Star Spangled Express arrives in Pottstown for celebration

KEVIN HOFFMAN — 21st Century Media
Homecoming Queens pose for a ceremonial photo inside the main car of the Colebrookdale Railroad. This year's Pottstown July 4th Homecoming Queens are (in no particular order) Michaela Parr of Spring-Ford, Samantha Garritano of Owen J. Roberts, Eliana Arroyo-Dech of Pottstown, Rebecca Nitka of Daniel Boone and Jess Kurtz of Boyertown and Wendy Ni of Pottsgrove.
KEVIN HOFFMAN - 21st Century Media Original July 4th committee member Gil Pennypacker returned to Memorial Park for the festivities Friday night.
KEVIN HOFFMAN - 21st Century Media 5-month-old Maverick Skone of Pottstown charms the judges with a heart warming smile at the baby contest as his mother Lyndi proudly looks on.
KEVIN HOFFMAN - 21st Century Media Pottstown Homecoming Queen Eliana Arroyo-Dech was crowned the 4th of July Queen for 2015.
KEVIN HOFFMAN — 21st Century Media
Homecoming queens pose for a ceremonial photo in front of the Colebrookdale railroad. This year's Pottstown July 4th Homecoming Queens are (in no particular order) Michaela Parr of Spring-Ford, Samantha Garritano of Owen J. Roberts, Eliana Arroyo-Dech of Pottstown, Rebecca Nitka of Daniel Boone and Jess Kurtz of Boyertown and Wendy Ni of Pottsgrove.
KEVIN HOFFMAN - 21st Century Media The Colebrookedale Railroad arrives with the Boyertown Queen.
KEVIN HOFFMAN - 21st Century Media Homecoming Queens pose for a ceremonial photo inside the main car of the Colebrookdale Railroad. Pottstown July 4th Homecoming Queens included (in no particular order) Michaela Parr of Spring-Ford, Samantha Garritano of Owen J. Roberts, Eliana Arroyo-Dech of Pottstown, Rebecca Nitka of Daniel Boone and Jess Kurtz of Boyertown and Wendy Ni of Pottsgrove.
KEVIN HOFFMAN - 21st Century Media The Magically Amazing Ryan performs for children at Memorial Park.
KEVIN HOFFMAN — 21st Century Media
Modeling the July 4th commemorative hats are Homecoming Queens, left to right, Michaela Parr of Spring-Ford, Samantha Garritano of Owen J. Roberts, Eliana Arroyo-Dech of Pottstown, Rebecca Nitka of Daniel Boone and Jess Kurtz of Boyertown. Pottsgrove was missing from photo.
KEVIN HOFFMAN - 21st Century Media Holding the trophy is Pottstown Homecoming Queen Eliana Arroyo-Dech who was crowned the 4th of July Queen for 2015.
KEVIN HOFFMAN — 21st Century Media
Pottstown July 4th Homecoming Queens left to right are Michaela Parr of Spring-Ford, Samantha Garritano of Owen J. Roberts, Eliana Arroyo-Dech of Pottstown, Rebecca Nitka of Daniel Boone and Jess Kurtz of Boyertown. Wendy Ni of Pottsgrove was missing from photo.

PUBLISHED: July 5, 2015 at 11:22 a.m. | UPDATED: August 22, 2021 at 3:49 a.m.

By 21st Century Media staffFriday night, July 3, began the weekend-long celebration of the 4th of July holiday and Pottstown’s Bicentennial.

Among the entertainment was a baby contest, opening ceremonies for the introduction of the parade Grand Marshal and the crowning of the long-awaited Bicentennial Homecoming Queen.

Following those highlights, the Colebrookdale Railroad Star Spangled Express arrived in Pottstown at 7:40 p.m. with Boyertown High School Homecoming Queen, Jess Kurtz aboard.

The excursion departed from Boyertown at 6 p.m. Pottstown Mayor Sharon Thomas and homecoming queens from Daniel Boone, Owen J. Roberts, Pottsgrove, Pottstown and Spring-Ford met the train as it arrived in Pottstown. Passengers and Kurtz then joined guests in Memorial Park for more festivities.

Events continued through Saturday, July 4.