May 15, 2007 By The 2 min read

Hopwood Village Project is sponsoring its eighth annual National Road Festival celebration this weekend. Activities begin at 9 a.m. Saturday, followed by the ceremonial crowning of the king and queen at 11 a.m. in the lawn area of National City Bank on Route 40. John Petro and Martha Polito will receive the honor this year.

The Hopwood Garden Club will have a plant sale and numerous vendors, including several flea markets and food booths, will be on site.

At 1 p.m., the parade will begin at the Hopwood Volunteer Fire Department Social Hall and will proceed on Route 40 to the Bennington Road intersection.

The AMVETS Post 103 Color Guard will lead the marchers, which will include the Laurel Highlands Senior High Band, Laurel Highlands Middle School Band, students representing all of the Laurel Highlands School District elementary schools, Fayette County Search and Rescue Team, the Hopwood and South Union volunteer fire departments and several other civic organizations.

Antique cars also will be driven and members of the Corvette Club and Rolling Thunder will ride in the parade.

State Rep. Tim Mahoney, D-South Union Twp., and state Rep. Deberah Kula, D-North Union Twp., will serve as grand marshals.

The parade will coincide with the arrival of the wagon train, which will stop for lunch in Hopwood.

Route 40 will be closed to traffic and personnel will be directing traffic around the parade route.

Following the parade, a fishing derby will be held for children ages 12 and younger at the South Union Recreational Area at Hutchinson beginning at 3 p.m. Prizes will be awarded and refreshments served. The stream, Hutchinson Run, will be stocked with fish.

On Sunday, an old-time baseball game featuring players from the Hopwood area will begin at 1 p.m. at the Hutchinson ball field.