Penn Township Fall Festival returns with parade, music, food, fun
Three community members who were instrumental in setting up a covid-19 vaccination station at St. Barbara Church in Harrison City will be honored as parade grand marshals for the Penn Township Fall Festival.
The festival will take place Sept. 17-19 at Penn Township Municipal Park in Harrison City, with the parade set for 10:30 a.m. Sept. 18 along Route 130.
Honorees are Dr. Kevin Wong, who provided physician support for administering the vaccine; Jack Moschgat of Bushy Run Mainline Pharmacy, who obtained the vaccine; and church member Jan Shepherd, who coordinated the effort with church, medical and volunteer personnel.
More than 22,500 shots were administered at the church between January and June.
Featuring about 70 participants, the parade will start at Community United Methodist Church and end at Penn Trafford High School, said co-chairman Michael Ginsburg. Jennifer Miele will be the emcee.
The parade is just part of the festival fun, which also will include live music, carnival rides, food, arts and crafts vendors, exhibits, games and a family scavenger hunt.
This year’s new feature is Knockerball Run, Ginsburg said.
“It’s a big, plastic ball you get into and run around and knock each other silly,” he said.
A ride pass will be $20, and Knockerball will be $5 per session.
Entertainment will include music in various genres, including a performance at 1 p.m. Sept. 18 by the Penn Trafford Community Band.
Registration will open at noon Sept. 18 for a car cruise in the parking lot near the Penn Area Library. Traditionally, the cruise attracts more than 100 vehicles, Ginsburg said.
As in years past, Zambelli Fireworks will provide pyrotechnics at 9:30 p.m. Sept. 18. Rain date is Sept. 19.
Penn Township residents also are invited to participate in apple pie-baking and scarecrow-decorating contests.
Bakers are encouraged to get creative with their pies, but the filling must contain at least 60% apples. Top three pies will win a cash prize.
Scarecrows must be in good taste and not reflect controversial, social or political themes. Festival-goers will be able to vote for favorites.
The festival, which started in 2007, took a pandemic hiatus in 2020. It typically attracts 8,000 to 10,000 visitors throughout the weekend, Ginsburg said.
“Penn Township has a lot of little towns, so it doesn’t have one identity,” he said. “The festival helps to draw the people together.”
Ginsburg also noted that a limited number of vendor spaces are still available. For vendor and contest information and complete event schedule, visit penntownshipfallfestival.org or Penn Township Annual Fall Festival on Facebook.
Shirley McMarlin is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Shirley by email at smcmarlin@triblive.com or via Twitter .
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