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NINTH ANNUAL JACKSON
TOWNSHIP
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Information about the festival in general can be found at the following links, or scroll down for more details: Festival
Entertainment Schedule / Sponsors Click any event title below for the event page, or scroll down for additional details Fifth Annual Classic Car Cruise and Classic Rockers Concert - July 20, 2012 Second Annual Heritage Festival Parade - July 21, 2012 Cutest Baby Contest & Entry Form - 2012 Second Annual Jackson Heritage Festival 5K Run-Walk Event - July 21, 2012 First Annual Jackson Heritage Festival Basketball Camp - July 21, 2012
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON THE FESTIVAL1) This is the festival's ninth year running. Has it been the success you thought it would turn out to be in the township? The festival has turned out to be above and beyond our original expectations. When I look back at the first year, we were really feeling our way around of how to do things and get things done. We've never done any event on that large a scale before. Over the past eight years, the festival has grown and we attract more people every year due to the high quality of entertainment, children's activities, fireworks, crafts, and a great variety of food. Many people look forward to the festival each year and invite friends and family. Some even plan their vacations around the festival so, with all this being said, I guess you could call it a great success! 2) What will be returning to the festival from years past? Entertainment returning from years past include The Johnstown Classic Rockers, a group made up of some of the best musicians to ever play in Johnstown area bands; Tree, an Irish folk music group; The Bayou Bandits from the Harrisburg area who play Cajun / Zydeco music; The Classic Clowns; The Fabulous Flashbacks, who have a huge following throughout Central Pennsylvania; The Masters, who perform Southern Gospel and are based out of Jackson Township; Beaver Creek, a bluegrass group from the Pittsburgh area who are real crowd pleasers; Clay Bowser, who is widely popular and can sing and play just about anything, and NOMaD (North of Mason and Dixon), country recording artists from Pittsburgh, who will perform in concert from 6:30 to 9:30. NOMaD has charted several songs in the top 100 nationally and in the top 10 in several European countries. They have opened for a wide variety of country stars at their concerts in Western Pennsylvania and beyond. NOMaD plays a variety of music from top country hits to original music. They specialize in country rock and are also highly entertaining. The crowd should really enjoy them and their appeal extends to all ages. They've won several national band competitions including a contest sponsored by Kenny Chesney entitled "Kenny Chesney's Next Big Star." They just released their second CD, called "Showtime." We will once again have a huge fireworks display on Saturday evening and there will be bingo at the Senior Center and Fire Hall. There will be a wide variety of crafts and food booths as well as other vendors. The Cutest Bay Contest will be returning. This contest is always popular with Festival goers, who are able to place votes at 25 cents each for their choice of "cutest baby." To enter the contest, you need to submit a 5 x 7" photo of the baby you'd like to enter. Any child two and under can be eligible to win one of three prizes, which are Savings Bonds of $100, $75, and $50 Once again, the Tri-Area Museum and Historical Society will have a large display of historical items of local interest in the Senior Center Building. Also, on Sunday morning, Singer Hill Grace Brethren Church will hold its regular Sunday morning church service on the Festival grounds. Of course, everyone is welcome to attend! Also returning will be the ever-popular Car Cruise on Friday evening. A 5K Walk / Run Event will be held by the Central Cambria Education Foundation on Saturday morning at 9 a.m. At noon on Saturday there will be the Annual Aaron Rusin Poker Run and at 1 p.m. the Second Annual Heritage Festival Parade will take place. The parade will march down Rose Branch Street and Adams Avenue to Veterans Park. Any groups interested in being in the parade should contact Dave Hirko at (814) 749-0725. 3) Along with returns to the festival, will there be anything new this year? This year we have quite a few new things going on. On Saturday, Andy The Firefly from Northern Cambria will host a juggling, magic, and comedy show from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Also new this year will be Unicycle Sam from Portage, who will be strolling the festival grounds and entertaining the crowd. Also new on Saturday morning, July 21, will be a free Youth Basketball Clinic at Mitchell Park, sponsored by Coach Lance Loya of Mount Aloysius College. 4) For all the young kids coming out, what will the festival have in store for their entertainment? There are many things for children of all ages at the festival. Classic Clowns will be appearing once again and making balloon animals and doing face painting. Returning again is the Cambria County Community Arts Center where children up to age 12 can make a variety of crafts under professional guidance. There will be hay rides, a miniature train display and some of the vendor booths are geared for the interest of children. Returning will be the Living Treasures Petting Zoo from Greenville, PA. Living Treasures owns two animal parks in Greenville and Donegal and they will bring in a variety of animals including a llama, miniature pony, giant turtles, goats, sheep and ducks. There is no charge for the petting zoo and children will be able to purchase food from a vending machine for a quarter. The Jackson Twp. Vol. Fire Company will be hosting several events including a Battle of the Barrel on Saturday at 3 p.m. and a Kids Pedal Tractor Pull on Sunday at 3 p.m. Jerry Brown, the Monkey Man from Lancaster, PA, will be returning and performing shows and strolling the festival grounds all weekend long with his cute little monkey, Django, who takes quarters, does tricks, shakes hands, gives monkey kisses, poses for photos and plays catch with kids and adults alike. There are also lots of new crafts and food at this year's festival. Also a Fire House Bounce Tent will be on hand this year along with Hayrides on Saturday and Sunday. 5) And how about the teens? What will get them excited about coming out for the festival? I think teens will enjoy the skill games sponsored by the Boy Scouts and others and of course the hayrides and pretty much alot of the things the adults, like such as listening to the music, eating lots of great festival food and above all, just hanging out with their friends. Of course the fireworks is a big hit of all ages. 6) Has there been a certain part of the festival you have come to look forward to the most over the years? The part of the festival I look forward to is seeing everyone having a great time and socializing with their neighbors, friends, and family. It amazes me to see how many people come to the festival and many from great distances. Many people have told me that they see people from the community at the festival they may not see the rest of the year. The atmosphere is friendly and festive and there's nothing better than seeing everyone having a great time. 7) How is the festival made possible? The festival primarily relies on sponsors from the business community and local organizations. Without them, we could not have all of the entertainment and activities that we do. This year, we had three major sponsors, which is fantastic for the festival. They include Waste Management, Amfire Mining, Somerset Trust, and Direct Value Outlet. Other large sponsors include Cambria Care Center, Froggy 95 & 96 Key, Jackson Township Senior Center, Charles J. Merlo Inc, Dolan’s Welding & Steel, Mercik’s Ideal Market, Neighbors Who Care, Ameriserv, Askew-Houser Funeral Homes, Espe Chiropractic Health Center, Jerry Gilkey Pools, Keller Engineers and Luther P. Miller Inc. Others donating towards this event include Cooper Signs, C & R Service Center, Construction Equipment Services, Dr. Donald M. Leckey-Optometrist, Elias Chiropractic, Hagerich Auto Sales, Jane’s Signs & Designs, Martin Marine, Naugle Insurance Agency, Rose Excavating, Vantage Physical Therapy, Warren Oil, Wix Pix Productions, and Damin Printing. Without the sponsors' generous support, the festival would not be the success that it is. While most of the sponsors contribute financially, some offer services. Martin Marine donates the use of utility vehicles, Construction Equipment helps construct the entertainment stage, Waste Management provides garbage containers and dumpsters, the Jackson Township Volunteer Fire Company provides fire police, and the list goes on and on. They all do their part to help with the festival. If anyone wishes to be a sponsor, applications can be found on our website at www.jacksontwppa.com/festival, or they can call 749-0725. What is great about having sponsors and support from the community is that we can offer all entertainment for free. There is no charge for parking, and children's activities are held to a minimal cost. Food vendors are priced very reasonablly and many people have complimented the Heritage Festival on being a place that is affordable to bring the entire family without costing an arm and a leg. We also are looking for volunteers to help in a variety of areas. If anyone is interested in being a volunteer, all they need to do is call 749-0725 or 322-3433 and we will put them to work. 8) If vendors would like to get in touch about possibly coming out, how would they go about that? If someone is interested in having a booth at the festival, they can contact the Jackson Township Municipal Building at 749-0725 between 8 - 4. After 4, they can call 322-3433. Applications can also be printed off the website at www.jacksontwppa.com/festival. Cost for craft or other venders is $25 for the festival. Food vendors are $35 and there is no additional charge for electricity. We aim to have a large variety of vendors for the enjoyment of those attending. 9) Is there anything else you would like to comment on about the festival? Just the fact that this is our ninth year and that in itself is an accomplishment. There are so many details that go into to making this event happen and we will start immediately after this year's festival on next year's. It's really a year-round project. We are always looking to make it bigger and better and to give people what they want. We are hoping and praying for good weather, but, rain or shine, the festival will take place and we really can accommodate people even if it rains. Our entertainment tents have seating for over 600 and the Senior Center and other facilities can also provide shelter out of the rain as well. I would encourage everyone to come out for one of the best events of the summer in the area. It's definitely a good time for all! —David
M. Hirko, Township Manager, |
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JACKSON TOWNSHIP LINKS |
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CHURCHES | SCHOOLS | ROUTE 22 IN 1944 PROFILE: CHARLES MAUS | JACK RAGER MEMORIES MYSTERIOUS GRAVE IN PIKE BRETHREN CEMETERY |
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