Published: August 28, 2008 12:41 pm            

Region’s time to shine

Big weekend ahead filled with festivals, fun

Summer will give way to fall with a blast this weekend, as the region plays host to several festivals, including that Johnstown jewel – FolkFest.

The annual music extravaganza, produced by Johnstown Area Heritage Association, will feature some 40 shows on four stages between this evening and Sunday night.

FolkFest also means good food and fun times, with visitors coming to town from all over the United States and Canada.

Thousands will converge at Festival Park, located across the river from Point Stadium.

“It’s a busy, crazy, exciting time,” said JAHA Marketing Director Shelley Johansson. “It takes on a life of its own.”

The same can be said of the Johnstown region each Labor Day weekend, when events are scattered across the landscape.

Consider:

• Cambria City Ethnic Festival, today through Sunday, will have special meaning this year as the local Roman Catholic diocese plans to merge the historic churches in that neighborhood that have been at the heart of the annual celebration.

“We are seeing people view this festival as a true homecoming,” said one of the event’s key organizers, Monsignor Raymond Balta.

The ethnic fest features great food – including favorites such as goulash, haluski, hot sausage and kielbasa – and live music.

• The 20th annual Forest Hills Festival will be held Saturday through Monday at Berwind Wayside Festival Park in St. Michael. The festival, sponsored by Friends of Johnstown Flood National Memorial, features live music and culinary delights.

“We’re famous for our barbecued ribs,” festival publicist Pauline Roberts said.

• The 38th Log House Arts Festival, on Menoher Boulevard in Westmont, will bring to town more than 100 artists from seven states Saturday and Sunday.

“We pride ourselves on offering the public fresh and current crafts that can’t be found in the normal commercial retail outlets,” said Rose Mary Hagadus, executive director of the Community Arts Center of Cambria County.

To make the weekend even wilder, this will all be happening as the high school football season kicks off. There will be games across the region Friday night and Saturday.

And the Cambria County Fair opens Sunday and runs through Sept. 6 in Ebensburg.

We applaud the groups that organize and host these fantastic community events. And we applaud the many volunteers who come together to make them great.

All we need now is some good weather.

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.