Aerial rides, music, food and fun featured at 2024 Shanksville Community Picnic

SHANKSVILLE ― Since 1930, Shanksville’s Community Picnic has drawn crowds for good food, live music, and wholesome family fun.

The 2024 edition of the picnic, sponsored by the Shanksville Volunteer Fire Department, will be held Aug. 2-3, at the Community Grove, 1291 Cornerstone Road, adjacent to the Shanksville-Stonycreek School.

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The celebration begins when food, games and music open at 4 p.m. Friday, Aug. 2. The popular acoustic duo, Partners in Crime, featuring Shanksville graduate Gary Miller from the Class of 1973, will play from 4-6 p.m. A parade on Main Street steps off at 6 p.m.

F.A.S.T of the Alleghenies is sponsoring aerial rides on LaVale Fire Department’s aerial ladder truck immediately following the parade in the school parking lot.

"Everybody can climb on the ladder truck and climb to the platform where an experienced fireman will be there," to strap them in, Shanksville fire department treasurer Karl Glessner said. "They will then go up to get a high view of the people in the grove."

From 7-9:30 p.m. will be a free concert by the nationally known tribute band Bon Journey, playing the best of Journey and Bon Jovi music. Concert-goers are recommended to bring a chair or blanket for concert seating.

"Bon Journey is back by popular demand," Glessner said.

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The concession stand will offer burgers, hot dogs, popcorn chicken, fresh-cut French fries, baked beans and other favorite side dishes, cold drink, and hand-dipped ice cream.

On Saturday, the kitchen opens at 11 a.m., serving barbecued chicken and a wide variety of pies sold by the slice, in addition to all the menu items from Friday evening.

Saturday activities include a huge basket raffle, which will feature Steelers tickets, a gun raffle, games of skill and chance operating throughout the day, and a horseshoe pitching contest with cash prizes sponsored by Stonycreek Builders Supply. Registration for horseshoes begins at noon, and the competition starts at 1 p.m.

Back by popular demand is the “The Great Reunion” of Shanksville-Stonycreek High School alumni. All Shanksville graduates are invited to meet and reminisce at the community picnic throughout the day on Saturday.

"The reunion last year was the first year and it started with graduates of the classes of 1960 to 1970," said Glessner. "Now any graduate of Shanksville school can come and bring their memorabilia. Last year's reunion definitely went well."

Last year, alumnae Dian Spagnola came up with the idea to have the class reunion during the picnic, said Karl's wife, Donna.

"Many places don't have reunions anymore. People really did want to have a chance to get together," she said. "She created an event to have people come back to get together. It was very heartwarming."

Especially for the children will be an opportunity to get up close to an ambulance or a fire truck, and use a real fire hose. They can also climb, jump and slide through the inflatable race, and play the dime toss and other games.

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Saturday’s day-long program of live music begins with the Somerset County Community Band at noon, followed by local favorite Country Express from 2-5 p.m. The headline band, taking the stage from 6-9 p.m. for a free concert, is national recording artist the Leroy Burks Band from Washington, D.C. Bring a lawn chair or blanket to enjoy this concert.

"Saturday's music, we've had people say it's more music than we've ever had before," Donna Glessner said. "Saturday we have the Community Band and a country music band which we think will attract a different crowd. We have Leroy Burks, a very patriotic gentleman who was attracted to Shanksville because of 9/11. I think he'll have a band people will enjoy."

And new this year, walk through the grove to see 19 banners paying tribute to service members from the community who were killed in action or died non-battle during their time of service. Visitors to the picnic can take a drive through the community to see a total of 134 military banners covering the span of World War I to the Global War on Terrorism.

"It's a special memorial," Glessner said.

The Community Picnic is a fundraiser for the volunteer fire department, helping to pay for operating expenses, training, and major equipment updates.

"We'd like to hardily thank the members of the fire department and the folks from the community who pitch in year after year to make it a success," Karl Glessner said. "They help in the kitchen and help with the games. We couldn't do it without them."

Check Facebook @svfd627 frequently for updates and details.

Madolin Edwards has been a journalist at the Daily American for 37 years, covering school boards, borough councils, sports and new stories. She was the Home and Family editor for 20 years, and was the primary editor and reporter for a variety of special projects, features and tabs. Contact the Daily American reporters at news@dailyamerican.com.

This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Aerial rides, music, food and fun featured at 2024 Shanksville Community Picnic