Fryburg Mayfest to Celebrate 25th Anniversary May 27-28

Chris Rossetti

Chris Rossetti

Published May 2, 2016 4:45 am
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FRYBURG, Pa. — It’s a celebration year for the annual Fryburg Mayfest with the popular festival celebrating its 25th anniversary May 27-28.

“It’s one of the first parades and first fireworks in the area, so we kind of kick off the late spring or early summer season with the Mayfest Celebration,” said Greg Faller, the Mayfest chairman and one of its original founders.

The theme of this year’s Mayfest is “Shining Through the Years.”

“This year, we have are a photo booth for keepsake pictures, and it will be our second year for the lawn mower races,” Faller said. “For the kids, we will have train rides provided by Kahle’s Kitchen. We have bouncy houses. All of those items are free for the children who come out for Mayfest.”

The event will kickoff at 7 p.m. Friday with the 5K Fun Run/Walk that begins and ends at St. Michael Catholic Church in Fryburg and takes runners along 208 to Marble and back. Route 208 will be closed during the event for the runners’ safety between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. The race is in memory of Paul Karg.

“It’s probably our sixth year for the 5k,” Faller said. “Polly Hargenrader is the major coordinator. We have over a 100 runners/walkers who go through town. For the last two years, we put it in memorial for a scholarship through Bridge Builders.”

There will also be a corn hole tournament at the Washington Township Fire Hall at 7 p.m. on Friday, as well as a fish fry from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Fryburg Sportsman’s Club for members, with up to three signed-in guests.

The festival will then continue all day Saturday starting at 7 a.m. with the Knights of Columbus breakfast at St. Michael Hall with many of the day’s activities starting between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m.

The Washington Township firefighters will have a chicken barbecue from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with the parade set to start at 3 p.m. The lawn mower races will follow at 5:30 p.m., and the tailgate party will get underway at 6:30 p.m., with fireworks at dusk.

“You will want to come early for the chicken barbecue, because it will sell out by 1 p.m., Faller said. “We have Rizers’ Fireworks this year, and we have increased the budget. For the 25-year anniversary, we wanted to make this a spectacular show. And, he says he is going to do that for us. The parade should be great. We have the Bishop, Bishop Perisco, to be in the parade. There are a lot of fire trucks, horses….It’s a great parade that goes about an hour long.”

So how did Mayfest get its start?

“In 1991, it was the vision of local merchants to have a Customer Appreciation Day,” Faller said. “We have grown from that to a two-day event with Friday evening and all day Saturday.”

Greg Faller talks about the origins of Mayfest.

The merchants tied their Customer Appreciation Day in with the St. Michael Church rummage sale, which is still held today.

Faller credits the people who have helped with the festival over the years for its growth.

“The people who have helped put it on is the reason it has grown,” Faller said. “They will come to us and say they would like to see this or that this would be a good idea for the event. It’s evolved through people coming forward in the community wanting it to make it a better place and bring everyone to our communities and see what we are made of.”

Faller also credits the people of Fryburg, Marble, and Washington Township for the festival’s success.

“The families come back year after year,” Faller said. “We have people who come from far away just for the event and stay for the tailgate party and to see the fireworks.”

Complete information on the event can be found at its website.

2016 MAYFEST EVENT SCHEDULE

Friday, May 27, 2016

4-8 p.m.- Fryburg Sportsman’s Club fish fry (members only or up to 3 signed-in guests)

6 p.m. — Pre-registration for the Corn Hole Tournament and 5K

7 p.m. — Corn Hole Tournament in memory of Dick Kapp, proceeds benefiting Alzheimer’s Association, at Washington Township Volunteer Fire Department

7 p.m. — 5K Fun Run/Walk in memory of Paul F. Karg w/Smiley Miles Timing Service, beginning at St. Michael Church

Saturday, May 28, 2016

*Free hay rides all day to all events

*Fire truck rides, too!

6:00 a.m. — 7:30 a.m. — FREE coffee, donuts, breakfast sandwiches, etc., available at PJ’s Country Market (formerly Sara Jane’s Deli)

7:00 a.m. — Knights Of Columbus breakfast, St. Michael’s Hall (downstairs) (New event)

8:00 a.m. — Rummage sale, St. Michael’s Hall upstairs; Flea Market, AP Weaver Memorial Ball Field; Indoor Craft Show, former St. Michael’s School; Local Yard Sales

9:00 a.m. — 5:00 p.m. — McGuire Concepts Chainsaw Carvings and Display, PJ’s Country Market

9:00 a.m. — all day — Inflatable Games, AP Weaver Ball Field, *FREE ~ Fun for all ages!

10:00 a.m. — 2:00 p.m. — Marty’s Bubble Gum Machine Interactive DJ, AP Weaver Ball Field

10:00 a.m. — Tractor Show. sponsored by FUN Bank, St. Michael’s hill beside the church

10:00 a.m. — Bruce Wilson Memorial Car Cruise and Motorcycle Show, sponsored by Car Mate and Wolf’s Auto Outlet, St. Michael Church

11:00 a.m. — 1:00 p.m. — Train rides, AP Weaver Field, *FREE ~Thanks Kahle’s Kitchens!

11:00 a.m. — 1:00 p.m.- Chicken BBQ, plus free firetruck rides, WTVF Hall

11:00 a.m. — 1:00 p.m. — Music by Issac Cole and Mikayla Lynn, WTVF Hall

Noon — St. Michael Church Tour, Fr. Davis, tour guide

1:00 p.m. — Pre-Parade Pet Social, AP Weaver Memorial Ball Field

2:00 p.m. — Pet Judging

3:00 p.m. — “Shining Through the Years” Parade, sponsored by the Fryburg Sportman’s Club, Route 208 through Fryburg and Marble

5:00 p.m. — 9:00 p.m. — Food, cake walks, and music with Lonesome Bob and Steve, PJ’s Country Market

5:30 p.m. — Lawn Mower Races, sponsored by FUN Bank, in front of WTVFD

6:30 p.m. — Family Tailgate Party with Dragon Fly Balloon Artist & Marty’s Bubble Gum Machine (interactive music for kids of all ages!) & Identity Studio Photo Booth, ALL FREE, St. Michael Church Parking lot

8:30 p.m. — 12:30 a.m. — Double Take, Fryburg Sportsman’s Club, members must bring membership card and can sign up to 3 guests with photo ID (per PLCB)

Dusk — Fireworks Presented by Rizers, Sponsored by exploreClarion.com (Bigger than ever!)

*Schedule is subject to change, check website for updates.

Mayfest Maybug Contest

The Mayfest Maybug Contest will be at PJ’S (formerly Sara Jane’s Deli), Montana’s Country Cafe, and Smith’s Country Store. Support Mayfest and “vote,” by way of donation, for your favorite little one to be this year’s Maybug. The boy and girl with the most votes will be crowned Maybugs and be in the “Shining Through the Years” Parade. Enter the Mayfest Maybug Contest here.

Photos from 2015 Mayfest

lawn mower race 2015

car show 3 2015

car show 2015

Bounce houses 2015

fireworks 1 2015

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