell.”

Elsewhere, you’ll find festivals celebrating pickles, blueberries, and horses, along with the kickoff of a two-week classical music festival in Pennsylvania’s Endless Mountain region.

Picklesburgh – Pittsburgh, Thursday through Sunday

Picklesburgh burst onto the Pittsburgh festival scene in 2015 and quickly became known to pickle fans nationwide, with the downtown festival attracting as many as 250,000 visitors in 2024. Picklesburgh organizers have been hard at work to make the event—with its pickle juice drinking contests, Dill-cathalon, pickle-flavored beer and pierogi, and live entertainment—a can’t-miss festival. Last year, the festival expanded its footprint, operating on the Roberto Clemente Bridge, the Andy Warhol Bridge, and throughout several other downtown locations. This year features some new wrinkles like Pickleball at Arts Landing.

Kecksburg UFO Festival – Westmoreland County, Friday through Sunday

Get ready for out-of-this-world fun at the Kecksburg UFO Festival, located about 75 minutes southeast of Pittsburgh. This quirky celebration commemorates the 1965 UFO incident that put the small town of Kecksburg (often referred to in paranormal circles as “Pennsylvania’s Roswell”) on the map. Enjoy a weekend of alien-themed fun—from the vendor fair and local food to the cornhole tournament and all the sci-fi vibes. 

Endless Mountain Music Festival – Central Pennsylvania and Southern New York, Friday through Aug. 2

Each summer, the Endless Mountain Music Festival brings celebrated classical musicians to the rural mountains of Central Pennsylvania, hosting 17 shows over 17 days. The performances run from orchestral music to percussion, big band, and string quartets and are hosted alongside the beauty of the region in Wellsboro, Knoxville, Mansfield, and Coudersport, as well as in parts of nearby southern New York. This year’s theme is “America the Beautiful,” with several orchestral performances focusing on classics from American composers.

Bethlehem Blueberry Festival – Saturday and Sunday

What better way to celebrate blueberry season than at the 39th annual Bethlehem Blueberry Festival at the historic Burnside Plantation. From blueberry-infused cocktails and N/A beverages to grilled cheese featuring blueberry compote, to blueberry-based desserts, nearly everything will be coming up blueberries in Bethlehem. Beyond blueberries, the festival features blacksmithing and hearth-cooking demonstrations, a petting zoo, and live music.

Zelienople Horse Trading Days – Thursday through Saturday

You’ll find horses and much more at the 62nd Annual Zelienople Horse Trading Days, located about 30 minutes northwest of Pittsburgh. Events include a horse parade down Main Street, a dog show, pony rides, petting zoo, food trucks, rides for the kids, and the 7th Annual ShuBrew Hot Dog Eating Contest.

• Last July, US Sen. Dave McCormick announced plans for a $5 billion data center for rural Peach Bottom in York County, to the surprise of township officials who knew nothing about it. A year later, they say they still haven’t heard anything about it. Get the story here.

• Tired of changing your clocks twice a year? A new House bill co-sponsored by Democratic Pennsylvania US Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon would end daylight saving time and keep the country on permanent standard time. Find out more in this story.

• State Sen. Marty Flynn (D-Lackawanna) is proposing a bill that would offer swimming access to more people across the state, giving them opportunities to exercise and have fun. Get the details here.

Richard “Dick” Wood Jr., Wawa’s longtime president and CEO, died Friday, July 10, 2026, at the age of 88. (Wawa)

Richard “Dick” Wood Jr., Wawa’s longtime president and CEO, died July 10 at the age of 88.

A Philadelphia native, Wood began his career at Wawa in 1970 as the company’s first general counsel. Over the course of more than five decades with the Delaware County-based convenience store chain, Wood served as president, CEO, and chairman.

Under Wood’s leadership, Wawa expanded beyond the Greater Philadelphia area to employ over 36,000 associates in 900 stores across six states. He is credited as the guiding force behind Wawa’s evolution from a just-the-basics convenience store to a 24/7 gas station operation specializing in made-to-order food and beverages.

Read Wood’s obituary.

Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Patrick Berkery with stories from Kalena Thomhave and USA Today via Reuters Connect. It was edited by Paula Solis.

The Keystone is free for everyone. Your support makes our work possible.