Season's final Funnel Cake Friday set in Sharpsburg

A Sharpsburg summer tradition that mixes funnel cake batter with a powdered sugary sprinkle of community spirit will soon come to a close.

This season’s final Funnel Cake Fridays is set for June 27 from 5-8 p.m. at Kennedy Park.

It is expected to be packed with musical performances by Ezra Mihalcin, Donna Occhipinti, Brian Junker and Jim Skiff.

Devin Russian, co-host of open mic night at Starlight Lounge in Blawnox, books the live entertainment for Funnel Cake Fridays. He said the artists are excited to support Sharpsburg and showcase their talents.

The event was founded many years ago by the Sharpsburg-Aspinwall Rotary Club as a way to raise money and bring people together on Fridays in June.

The borough’s parks and recreation commission joined the club’s effort three years ago to give it a boost and draw more people to the park.

Commission chair Mallory Helbling said people are known to participate rain or shine.

“Last week, there was a storm but we still held through,” Helbling said on June 13. “People came and enjoyed. Today, we were happy with the turnout. The weather held off. We had a ton of vehicles, emergency vehicles and construction vehicles. Hopefully, the Rotary did good. It’s a tradition. We’re excited and honored that we’re able to help amplify Funnel Cake Friday and keep it going while also bringing different activities and live music to Friday.”

A different activity is also introduced each week.

The first one this season featured a resource fair hosted by Sharpsburg-based nonprofit Roots of Faith.

It included informational booths from local organizations like the Sharpsburg Community Library, the borough police department and UPMC St. Margaret.

Touch-a-truck took place on June 13. Vehicles included a fire truck, police SUV, public works truck and other heavy equipment.

Etna-based Allegheny CleanWays program director Lyssa Eberhardt brought her organization’s dump truck called “Ton Ton.”

Eberhardt said it was fun to see families explore the truck and talk with them about environmental conservation.

Allegheny CleanWays works to clean up illegal dump sites on land and in rivers.

Abbey Parrish made the trek from Shaler to visit her sister in Sharpsburg. She had a huge smile on her face while her 4-year-old son Zachary explored a fire truck at the park.

Rotary Club members Bill Crooks and Eric Gazica worked in tandem to provide funnel cakes on June 13.

Crooks poured and stirred the batter while Gazica served as “the sugar guy.”

“The secret is to use good batter,” said Crooks, who has been making the fried treat for 29 years. “We buy it from Gold Metal Products. It’s called Pennsylvania Dutch Funnel Cake mix, and cook it at a hot enough temperature.

“You see me looking at this thermometer all the time and having everybody wait because it’s supposed to be 400 degrees. Anything under 275 (degrees) and they get all mushy and wiry and don’t come out. When you start cooking a lot and cook two at a time, the oil can’t heat up fast enough.”

The funnel cake line stretched along the far wall of the park, which was painted with the message “Be Kind.”

Gazica followed that motto as he helped all customers, even those who missed getting a ticket for a funnel cake and went straight to the service line.

“It’s good to bring the community out for something in the summer,” he said. “To do it every Friday in June, we’re happy to do it.”

Between $800 and $1,000 is usually raised each Friday from the funnel cakes, 50/50 raffles and other concessions.

Funds are used for multiple rotary charities, including service dogs for veterans and medical checks for the needy.

Fox Chapel Area singer and guitarist Donna Occhipinti performed on June 13.

More information about Funnel Cake Fridays is available on the Rotary Club’s Facebook page.