https://archive.triblive.com/local/plum/plum-community-days-rebranded-as-summerfest-with-different-entertainment-format/
Plum Community Days rebranded as SummerFest with different entertainment format
Lillian DeDomenic | For The Tribune-Review
Plum resident Sara Pearlman bounces around Larry Mills Park in a soccer bubble as part of Plum's Community Days in June 2017.
Plum's annual community days celebration at Larry Mills Park will undergo several major changes this year — starting with its name.
The two-day event packed with live local music, food vendors and games will now be known as SummerFest.
The rebranding of the festival will mark its 27th anniversary.
“The name ‘Community Days' didn't mean a whole lot to a lot of people,” borough Manager Michael Thomas said. “We were trying to come up with something that more appropriately summarized what the event is, which is the kickoff event for the summer.”
The borough and the Plum Rotary present SummerFest with entertainment produced by PVN Productions.
One of the two stages from last year was eliminated. Local acts will now perform on a Community Stage at the center of the park.
“Over the years we've had community acts,” Thomas said. “We wanted to make it a smaller, more intimate setting and highlight local people in the community for their talents.”
Another entertainment change this year is the inclusion of amusement park-style rides from C&L Shows of Mt. Pleasant.
SummerFest is scheduled for June 22-23. More than 5,000 people are expected to attend.
A sneak preview night is set for 6-11 p.m. June 21 for people to ride the new rides. The cost is $10 for a ride-all-day wristband on sneak preview day. Ride-all-day tickets on June 22-23 are $13.
“We've added to the goodness of what used to be by adding the carnival rides,” PVN Productions owner Vince Lagrotteria said. “You're going to have the combination of local vendors, local artists and a carnival midway.”
Participating food vendors include Dad's Pub and Grub; Pittsburgh Tortas; Peace, Love and Little Donuts; Pittsburgh Smokehouse, and Our Lady of Joy Knights of Columbus.
Participating crafters include Orange Tabby Jewelry, LuLaRoe Clothing and Toonbrian Caricatures. Major sponsors include UPMC and S&T Bank.
Michael DiVittorio is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at 412-871-2367, mdivittorio@tribweb.com or via Twitter @MikeJdiVittorio.
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