Over the past several years, the Labor Day car show was held in Ford City Park under the shade of the trees. However, this year, Ford City Council is using an old ordinance to prohibit vehicles in the park. (2018 KP File Photo)
Two different events are being scheduled this month in Ford City.
The annual Labor Day parade sponsored by the Ford City Area Renaissance Community Partnership has been moved from Labor Day to one day only - Saturday, August 24 - according to organizer Paul Klukan.
“We used to do it Labor Day weekend, but we bumped it up a week this year because we can get more bands. In the past everyone said Labor Day weekend was bad. Even the Kittanning Firemen’s Band couldn’t come because that is their weekend off. They are coming this year since we moved it a week earlier.”
Klukan said the Renaissance committee also will be announcing next week some very special bands from Pittsburgh that they are currently scheduling.
Locally, Klukan said not to expect the local Armstrong High School band, but West Shamokin’s marching band has consented to perform.
The annual car show will begin on at Noon on August 24 and run until the start of the parade. Klukan said he was disappointed that the cars can no longer be parked inside Ford City Memorial Park this year. In previous years, the vehicle owners and visitors could enjoy the shade of the park to leisurely meander throughout the car show.
Klukan said he anticipates parking the cars around the Park on 3rd Avenue, 9th Street, 4th Avenue, and 8th Street. In addition, the Renaissance Committee will have their vendor booth set up to sell food during the car show.
Then on Labor Day weekend, the Ford City Hose Co. #1 firemen will host an Old-Fashioned Street Festival on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, August 30-September 1. It will take place in the Borough’s parking lot and extend into 10th Street between 4th and 5th Avenue.
In 2017, the Renaissance and fire company joined to do the weekend event together. In 2018, there was a disagreement and the two groups functioned on the same weekend, but independently of each other. This year, they have separated weekends.
The festival will run from 1-11 PM all three days. On Friday night, the band “Tight” will play from 6-8, and “Buddy Dee and the Hitmen” will perform 8-10. On Saturday, “Railtowne” will be on stage 6-8, and “Andy Davis” will be in the 8-10 slot. On Sunday, the “Steel City Yacht Club” is expected to entertain from 6-8, and “13 Stories” will finish the event from 8-10.