Whitehall's Community Day 'bigger and better'

Whitehall Borough Community Day will feature some new and improved aspects, as the borough’s new recreation director is working to give recreation in the community a boost.

“We’re doing bigger and better starting this year,” said Hannah Vetere, who began her role as Whitehall’s new recreation director in February.

Whitehall Community Day, set for Aug. 24 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Brennan Plaza and Snyder Park, will feature old staples and new fun.

Like in years past, the day will kick off with what’s being billed as “the hardest 5K in the South Hills.”

Race registration will start at 8 a.m., with the race itself beginning at 9 a.m.

The race starts at Snyder Park and goes through neighborhood streets then onto Brownsville Road, to Baptist Road before looping back around to Snyder Park.

There’s also a one-mile fun walk, for those who aren’t up for the challenge.

The Whitehall Mile for kids will start at 9:45 a.m.

At 10: 30 a.m., awards will be given out for the top racers and the day will begin.

At Snyder Park, there will be a DJ, inflatables for the kids and a train ride, Vetere said.

At Brennan Plaza, informational vendors and sponsors will share information about community groups and sell food.

There will be everything from the St. Gabriel Christian Mothers selling haluski and hot sausage to Boy Scouts selling Rita’s Italian Ice and the Baldwin Highlander Music Patrons selling funnel cake. Gianna Via’s will have a booth where they’ll sell various Italian dishes and the plaza will feature a DJ.

In the pavilion — or on stage — the day will be filled with activities, from local performances to award ceremonies.

At 11:45 a.m., local officials will be introduced. At noon, there will be a performance by Dance Workshop by Shari, at 1 p.m. a performance by South Hills School of Music, at 2 p.m. a performance by the Baldwin Highlander band and at 2:30 p.m. an award ceremony, where the citizen of the year and good neighbor winners will be recognized.

At 3 p.m., local band Paul Rennie and the Kuss will perform and the day will be capped off with the pulling of raffle tickets at 3:45 p.m., which you must be present to claim.

The Whitehall pool will be open to all for a free day of swimming.

In the pool parking lot — and new to community day this year — will be various vendors and food trucks.

Carnegie Science Center, YMCA Adventure Guides and Princesses and Baldwin-Whitehall FAB Lab will all feature activities.

Food trucks for the day will include Beatnik Sweets Eats, a dessert truck; Miso Hungry, a hibachi food truck owned by Whitehall residents; and Mike’s ice cream truck. Pitaland also will be there selling food and several wineries will be offering samples and selling bottles.

Various boutique-style vendors will be selling products. No Limits Martial Arts from Cool Springs will even be teaching kids to chop a board in half.

Vetere compared this portion of the day to a farmers’ market, without the produce.

The whole day is meant to be fun and draw the community together, she said.

“It’s about just getting the community back out, having one community and doing things together,” she said. “I’m trying to bring more life to the community, in terms of recreation.”