Duncansville Plans for Community Days

At its regular monthly meeting on March 4, the Duncansville Community Days Committee made official the entertainment and activities schedule for this year’s event.

The dates will be Thursday, July 18, through Saturday, July 20, at the Memorial Park in the borough, which will undergo a major renovation in the spring. Hours of the event will be 6 to 10 p.m. on Thursday and Friday and from 4 to 10 p.m. on Saturday.

Also this year, Community Days will collaborate with the borough’s volunteer fire company in celebrating its 125th anniversary.

Events will kick off on Thursday, July 18, with a firemen’s parade sponsored by the Duncansville Volunteer Fire Co. The parade will run the length of Third Avenue (Old Route 22) to Sunbrook Manor Apartments, turning into the park. The annual car cruise-in will then commence on the ballfield.

On the entertainment stage Thursday evening for “Family Night,” the Jaffa Shrine String Band along with its clowns and magic show will perform. Later in the evening, Critters & Conservation of Virginia will present a one-hour program featuring exotic animals and birds with an educator describing information and taking questions of each species. Concluding the evening, the spotlight will be on area youth performing their talents. “Smoky the Bear” will also make an appearance during the evening.

Friday, July 19, has been designated “Beach Night” and the stage entertainment will feature The Beach Boys tribute band Still Surfin’. The group has been performing the music of the Beach Boys for more than 17 years. The two-hour show will also feature songs by greats like Jan and Dean, the Ventures, and the Safaris. They also will play all the great car songs. The opening act will be Altoona’s own The Chrome Hearts, which will perform both cover and original songs. McGruff, the Crime Dog, will also make an appearance handing out goodies to the children.

The final evening, July 20, will be “Dance Party Night” and will open with the Johnstown band Three Of Hearts performing the great oldies of the 1960s and 1970s. The closing act will be the R2B2 rock-n-roll show. The band, formed in Altoona in 2010, covers music from the 1970s through today. Keeping with the dance genre, The Horse Cloggers will present a one-hour program in between the two musical groups.

All entertainment will be free of charge and will be held rain or shine. A 20-minute fireworks show will close the evening and the event.

New activities this year will include the inflatable slide know as The Titanic. Other activities will include a children’s petting zoo, alpacas, bingo, bounce house, children’s games, arts and crafts and commercial vendors.

Food will be available for purchase from 10 different non-profit organizations as well as a chicken barbecue, sponsored by the fire company, beginning at 11a.m. on Saturday.