CRANBERRY COMMUNITY DAYS
CRANBERRY TWP — The annual Cranberry Township Community Days event promises to be bigger and better than ever, organizers said.
The event, which aims to celebrate nonprofit and civic organizations, is scheduled Thursday to Saturday in the Community Park.
According to Bruce Mazzoni, Community Days organizer and Cranberry Township Community Chest board member, financial support is at an all-time high. It serves not only as a celebration, but also to launch the CTCC's next project of the year and begin fundraising.
“It says something about the event itself that we have that kind of support,” he said.
This 2020 CTCC Project of the Year focuses on the expansion and renovation of the Rotary Amphitheater in the park. That includes expanding the roof on both the amphitheater and audience areas to limit the number of weather-related cancellations at the 17-year-old venue.
The project is also expected to include upgrading the area's sound boards and electrical service, as well as adding lights at the venue. Facade and drainage work is being considered, as well as sidewalk connections and improved vehicle access.
The Community Days celebration will help to support that project, kicking off at 7 p.m. Wednesday with the Martinis with Monet Art Expo at the township Municipal Building.
The main event begins Thursday with carnival rides, live music, a chain saw carver, a car cruise and a charity 5K race. Dozens of organizations and businesses will have booths at the event.
The event is capped off with fireworks at 9:45 p.m. Saturday.Mazzoni said this year's new attraction is a 3-D chalk artist creation by Erik Greenwalt. Greenwalt created a 3-D image in 2-D that is 30 feet long. However, when viewed through a camera, the image is 4 feet high and gives the appearance of a person drinking from a straw.Mazzoni said because weather can be unpredictable, the image was done in paint. He said the public is encouraged to take their photo with the image and share it on their social media pages.“We expect a large crowd,” he said.Community Days run from 4 to 11 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 1 to 11 p.m. Saturday.
