Heritage Days wraps up
Monday, July 16, 2012
By Tyler Kolesar Staff Writer
PHILIPSBURG - The 15th anniversary of Heritage Days is in the books, and this year's event was yet again a huge success. The theme for the anniversary was "Celebrate Philipsburg", and celebrate the people did. Chairman Jim Pollock said he was impressed with many aspects of the event this year, which started with the vespers service on Tuesday night and ended with yesterday's car show.
Pollock said this year had a large amount of new vendors, and the quality was top notch. Pollock said sales were so great, many of the vendors ran out of food on each day. It was a pleasure to work with all of the vendors, with Pollock saying they gave the committee a "warm, family feeling."
"Everyone connected with us," said Pollock.
The events were top notch as well. Many people turned out for the entertainment each night, which showcased musical acts such as Ricky Lee, The Lucky 13s, The Mockingbirds, and more. This year's new event, the 5K Run/Walk, was a big hit. The karaoke competition, which was held on three of the nights, was also successful.
"The response again to the karaoke was phenomenal," said Pollock. This year's winner was 11-year-old Alexis Hahn of Philipsburg.
Pollock said probably the most successful aspect of Heritage Days, in his opinion, this year was the fireworks show. Pollock said after previous years, traffic changes were made to help alleviate previous problems. In the past, it's been somewhat of a logjam for people leaving the fireworks show.
"The new traffic pattern was perfect," Pollock said.
Pollock said this year, fireworks were finished at approximately 10:20 p.m. Saturday, and there was not a car in sight by 10:40 p.m. Pollock also remarked on the amount of people attending the fireworks show, stating he has never seen that many people in his life. The parking lots at Cold Stream were filled to capacity, as well as all of the surrounding lots near the dam.
Earlier on Saturday was the grand parade. Pollock remarked on the floats for this year's parade, stating many of them were actually on lowboy trailers and not just in the back of a pickup truck.
If there one was glitch to this year's event, Pollock said it would have to be the car show. An issue with the computers and scoring caused for the results to be flip-flopped, but the issue was sorted out in a timely fashion.
Pollock said everything cannot run perfectly, as "you'll have glitches no matter what you do."
Another impressive thing about the event was the amount of people that came from out of the area. Pollock said many he met were from out of town and were visiting the State College Arts Festival, and decided to make the trek to Philipsburg. Pollock also said this year in terms of marketing, the committee reached out to a much broader scale of people, with great results. A lot of people who live out of town also made the trip back home for Heritage Days.
"It truly is a homecoming of sorts for people," said Pollock.
Pollock said activities for children were hugely successful. He said many parents came up to him and remarked about how many activities there were; yet they "didn't spend a single dime." Pollock said the United Way worked closely with Cen-Clear Child Services to help make these things possible.
One thing Pollock reiterated was the need for more volunteers for future events, as they're "very thin," Pollock said thankfully the Civil Air Patrol people from the Mid-State Regional Airport helped clean up Front Street after yesterday's car show.
Results from this year's parade are as follows:
Best Appearing First Responder Unit, first, $100, Houtzdale Fire Co.; Best Appearing Brush Truck, first, $100, Mountain Top Fire Co.; second, $50, Houtzdale Fire Co.; Best Appearing Light Rescue Truck, first, $100, Morris Township ER17; Best Appearing Tanker, first, $100, Columbia Fire Co. T22; second, $50, Chester Hill Hose Co. T14; Best Appearing Pumper Tanker, first, $100, Morris Fire Co. T17; Best Appearing Engine (1979 and Older), first, $100, Chester Hill Hose Co. E14; Best Appearing Engine (1990 to 1999), first, $100, Mountain Top Fire Co. Unit 1310; Best Appearing Engine (2000 to 2011), first, $100, Columbia Fire Co. E22, second, $50, Clearfield Fire Co. E1; Oldest Motorized Fire Apparatus, first, $100, Chester Hill Hose 1969 Mack/E14; Longest Distance Traveled, first, $250, Boalsburg Fire Department; Judge's Award, first, $250, WW Engine & Supply; Thomas Ferguson, III Award: Best Overall Fire Apparatus, first, $250, Mountain Top Fire Co. B13.
Best Appearing Bag Pipes and Drum Band, first, $200, John F. Nicoll Pipe and Drums; Best Appearing Military Band, first, $200, 46th PA Regiment; Best Appearing Senior Drum and Bugle Corps, first, $200, Keystone Regiment of Hope Fire Co.; Best Appearing Junior/Senior High School Band, first, $200, Curwensville Sr. High School, second, $100, West Branch Warrior Band; Best Appearing High School Band, first, trophy and $300, Curwensville Sr. High School; Best Appearing Junior Baton Corps, first, $100, Clearfield County Illusions Baton and Flag Corp., second, $50, Morris Cooper Mini Majorettes; Best Appearing Senior Baton Corps, first, $100, Clearfield County Illusions Baton and Flag, second, $50, Nittany Dreamers Baton and Silk Corp.
Best Appearing Oldest Motorized Vehicle, first; $50, Merle Butterworth 1926 Hudson, second, $25-Richard Kizer 1974 Wheel Horse; Best Appearing and Marching Veterans Group, first, $100, AmVets Veterans; Best Appearing Church Float, first, $50, Lighthouse Church; Best Appearing Children's Float, first, $50, KYB New Life Center; Best Appearing Business Float, first, $50, DJ Studios; Best Appearing Organization Float, first, $50, Muddy Run Raceway; Best Float Representing Philipsburg-first, $50, Roders Family Day Care.
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