Mountain Fest event takes a village
RIDGWAY- With Mountain Fest only a day away, an event like this takes droves of volunteers and businesses to help make this become a reality this year. The Elk County Wilds and Tourism Association has been the host of the event since its inception. It was originally started by the late Tom “T.O.” Fitch, who was known for his incredible contributions to the local community.
Visitors from out of state are intrigued by the happenings each year on the first weekend of March, and local businesses thrive with the infusion of new customers that explore the downtown area.
President of the Elk County Wilds and Tourism Association, (ECWTA) Julee Marzella, could not speak highly enough of members of the community and beyond that dedicate their time to Mountain Fest.
“It is truly a community effort to put something like this together,” Marzella said. “People offer to help all the time to whatever we may need.”
Marzella, along with ECWTA Treasurer Tina Clancy, ECWTA Board Member Natalie Aiello, and ECWTA Secretary Kayleen Porter spend countless hours organizing all aspects of Mountain Fest.
In the final weeks leading up to Mountain Fest is when she and her fellow board members hear from local businesses and volunteers on how they can help. Marzella and Clancy take on the majority of the planning duties for Mountain Fest, and the ECWTA board meets monthly to get additional input on what needs to be done.
The planning tasks include reaching out to vendors and collecting their information, as well as getting the proper licensing for those who will be serving alcohol.
According to the Mountain Fest page on the ECWTA, the vendor list for the event extends above 100 and 12 music entertainment acts spanning across this weekend.
“It’s basically a full time job for the two of us,” Marzella said.
The ECWTA president mentioned that they are currently working with the Ridgway Borough to move Mountain Fest to the Ridgway Mills property at some point in the future.
Marzella said this partnership with the borough is an ongoing process to strive to make improvements to the Ridgway Mills property so that it can be a diverse area to not only host their event, but other recreational events in the future.
The following individuals and businesses volunteer at the event to work at the door to collect entry fees and sell 50/50 tickets plus they help man the ECWTA booth selling merchandise and beverages: CNB Bank, Northwest Savings Bank, State Farm Insurance, Gerg Allstate Insurance, CAPSEA, Roberta Buehler of the Ridgway-Elk Chamber of Commerce, Michelle Bogacki, Dave Fink, Joanie Santiso, Larry Huber, Carol Jacobs, Maryann Cianca, Jamie Kline, Brittany Wolff, Lynn Dills, Jean Rusciolelli, Pam Gulnac, Tom Moran, Mamie Mader, Annie Drathman Shields, Julie Bomba, Larissa Woodford, Amanda Wagner, Maci Hersog, Shannon Neureiter, Darlene Buttery, Andrew Wingard, Kylee Mader, Stacy Sherry, Kelly Albrecht, Bonnie Gausman, Stephanie Cribbs, Karen Lascoli, Maureen Miller, Shelly
& Greg Caggiano, Annie Leader, Joey Kepple, Steve Cleveland.
Additionally, Kevin Clancy, Brad Evert, Rick Marzella, Ricky Marzella, Terry Baker, Kyle Bowley, Frank Quattrone, and Tim McClain pitch in extensive hours of cleaning,
filling holes, decorating, parking food trucks, building stages and other structures, hanging lights, and more.
This year, 20 student volunteers from the Ridgway Area High School have elected to fulfill their community service hours through Mountain Fest as they will clean, empty garbage cans, and keep
paper products stocked in the bathrooms and hand sanitation stations.
Marzella also wanted to thank the people, businesses, and entities that provide donations and other contributions for the event as follows: Ridgway Borough, Ridgway Borough Police, Ridgway Fire Department, Ridgway Industrial Development
Corporation, RidgwayAID, Steger Masonry , Keystone Ace Hardware, NAPA, Continental Construction Inc., Steger Masonry, Moore Propane, Challenger Transport, Marc Nero Enterprises, Mealy Construction, Kinetic by Windstream, Kennedy Signs, Advantage Metal Powders, Servie Kuleck, Dan Mativi, Vic Aiello,
Jim Kinkead, Christie Gardner, Charlie Jacques, Ian Kucenski, Tim McClain, and Ken Hanford. Lastly, she thanked all of the local news outlets that promote Mountain Fest.
Mountain Fest will once again take place at the Old Tannery Building on 310 Tanner Street in Ridgway. Friday hours for the event are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.,
Saturday 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Please be sure to look inside today's newspaper for our special Mountain Fest edition. The edition includes a full list of vendors, music performances, feature stories on new and returning vendors, a map of the venue and so much more.