SAXONBURG — Knoch High School has a tough-to-accommodate date for their annual homecoming football game parade: Thursday, Sept. 18, the same day as another event in downtown Saxonburg.

Normally, high school homecoming is marked by football, dancing and a parade down Main Street the night before the game.

But this year, the date of the homecoming parade coincides with another Saxonburg event taking place the same day on the same street, Mingle on Main, held on the third Thursday of every month between May and September.

During its meeting Tuesday night, Aug. 19, borough council voted to table the action to close Main Street for the day of the homecoming parade while the various parties — Knoch, the borough and fire police — work out plans.

“A lot of people come into play,” said borough manager Steven May. “Knoch comes into play, the fire police and how many people they have available. It would be during a Mingle night.”

The date is unmovable, as Knoch only has four home games this season.

Normally, the state Department of Transportation requires eight weeks of lead time before a municipality can request to close a state road.

While May stated during the meeting that he was able to obtain a special exemption from PennDOT, he says that finding fire police to cover two events on the same day may be an issue.

“There’s only so many people that are legally bound to control traffic,” May said.

In addition, the Saxonburg Volunteer Fire Company will not be able to stage the traditional homecoming bonfire at the carnival grounds as usual, but is working to accommodate the tradition in another way.

The bonfire may be located in a designated area of the fire company’s field off Horne Avenue. This is yet to be determined. The fire company will be setting up for its Sportsman’s Fest, which runs the 19th and 20th.

This article was adjusted Aug. 20 to add clarification to the status of the homecoming bonfire. A previous article said the fire company “denied permission for the school to stage a traditional homecoming bonfire at the carnival grounds“ but additional information Wednesday indicated the bonfire will be held elsewhere, possibly in a designated area of the fire company’s field off Horne Avenue.