Big draw for McCandless Community Day

An estimated 1,000 people attended the annual Town of McCandless Community Day, held Sept. 14 at the town hall grounds off Grubbs Road.

The event featured rides, food trucks, vendors and entertainment, including a performance by the North Allegheny Marching Band.

Festivities began with Hosack Elementary School chorus students singing the national anthem and finished with the Allegheny Brass Band performing during a fireworks display.

“Everything went incredibly well. The weather was great. The music and performances were awesome, and the vendors were a fantastic showcase of our McCandless community,” said Abby Lucostic, parks and recreation director for the town.

The annual Frank J. Farina Jr. Memorial Car Cruise began earlier in the afternoon, held at the parking lot of Ashton Commons senior center, just down the road from town hall. The site represented a closer venue compared to previous years, when the cruise was held at the North Allegheny Intermediate School parking lot on Cumberland Road.

New this year at Community Day was a recreation and sports showcase nearby at the Lorrain G. Rogers Memorial Soccer Fields. Lucostic said it was a great addition, although it was much less busy than in the Devlin Park area and town hall parking lot attractions.

“My hope is that next year, people will come to expect more attractions spread across the town campus to include the soccer fields and, of course, the heritage and cultural center,” she said.

Parking spots were a hot commodity, with cars taking advantage of any possible openings in nearby lots, streets and around town hall.

Lucostic agreed that parking was the biggest challenge. Shuttle services were available from the McCandless Pittsburgh Regional Transit Park and Ride on Blazier Drive.

There are 300 spots available in that lot, as opposed to the 90 in the McCandless/Northern Allegheny Heritage Center lot, which was probably full by 3:30 even though the festivities were scheduled at 4 p.m., according to Lucostic.

Next year, she hopes more people will take their vehicles to the park and ride lot first and then take the shuttle.

“This was the first year we were able to bring the car cruise back to the neighborhood, and having aux parking and shuttle service close by, it takes a few times to change habits,” she said.

Megan Coulehan attended Community Day with her husband, Patrick, and their children, Maddie, 5, and Lilly, 3.

“This is our third year coming in here. It’s just a fun little event for the kids and families,” Megan said.

Next year, Lucostic plans to expand the soccer field exhibition space. Community Day is usually the second Saturday of September, with the 2025 event set for Sept. 13.