Founding Day: Saturday festival brings cars, art, food and fun to downtown Uniontown
Mark Hofmann/For the Observer-Reporter
Brothers Brycen Martin (center), 8, and Brodie Martin (left), 3, sons of Shanda and Jason Martin of Perryopolis, check out some of the equipment on a Uniontown Fire Department truck with firefighter Matt Burns (right).
Mark Hofmann/For the Observer-Reporter
Cassidy Paige, accompanied by Lucien Schroyer, belted out tunes during the Founding Day Festival on Saturday.
Megan Murray (left) with Face Paint Pittsburgh works on 2-year-old Jensen Andolino (right), after painting his sister, Cervena Andolino (center). Jensen and Cervena are the children of Shelby and Jared Andolino of Dunbar.
Mark Hofmann/For the Observer-Reporter
Rylan Jeffreys, 14, of Markleysburg tries his hand (and arms) at using a battering ram on Saturday. Members of the Uniontown Police Department were among first responders who brought vehicles and equipment to the Founding Day Festival in downtown Uniontown.
Mark Hofmann/For the Observer-Reporter
Michaela Daniel and Nyah Daniel-Greene, 1, both of Brooklyn, New York, check out one of the more eccentric vehicles entered into the Founding Day Festival car show on Saturday in Uniontown.
Layla Carrier, 7, daughter of Elizabeth and James Thomas of Bitner, takes part in the ring toss at the kid's zone at Saturday's Founding Day Festival in Uniontown.
The annual Founding Day Festival brought a mix of art, cars, children’s activities, food and music to Uniontown on Saturday to celebrate the city’s birthday.
“We’re having a great turnout,” said Michael Scott, publisher of the Herald-Standard, which sponsored Saturday’s events. “There’s a lot of people down here, and people are showing up early, which is great.”
Despite the threat of rain (something that normally steers car show participants away), Scott said the turnout for this year’s show was spectacular.
One of the individuals who showed support the Founding Day Festival was first-timer Michaela Daniel from Brooklyn, New York, who was in town for a family reunion.
She said she was fortunate to be in the area at the same time as the festival, making it a part of the sights and experiences during her visit to Fayette County.
“We saw Fallingwater yesterday,” said Daniel as she looked over the classic cars lined up along Main Street. “People are so excited to show off their cars.”
Returning to the festival this year was the Uniontown Art Club. Twelve members set up in downtown’s Storey Square for an art show and sale in the midst of live music on the stage. Just across the street, hungry festival goers could visit a food court made up of food trucks.
Pete Pasqua, treasurer and past president of the art club, said it’s the club’s second year at the festival. He was pleased to see an even bigger turnout this year.
“They didn’t have the live music and the food trucks (in 2022),” Pasqua said. “The music and the food trucks will draw people in.”
Art club member Stephanie McClaine, of Stephanie’s Pottery Shop, was on hand to sell handmade stoneware pottery. She said the festival seems to be growing each year.
“I think it’s making a lot of progress,” McClaine said. “The music is a nice addition.”
Scott said the new offerings, which also included a kids zone, were all met with positive reactions.
“Everybody is really happy with the improvements this year,” Scott said.
After the festival, Scott said, the committee will meet and discuss what worked and what enhancements can be made in 2024 to help Founding Day continue to grow.
“Everything that’s here this year will be back next year,” Scott said. “I’m glad it’s looking to be another successful year.”
Started in 2019, the festival celebrates the city’s birthday, and raises money to renovate Marshall Park, located on Jefferson Avenue across from the Uniontown Public Library.