So Much to Do, So Little Time (Or, Spend Your Weekends in Pottstown) Now Updated with Even More!

Mercury File Photo

Now in its third year, the Pottstown Pet Fair has grown by leaps and bounds every year

"There's nothing to do."

Parents, how many times did you hear that this summer as your kids lazed about the living room complaining of terminal boredom?

Well they can't say that this month as September is one of those months were everything happens
all at the same time:

First and foremost, let's talk about the Third Annual Pottstown Pet Fair.

 Photo by John Strickler/The Mercury
Angel Jones, 6, holds her new Chihuahua puppy named Junior
at the pet fair last year. 

Scheduled for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, the event has grown so big that is has moved to Memorial Park.

Speaking to Pottstown Borough Council last week, the organizers said that it has now attracted more than 80 vendors, "which is phenomenal," said Codes Enforcement Officer Bill Sharon.

As a result, it has grown to the largest free pet fair on the East Coast, he said.

Among the activities will be:

• Blessing of the animals
• Animal rescue organizations
• Pet photos
• Retail vendors
• A food court
• Workshops
• A dog walk to benefit the Bark Park in Memorial Park 
• A rabies vaccination clinic run by the Montgomery County Health Department ($10 per shot).
• Rotary Club Duck Race

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Speaking of which, let's talk about The Annual Rotary Club Duck Race. 

Mercury File Photo

Moved from the Fourth of July Celebration, which this year did not include any events in Memorial Park, the annual duck race raises money for 25 different community groups.

Last year, the Rotary and participating organizations sold about 3,300 tickets. Through this project, the community has contributed more than $295,000 to non-profit organizations in the Pottstown area.

The club organizes the event and provides personnel, as well as selling tickets, along with the community groups benefited.

The number on each ticket matches one on a plastic duck which is released with a whole passel of others down the meandering Manatawny Creek. 

About 100 prizes are awarded worth more than $10,000.

• First prize is $1,000 cash
• Second Prize is a 40-inch HDTV television
• Third prize is an i-Pad

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On Friday, Sept. 20, an opening reception will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. for the opening of a new exhibit at ArtFusion 19464 at 254 High St.

The exhibit is called "When We Were Soldiers" and is the work and personal story of the area's Vietnam War veterans.

The exhibit will be in the High Street gallery through Nov. 9. 

Look to upcoming Mercury issues for a full story on this exhibit and videos of the veterans telling their stories.

* * *

Right across King Street from Memorial Park, historic Pottsgrove Manor will be having its own program that features -- wait for it -- CHOCOLATE!

From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. that day, Pottsgrove Manor will host an ongoing series of demonstrations about how chocolate was enjoyed by Americans in colonial times.

The demonstrations will be performed by American Heritage Chocolate (a division of Mars Chocolate North America.)

Also, perhaps most importantly, they can taste a sample of a colonial chocolate drink.

As many of you know, Pottsgrove Manor is the refurbished home of Pottstown founder John Potts.

It is located at 100 W. King St. and is owned and operated by Montgomery County.

* * *

The submissions just keep coming, Barth Elementary Principal Ryan Oxenford sent us this message:

On behalf of the students and staff at Barth Elementary School, we would like to invite you to the rededication celebration on Saturday, September 21. The staff is working hard to plan activities to celebrate our newly renovated elementary school and hope you will join us for the event.

The activities will run from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. with some remarks at 2:00 p.m.

We look forward to seeing you there.

All the best,

Ryan Oxenford and the Barth Family

* * *

The next day, The Carousel of Flavor turns 10 this year on Sunday, Sept. 22 from 12 to 4 p.m. in Smith Family Plaza on High Street, right in front of Pottstown Borough Hall.

The event raises money for the Carousel at Pottstown effort.

In addition to the wine and beer tent, with three beer vendors, 20 restaurants have signed up to sell samples of their best dishes.

There will be musical entertainment. Stroll around the tables of Crafters Row where vendors will have their unique creations on display. Rainbow the Clown will be making her debut, making balloon animals for the kids. Children can climb into a fire truck and the DARE truck.

To get a look at the progress of the Carousel, hop on the trolley for a ride to the carousel’s home at 30 King St., across from Memorial Park.

For the 10th Anniversary new attractions have been added. Chef Mike Pezzillo will teach new skills and answer questions during his engaging cooking demonstration. The Magic of Kevin Joyce will amaze the crowd with his sleight of hand tricks. A raffle of gift certificates from the participating restaurants will be running throughout the day. Also new this year, students from Pottstown High School’s Culinary Arts program will serve up examples of their growing culinary skills, participating as a restaurant this year.

Poster by Alan MacBain

Many restaurants look forward to the friendly competition that day as they vie for the Best of Show awards. The Montgomery County Community College Culinary Arts program officiates the judging of Best Appetizer, Best Entrée, and Best Dessert. 

This year's restaurants are: Armstrong Ales LLC – beer only, Bairds Catering, Batter Up!, Bause Catered Events Inc., Boardwalk Pizza, Boneyard Joe's, Brunish's Grocery and Sandwich Shop, The Copperfield Inn at Lakeside, DaVinci's Pub, Greshville Inn, Grumpy's Handcarved Sandwiches, Mike's Brick Oven Pizza (gift cards available for raffle), Philly Pretzel Factory, Phillies Fire Co – Beer only, Piazza Presto, Positively Pasta ,introducing Lily’s Grill
Pottstown High School Culinary Students, Tacie’s Café’ & Bakery, The Pourhouse Tap Room and Sports Bar – Beer only, The Very Best, Thyme To Serve, Tornetta's Pizzeria, West End Alley

* * *

The following weekend, visitors will revel in the high-borne antics of Pottstown Municipal Airport Day.

From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28, the Pottstown Municipal Airport, located at the intersection of Glasgow Street and Shoemaker Road, will hold a number of ground-bound and

 Photo by Kevin Hoffman/The Mercury 

A colorful blue and yellow bi-plane on display at Airport Day.

airborne events.

Those inclined to look to the skies can enjoy a sky-diving demonstration, as well as free airplane rides for kids.

(The children must be 8 to 17 and accompanied by a parent or guardian.)

Back on the ground visits will find airport displays, games, give-aways, a paper airplane contest, snacks, drinks and information about learning to fly.

* * *

On the same day, right next door and a little bit later in the day will be the Second Annual Can Jam Music Festival at Sly Fox Brewing Company's grounds at 331 Circle of Progress Drive.

The free event will feature a half-dozen of the region's top musical acts and a Kan Jam

Tournament in which the winning team will be awarded its combined weight in Sly Fox beer.

The entertainment for the day includes performances by Ataloft, Travel Lanes, John Train, Swift Technique, The Lawsuits and Toy Soldiers; a lineup which Sly Fox brewmaster Brian O'Reilly says will offer "as solid and diverse a sampling of the best performers on the current Philadelphia area music scene as Ive ever seen."

The first act will appear on the outdoor stage at noon and the final performance is scheduled to begin at 7:30pm, providing over 8 hours of music for the crowd. During that time attendees will be able to enjoy BBQ and pizza from the popular on-premises Tastin' Room, draught beer inside at the bar, and canned and draught beers sold at stands out front. Can Jam Lager, a special beer brewed for the event each year, is expected to be a popular choice.

The Kan Jam Tournament will be a competition among 80 pre-registered two-person teams

The Can-Jame game is simple to learn and fun to play.

conducted on a playing field adjacent to the Tastin' Room. The round robin contest features a series of three-game matches in which scoring involves throwing discs into barrel-shaped goals 50-feet away. Sly Fox adds its own cantacular touch to the game by requiring all contestants to play while holding a can of beer in one hand.

Tournament play will begin at 10 a.m. and the championship match is expected to take place at approximately 4:30 p.m. The weighing ceremony of the championship duo and the awarding of their weight in beer will follow immediately.

The Can Jam Music Festival is named to celebrate Sly Fox's role as the first craft brewery in the Mid Atlantic region to can beer; that choice in 2006 made them one of the earliest adapters of what has since become the hottest packaging trend in the industry. Sly Fox Pikeland Pils became the first canned craft beer to win a Gold Medal at the Great American Beer Festival in Denver in 2007.

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This just in!:
Another great event scheduled from 10-2 on Saturday, 28 September is the Family Fun Fair at First United Methodist Church, 414 High Street.

There will be games for all, a bounce house for the young, face painters, a juggler, a duck pond, a clown and balloon animal artist, a reptile expert with his animals at 10:30, crafts for the kiddies, live music, and a hot dog lunch. The event is free, so be sure to come by and say hello!

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Tony Smith

If Gospel is you thing, you should know that Tony Smith, Award Winning and Grammy Nominee, Gospel Jazz Artist along with “You Know How We Do It Crew” will present a Gospel Concert on Saturday, September 28, 2013 at 7:00 PM.

The Concert will take place at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 150 North Hanover Street and Tickets ($20.00) are available by calling the Church at 610-326-9171.

The entire Pottstown Community is invited to attend an event, which is brought to Pottstown by Bethel AME Church..