Penn Hills celebrates Unity in Community

It's no surprise that the largest community in Allegheny County outside of Pittsburgh, Penn Hills, is hosting one of the largest festivals in the area.

"Every year, it gets bigger and better," said Dan Miller, chairman of Penn Hills Unity in Community Days.

Penn Hills is celebrating its eighth annual Unity in Community Days on Friday and Saturday on the grounds of Linton Middle School, 250 Aster St.

The event is a resurrection of a community festival that died out years ago. The Penn Hills Department of Parks and Recreation office started with the help of the Penn Hills School District and the Penn Hills Chamber of Commerce, Miller said.

"Penn Hills is such a large community that it is important to bring people together in the heart of the Penn Hills," said Miller, director of the Department of Parks and Recreation.

Unity in Community Days will showcase an array of food booths, along with games for children and adults and live entertainment. Miller said several inflatable activities, such as a surf board simulator, a human foosball match and a giant video racing game, have been added for this year's event. Country music group Unbridled will perform on the outdoor stage at 9:45 p.m. Friday, and House of Soul will perform at 9:45 p.m. Saturday.

Penn Hills will kick off the celebration with a car show on Friday evening featuring 10 categories of vehicles. Trophies and dash plaques will be awarded to winners. Categories range from classic and antique to motorcycles and youth-owned vehicles, Miller said.

The Arts Festival will take place inside Linton during both days of the celebration. Henry Fiore, Penn Hills Arts Council president, said the festival will feature a mix of artwork including watercolors, oil/acrylics, photography and mixed media. Forty-eight local artists will display 139 works. Verizon is sponsoring a $150 prize for "Best in Show" for the adult category, in addition to two $50 honorable mention prizes and a $100 prize for the 16- to 18-year-old category. Cynthia Cooley of the Pittsburgh Society of Artists will judge the competition.

"It's going to be really exciting this year," Fiore said.

Fiore said he will demonstrate watercolor painting at the Arts Festival. Golf carts will transport arts enthusiasts from Linton Field up the hill to the school, where local bands will perform.

The Unity in Community Days & Arts Festival is featuring a Penn Hills Idol contest. Contestants will sing or play an instrument. Preliminary rounds will be Friday, and finalists will perform on Saturday. A $200 prize will be awarded to the winner of the over 16 category, the winning contestant younger than 16 will earn $100.

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Willie Parker will sign autographs from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday on the festival grounds. The celebration will wrap up Saturday evening with a fireworks display at 10:45 p.m.

The Penn Hills event is funded through various sponsors, in addition to the municipality. Last year's event cost about $44,000, according to Eliza King, legislative assistant to state Rep. Tony DeLuca, D-Penn Hills, a regular sponsor. King, who is active in the festival, said the Penn Hills School District helps defray costs by absorbing electrical expenses and providing the gymnasium and custodial services.

All proceeds from the event benefit the nonprofit group Unity in the Community, a Penn Hills volunteer group that works on civic and social projects.

"If people come to the event and witness it firsthand, they will see there's a lot more in Penn Hills, and they will see what the community has to offer," Miller said.

Additional Information:

If you go

What: Penn Hills Unity in Community Days & Arts Festival

When: 5 to 11 p.m. Friday and 4 to 10:30 p.m. Saturday, with fireworks at 10:45 p.m.

Where: Grounds of Linton Middle School, 250 Aster St.

Admission: Free

Community Days highlights

• Friday Car show, all evening; Arts Festival, all evening in the school; Penn Hills Idol preliminary round, 6 p.m in the Linton auditorium; Unbridled, 9:45 p.m. on the outdoor state.

• Saturday, Arts Festival, all evening in the school; Penn Hills Idol finals, 6 p.m. in the Linton auditorium; House of Soul, 9:45 p.m. on the outdoor stage; fireworks, 10:45 p.m.