VillageFest will be Saturday at SRU
SLIPPERY ROCK — Instead of taking over downtown like it has for the past 11 years, VillageFest will take place at Slippery Rock University this Saturday.
Although the bridge replacement project finished last week ahead of schedule, the Route 8 detour through the borough this summer prevented the state Department of Transportation from giving the event permission to close a portion of Main Street.
The festival committee was glad to accept the offer extended by SRU President Cheryl Norton to have the event on the quad and Morrow Way, a short walk from downtown, organizer Jen Whitmoyer said.
The festival will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., rain or shine, and is free to attend. Parking is available both on the SRU campus and in the borough.
One of the biggest community events of the year for Slippery Rock, the committee anticipates 5,000 to 8,000 people coming out for food, shopping, games, live entertainment and other activities.
The new location offers more space than downtown and as a result, the festival will have about 150 craft and food vendors, more than in other years.
“We’re really looking forward to having it on campus this year. It’s a unique ability to have everything in one area,” Whitmoyer said.
New this year will be a rock climbing wall and a bounce house for children.
There will be games for children and adults, including adult musical chairs.
The annual corn hole tournament is scheduled from noon to 3 p.m. Two-person teams will compete for cash prizes.
The live entertainment will include performances by the Cranberry Bogmeister Men’s Chorus, Street Level Band, School of Rock and Harmony Road.
The event coincides with family and friends weekend at SRU, during which many new students will have guests visit them on campus.
It also precedes an SRU home football game. The Rock will take on visiting East Stroudsburg at 7 p.m. in Mihalik-Thompson Stadium.
Despite some of the opportunities afforded by using the SRU campus, the committee plans to return to Main Street for next year’s event where visitors will be able to peruse its shops and restaurants.
“The goal of this event is we wanted to bring people into downtown Slippery Rock. We wanted to showcase the businesses and showcase the Main Street,” Whitmoyer said.
For more information about the event, visit slipperyrockpa.org.
