A sunny, blue sky and pleasant temperatures created a perfect setting for the annual Whitpain Community Festival on Saturday, Sept. 25, at Montgomery County Community College’s Blue Bell Campus.

“This was the biggest and best festival yet! The organizers from the College and the Township did an incredible job, the music was great and fireworks amazed everyone,” said Patrick Foley, one of the organizers of the event. “Special thanks to the MCCC Nursing Department for their work on the life-saving bone marrow drive.”

After taking a brief hiatus due to the pandemic, the family-favorite festival returned for the community, starting Friday evening, Sept. 24, with a Big Rig Roundup of fire trucks, dump trucks and other construction vehicles from the local fire, police and public works departments. Children had the opportunity to safely explore and sit in some of the vehicles.

Saturday at noon the fun continued with inflatables, pony rides, petting zoo, rock climbing, pumpkin painting, children’s games and more. Vendors also were on hand to share information and samples about their products.

MCCC health science students hosted a wellness expo with information about dental hygiene and healthy lifestyles and performed blood pressure screenings. Meanwhile, massage therapy students gave relaxing chair massages. Students also helped to register volunteers for the National Bone Marrow Registry.

Musical performances started at 1:30 p.m. with children’s music by Ants on a Log. As the evening approached, the popular Phillybloco Brazilian band took the stage at 4 p.m. and kept the crowd dancing along with their high-energy music.

“It was amazing to witness this year’s Festival,” said Brent Woods, MCCC Senior Director of Cultural Affairs, one of the organizers of the event. “People looked like they were enjoying themselves and were comfortable being in a public setting safely.”

At 5:30 p.m. guitarist, vocalist and songwriter, Craig Thatcher, and guitarist and vocalist, Mike Guldin, performed on the main stage with musicians Bill Sharrow, Billy Wear and Tim Hooper.

The Morris Road parking lot quickly filled with families seated in folding chairs, enjoying the music and a variety of tasty selections from several food trucks, including Kona Ice KOP, West End Pub/Whitpain Tavern, Hedgehog Grill, Snack Shack, Fruits of Our Labor Smoothies, and Pancheros Mexican Grill. The beer garden also was in full swing.

This year’s main performance, the Sofa Kings, had the crowd up on their feet dancing to popular tunes. As the sun set on MCCC’s campus, the darkness became the perfect backdrop for the fireworks that began at 8:15 p.m., concluding the fun-filled day with a spectacular display that the lit the sky.

MCCC and Whitpain Township thank this year’s sponsors, including presenting sponsors Baird/The Foley Hillsley Group and MCCC Lively Arts Series; gold sponsors Chambers Associates and PECO; silver sponsors American Heritage Credit Union, Blue Bell Physical Therapy, Janney Montgomery Scott – Patitucci Wealth Management, McCaffrey’s Food Markets and Whitpain Police Association; bronze sponsor McMahon Associates, Inc.; and friends sponsor Transnet.