During the first two weekends of September, there was a swoop of events in Johnstown. As summer turns to fall, traditions, old and new, serve as community celebrations. Our family of four traveled the land to be a part of the party.
It all started with the 30th edition of Ethnic Fest, Cambria City's 3-day doozy. 2018 was a spicy year for Ethnic Fest. High humidity made pierogies extra sweaty. While the sun beamed, our daughters ran wild in their great grandmother's backyard. She lives right in the heart of Ethnic Fest and she set up shop well before the festival debuted. Each September her home becomes a stomping ground for trips down memory lane and lamb sandwiches. Especially this year, her porch allowed festival wanderers to take a seat and beat the heat.
By Day 3 of Ethnic Fest, we had devoured a gauntlet of goodies. The ethnicities represented in Cambria City do little to promote the vegetable. The closest thing to a salad at Ethnic Fest is an onion you get with a lamb sandwich from Ace's. That onion might not satisfy your food pyramid portion, but it will stick with you for the rest of the weekend. With onion in my soul, I led our brigade to the Log House Arts Festival.
Arts Fest celebrated its 48th year this time around. Held on Menoher Boulevard in Westmont, Arts Fest became our launching pad to Christmas shopping. Nothing says "fa-la-la-la" like slithering through vendor tents with combative children in the summer. We found refuge in the Community Arts Center, an air-conditioned oasis. Inside, my daughters abandoned me in the face paint line, proceeding to paint rocks. Simply because I waited so patiently, I tinkered with getting my face painted. Also, I was leary of being anywhere close to my 3-year-old while she had a rock. We left peacefully. I without face paint, the rock not thrown.
The following Saturday, I ran in the 3rd running of the Jim Mayer Trail Family Fun Run. Unrelenting rain made for a bone-soaked 5K. I ran in a dedicated herd on this local trail recently designated a National Recreational Trail. Hugging the Stonycreek River, the trail is a flat and friendly trek for walkers, runners, and bikers. I took off before the awards ceremony A) because I was not going to be awarded and B) the potential of being stricken with hypothermia. I survived and a greater challenge lied ahead - watching my kids.
While I transitioned back to Dad, Mom arrived at the 6th annual Sandyvale Wine Festival. Marriage involves strategy. Dad got to run free in the morning. Mom got to drink wine in the afternoon. Both man and woman are joyous and agree to reunite in the evening. Just like every Sandyvale session, my wife gave two thumbs up to the event.
4 events. 2 September weekends. 1 hometown.
Here comes autumn. Enjoy the rest of your summer.
