VillageFest features food, fun
SLIPPERY ROCK — The inviting sound of live music and the intoxicating smells of barbecue, kettle corn and baked goods drew visitors from all corners of Slippery Rock and beyond Saturday to the Slippery Rock VillageFest.
Some came hungry from the 5K Run and 2-mile walk that began the day at the corner of Elm and Cooper Streets. Others came solely for the vendors on Main Street or as a festive warmup to the evening football game of Slippery Rock University against Kutztown University.
Slippery Rock residents Peggy and Russ Donaldson said they first started attending VillageFest for the race, but now come for the sights on Main Street.
“We used to come when our grandchildren ran the 5K, but now we’re living up here,” Peggy said. “We didn’t want to miss it because we’ve been here every year. Slippery Rock’s a nice little town and they’re always celebrating something.”
Russ said his favorite part of this year’s event was watching the woodcarving.
“We’re not here to get anything,” Russ said. “Just look and try to beat the rain.”
Also hoping to see the sights and make it home before the rain was Don Baxter of Pittsburgh, who said he came to spend the day with his son, Patrick, a sophomore history major at SRU.
“I’m impressed,” Don Baxter said. “I’m a food truck person and this is food truck heaven.”
Although the pair said they were still enjoying the vendors and talking with representatives from businesses and organizations, Patrick Baxter said they had their stomachs set on one particular food truck.
“We’ll definitely hit up the barbecue truck on the way back up, that’s for sure,” he said.
In addition to barbecue, visitors could lunch on pizza, nachos, pierogies, gyros, and other fair foods, then follow that with funnel cakes, fudges, cookies, and more desserts to satisfy a sweet tooth.
Thirsty adults were welcome to sample wine on Main Street while children enjoyed lemonade and slushies in the Kid’s Zone at Gateway Park. The Kid’s Zone featured rides and carnival games, contests, face painting, hula hooping, a magic show, cornhole tournaments, and human bowling.
Kids at VillageFest — and the kids at heart — could also get a free balloon creation made by Debora Witkowski of New Wilmington and her son, Jeremiah Witkowski of Sharon.
Debora said she and Jeremiah have attended the past five or six VillageFests. While Jeremiah joked that he “just started today,” Debora said she began sculpting balloons about 35 years ago.
“My husband, Raymond Witkowski, used to be a magician and he did magic until the time he passed away with ALS,” Debora said. “He taught me and my son and daughter how to do the balloon sculpturing.”
Visitors who like their animals a little more lively were in luck with two small petting zoos on Main Street and in the Kid’s Zone and a booth of alpaca yarn art with the alpacas themselves greeting shoppers.
VillageFest is sponsored by the borough and SRU organizations.
