HEGINS - Music fans and food lovers alike will have an opportunity to enjoy a day at Hegins Park during the 37th annual Community Day on Saturday.
The free event features a slice of American culture - bluegrass, barbershop, pop and patriotism. The festivities highlight talented local musicians and vocalists, Re-Creation's 38th edition and the first appearance at Community Day by the Morgan Family from Northumberland County.
Re-Creation has been a staple of entertainment at the park event. The Port Trevorton-based group presents vocal renditions of America's best-loved songs and enlivens the stage with intricate, disciplined dance and choreography, along with glittering costumes.
Re-Creation was founded in 1976 and has performed in all 50 states. Credits include appearances at some of the nation's most prestigious fairs and festivals, corporation banquets and conventions and major resort areas. The performers are booked for more than 300 concerts each year.
Admission to the event is free but donations will be accepted to aid Re-Creation in their visits to veterans in VA hospitals across the nation.
"That's the reason we do this, to help Re-Creation get to those veterans in the hospital each year," said Leon Eshelman, Hegins, who coordinates the annual Community Day event with his wife, Valeria.
Making its Community Day debut, the Morgan Family includes parents, David and Mary; daughters, Maggie, Jessie, and Abbie; son, Henry; and Tim "Uncle Bean" Albright, a family friend. The group has appeared on the Shotgun Red Variety Show in Branson, Mo., the Gratz Fair, the Klingerstown Carnival, Sunbury RiverFest and many Line Mountain Arts Council events.
Entertainers making a return to the Hegins stage this year will be Achording to Dad, a barbershop quartet featuring Ken Paulhamus and his sons, Brian, Adam and Jeff. Achording to Dad is part of the Mid-Atlantic District of the Barbershop Harmony Society.
Food stands open at 3 p.m., with several local organizations offering a variety of fare. Hegins Fire Company will be selling chicken barbecue, the Hegins-Valley View Rotary will offer hamburgers and hot dogs, Tri-Valley Lions Club will have french fries and the Pitman Boy Scouts will be selling soda and ice cream.
In the event of rain, the entire program will be moved to Tri-Valley High School, Route 25 (Main Street), Hegins. Re-Creation will attend worship service at Friedens United Church of Christ, Chestnut Street, Hegins, at 10:30 a.m. Sunday and will offer their musical, sacred program at 1:30 p.m. at the church.