Posted by S.L. on September 25, 2007 at 16:51:30 (EST):
In Reply to: Freedom Fall Festival posted by Chubbs on September 25, 2007 at 16:39:40 (EST):
: Anyone looking for something to do this weekend, looks like it will be a fun time with something for everyone.
: Hopefully it helps.
:
: Family events top fall festival
: By Patrick Shuster
: LEADER TIMES
: Monday, September 24, 2007
: KITTANNING -- What better way to celebrate the official start of fall, than to have the "Freedom Fall Festival" in Kittanning's Riverfront Park?
: The borough's Crime Watch organization hopes the fall celebration will become an annual event and a way to help educate the community about the importance of keeping the community and its residents safe.
: "The goal is to provide a place where families can come and have fun and enjoy their community," said event coordinator Cindy Housley. "We want people to see that there is a way to go out and have fun without using drugs and alcohol."
: Housley, also a borough council member, said the crime watch group will have an informational booth to provide children and parents with useful tips on talking about the dangers of drugs and alcohol, as well as offering home drug testing kits and information about the group and how to join.
: The festival will kick off at 6 p.m. Thursday with live music by a Pittsburgh band, Tres Lads, from 6:15 to 8:15 p.m. followed by a DJ. Also on Thursday will be the 2007 Chrome and Glow truck and tri-axle show, sponsored by Flynn's Commercial Tire.
: The show, a first-of-its-kind in the area, will offer trophies to various classes of trucks, said show organizer Earl Kline.
: "This is a way to show off these big trucks to people who might never get the chance to see them up close," Kline said. "We all see the trucks going up and down our roads, but when they are cleaned and polished, they are very nice trucks."
: The event continues Friday, beginning at 6 p.m. with a DJ and a pickup truck and antique tractor show. Saturday's events begin at noon and run until 11 p.m.
: A Red, White and Blue parade, complete with floats, marching groups and possibly an appearance by McGruff the Crime Dog, will step off at 2 p.m. Saturday and wind its way through town. A car show will be held in the park following the parade.
: Entertainment will begin at 5 p.m. Saturday, featuring Christian music by groups such as Forgiven, the Lighthouse Band, the Vision Quartet and the Christian rock band, The Silver Halos.
: Sunday's events will begin with a nondenominational worship service in the amphitheater at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Stanley Schilffarth of the Church of God.
: After the service, the amphitheater will give way to a "battle of the barrel" featuring fire departments from around Armstrong County as well as surrounding counties. There will also be open stage entertainment in the park during the day.
: "We want to bring attention to the drug problem in the county, but we also want to have a place where people can go without having to worry about drugs and alcohol," Housley said. "We want the community to see that Kittanning is still a good, fun place to live and raise a family."
: The four-day event will include craft and merchandise vendors, food vendors and other activities. The carnival rides are presented by LAM Enterprises.
: Advance ride tickets for the carnival rides, which will be set up throughout the park, will be sold at a reduced cost of $12.50 per strip of 10, and each ride takes one ticket. Tickets purchased at the event will be higher priced. Advance tickets will be available at the Kittanning Borough police station, Jordan's Paint and Glass, The 700 Shop, and Walker Motors.
: Organizations interested in participating in the parade may contact Chuck Housley at 724-525-9001, or Kevin Kline, at 724-859-4478. Kline is also the contact for the Battle of the Barrel. Merchandise and food vendors may contact Tammy Foy at 724-525-3488.
::: I think is a great thing they are doing. I wish them luck and lets hope this will be a yearly event..