REYNOLDSVILLE, Pa. – The Red, White, and Blueberry Festival – slated for July 13, 14, and 15 – is just one of the ways that the Reynoldsville Community Association is inviting people to rediscover their town, and this year they have been hard at work to make the festival even more enjoyable.
In order to arrange all of the events, activities, and vendors in a convenient, centralized location, the Red, White & Blueberry Festival will be moved to Kunselman Park, just two blocks from Main Street, behind the Reynoldsville Fire Company building. The park provides easy access and plenty of parking for the Festival.
The Red, White, and Blueberry Festival includes three days of family fun and entertainment for everyone without having to spend a lot of money, thanks to contributions from local businesses and sponsors.
The festival will kick off on Friday, July 13, with Fireman’s Bingo at the Reynoldsville Volunteer Fire Company, a beer tasting hosted by Straub Brewery at Downtown Distributor, and a free outdoor movie in the park sponsored by the Snyder-d’Argy Funeral Home. The feature for the night is The Greatest Showman and the d’Argy family will provide free King Krunch popcorn to movie-goers. Sarah’s Soft Serve and George’s Hot Dogs will be available for purchase.
On Saturday, July 14, the family fun continues with trolley rides courtesy of Niagara Cutter, Sarah’s Soft Serve, and DD’s Cornhole Games which will take festival-goers from the Foundry or the park to Blueberry Hill Farm and Maxim’s Berry Farm, both located about two miles west of Reynoldsville. The Red, White & Blueberry Chairman, Sam Bundy, says that these farms are important to the traditions of the Red, White & Blueberry Festival, which was originally planned around blueberry season to make the most of these local treasures.
Saturday will also include a children’s bike parade sponsored by Viking Refrigeration, a sidewalk chalk art contest at the Community First Bank, a flag ceremony at the post office, and a beer tent by the DuBois Area Jaycees. Musical performances on Saturday are free, with John Biggie’s Band and Bad Hat Daddy sponsored by the Law Office of JD Ryan. The excitement will lead up to a fireworks display at the ball field thanks to O’Bryon Medical & Eye Associates.
Sunday, July 15 – the final day of the festival – will begin with a Church in the Park service at the Pavilion followed by a free ice cream social thanks to the Jefferson County Dairy Council and Sarah’s Soft Serve. That afternoon, for the first time, the Red, White & Blueberry Festival will hold a National Blueberry Pie Eating Contest.
“We have people traveling in from other states for this,” Bundy revealed, “including a guy who is ranked fourth in the nation in competitive eating. We have five competitors from all over the country, but also some local amateurs who want to give it a try.”
Bundy added that he is especially looking forward to this event.
“It’s going to be fun,” he added. “Contestants have ten minutes to eat as many pies as they can.”
Bundy says he hopes the new additions to the festival will attract more people to come to Reynoldsville and see for themselves all the community has to offer. The small town, like many in the area, used to be a bustling railroad town that has since struggled with economic hardship and a declining population. Bundy says he would like to see the community come together to turn things around.
“I know that we need to start developing community pride,” he emphasized. “People need to take a look at who we are.”
Bundy highlights the town’s access to the outdoors, noting that the Sandy Lick would offer a perfect place for paddlers. He added that there are many historic buildings downtown, each with its own story and period architecture. Bundy also enthusiastically referenced the restaurants in town, which he considers to have some of the best food around.
“We have the Hometown Restaurant, we have Big George’s secret hot dog sauce and places like Mancuso’s Pizza,” Bundy said. “Places like this are unique to Reynoldsville.”
Bundy, and the rest of the Association’s mission is to show the residents of Reynoldsville and beyond how much potential is in their little town. The Red, White & Blueberry Festival is all a part of that effort, which, Bundy says, is hopefully just the beginning.
“This is the year of possibilities,” he said. “We have our eye on the future.”
To find updates and schedules for this year’s Red, White & Blueberry Festival, go to www.goreynoldsville.com.
Special thanks to the following members of the Reynoldsville Community Association:
Sam Bundy
Carol Brodie
Sarah Caltagarone
Gene Deible III
Bonnie Kaushik
Pat and Shirley Maxim
Angie Popson
Denise Preston
Jack and Donna Price
Shelia Price,
Joe and Sheila Ryan
Leigh Volchko
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