Leechburg knows how to think pink.
Pink Day, one of the largest annual fundraisers for breast cancer research in the Alle-Kiski Valley, celebrated its 11th anniversary Saturday under sunny skies and large crowds along Market Street in Leechburg.
The event has grown every year and for founder and organizer Sherry Price of Leechburg, it’s personal.
“Pink Day for me is sort of like Christmas,” Price said. “There’s all of this planning and preparation — and then it comes. And it happens.
”And it’s over ‘til next year.”
Last year, Pink Day raised more than $38,600 for breast cancer research, and attendance swelled at around 4,000.
To date, Price’s efforts have raised more than $171,000 for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
Market Street was closed to vehicle traffic Saturday, allowing thousands of people to enjoy food, fellowship and a myriad of activities.
The crowd enjoyed live music, a food truck court, dozens of vendors and exotic reptiles from Iceman Reptiles.
Julian Vincent, 6, of Vandergrift was brave enough to have a gecko placed on his head during a live reptile performance.
“It was king of weird, but I wasn’t scared,” said Julian, a student at Kiski Area East Primary School.
New this year were appearances by superheroes and Disney princesses, the reptile show and three clowns from the Pittsburgh Syria Shriners.
Zariah Booker, 4, of Gilpin thinks pink Saturday with a balloon animal at Pink Day on Market Street in Leechburg. @VNDNews @TribLIVE pic.twitter.com/Fy8NOb2BUe
— Joyce Hanz (@hanz_joyce) September 17, 2022
Eli Majocha, a senior at Highlands High School, attends Pink Day annually.
“It definitely helps people. It’s sprouted into something big and wonderful,” Majocha said of the throngs of people that attend.
Disney princesses and superheroes Spiderman and Belle mingled among the crowd, greeting festival-goers and taking pictures.
Eileen Stoker, 77, of Indiana County dances at Pink Day on Saturday in Leechburg.
"I love music and I dance for hours, Stoker said. @VNDNews @TribLIVE @hanz_joyce pic.twitter.com/QlaXWojjCT
— ValleyNewsDispatch (@VNDNews) September 17, 2022
Eileen Stoker, 77, of Indiana County, danced for hours Saturday in front of the band staging area. Stoker, a Pink Day regular, said she comes for the music.
“I love to dance,” Stoker said. “I dance for hours; even with arthritis, I dance.”
Vendor Kira Kapinsky of Anarchy Farms in Gilpin sold plenty of fresh produce and pumpkins.
“I set up because it’s a huge event that is very well trafficked and it’s for an amazing cause,” Karpinski said.
Newly opened Leechburg Pizza Co. owner Steve Senjan offered Pink Day breakfast pizzas.
“This is great for Leechburg,” Senjan said. “It’s a time for everyone to gather and have a good time and raise money for a good cause. And it showcased all of the small businesses in town. What could be better?”
Leechburg’s Pink Day was founded in 2011 by Leechburg business owners Gary and Vicki Peterman.
In its infancy, Price made signs with markers and had a shoestring budget.
A breast cancer survivor herself, Sherry Price is now cancer free and still works tirelessly to make Pink Day bigger and better each year.
“Everything ran smoothly today,” she said.
The daylong festival is held annually on the third Saturday of September.
