Great tunes and fun at Haverford Music Festival

Thousands enjoy day of culture, tunes

Everyone agreed the weather was perfect, and the music wasn’t bad either. Thousands turned out to hear 32 bands Saturday at the seventh annual Haverford Music Festival.

“The weather is beautiful, not too hot, not too cold,” said Donanda Kildea of Broomall, who was enjoying Midnight Express on the grass behind Oakmont School.

The event is organized by the Haverford Township Civic council. Festival chairman, Ernesto Betancourt said this year’s festival was going smoothly, with good crowds and fantastic weather. Betancourt said the festival enriches the cultural identity of the Haverford Township and pays for itself.

“We pay for everything we do,” Betancourt said. “The event is free but we do ask for donations and everything we make goes back to the community.”

Betancourt said the Eagle stage was entirely run by Haverford High School WHHS radio students. The stage highlights young acts.

“We’re hoping to get the youth involved to say to them that they matter and someday they will take over,” Betancourt said.

“The festival is fantastic,” said Haverford 2nd Ward Commissioner Mario Oliva. “In the past 10 years look at the changes in the township, groups like the Civic Council and the HPED (Haverford Partnership for Economic Development), look at the changes , it’s just amazing.”

One of the more unusual activities Saturday was Molly’s Hatchets, an ax-throwing attraction. For $10, owner Pat Creed of Havertown would teach you to toss throwing hatchets at a target, or a caricature of his old boss. Creed, who has been throwing competitively for the past year, takes the fence-enclosed targets to area festivals. He said this was his first music event.

“The sound of ’thunk’, when you hit the target is the most satisfying in the world,” Creed said. Their flier even offered specialized “zombie tools” for “Walking Dead” fans.

PETE BANNAN – DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Mike Nickel of Havertown enjoys the music with his 8-month-old daughter, Nora, at the Oakmont stage at Seventh Annual Haverford Music Festival. the

PETE BANNAN – DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Hanna Paige sings on the WHHS stage at the 7th Annual Haverford Music Festival. The WHHS stage was operated by Haverford High School students.

PETE BANNAN-DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Dave and Beth McElvenney, of Havertown, and Jack and Anne Pathus enjoy music at the Oakmont stage at the 7th Annual Haverford Music Festival.

PETE BANNAN – DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA One of the more unusual attractions at the Haverford Music Festival was Molly’s Hatchets. Pat Creed, right, shows Dave Martino of Newtown Square how to throw. “I love it,” Martino said.

PETE BANNAN – DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA John Kildea high-fives with his son, Cory, 3, as White Midnight plays at the Oakmont stage at the 7th Annual Haverford Music Festival.

PETE BANNAN – DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Hit the Zombie at Molly’s Hatchets, an unusual attraction at the Haverford Music Festival.