Valley News Dispatch

Lower Burrell falls into autumn with city’s largest market event in recent history

Kellen Stepler
By Kellen Stepler
3 Min Read Sept. 28, 2023 | 2 years Ago
Go Ad-Free today

An all-day fall festival will take over Lower Burrell next weekend.

The city’s largest harvest festival will kick off Saturday, Oct. 7, at Bon Air Elementary School and Burrell High School. The day begins at 9 a.m. with the city’s farmers market at Bon Air.

At 1 p.m., the fun will make its way to Burrell High School. There, event-goers can expect vendors, food trucks, games and more.

About a dozen booths of children’s activities and a bounce house — all free — will be available, said Carley Logan, event coordinator.

Parking at the middle and high schools also is free.

“I do not ever want a parent to tell their child they cannot attend an event because they cannot afford to go,” Logan said.

Live music will be Derrick Beattie and Let’s Duet.

A cornhole tournament will kick off at 2 p.m. The entry fee is $20 per team, and winners will earn a cash prize.

Also, at 2 p.m., Lower Burrell K-9 Officer Aaron Rodgers will perform a demonstration with the force’s police dog, Buc.

Both of the city’s volunteer fire companies will participate in a touch-a-truck event.

Bingo is from 3 to 5 p.m., and a local hula hoop performer, Lacy Ban, will showcase her talents in the evening, Logan said.

The day also boasts raffles, a 50-50 drawing and four food trucks — Little C’s Concessions, Rob Haas BBQ, Fat Cat Subs and Kona Ice.

Logan said there will be more than 15 other vendors “representing local businesses as well as craft vendors.”

A car show will be held from 2 to 8 p.m. at Bon Air Elementary School. There is a $5 entrance fee for cars, and proceeds go toward hosting future events, Logan said.

Four awards will be up for grabs at the show: Mayor’s Pick, Community Pick, Best in Show and Ethan’s Pick,” a nod to Logan’s 5-year-old son, “who kind of became famous” in a local car group, Logan said. She said Ethan would attend car shows and pick his favorite vehicles, and then Ethan would take pictures of his selections that would be posted to Facebook.

“It was a well sought-after prize to be one of Ethan’s picks,” she said.

Other activities planned at Bon Air include a live DJ, door prizes and other raffles.

The event earned the endorsement of city officials.

“I’m very excited for the Harvest Festival,” city Councilman Chris Fabry said. “This is the exact type of event that we need, as our residents are always looking for local, family-friendly things to do. It will also surely attract plenty of visitors from out of town who will see what Lower Burrell has to offer.

“Carley’s vision is certainly ambitious. This shows what one person can accomplish when they are dedicated and driven. She’s a huge asset to the city.”

Share

Tags:

About the Writers

Kellen Stepler is a TribLive reporter covering the Allegheny Valley and Burrell school districts and surrounding areas. He joined the Trib in April 2023. He can be reached at kstepler@triblive.com.

Article Details

If you go What: Lower Burrell Harvest Festival When: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Oct. 7 Where: Bon Air Elementary…

If you go
What: Lower Burrell Harvest Festival
When: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Oct. 7
Where: Bon Air Elementary School, 3260 Leechburg Road; and Burrell High School, 1021 Puckety Church Road
Details: The farmers market will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Bon Air Elementary along with a car show from 2 to 8 p.m. Other events are planned from 1 to 8 p.m. at Burrell High School.
Farmers market continues to grow
The Lower Burrell farmers market has achieved new heights thanks, in part, to one of its coordinators, Carley Logan.
The season culminates with the city’s harvest festival, scheduled for Oct. 7. The all-day event will be held at Bon Air Elementary School and Burrell High School.
And this year’s farmers market season featured twice as many vendors as in 2022.
“Over the past two years, I have spent a lot of time and energy building the farmers market up to what it is, and I have no intentions of stopping,” Logan said.
Logan is from Lower Burrell and said she wanted to get involved and improve the city. She and her husband are raising a family, and she said she “wanted to ensure our kids are raised in a safe and thriving community.”
One of the ways to do that is to bolster a community farmers market. She cited research that farmers markets can stimulate local economies and improve a sense of community.
Logan thanked others in the community for their support, and Anthony and Disa Sylvester, Cara Morrill-Stoklosa, Debbie Kurtik, Melissa Smith, Deva Staley and Alicia Atkinson for their help with the harvest festival.
Logan said a Christmas-style event for the city is in the works for Dec. 9.

Push Notifications

Get news alerts first, right in your browser.

Enable Notifications

Content you may have missed

Enjoy TribLIVE, Uninterrupted.

Support our journalism and get an ad-free experience on all your devices.

  • TribLIVE AdFree Monthly

    • Unlimited ad-free articles
    • Pay just $4.99 for your first month
  • TribLIVE AdFree Annually BEST VALUE

    • Unlimited ad-free articles
    • Billed annually, $49.99 for the first year
    • Save 50% on your first year
Get Ad-Free Access Now View other subscription options