The finest Asian cuisine is being prepared by Sarin Grill as Summerfest kicked off in Ford City yesterday.
Vendors Create the Smell of Food at Summerfest
You can’t help but get hungry from the smell of food in the air as you walk through Ford City Memorial Park now through Sunday night.
The 2019 Ford City Summerfest started yesterday with opening ceremony at 4PM with a crowd of people sampling some of the finest cuisine in the area.
Ford City Councilman Tyson Klukan cooks up the pastrami on the grill and hands the sandwich off to Ford City Lion Brad Baillie. The booth is a fund-raiser for the Lion’s Club.
You will find pastrami sandwiches made by the Ford City Lions Club; fresh squeezed lemonade by St. Johns Lutheran Church in Ford City; roast beef sandwiches by Youth Football and Cheerleading; Asian food by the Sarin Grill; home-made ravioli and pierogies by John Kaczor; and a host of other food including: fresh fruit smoothies, Polish food, chicken fingers, beef jerky, funnel cakes, cheese sticks, fresh cut fries, corn dogs, southern ice tea, BBQ over the open flame, hot sausage, cheese steaks, wood-fired pizza, fried dough sandwiches, and Herold’s Kettle Korn made fresh from the kettle in front of you.
If by some small chance you already ate, there are booths full of jewelry, leather goods, glassware, primitive crafts, wood furniture, and amazing notions.
Free-lance Artist Adam Walmsley from Cabot was creating a cartoon drawing from the photo of someone’s dog.
Free-lance artist Adam Wamsley from Cabot draws the caricature of a dog that was taken on a cell phone.
“It’s hard to make the dog sit that long, so I took the photo on my cell phone and I draw the caricature from the photo,” Wamsley said. The artist has been doing his art full time over the past ten years. He is a graduate of the Joe Kubert School of Cartooning in New Jersey.
Armstrong County Court of Common Pleas Judge James Panchik welcomed the visitors and former residents who have come home for the celebration during his remarks during the opening ceremony.
“Traditionally, Ford City comes home for the Fourth of July,” Panchik said. “A lot of folks who have moved, come home and this is a traditional time to get together. The Summerfest is a facility to get together. So we appreciate the people who put in all of the hours to make this successful. I want to thank the committee for all they do. Thank you for coming out.”
He was joined by County Treasurer Amanda Hiles and Controller Myra Tammy Miller. However, missing from the podium were members of Ford City Borough Council and the mayor.
Judge James Panchik offers his admiration for the work of the Summerfest committee during the opening ceremony of the festival yesterday afternoon.
The Armstrong Festival Chorus provided several musical selections. They were followed by Singer Ale Gibson, and the 70s-80s band “56 East” (formerly “Magic” of Leechburg).
This year, fireworks were shot off from behind the clock tower at 10PM last night, but will also be the grand finale on Sunday, July 7 at 10PM to close the festival.
Tonight, the Radioactive Event Center in Kittanning will present a Bubble Party on 4th Avenue in front of the gazebo from 6-7 PM. It will be followed by 80s rock band “2KD Band”, sponsored by Mantini Funeral Home.
On Saturday, the 5K Run/Walk will be held at 9AM. There is bingo to be played from 1-5 PM. The Center Stage Dance Studio will be featured 1-2PM. Claire Osborne’s music students will be on stage from 2:30-3:30 PM. The parade is scheduled to being at 6PM. The classic rock group “This, That & the Other Thing” will play from 7-10 PM, sponsored by Pfeil Construction.
On Sunday, St. Marys Ukrainian Church will hold Mass in the Park from 11:30 AM until 12:30 PM. Dave’s Country Keyboard and Accordion will play from 12:30-1:30 PM. “Houseband” will perform from 2-5 PM. The Kit-Han-Ne Car Club will also hold a car cruise from 2-6PM. Murphy’s Music Center Big Band will be featured from 7-10PM, and Fireworks finish the festival at 10PM Sunday night.
Summerfest 2019 features children’s train rides, pony and carriage rides, games, raffles, and more. Questions can be directed to 724-525-6919.