While the rest of the world counts down to midnight on December 31st, the residents of Mars, Pennsylvania, are often looking at a much different calendar. In this small borough just north of Pittsburgh, the “New Year” isn’t just an annual tradition—it’s a planetary event that happens only once every 687 Earth days.
A Town with an Identity Crisis (The Best Kind)
Located in Butler County, Mars is a town that has fully leaned into its celestial name. The local high school teams are the “Fightin’ Planets,” the local diner is a hub for “Martian” gossip, and the town square features a 3,000-pound flying saucer made from two repurposed oil tanks.
But the real draw is the Mars New Year Festival. Because it takes roughly 1.88 Earth years for the planet Mars to complete one orbit around the Sun, the town celebrates “New Year” on a schedule that would confuse any standard wall calendar.
NASA Comes to Town
This isn’t just a local bake sale. The celebration has become so iconic that NASA regularly partners with the borough. During festival years, the streets are lined with:
- STEAM Activities: NASA scientists host exhibits on Martian exploration and robotics.
- Costume Contests: Expect to see more “little green men” than humans.
- The Saucer Hub: Everything centers around the iconic silver UFO that has become one of Pennsylvania’s most photographed roadside attractions.
Mark Your Calendars (Both of Them)
If you missed the last one, don’t worry—the Martian orbit is predictable, even if the town’s celebrations are out of this world. For those looking to experience the quirkier side of the Keystone State, the Mars Brew Fest (a fundraiser for the main festival) is slated for June 6, 2026…