Stuart Tanks roll again WWII weekend in Berwick

Berwick, Pa. — Embracing the grit, resilience, and the American spirit, Berwick is set to host its annual World War II Weekend.

This event, a tribute to the town's rich history, will take place from Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at Riverfront Park.That area is “The Test Track," where tanks were tested before shipping off to war.

Organizer (and Columbia County Commissioner) David Kovatch told us why they have such a big event, “To keep this history alive. It happened in Berwick, that was where the plant was. Berwick was such a big part of the World War II effort…we helped win World War II.”

The festival will showcase the town’s iconic Stuart Tanks, originally built at the ACF factory, as they roll again on the local test track. Reenactors, vendors, and veterans groups will be setting up Thursday afternoon and Friday morning.

“It’s all about education, we want to keep this history alive, especially for the young people, we want them to know what happened here and because of what all those veterans did, why we can be here today and have all the freedoms that we have,” Kovach said.

In addition to the reenactments, a Swing Dance will be held on Saturday evening at 6pm at the West Side Ballroom in Berwick. This event will offer a nostalgic trip back to the 1940s, featuring music and dance styles from the WWII era. Organizers say, for safety reasons, the public is advised to avoid the area until after 2pm Friday.

More information on the World War II Weekend Facebook page.