MCCC, Whitpain team up for festival

WHITPAIN >> Whitpain Township and Montgomery County Community College (MCCC) invite the community to come and enjoy a whole host of family activities, food and musical performances, starting with the Big Rig Roundup and followed by the annual Whitpain Community Festival. Admission and parking are free for both events, which will be held on the Morris Road parking lot of MCCC’s Blue Bell Campus, 340 DeKalb Pike.

The fun starts Friday evening, Sept. 23, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. with the Big Rig Roundup. Kids of all ages can get of close look at the unique trucks and equipment used by the local fire, police and public works departments. The event includes a minimal noise half-hour from 5:30 to 6 p.m., during which time, there will be no sirens, horns or loud engines.

The fun continues Saturday, Sept. 24, when the Festival kicks off at noon with children’s games, face painting, a pumpkin patch, petting zoo, pony rides, hayrides, rock wall, and craft vendors.

During the afternoon, MCCC students will host a wellness expo with display tables of health care information throughout the afternoon. They also will help register volunteers for the National Bone Marrow Registry. Anyone be

tween the ages of 18 and 60 can submit a cheek swab and complete the required paperwork to be added to this life-saving registry.

With the plethora of activities, the festival will host a number of food trucks starting at noon, and the beer garden opens at 2 p.m. — both will be open throughout the musical performances until 8 p.m.

Bring your lawn chairs and blankets to relax and enjoy the musical performances, starting at 2:30 p.m. with the popular favorite, Fort Washington School of Rock, followed by the talented Montco student band at 3:30 p.m.

At 5 p.m. singer/songwriter Alexis Cunningham will take the stage to entertain the crowd. Born in Huntingdon, West Virginia, Cunningham got her start on YouTube, writing songs on her acoustic guitar and signed her first development deal at age 19. After moving to

the Philadelphia area in 2013, she met songwriter/ producer Eric Bazilian, founding member of the Philadelphia rock band, The Hooters, and collaborated on several projects. Most recently, Cunningham released her second single, “Working on a Miracle,” on NBC’s American Song Contest.

This year’s main act, Chicago 9 Tribute Band, will take the stage at 7 p.m. to share the popular songs of the iconic group, Chicago. Hailed

as the premier Chicago Tribute band in the Delaware Valley, Chicago 9 reaches fans of all ages and keeps the crowd on their feet.

Following the musical performances, the daylong festivities wrap up with a spectacular firework display at 8:15 p.m.

Any updates about the events will be shared on the festival website at https://www.whitpainfestival.com/ and on the Facebook page at https:// www.facebook.com/whitpaincommunityfestival.

MCCC and Whitpain Township thank the many volunteers who make the annual family events possible and thank this year’s sponsors, including presenting sponsors Baird Foley Hillsley Group, Montgomery County Community College’s Lively Arts Series and Whitpain Township Parks and Recreation Department; gold sponsors Chambers Associates; silver sponsors American Heritage Credit Union, Ardent Credit Union, Genisys Credit Union, Janney Montgomery Scott — Patitucci Wealth Management, McCaffrey’s Food Markets, Mid Atlantic Construction, Patient First, PECO, Sesame/ Rockwood Camps, TD Bank, and Whitpain Police Association; bronze sponsor Kaplin, Stewart, Meloff, Reiter & Stein, P.C.; and contributing sponsors Goldfish Swim School and Institute of Addiction Medicine.

Visitors are invited to tag their photos on social with #WhitpainFest.

PHOTO FROM 2021BY SUSAN ANGSTADT The fun starts Friday evening, Sept. 23, from 5:30to 8p.m. with the Big Rig Roundup. Kids of all ages can get of close look at the unique trucks and equipment used by the local fire, police and public works departments.