Music, food and run to showcase Mount Pleasant
MOUNT PLEASANT – Mount Pleasant is a Westmoreland County borough that covers a 1.1-square-mile area and supports nearly 5,000 citizens. It’s roots run deep in glass. Nineteen years ago the community came together for the very first Mount Pleasant Glass Festival.
Over the years, it grew by leaps and bounds and evolved.
Jeff Landy, borough manager, always has something up his sleeve.
As co-chairman of the event now known as the Mount Pleasant Glass and Ethnic Festival, he gets to help create its excitement.
Mount Pleasant mayor and fire chief, Jerry Lucia, is the other co-chair.
“Our festival is a unique event,” Landy said.
“And there will always be added surprises,” he continued. “You never know what we will add at the last minute, so come and enjoy the fun.”
The event, which is free, runs from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. today and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday.
Open rain or shine, it features continuous entertainment on three stages, a parade, glassblowing demonstrations, arts and craft vendors, ethnic food, music, a variety of headlining musicians, strolling entertainment, dance, carnival rides and games and concludes with a fireworks display at 7 p.m. Sunday.
“The Veteran’s Wall will also be featured,” Landy said.
Dedicated on Nov. 11, 2003, the Wall lists the names of more than 1,500 military men and women who have honorably served their country.
“It has been a really big draw in the past,” he said of the display. “We are one of only a few area festivals that have no alcohol,” he said. “We are really a family oriented event.”
A shuttle will pick up visitors at Wal-Mart or Smith Glass and transport them to the site in downtown Mount Pleasant. Landy considers change good.
“We are always trying something new, something different,” he said of the 19-year-old festival. “It keeps us on our toes.”
As for next year, the 20th anniversary, excitement is in the air.
“We are already planning something big,” he said.
For more information about the 19th annual Mount Pleasant Glass and Ethnic Festival, for directions or information about any of the events, or a schedule of the entertainment, visit the Web site at www.mtpleasantglassandethnicfestival.com.
There is a link there to the American Folklife Center’s Local Legacies Project, a part of the Library of Congress, which honors the glass festival.