It will be another event-filled late-summer weekend in the region as several festivals and fundraisers are slated for today.
There is a chance for isolated showers this afternoon, but organizers are hoping the clouds will pass on by.
Otto Township Old Home Days marks its 25th anniversary celebration this weekend.
This year’s event is dedicated in memory of the late Sonny Marshall and Bob Root, who were both founding members of the event.
The event will kicked off at 4 p.m. Friday, but will continue throughout the weekend and finish up on Sunday with a chicken barbecue.
Carnival rides will be provided by American Amusements. Rides will open at noon on today and run through 10 p.m. — all day wristbands will be $15.
Tractor pulls will also be held today, along with the fifth annual Red-Neck Games.
The games will be tournament style of three popular backyard games: ladder golf, washers and corn hole. Cost is $40 per two-person team. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top three teams. Registration will start at noon with games beginning at 1 p.m.
Old Home Days will feature bands such as Breaking Blue and Dave Morris. Forever Garth, a Rochester, N.Y.-based Garth Brooks tribute band, will be the headliner on tonight before and after the fireworks display.
Admission, a nominal fee, will be charged both days. The Old Home Days committee reminds everyone that no bikes, ATVs, pets or glass bottles may be brought into the park during this event.
For the third year in a row, Crook Farm will host the Creative Women Workshop — featuring a host of new classes that include making terrariums, horseshoes, juggling and, even, making sushi.
The workshop will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. today at Crook Farm. Cost is $40 per person.
Bradford Landmark Society Curator Sally Costik describes the new classes this year as “somewhat out of the ordinary.”
New this year are classes on making horseshoes, sushi, juggling, tie-dyeing, counted cross-stitch, building a birdhouse, making terrariums, horseshoes and the old-time craft of tatting — not tattooing.
Basket-making, pencil-drawing, wood-burning and calligraphy are examples of classes back by popular demand. Old favorites include blacksmithing, quilting, knitting and candlemaking.
It is also the third year for Solid Rock Festival, which promises to bring a heavy-rockin’ and holy-rollin’ line-up of Christian musicians to the West Branch Community Center today.
The event kicks off at noon and will run until 10 p.m. at 1 Irving Lane, located off of West Washington Street in Bradford Township.
National recording artist FLAME, a Christian hip-hop musician, will headline the concert, joined by seven regional bands, including The Grand Day, Lion Hearted, Crown, Will Lowry, Lynn Kuntz, Matt Burt and the Shawn Pierce Band.
FLAME, who grew up in inner city St. Louis, Mo., has released eight albums and founded his own Christian record label — Clear Sight Music. He is also the author of the Christian living guide book “All In.”
Special guest speakers include Dan Williams, Jennifer Kirk, Kiki and Bailey Pretak, plus a couple of surprises, according to organizer Jim Lenaway.
Churches from McKean, Potter, Elk, Cameron and Warren counties in Pennsylvania are involved, along with churches from Allegany and Cattaraugus counties in New York state.
Plenty of parking is available at the West Branch Community Center, and organizers encourage attendees to “bring the whole family.”
Event organizer Steve Cavallaro suggests bringing lawn chairs, blankets or tarps to sit on. There will be food and beverages available for purchase, but attendees are welcome to bring a cooler with their own snacks and drinks if they desire.
Because this is a family event, no alcohol will be allowed on the premises.
Thrive Youth Group of Open Arms Church will be selling beverages, and Kane Lions Club will be selling cotton candy and other treats. The Solid Rock Festival committee will be doing hot dogs and hamburgers, and the money raised will go toward putting on the festival next year.
In case of a bad storm, the festival will be held in the Bradford High School auditorium.
For more information, go to facebook.com/SolidRockFest.
The Rockin’ and Rollin’ Vets Fest will take place today in front of the American Legion on Pine Street in Bradford, benefiting the Pennsylvania Veterans Foundation (PVF), which grants money to veterans throughout the state.
The concert, featuring four bands, will run from about 3 to 10 p.m. Tickets are $30 and will also be sold at the gate.
McCoy’s Boys, featuring Mark McCoy and special guest John Rachel, will perform from 4 to 4:15 p.m.; Marshmellow Overcoat, 4:30 to 6 p.m.; Marshall Law, 6:45 to 8:15 p.m.; Smokin’ Section, 8:30 to 10 p.m.; followed by an encore with Marshall Law.
Smokin’ Section, from Pittsburgh, is one of the most popular R&B bands in western Pennsylvania.
Erica Marshall, will sing the National Anthem. A few veterans, including some from World War II, are on tap to speak at the family-friendly event.
In addition to the concert, some restaurants downtown will offer a discount to military personnel — active or retired. Proper identification is required.
The American Legion will be selling beer. Tents, tables and chairs will be set up.
Corporate sponsors are Zippo/Case Museum, Marshall Insurance Services Inc. and Northwest Savings Bank. Cummins Construction is donating the flatbed truck that will be used as a stage for the bands.
The PVF started on Nov. 11, 2011, and awarded its first grant in June of 2012, and has given $850,000 to veterans in crisis and to grassroots non-profit organizations that help veterans since then.
At PVF’s fifth birthday celebration on Nov. 12, the Foundation will grant $275,000 to organizations that save and help veterans. The average grant to a veteran — or in support of a veteran in a program — is $1,000.
Also today, the VFW Auxiliary Dice Run will be held, beginning with registration at 11 a.m. at the VFW at 94 Barbour St., Bradford.
The ride starts at noon and will cover many miles of scenic roads throughout northern Pennsylvania. Those without motorcycles may participate with any street-legal vehicle.
Cost to participate is a $10 donation per person, which includes sweets/coffee before the run, a dinner buffet after the run and open jukebox for the afterparty.
