Bethel Park hosts 1st Arts and Music Festival
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Imagine Bethel Park’s Park Avenue occupied by thousands of faces, the street lined with food trucks, an eclectic mix of music filling the air, and vendor tables and raffle baskets taking over the football field.
On July 27, Bethel Park will make history by hosting its first Arts and Music Festival, an affordable day filled with creativity, community and connection. The event is free and will be held from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The idea began teeming in Andy Amrhein’s head 10 years ago. He is the owner of Evey True Value Hardware in Bethel Park and vice president of the Bethel Park Community Foundation.
“(Doing) something for musicians and artists in our community has been something that I’ve wanted to do for a long time,” Amrhein said.
Attendees will get to experience live music from various groups, shop and observe pieces from over 80 local and regional artists, indulge in food trucks, experience the new Bethel Park Splash Park at a discount and take chances on raffles.
Proceeds from the event will be donated to the “fantastic four” local charities: Bethel Park Educational Foundation, Bethel Park Community Foundation, Bethel Park Historical Society and Bethel Park Public Library, along with supporting recreational opportunities.
Musical performances include Ringgold String Band, Steel City Calypso, Rick Purcell Trio, Hugo Cruz, the Caminos and Classic Brew Band.
Classic Brew is a cover band that will be playing a variety of songs from the 1970s to 2000s.
“The fact that you are bringing people together in a pretty nice setting and a pretty relaxed setting, I think you can only do good,” band member Eddie Scatena said.
Maria DeSimone Prascak and Johno Prascak are Pittsburgh artists who will be attending the show.
“Art and music, everyone needs now more than ever, I believe,” DeSimone Prascak said, “because art and music both make us happy. They help us express ourselves. They both are therapeutic in many ways.”
She hopes those who attend are inspired by the event.
“Maybe there are people that have always wanted to try playing music, or try to paint or create something,” DeSimon Prascak said. “A lot of people, it’s ‘fear factoring’ things that keep them from trying. So I think if you have that many people set up, you see: They’re just like me. If they can do it, I can do it.”
Artists are asked to donate one piece for a basket that is to be raffled.
The event was organized by a committee including Amrhein; Kristen Denne, municipal manager; Christine McIntosh, executive director at the library; Lindsay Sibert, assistant recreation director; Pam Tiano, representing Bethel Park High School’s service-oriented Interact Club; and Lynn Dunbar, who coordinated the music.
“We are so fortunate in Bethel Park to have a group of people that don’t just do their jobs at work 9 to 5,” Denne said. “They are also wanting to get more involved in events like this. It’s the only way that it gets pulled off.”
Amrhein is expecting attendees to come from all over Pittsburgh, and word has gotten all the way to Ohio.
“My daughter lives in Cleveland, and she called me: ‘Why is this on our news?’” Amrhein said.
Due to the large expectancy of guests, Bethel Park School District will provide a shuttle service with South Hills Interfaith Movement, Bethel Park High School and Lytle Station. Shuttles will run every 15 minutes from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
There is handicap parking at Bethel Park Community Center on Park Avenue.
Chairs will be prohibited at the event. The committee has suggested bringing blankets instead.
The event will be held no matter the weather, but Amrhein predicts a sunny, 80-degree day with a light breeze.
“We did a 20-year weather check, and it has rained twice on this day in 20 years,” he said.
Sponsorships, which will be taken until the day of the event, include $250 to have a booth on the field; $500 – Bronze Sponsor; $1,000 – Silver Sponsor; $2,500 – Gold Sponsor; and a $5,000 – Platinum Sponsor. Contact Amrhein for more details at eveyhdw@gmail.com or 412-760-9614. Artists are still being accepted and can contact Amrhein, as well.
For a full list of artists and event details, visit bethelparkamf.wixsite.com/home.