Abby White and Hannah Altsmanwatch as Danielle Clouner of Cranberry Township tries her luck at the fish bowl game during last year's Community Days in Cranberry. Area residents can look forward to this year's Community Days running July 12 to 14.

CRANBERRY TWP — Community Days, the traditional highlight event of summer in the township, will be bigger than ever this year.

Several events are scheduled to take place even before the Thursday-through-Saturday communitywide celebration officially kicks off at 1 p.m. July 12. Community Days will conclude with a fireworks display three days later at 9:30 p.m. July 14.

Community Days’ primary mission is to promote, raise funds and strengthen Cranberry’s volunteer and nonprofit organizations.

The celebration’s organizer, Cranberry Township Community Chest, CTCC, has released the lineup of concerts, contests, events and attractions scheduled to take place during this year’s festival.

There is no admission fee, and many of the main attractions are free.

Highlights this year include:

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Ice skating in July: sponsored by the Pittsburgh Penguins and UltraSkate using an all-weather artificial rink. Admission is $6. Skate rentals will be available.•

Art Center and exhibit: Working with the Associated Artists of Butler County, CTCC is holding a four-week art exhibit in the Cranberry Municipal Building, starting July 11, with more than 50 pieces of original art available for purchase.During Community Days, a temporary Art Center near Playtime Palace will recruit children to help create a unique 16- by 20-foot mural.•

Martinis with Monet: A cocktail reception starting at 6:30 p.m. July 11 at the Cranberry Highlands Clubhouse Pavilion will kick off the Art Center and Exhibit.The $15 tickets include a martini glass and two drinks. A ticket also is good for $15 off any AABC original artwork featured at the Art Exhibit or Art Center during Community Days.•

Volunteer Fire Company Golf Classic: A $125 per person golf outing starting at 9 a.m. July 11 at Cranberry Highlands will help fund the Fire Company’s 9/11 Memorial, which includes a steel beam salvaged from the World Trade Center.A variety of prizes and speciality foods are included.•

Inflatable zone: Three huge inflatable attractions will be available to use for free July 12 to 14 on the tennis court. Three additional inflatables will be in the upper area of the park on July 14.•

Seven concerts: One concert July 12, four on July 13 and two on July 14 will make this the biggest year ever for concerts during Community Days. All seven concerts, including Joe Grushecky and the House Rockers, are free.

Larger carnival: The carnival area will offer more rides than ever. The $20 all-you-can-ride tickets will be available on site. They are available for $15 until July 1 at any Seneca Valley school building.•

Earlier start: Booths, rides and attractions will open Saturday July 14 at 1 p.m. instead of at 3 p.m. as in previous years. Dozens of food vendors will be open for business throughout the day.•

Rotary Paintball Alley: On July 14, visitors will have a chance to shoot paint balls at targets, including human targets, from 1 to 9 p.m.Community Day contests will continue this year with a Triple Treasure Hunt featuring a grand prize valued at more than $4,000, a Scavenger Hunt, a Recycled Art Contest for the coveted Garby Award, the American Heart Association’s Bean Bag Toss Contest, a Run for Your Library 5K and One Mile Fun Run, and a Miniature Golf Tournament.Other traditional Community Days attractions will be featured including a $7 Lions Pancake Breakfast on the morning of July 13, a nonprofit midway arcade of games, a Kids Zone on the park’s upper level, and more than 100 vendors.More details are posted on the Community Chest website at www.CTCChest.org.