Organizers of the ninth annual Jackson Township Heritage Festival are encouraged that the public is making the event a destination.

The festival will be held from 6 to 10:30 p.m. July 20, noon to 11 p.m. July 21 and noon to 9:30 p.m. July 22 at Veterans Memorial Park, Adams Avenue, off Route 271 in Mineral Point.

David M. Hirko, township manager and festival coordinator, said organizers strive to give visitors what they need when it comes to food, entertainment, crafts, fireworks and fun.

“It’s amazing how we have grown,” Hirko said. “People are using the Internet and word of mouth to spread the word that we are a high-quality, family-oriented festival.”

The festival will kick off with a car cruise-in at 6 p.m. July 20.

The first 75 cars entered in the event will receive dash plaques, and Johnstown Classic Rockers will perform from 6:30 to 10:30.

All food and craft booths will be open from 6 to 9.

“We will have 100 vendors in the park,” Hirko said. “We offer such a wide variety of food that a person could eat each meal in the park over the three days of the festival and not eat the same thing twice.”

A variety of sandwiches, including hot sausage, pulled pork, ham barbecue, meatball, kielbasa, sloppy joes and Philly steak, are available. Other rib-stickers feature wings, bloomin onions, chicken fingers, corn dogs, fries, deep fried pickles, fajitas, tacos, halushki, pierogie, pigs in the blanket, nachos, pizza and stromboli.

For visitors with a sweet tooth, the festival offers apple dumpling, cinnamon rolls, fudge, gobs, pies, pumpkin rolls and strawberry shortcake

“The Jackson Township Volunteer Fire Company will be serving several dinners during the festival as well,” Hirko said.

Visitors are welcome to shop the various craft booths.

Items include totes, handbags, wallets, wood doll furniture, woodcrafts, jewelry, drawstring bags, hand-tooled suede and leather items, wooden puzzles, barn siding pictures and frames, jelly cabinets, jewelry, soy candles, organic soaps and lotions, sports items and primitive wood items.

Also open will be the Living Treasures petting zoo, children’s activities area and special entertainment, which continue throughout the weekend.

Children up to age 12 may participate in crafts July 21-22, guided by members of the Cambria County Community Arts Center.

The Heritage Festival Parade will step off at 1 p.m. July 21.

“Last year was the first time we had a parade, and it went well,” Hirko said. “We expect a nice lineup of marching groups, fire and emergency equipment and several floats.”

Entertainment will be held rain or shine, and there is seating for more than 600 guests under the entertainment tents.

Concerts will take place on two stages.

On Jan. 21, Irish folk musicians Tree will perform from noon to 2 p.m., Cajun and zydeco specialists The Bayou Bandits will take the stage from 2:30 to 5 p.m. and The Fabulous Flashbacks will perform from 7 to 11 p.m..

“While one band is playing on one stage, the next act will be setting up on the second stage,” Hirko said. “That will ensure that we have continuous music throughout the weekend.”

New to the festival, on July 21, will be a free youth basketball clinic at Mitchell Park with Lance Loya, men’s basketball coach of Mount Aloysius College, Cresson.

On July 21 and 22, Jerry Brown, the Monkey Man from Lancaster, will make appearances.

Classic Clowns will make balloon animals and do face painting from 4 to 7 p.m. July 21.

A fireworks display will light up the night at 9:30 on July 21.

On July 22, Singer Hill Grace Brethren Church will hold its regular Sunday morning worship service at 10:30 under the big tent on festival grounds.

Performers that day will feature gospel music with The Masters from noon to 1:30 p.m., bluegrass with Beaver Creek from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., Clay Bowser from 4:30 to 6 p.m., and Pittsburgh’s country group Nomad from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m..

Information: 749-0725 or visit www.jacksontwppa.com/festival.

Festivities



What: Ninth annual Jackson Township Heritage Festival.



Where: Veterans Memorial Park, Adams Avenue, off Route 271 in Mineral Point.



When: July 20-22.



Admission: Free.



Information: 749-0725 or www.jacksontwppa.com/festival.

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