Fox Chapel Day at McCahill Park set for June 14

Fox Chapel police are gearing up for what may be the largest community event in department history.

The fifth annual Fox Chapel Day is set for June 14 at McCahill Park.

Organized by Sgt. Craig Sorg and a handful of volunteers, the department expects to draw about 1,000 people from multiple communities to the borough’s popular recreation site.

Last year, the event had about 800 participants.

“We have more stuff this year than last year,” Sorg said. “We have more food trucks coming this year than we did before. It keeps growing every year. We get more vendors, more entertainment. I love doing it. Where we’re at today is what I imagined (five years ago).”

Activities include ice sculpture demonstrations from noon-1 p.m., a petting zoo from noon- 2:30 p.m., balloon artist Weird Eric from 1-3 p.m., pony rides from 2-4 p.m., trackless train and inflatables all day.

Food trucks include Momma-licious, Cool Beans Taco Truck, Nicky’s Hot Dogs and Beedle’s Ice Cream.

One of the new attractions, a climbing wall, is something Officer Erik Zentgraf of Penn Hills has been requesting for years.

“We always had them at birthday parties growing up (in Tarentum) and kids like it,” Zentgraf said. “I think it will be a nice addition.”

Zentgraf, the tallest patrolman in the borough, standing 6 feet 5 inches with a 6-foot-7-inch wingspan, will likely have an advantage over any climbers at the event. He hopes the wall is a big hit.

“I think it’s going to be a good turnout,” Zentgraf said. “It’s gotten bigger since the first one. I think it will be good. Craig better have found a very tall climbing wall so I can participate.”

Sorg said it is important to bring in new activities to keep things from getting stale.

“I just like changing it,” he said. “I like to keep a variety. I want people to come and see new things and do new things and not the same year after year. I want people to come and have a good time and enjoy themselves.”

About 30 vendors have signed up for the event, including local organizations such as the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Cooper-Siegel Community Library, Carnegie Museum of Natural History and Fox Chapel Area Adult Education.

A park improvement project that has been going on since last year is expected to have a limited impact on the event.

“We may be limited on some spaces due to freshly planted grass, but we’ll adjust around it,” Sorg said. “It’s not slowing us down. We’re still going to have a big event.”

Additional parking and a free shuttle will be available at the Fox Chapel Presbyterian Church, 384 Fox Chapel Road.