July 4th Fest Moved to Labor Day, Parade Canceled

Photo by Evan Brandt

Fireworks will still be held in Memorial Park in 2020, except they have been moved to the labor Day weekend, on Sunday, Sept. 6 at 9 p.m. with a rain date of Sept. 12.

Blogger's Note: The following was submitted by the organizers of the Pottstown GoFourth! celebration.

After a great deal of thought related to the still-evolving Covid-19 crisis, Pottstown GoFourth! organizers are rescheduling the fourth annual family fun and fireworks festival to Labor Day Weekend.

This year's July 4th Parade has been canceled.

Sadly, this year's annual Fourth of July parade sponsored by the Pottstown Rotary Club has been cancelled. 

Both the parade and Pottstown GoFourth are entirely funded by donations and sponsorships, without a penny of taxpayer dollars. 

This year’s modified Pottstown GoFourth! Festival will occur on Sunday, Sept. 6, from 4 to 9 p.m. in Pottstown’s Memorial Park, with a spectacular fireworks display by International Fireworks of Douglassville, occurring at 9:15 p.m.

(While there is not a rain date for the entire festival, the rain date for fireworks only will be Sept. 12.)

Raymond rose, left, runs the Rain Gutter Regatta.

This year’s festivities will be kicked-off with the singing of the National Anthem by Jo Ann Bathurst at 4 p.m..

She will be followed by musical entertainment including Hector Rosado and Orchestra Hache, back by popular demand, and Funktion, courtesy of Entertainment Sponsor Precision Polymer Products. 

Activities geared toward families will include inflatable “rides,” a face-painting artist, and a Rain Gutter Regatta presented by Pottstown Cub Scout Packs 249 and 146 from 5 to 7 p.m. 

Community members interested in participating in the Rain Gutter Regatta should contact Raymond Rose at 484-366-7096.

Shire of Hartshorn-Dale will also return.

 Also back by popular demand will be the “Shire of Hartshorn-Dale,” demonstrating a variety of
Medieval and Renaissance skills and activities.

Once again, the festival will feature arts and crafts vendors and a food court area and beer garden. There are still some spaces left, but food vendor spaces will be limited this year to 10 slots. 

Registration of new, remaining food vendors will open on June 2nd. For more information visit: www.pottstowngofourth.com/vendor-apps.

Pottstown United Brewing is the official beer vendor of the Festival this year; and the PUB is brewing two special beers for the occasion, one to sell pre-festival from their 251 E High St. location and one to sell on festival day. 

A portion of these special beer sales will financially support the Pottstown GoFourth! Festival. To help name the brew please visit the GoFourth! Facebook page www.facebook.com/PottstownGoFourth/posts/2599962246926195  and offer your suggestions.

The Rotary Club duck  Race will go on in September.

While the Fourth of July parade has been canceled, Rotary still will hold its 29th Annual Duck Race on Manatawny Creek, also on Sept. 6, with a 6 p.m. launch. 

By selling duck sponsorships, the Rotary helps to fund charities in the greater Pottstown area,  including Pottstown GoFourth. To purchase a Rotary duck, go to pottstownrotary.org or purchase a duck at the GoFourth festival on Sept. 6. 

Last year, more than 3,700 ducks were placed in the creek. The participating agencies received almost $14,000 to support their program activities.

Festival organizers need to raise about $39,000 to put on this greatly anticipated event, as no funds are pulled from taxpayer dollars. 

The trolley offers Historic Holiday House tours in December.

Fortunately, GoFourth volunteers conduct fundraising events year-round, beginning with the Historic Pottstown Holiday House and Trolley Tours in December. 

 The ongoing fundraising has made it possible for planners to plan for the delayed GoFourth Festival this year despite the cancellation or delay of more recent fundraising events due to the pandemic.

A fundraiser originally scheduled for April 4 was rescheduled for June 5. Due to ongoing health and safety concerns, organizers are in the process of converting the fundraiser to an on-line event. 

Plans are for a “Family Feud: State vs Local” competition game show and basket raffle via Zoom and broadcast on Facebook live at 5 p.m. on the GoFourth! Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/PottstownGoFourth/.

Tax-deductible donations can be made by contributing online at PottstownGoFourth.org, or by sending a check made payable to the TriCounty Community Network (TCN); donors should note “Attention: GoFourth” in the memo line on the check. Checks should be mailed to Pottstown GoFourth! Festival, PO Box 1362, Pottstown, PA 19464.

Businesses or individuals may sponsor various entertainment providers and activities – and in exchange they will receive outstanding publicity and other benefits including (for upper level sponsors) preferred seating during the fireworks display. To learn more about becoming a sponsor, go to PottstownGoFourth.com or email PottstownGoFourth@gmail.com.

This year's t-shirt has a tie-dye design.

Similarly, as noted, quality arts and crafts vendors can feature their wares, and community non-profit agencies are invited to participate in the event. Visit PottstownGoFourth.com website for relevant vendor applications: www.pottstowngofourth.com/vendor-apps.

Pottstown GoFourth! will be selling its always popular Festival merchandise, including newly designed, collectible 2020 Pottstown GoFourth! baseball caps and shirts, while limited supplies last. Friends can purchase GoFourth! merchandise at www.pottstowngofourth.com/gofourthgear

Once again Pottstown GoFourth! also will raise funds for next year’s 2021 Pottstown GoFourth! celebration and fireworks by selling a stunning 2021 calendar depicting beautifully restored, historic Pottstown homes.

The calendar spotlights more of Pottstown’s architectural gems through artistically rendered photographs by Carol Brightbill of Pottstown; the homes or buildings depicted will be featured on the Historic Pottstown Holiday House and Trolley Tours on Dec. 13, 2020.

 The Pottstown Holiday House and Trolley Tours also benefits Pottstown GoFourth!, with all house and trolley tour proceeds helping to kick-off next year’s celebration. Visit the Pottstown GoFourth! website to get your tickets early, as last year’s event had sold-out tours! www.pottstowngofourth.com/holidaytours

Look for updates about Pottstown GoFourth! at www.pottstowngofourth.com and at www.facebook.com/PottstownGoFourth and www.twitter.com/GoFourthFest.

Children's Discovery Center Has GoFourth Kid Fun

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by the Pottstown Children's Discovery Center

The Pottstown Children’s Discovery Center is teaming up with the Kiwanis Club for fun children’s activities during the Go Fourth Festival. Parents are encouraged to bring their young ones for star spangled crafts from 11 a.m. until dusk on July 4th in Memorial Park.

“We think this is a great collaboration between our groups because we share a similar mission,'' said Beth Desch, co-founder of the soon-to-be children’s museum. 

“Both the Pottstown Kiwanis Club and PCDC wish to make a lasting positive impact on the lives of children in our community. Being a part of the Go Fourth festivities is a step in that direction,” she said.

Once doors are open, the Pottstown Children’s Discovery Center will be a hands-on learning experience for children ages 2-10. PCDC will work with local schools to help bring curriculum to life and provide an educational experience like no other on Pottstown’s doorstep. 

To reach this goal, PCDC has launched its Founding 50 fundraising campaign seeking 50 financial donors that want to see the museum come to fruition. More information can be found at www.pottstownkids.org/Founding50.

The Kwanis Club of Pottstown is part of a global organization dedicated to serving the children of the world one community at a time. Members raise funds annually for various causes and participate in service projects that help their communities. Members also make an impact throughout the world by participating in Kiwanis International’s Global Campaign for Children, The Eliminate Project: Kiwanis eliminating maternal and neonatal tetanus.

Carousel to Welcome New Fantastic Beast July 4th

The rarely glimpsed Hippocampus takes time to swim with some dolphin friends as it makes its way to its new home at the Carousel at Pottstown, with it will reach on July 4, just in time for the Independence Day Parade.

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by Carousel at Pottstown.

The Hippocampus is a fantastic beast from Greek mythology, harnessed to draw the chariot of Poseidon, God of the Seas. This magnificent imaginary creature, half horse half porpoise, is nowhere to be found on the planet...except for Pottstown, PA.

The Carousel at Pottstown will premier it’s newest ride attraction during the Independence Day Parade, July 4 starting at 10:30 a.m. 

The Hippocampus will be featured on a 30 foot float as it makes it’s way down High Street. Before the parade is over, the Hippocampus will be mounted on The Carousel at 30 West King St., awaiting it’s first riders. The Carousel will offer a variety of Independence Day Specials and will remain open until the evening fireworks display.

The Hippocampus was created by Master Carver Ed Roth of Los Alamitos, California, who carves for the Disney theme parks and restores carousels for clients including the Smithsonian Institute. It was painted by local Carousel at Pottstown volunteer Alan MacBain, who will accompany it in the parade.

The Carousel at Pottstown is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, dedicated to the revitalization of the Pottstown region. Volunteers spent more than 18 years restoring the 1905 Philadelphia Toboggan Co. Carousel Number 9, opening to the public in December of 2016.

Spring Brings GoFourth Fireworks Fundraising

Photos by Dylan Brandt

A rainstorm failed to stop last year's fireworks display in Memorial Park.

The winter storms have passed (hopefully), the Canadian Geese are returning and Pennsylvania's mud season has begun, all of which means it's time to start thinking about July 4th fireworks.

Cancelled three times in the last six years, fireworks returned to Pottstown's Fourth of July festivities last year and fundraising has already begun to ensure they come again.

In an effort to get the ball rolling before the snow has all even melted, GoFourth organizers have

already set out a series of fundraising events from now into June.

The first will allow you to knock back a few pins in a good cause.

• A GoFourth Bowling and Basket Raffle Fundraiser will be held on Saturday, March 23 from 1 to 3 p.m. at Jay Lanes at 1428 Ben Franklin Highway in Douglassville.

A payment of $15 gets you a game and/or $20 gets you bowling and laser tag (shoe rentals included.)

Tickets can be purchased in advance by clicking here.

Advanced ticket-buyers will receive a Free GoFourth! T-shirt.

• A Fundraising Kick-Off Happy Hour will be held Thursday, April 4 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Steel River Playhouse on High Street.

A suggested donation of $10 gets you local lite fare, a basket raffle, cash bar and a slideshow presentation from last year's GoFourth festival.

• And on three Sundays, the Redner's supermarkets in Douglassville and the North End will host Merchandise Sales and Duck Ticket Sales Dates. They are:

Sunday May 5, Sunday, June 16 and Sunday, June 30, all from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Of course, if your pockets are a little deeper and you would like to play a larger role in helping fund the event, sponsorships are available.

Two lucky sponsors can make a tax-deductible donation of $10,000 and become fireworks sponsors.

Two entertainment sponsorships are available for $5,000 each. Other sponsorship levels are golf ($2,500); silver ($1,500); bronze ($1,000); copper ($500); friends of the festival ($250); neighbors of the festival $100).

For more information, visit the event web site — www.PottstownGoFourth.com — or seek them out on Facebook at PottstownGoFourth or on Twitter @GoFourthFest

Fundraising actually began last year with the Historic Pottstown Holiday House Tour, which this year will be held on Dec. 8.

The group has also continued and expanded another July 4th tradition, the Pottstown GoFourth Royal Court.

The Pottstown GoFourth! Royal Court is open to Homecoming Kings and Queens from the following school districts:

• Pottstown
  
• Pottsgrove
• Owen J. Roberts
• Boyertown
• Spring-Ford
• Daniel Boone
• Pope John Paul II

Participants raise money through their own fundraising efforts — for example, collection cans at local restaurants, car wash, bake sale, etc.

The highest earning King and the highest earning Queen will be named Pottstown GoFourth! King and Queen; the second highest earning King will be named Prince and the second highest earning Queen will be named Princess.

All participants will:

• Ride in the 4th of July Parade (hosted and sponsored by Pottstown Rotary Club)
• Receive 2 passes for VIP/reserved seating at the July 4 fireworks show, and a Pottstown GoFourth! Festival gift bag
• Receive a Pottstown GoFourth! Festival T-shirt
• King, Queen, Prince and Princess will be crowned on stage at the Pottstown GoFourth! Festival on July 4th

Want Fireworks This Year? Donate at the Pottstown GoGourth Kick-Off Event Wednesday 5:30 to 7:30

Blogger's Note: The following was provided by the Pottstown GoFourth organization

After an overwhelmingly successful inaugural Pottstown GoFourth! Festival last year, a reorganized committee is dedicated to providing a fireworks finale for area families attending the holiday celebration on Wednesday, July 4.

The festival will begin around noon, immediately after the Pottstown Fourth of July parade.

To officially kick off fundraising efforts, Pottstown GoFourth! is hosting an event on Wednesday, April 4 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at 140 College Drive, Floor 2R, Montgomery County Community College Innovation Hub.

A $10 suggested donation will provide admission to a fun gathering with food, beverages, raffles, and live music by area favorite Rebecca Shoemaker, accompanied on piano by her son, Sam Pattine.

The Pottstown GoFourth! organization now is an official Pennsylvania 501c3 non-profit corporation, operating under the TriCounty Community Network, which manages all GoFourth! finances and reporting.

Co-Chairpersons Amy Francis and Amy Wolf emphasize that not a penny of taxpayer money supports the July 4 festivities, which is why fundraising is so essential.

The Whiskeyhickon Boys performed last year

“No Pottstown Borough funds help to pay for this celebration,” Wolf says. “It is completely funded by sponsorships and donations made by businesses and individuals who want to offer our greater Pottstown community a fun, family-oriented event -- a happening that showcases all the positive community spirit and amenities that Pottstown has to offer.”

Last year’s GoFourth! featured a laser and music show. “People were open-minded about seeing the laser show as an alternative to fireworks,” Francis says, “but we also heard a clear preference for traditional fireworks. As a result, the committee has dedicated itself to raising the funds to make fireworks happen as part of this free, true community event. However, folks should know that fireworks cost about $1,000 per minute in addition to ancillary costs such as fire department fees.”

“We cannot begin to fund this festival through bucket collections alone,” Wolf says, adding that the
volunteers are seeking two headlining fireworks sponsors of $10,000 each (or one official and extraordinarily generous sponsor at $20,000).

The co-chairs note that last year’s attendees loved the variety of professional live music that was performed all day, in addition to the food trucks, arts and crafts vendors, and the Sly Fox beer tent -- all of which will return this year – as well as hot air balloon rides by the U.S. Hot Air Balloon Team. 

The festival also will include activities geared toward children, ranging from face painting to the appearance of “Grandpop Bubbles,” a performance artist who creates enormous bubbles much to delight of young and old alike. Grandpop Bubbles’ performance and all of the children’s activities for the day are being generously sponsored by ROG Orthodontics.

Also new this year will be a “Royal Court” competition: Area school districts will be asked to encourage their Homecoming Kings and Queens to compete through fundraising to be named King and Queen of the Pottstown GoFourth! Royal Court – and runners up will be named Prince and Princess of the Court. All Royal Court selections will appear in the Rotary Club-sponsored July 4th parade and will be officially honored at the GoFourth! festival.

Other activities that will complement the GoFourth! events at the park will include, confirmed to date, opportunities to play miniature golf at Manatawny Green and board the Colebrookdale Railroad which will conduct short runs to and from the park to the Boyertown station.

The Rotary Club parade will take place again, as noted. Interested parties should contact pottstownrotary@gmail.com as soon as possible to register. (There is a modest registration fee that will cover traffic control and other related expenses.) 

The giant duck means the annual duck race is on.

The parade will begin at 10:30 a.m. at High and Adams Streets and continue west to Manatawny Street – and participants as well as spectators will be encouraged to continue on to the King Street entrance of Memorial Park to participate in the GoFourth! Festival!

The Rotary Club also will hold its 26th Annual Duck Race on Manatawny Creek the afternoon of July 4. By selling duck sponsorships, the Rotary will benefit charities in the greater Pottstown area – including PottstownGoFourth! 

 To sponsor a Rotary duck, go to pottstownrotary.org (or purchase a duck at the GoFourth festival on July 4); to make a parade contribution, please send a tax-deductible donation to the Pottstown Rotary Community Endowment Fund (PRCEF) via P.O. Box 227, Pottstown, PA. 19464.

“When you look at photos from last year’s GoFourth! Festival, it’s striking to see the beautiful cross-section of Pottstown people – diverse smiling faces, young to old,” says Wolf. “The volunteers want to build on 2017’s wonderful event and provide an even better experience for our hometown.”

While last year’s festival was a two-day event, this year’s GoFourth! will be limited to July 4 only, which will help save costs on items ranging from parking lot rental fees to portable restroom facilities. Carnival rides will not be offered this year, notes Francis, citing not only the prohibitive costs but difficulty in finding vendors who will set up rides for a one-day-only event.

Help Bring Back the Fireworks and Support PottstownGoFourth!

Area businesses and citizens can play a vital role in ensuring the success of this year’s all- volunteer led effort to throw a successful July 4 event for the community and guests. In addition to supporting the April 4th benefit event:

• Tax-deductible donations can be made by donating online at PottstownGoFourth.org, or by sending a check made payable to the TriCounty Community Network (TCN) and noting “Attention: GoFourth” in the memo line on the check. Checks may be sent to Pottstown GoFourth! Festival, PO Box 1362, Pottstown, PA 19464. 
  
• Businesses or individuals may sponsor various entertainment providers and activities – and in exchange they will receive outstanding publicity and other benefits including (for upper level sponsors) preferred seating during the fireworks display. To learn more about becoming a sponsor, go to PottstownGoFourth.org or email PottstownGoFourth@gmail.com. To date, in addition to those sponsorships already noted, the Pottstown Mercury is a generous GoFourth! supporter. 
• Roughly 20 food vendors are expected at the festival, additional culinary offerings are welcome. Vendor applications can be found at: www.pottstowngofourth.info/vendor-apps
• Similarly, quality arts and crafts vendors will be featuring their wares, but additional artisans are encouraged to participate. Again, the PottstownGoFourth.org website provides relevant information. Vendor applications can be found at: www.pottstowngofourth.info/vendor-apps
• Friends of PottstownGoFourth! Festival can purchase GoFourth! merchandise, including the popular hats, which always sell out quickly. GoFourth! Merchandise can be purchased at www.pottstowngofourth.info/2018-gofourth-gear when available and while supplies last. 

Please look for updates about Pottstown GoFourth! at www.pottstowngofourth.org or www.pottstowngofourth.com and at www.facebook.com/PottstownGoFourth and www.twitter.com/GoFourthFest .

(While there is not a rain date for the entire festival, the rain date for fireworks only will be July 13.)