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Indiana County, Pennsylvania is located in the foothills of the Allegheny Mountains -just one hour east of Pittsburgh and has several unique attractions and entities that make it a very desirable travel destination.

Indiana County is home to: 64 miles of Rails to Trails and more than 15 miles of single track mountain biking, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, a robust Agritourism industry, old order Amish families, and a wealth of history ranging from the French and Indian War to our own hometown hero, Jimmy Stewart.


Thursday, July 14, 2011

Hoodlebug Summerfest 2011

On Sunday, July 10th, I traveled to Homer City to partake in their annual Hoodlebug Summerfest.  This was the 14th year for the festival and what a success it turned out to be again this year!

During the morning hours, folks could register for the Horseshoe Tournament and also participate in a Bicycle Poker Run.  When I arrived at the festival shortly after the Flag Raising Ceremony, parking was a breeze.  For those arriving to town a little bit later, there was a convenient and free shuttle available with parking not far at all from the festivities. 

In the photos below, you can see some photos from different places around the festival.





In the photos below you can see the area where the food booths were located.






It was great having the wide variety of food available to choose from for lunch and dinner.  From pierogies and haluski, to beef brisket sandwiches and meatball hoagies.  From chicken strips and pulled pork sandwiches to Penn State Creamery ice cream - there was something there for even the pickiest of eaters.  Pizza from "The Dugout" food booth was a bit hit with my family.  "The Dugout" is located along Main Street in Homer City.

Here are some photos of the food booths at the festival.





Pictured below is a view of one of the nice, shaded areas available to enjoy some delicious food, relaxation and the overall fun atmosphere of the festival.  The shaded area was very welcomed on this very hot day!


Next up for us was visiting the Kids Zone!  The entire fire hall was devoted to FREE kids activities! With a theme of "Hoodlebug Summerfest Goes Global", each table inside the kids zone had a different continent that they were highlighting.  Various activities included cool paint stampers, making necklaces and bracelets, going "fishing", making crafts out of cookies plus much more! 

Here's an "insider" tip for you for when you go next year:  check out the Kids Zone before the parade.  This area became much busier after the parade!!

Here are some photos of the various tables in the Kids Zone.








In the photo below you can see interviews being conducted by Community TV from IUP.


More photos from the Kids Zone!






We enjoyed the talents of a grouped called "Lantern" who performed on the main stage during our lunch.  This group of local musicians features Contemporary Christian Rock selections.  Other groups performing on stage included "The Fabulous Flashbacks" and "Ray Jay and the Carousels". The Fabulous Flashbacks perform vintage sounds of the 50's, 60's, and 70's with a high level of energy. Ray Jay and the Carousels have been performing their polka selections since 1971 at a variety of events.


There were also a wide variety of crafters selling their unique and handcrafted items.


Next up was finding a perfect spot in the shade to watch the parade on Main Street in town.
 

...and the parade is about to begin!








Numerous classic cars that were later of display during a car cruise in Floodway Park were also in the parade.










Here's a short video of the "Lil' Vettes" that the children LOVED seeing in the parade.










Children attending the parade greatly enjoyed not only the entertainment of those in the parade but also the abundance of candy that was thrown from those in the parade!











Though temperatures crept up towards 90 degrees, the weather was beautiful with an abundance of sunshine.  It was perfect for also enjoying additional events at the festival such as a Jitterbug Contest, Duck Race, Hula Hoop Contest and 5K Race.  An additional perk of the festival included a $1 swim day at Homer City Swimming Pool from Noon to 6 pm.  All festivities concluded at 8pm.  Attneding Hoodbug Summerfest was a great day to spend a Sunday in July! Be sure to mark your calendars for next year - I know I will!

4 comments:

  1. I will have to mark my calendar for next year. My grandchildren would live the Kid's Zone and parade. I would love the food and crafts. Thanks for all the information. I never heard of this festival before. Looking forward to next year's event.

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  2. That looks like it was TONS of fun!

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  3. What a great looking time!

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