McCandless Community Day doubles its attendance with longer day, more offerings

Warm weather and pleasant skies welcomed visitors to the annual McCandless Community Day, held Sept. 13 in and around Town Hall along Grubbs Road.

While it’s difficult to know for sure, Manager John Schwend estimated the number of attendees was between 2,000 and 2,500, doubling last year’s crowd.

“We heard a number of positive comments about the number and variety of food trucks and vendors, and people enjoyed the additional offerings for their kids as well. Overall, we’ve heard great feedback about everything,” Schwend said.

A few changes were made for this year, including an earlier start time at 1 p.m. More people took advantage of the parking at the nearby Pittsburgh Regional Transportation lot, where a shuttle service ran throughout the day.

“The longer event also allowed for families with small children who may not have stayed the entire night for the fireworks to come earlier in the day, which helped alleviate some congestion,” Schwend said.

The town used the nearby Lorrain Rogers Soccer Field for its rides, housed the entertainment stage on the baseball field and reserved the parking lot for its food trucks and most of its community booths.

The day’s entertainment included performances from students at Michele’s Dance Center, Americana alternative folk group The 729ers, rock cover band This-That & The Other Thing and Totally 80s as headliner.

A skydiver from Mercer-based Skydive Pennsylvania safely landed in the baseball field while holding a U.S. flag.

“The skydiver was also a huge hit and will surely be back,” Schwend said.

Franklin Park resident Sergey Blyakhor, who was there with his son, Felix, 6, a first grader at Ingomar Elementary School, said community events like this are important.

“It’s important to see each other face to face. We’re all here together to celebrate, and this gives us something to enjoy,” Blaykhor said.

The Frank J. Farina Jr. Memorial Car Cruise, a longtime staple of McCandless Community Day, was held from 3 to 6 p.m. at Ashton Commons off Blazier Drive.

Lynda Myers of McCandless enjoyed a hayride with her granddaughter, Jamie Hutchison, a 2023 North Allegheny graduate and now a student at La Roche University, before heading over to the car cruise.

Myers fondly remembers the Farina family when her daughter, Lisa Hutchison, a 1989 North Allegheny graduate, was a majorette.

“Everybody is still great,” she said of the North Allegheny band.

The Allegheny Brass Band performed during the fireworks display at dusk. Schwend and Abby Lucostic, parks and recreation director for McCandless, thanked council, staff, volunteers and sponsors who helped make the event successful.

“Without their support and help, fantastic community events like this would not be possible,” Schwend said.

“We are hoping the event will continue to grow each year. And with the celebration of McCandless’s 175-year anniversary, next year surely will not disappoint.”