Dunbar festival called ‘great’ success
DUNBAR – The gathering of friends and neighbors, coupled with activities for every age, made for a successful event Saturday, according to those who coordinated the borough’s inaugural Community Fest. “Everybody has done a great job,” said Bonnie Zurick as she surveyed the multitude of people who wandered through the Presbyterian Church social hall. “This is great.”
Zurick and other members of the Dunbar Historical Society coordinated the festival, which included a flea market, fashion show, music, food and train rides for the youngsters.
“This is something we needed here,” said borough resident Don Lowry. “I’ve seen people here that I haven’t talked to in a long time.”
In the social hall, memorabilia of the borough’s past was documented in photographs, paintings and booklets displayed by the historical society and local scouting organization.
The borough, at one time, was an active manufacturing community, known for its ironworks, production of coke and iron ore and glass.
Across from the Presbyterian Church, members of the Franklin Memorial United Methodist Church hosted a quilt show.
The pews of the sanctuary were filled with handcrafted bed covers that dated back to 1937 and drew the admiration of those that walked through the doors.
“They are so beautiful,” said one visitor as she went through the aisles to view the floral designs that took hours to stitch together.
A few steps beyond the church, numerous classic automobiles sporting murals and spotless interiors and exteriors drew the attention of many festival-goers.
“It’s going very well,” said Pat Trimbath, chairman of the classic car show.
A 1930 Model A Ford, owned by James Thompson, garnered just as much attention as the candy-apple red 1967 Mustang owned by Blair Saylor.
“They’re real beauties,” said one visitor.
While mothers and fathers were drawn to displays, the youngsters were more interested in the Rainbow Express, a locomotive that pulled its brightly colored cars up and down the borough’s main streets.
“Is everybody ready?” asked engineer Lou Caley of his small passengers as he rang the bell and pulled out of the makeshift station.
Other children made their way to the petting zoo, where they were able to interact with a reindeer named Jingle.
His handler, Sonny Herring of the Woodland Zoo, said the children were fascinated with the 1-year-old animal.
“They think it’s a little strange to have reindeer,” he said.
Festival coordinator Donna Myers said she was pleased with the support of those who took part in the planning and preparation of the event.
“We started with nothing, but everything has turned out so well,” she said.
“Maybe we’ll do it again next year.”