Porter Township Celebrates 2nd Annual Harvest Festival and Honors Nittany Valley Volunteer Fire Company’s 75 Years of Service with Parade, Craft Vendors, and Exciting Activities
By Emily Wright
LAMAR, PA – The Porter Township Recreation Board held its 2nd Annual Harvest Festival on Saturday at the Porter Township Recreation Park, with the Nittany Valley Volunteer Fire Company sponsoring a parade to kick off the event. The parade commemorated the fire company’s 75th anniversary of providing service to Porter Township.
The Recreation Park, located at 35 Washington Avenue, underwent some improvements recently, including the addition of pickleball courts that were repurposed from the old tennis and basketball courts. The festival gave members of the community a chance to see the recent updates, browse amongst several craft vendors, and enjoy food provided by Cogan’s Concessions and the Nittany Valley Volunteer Fire Company, who served pulled pork sandwich platters, pulled pork nachos, hot dogs, hamburgers, hot sausage, and fries to festival attendees. The festival also incorporated various games and activities for kids to enjoy.
This year’s parade included 19 units. Attendees saw eight fire companies come together to put on the parade in addition to both the Nittany Valley Volunteer Fire Company and Fire Rescue team. Other fire companies that participated in the parade were the Dunnstown Fire Company, Walker Township Fire Company, Mill Hall Volunteer Fire Company, Miles Township Fire Company, Sugar Valley Volunteer Fire Company, Old Lycoming Township Volunteer Fire Company, New Berlin Fire Company, and the Howard Fire Company.
Also in the parade were several local candidates running in the upcoming November election.
The parade concluded with units provided by “God’s Children Are Not For Sale”, and “Bringing Light Into The Darkness”, by Ela Mae Miller of Madisonburg.
The festival was complete with music provided by DJ Marlin Neff, and attendees saw several craft vendors offering various handmade decorations and other items. There were also pumpkins available for purchase and an exhibit provided by DCNR Environmental Education Specialist Alicia Folk. Some of the vendors included farmhouse decorations made by Mea Rooney, Carol Barney, and Gayleene Betron, Scentsy products provided by Scentsy consultant Emiley Shaffer, “T’s Pen Paradise” by Tessa Hockenberry, and “Pearl and Gem Jewelry” provided by Crystal and James Clevinger.
The festival offered various activities for kids at the recreation park, including face painting, pumpkin decorating, scarecrow making, and barrel train rides, among other games and activities.
Vice Chairman of the Porter Township Recreation Board, Ryan Gates, would like to extend a special thank you to the board members for their efforts in coordinating the event. Those members are Rich Brungard (Chairman), Cathy Gates, Chris Eldred, and Kassy Hardy.
