Crisp fall weather greeted the crowds at the 10th Annual Harvest Fest at St. Mary Roman Catholic Church, Tilden Township, this past weekend. The event, which drew hundreds of parishioners and area residents, included delicious foods and activities for all ages.
The festival began on the evening of Friday, Oct. 3, with live entertainment by Flamin’ Dick & the Hot Rods Oldies Band. A crowd gathered around the stage, located adjacent to a large pavilion with a wide range of ethnic foods like pierogi and golumpki as well as traditional favorites like burgers, hot dogs and pizza. Plenty of home-baked desserts were also available, featuring fall-themed treats like pumpkin-pie Rice Krispy treats, caramel apples and apple dumplings.
Many who arrived were drawn to the game fairway. Children lined up to try two activities new to the festival this year: a climbing rock wall and harnessed bungee jump. Patient volunteers, sporting bright “harvest festival” badges, explained games to the children like dime and whiffle-ball tosses, golf putting and the like. A paint-ball booth was another popular stop. Children also had opportunity to earn “punches” at different games. A card filled with accumulated punches scored big prizes at one booth.
In keeping with the fall theme, tractor-drawn wagon rides were available, as were horse rides. Attendees could try their hand at a sling-shot pumpkin launch or pick out a colorful gourd or mum from a pumpkin patch. Children were invited to pose with their pumpkins for family photo ops.
The event also included activities geared for adults, like a mini mobile museum from the Reading Fairgrounds Racing Historical Society, ongoing bingo games and raffles for quilts, gift baskets and the like. As attendees came and went, neighbors greeted neighbors, kids shouted hello to school friends and mothers passed babies around to be admired.
The Harvest Fest continued on Saturday afternoon and evening. All of the earlier activities continued, and music entertainment included the Golden Tones Polka Band, Christopher Tray with Joe Wydra and Relix with Tom Samide. A Polka Mass was scheduled for 4:30 pm on Saturday, as well.
St. Mary’s 10 Annual Harvest Fest was made possible by many volunteers. In addition, a wide range of area businesses sponsored the event. For more information about this event or the church, readers may call (610-562-7657), click (rc.net/allentown/stmaryhamb/) or visit (94 Walnut Road, Hamburg).
