Charleroi welcomes return of Community Days festival
By Eric Seiverling
eseiverling@yourmvi.com
Independence Day celebrations began early in Charleroi this weekend.
Food vendors, crafters and residents took to the borough’s Chamber Plaza parking lot Friday to start the annual Community Days festivities.
This weekend’s event marks the return for the annual fair, as last year’s Community Days was scaled down to virtual concerts due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Today’s lineup is packed with entertainment, food, tributes and fireworks, but vendors who set up shop on Friday were no less enthusiastic to see the event go on as planned.
“It’s an experience to be here, we’ve been cooped up for so long,” said Monongahela resident and vendor Shawn Henson, who displayed his wood carvings. “I grew up in this area and the great thing about this is everything’s local. You keep your money local instead of to the big corporations.”
Saturday will also feature a coloring contest for kids 12 and under at the borough’s booth located at the entrance of the festivities.
According to Councilwoman Jeannine Motycki, two Genesis BMX bikes have been donated to the contest by Big’s Sanitation.
The contest begins at 2 p.m. and winners will be announced Tuesday. Motycki said the winners will be notified by phone and announced on Facebook. All contest entries will be displayed in the stairwell of the borough building.
Kyle Blystone was at the event to raise money for the 10-year reunion of the Charleroi Area High School Class of 2012. He was accompanied by his wife, Elizabeth, who sold her Perfect Penguins Creations of custom tumblers, wine glasses and key chains.
Blystone said he was impressed to see so many turn out for the event.
“It gives people something to do,” he said. “If there’s an event, people will show up. It’s the ‘If they build it, they will come’ mentality. It means the community is active and it’s still thriving.”
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