An annual Lower Burrell festival will be returning to St. Margaret Mary Parish church grounds later this week.

The St. Margaret Mary Parish Festival of Friendship will take place from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the church at 3055 Leechburg Road.

“Our main thing is that we brought back the children’s games,” said Linda McAlpine, event coordinator. “We didn’t have them last year and that was one of the things people asked for, so we brought that back.”

But there’s more to the festival than the children’s games. McAlpine said there will be eight food trucks, live entertainment, a bake sale, bingo and a basket raffle.

Food vendors include Chef Joe’s Kitchen, Arnold Fire Department Band, Haus’s BBQ, Hot Ash Wood Fired Pizza, Kaczor Ravioli Co., Little C’s Concessions and Candy Cottage. Kona Ice rounds out the food lineup and only will be available Friday, McAlpine said.

Games will include inflatable axe throwing, a pig race and more. The festival will offer ride-all-night stamps and play-all-night bracelets.

The bake sale will be available both days, and the basket raffle features more than 100 baskets, McAlpine said.

Friday’s entertainment includes a 14-piece orchestra, Frankly Speaking, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. and classic country music with Dave Stout from 7:30 to 9 p.m.

On Saturday, classic rock with Dave Smith is planned from 5:30 to 7 p.m., while Steven Vance, an electric violinist, will perform from 7:30 to 9 p.m.

“We had (Vance) last year and everyone loved him,” McAlpine said.

Though not involved with the event, the city of Lower Burrell looks forward to the festival each year.

“It’s a great, family-friendly event for our community to come out and share in fellowship with one another,” Councilman Chris Fabry said. “My wife and I look forward to it every year.”

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