PHILIPSBURG — Philipsburg’s Heritage Days hoopla is getting ready to bring small-town summer fun back to the Moshannon Valley.
The 12th annual event is on target for its Tuesday kickoff and will keep Philipsburg hopping through July 12 with this year’s theme, “Honoring the Past, Looking to the Future.”
“Even with the economy and all the downsizing, we’re able to continue to offer a really neat program,” said Heritage Days Committee Chairman Jim Pollock.
The celebration operates on a shoestring budget of grants and donations, but pulls together something that holds its own against the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts in State College and the People’s Choice Festival in Boalsburg, all of which happen over the same week every year. In fact, the Philipsburg event just keeps growing.
This year, the committee will be pulling kids’ strings with the Puppen Meister Productions Country Kids Jamboree. In addition to four puppet shows per day with themed marionettes, Puppen Meister will also provide old-fashioned carnival games and new-fashioned fun such as sumo wrestling, climbing walls and a mechanical bull.
Also new for 2009 are carriage rides in a white Victorian coach pulled by black Percheron horses. Pollock said they hope to allow the rides through Philipsburg’s historic district, as traffic allows. Final decisions on the route have not been made.
One decision has been made for the first time, however. Heritage Days has hit capacity for its vendors.
“We’ve had to shut the list off. We can’t take any more. We’ve never been in that situation,” said Pollock. There are already 87 vendors with spots on the street for selling crafts or gifts, or offering information. Another 17 vendors are on deck to provide food.
Organizers are anticipating a good turnout, specifically because of the economic climate.
“People are turning to staycations, versus vacations, and turning to local venues,” said Pollock. “It’s really an opportunity for people to see what a jewel Philipsburg is.”
Events start at 7 p.m. Tuesday with vesper services at the First Lutheran Church. Front Street will close that evening as well while vendors and volunteers get to work setting up. Booths open at 10 a.m. Wednesday, with highlights that include storyteller Jan Kinney at the Rowland Theatre at 6 p.m. and the always-popular water-melon- eating contest at 7 p.m. at Front and Pine streets.
Thursday will see Kinney back at the Rowland at 10 a.m., while an antiques appraisal fair will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the corner of Front and Pine. Musician Joe Serafini will stroll the street throughout the day, and the Valley Voices will hold their annual concert at the Rowland at 7:30 p.m.
On Friday, a health fair will take over the Rowland, while the yearly flower show blossoms at the VFW. Carriage rides will be held Friday, but times have not yet been determined.
Saturday’s highlight will be the Grand Parade at 2 p.m. with its new route, pouring floats, bands and firetrucks down Presqueisle Street to Second Street.
And if you like marching bands, this will be the place to be. Heritage Days is always music heavy, but the normal 7 to 9 marching bands will be nothing compared to the 15 planned for this year.
Sunday wraps up with the car show from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., and cow chip bingo at Philipsburg- Osceola Area Senior High School’s Memorial Stadium at 3 p.m.
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