Music filled Kutztown Park for the annual Kutztown Day celebration on Sunday, Aug. 3.
“This year’s Kutztown Day was one of the best attended celebrations I have ever seen. After much of the summer being too hot or raining, we were graced with the perfect weather day,” Kutztown Day Committee Chairman Andrew Schlegel said in a statement.
The all-day community event organized by the Kutztown Day Committee — made up of volunteers from organizations throughout Kutztown — brings families and friends together for a fun-filled day of concerts, games, food vendors and family picnics.
“Kutztown Day has been going on for over 100 years,” Schlegel said. “The only years it didn’t happen were during World War II and the COVID pandemic.”
A tradition since 1907, Kutztown Day has been held the first Sunday in August.
“It is a celebration of Kutztown, where the local civic groups, churches, food vendors, police department, fire company, etc. come together to have a day of fun in the Kutztown Park. There’s something for everyone,” Schlegel said.
Open to the public with no admission charge, the event featured food vendors located throughout the park grounds, games for all ages, civic club demonstrations and displays, raffles, free drawings (including two children’s bicycles), concerts and fireworks.
“We had music from the Zeptones, Flamin’ Dick & the Hot Rods, the Happy Dutchmen and Junior’s Grades. There were games for kids. For the adults, there was a quoit tournament, cornhole tournament and bingo. Mayor Jim Schlegel did the announcing throughout the day where he would ask some occasional trivia questions and give out prizes.”
The mayor kicked off Kutztown Day with opening remarks in the bandshell followed by a free concert by the Zeptones under the direction of Carl Zeplin, playing classic rock ‘n’ roll of the 1970s to 1990s, rhythm and blues and soul.
“Since I’ve been involved with Kutztown Day that goes back to the early 1980s, I believe this to be one of the best Kutztown Days ever,” Mayor Schlegel said in a statement. “The weather was perfect. The bands were outstanding. The food super. Super fireworks and the crowd seemed to be enjoying every minute of it. A great Kutztown Day!”
That afternoon, The Happy Dutchmen German Band strolled the park grounds as community members enjoyed activities, family picnics and displays by local organizations.
Among the highlights, bingo in the Scooter Building was a popular activity for all ages.
The Optimist Club Tri-Star Baseball hit, run and pitch competition added some competitive fun, as did the quoit tournament, cornhole tournament and a disc golf course.
Other activities included Lincoln’s House of Bounce, fire safety activities offered by Kutztown Fire Company and children’s games sponsored by the Kutztown Elementary School Parents Club.
Also offered were Kinner Kards by Kutztown Police, vision screenings by Kutztown Lions Club, children’s crafts by Local Folk Creative Studio, Gaga Ball and other games for youth by Kutztown Oasis and Cornerstone Church and a display by the Kutztown Historical Society plus a quilt drawing.
New to Kutztown Day was an antique tractor display by the Old Time Plow Boys and health screenings by St. Luke’s University Health Network. Chad Long, who crafts customized cornhole boards, provided cornhole games and gave away a set of boards as a prize.
“Then there’s the food. Our repeat vendors were Phil’s French Fries, Jerry’s Ice Cream, Cottage Bakery, Johnny’s Pizza, Troop 101G, and Heart and Hearth BBQ. Then new for this year was Spectators Grill,” Andy Schlegel said.
And, of course, there’s nothing better than a cakewalk on a hot afternoon during Kutztown Day. The cupcake baking contest was judged followed by a cake walk on the basketball court.
“This was our second year doing a baking contest. This time it was cupcakes. I didn’t get to try any, but they all looked amazing,” Schlegel bake.
As per tradition, Virginville Grange sold its famous homemade shoofly pies.
That evening, Flamin’ Dick & The Hot Rods performed hits of the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s in the bandshell.
Later, the rock band Junior’s Grades closed out Kutztown Day in the lower park.
After the raffle ticket drawing, Mary Hess sang the national anthem, and the night ended with a 20-minute fireworks show.
Schlegel thanked the members of the Kutztown Day Committee: Alli Fuller, Michelle Sanders, Faith Shaffer, Leah Ross, Florita Hobaugh, Barb Coffin, Jared Coffin, Jim Schlegel and John Schmoyer.
“They are all great to work with and make it fun being their chairman,” hs said.
Schlegel also thanked the borough of Kutztown, Kutztown Fire Company, Kutztown Police Department, Kutztown Fire & Rescue, Topton Ambulance, and the other volunteers who came out to help from Kutztown Community Library, Kutztown Boy Scout Troop #101 and Troop #101-G, Kutztown Oasis, Virginville Grange, Cornerstone Church, Kutztown Strong, Chad Long – Cornhole Boards, The Old Time Plow Boys, Kutztown Grange and Kutztown Printing.
Next year’s Kutztown Day will be held on Sunday Aug. 2.
“It is also going to be America’s 250th birthday next year, so we plan on having a bigger celebration.”
The committee will start meeting for next year’s Kutztown Day in few weeks. Follow on Facebook and Instagram or talk to a committee member to find out more. If interested in being part of the Kutztown Day Committee, email Schlegel at ajs2102@hotmail.com.
Along with the Kutztown Day sponsors, the Kutztown Day Raffle is a main fundraiser for the event.
Raffle Winners
$500: Jay Kauffman #4769
$300: Carl Ziegler #2052
$200: Pam Berg #0166
$150: Bob Simpson #2485
$100: Lauren Hoffman #2277
$100: Colton Ziegler $2146
$75: Jon Quier #2022
$75: Denise Keim #0385
$75: Diana Fitzgerald #0102
$75: Matt Ziegler #2142
$50: Alan Furst #3070
$50: Missy Stump #3142
$50: Ed Mazur #3782
$50: Bob Hobaugh #1577
$50: Patsy Greenawalt #3383
Source: Berkshire mont