Food, games and carnival rides are among the attractions at Plum’s SummerFest.
The annual event will be held Thursday through Saturday, June 24, at Larry Mills Park, a 32-acre park on Fontana Drive off O’Block Road in the borough’s Holiday Park neighborhood.
A free shuttle service from nearby Amplify Church, 9400 Saltsburg Road, will be available Friday and Saturday.
Before being rebranded as SummerFest in 2018, the event had been held as the borough’s Community Days for nearly 30 years.
The new name is intended to reflect that it’s the kickoff for the summer. The season officially starts Wednesday, June 21.
Between 3,000 and 4,000 people attend, said Mona Costanza, assistant to the borough manager.
“The one thing about the event is it does bring the community together,” she said. “You get that sense of community pride, for sure.”
Carnival rides will be provided by C&L Shows. Single-ride tickets will cost $3 while a ride pass will be $20, Costanza said.
Participating food trucks include Pittsburgh Smoke House, Pittsburgh Crepes, Kona Ice, Bygone Wines, K&J Concessions, the Plum Masons and Plum Rotary. One truck, Let’s Taco, will be there Thursday only.
In addition to carnival rides, children will be able to try a firefighter’s obstacle course set up by the Holiday Park Volunteer Fire Department. A graduation for the department’s weeklong junior fire camp, which teaches participants the basics of firefighting, will be held Friday.
There are 33 teens, ages 14 through 17, enrolled in this year’s camp, fire Chief James Sims said. The department started holding it in 2018.
The ranks of volunteer firefighters have fallen from more than 300,000 in the 1970s to fewer than 30,000 today, Sims said.
“The intent of the program is to introduce them to what the fire service is all about and encourage them to join a fire department,” he said.
A state police helicopter is scheduled to be there Friday, weather permitting. The Allegheny County Police will bring horses, and its bomb squad and police dogs will be on hand, Costanza said.
Parents will be able to have their children fingerprinted.
SummerFest will wrap up with a Zambelli Fireworks show Saturday night.
“Of course, we’re hoping for good weather,” Costanza said.
Sponsors are S&T Bank, Soxman Funeral Homes, Forbes Road Career & Technology Center and Standard Bank.
Brian C. Rittmeyer is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Brian by email at brittmeyer@triblive.com or via Twitter .
If you go
What: Plum's SummerFest
When: 6 to 10 p.m. Thursday, June 22, 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, June 23, and 4 to 10 p.m. Saturday, June 24.
Where: Larry Mills Park, Fontana Drive.
Features: Carnival rides, food trucks, games and fireworks.