Crabapple Community Park’s annual “Pool-A-Palooza” in Sewickley Township probably doesn’t amount to a fraction of the attendance of its namesake, gargantuan Lollapalooza music festival held each year in Chicago’s Grant Park.

But for some of those attending the Westmoreland County event Sunday, the enthusiasm ran just as high. Just ask Lacie Parker of West Newton, who was looking for her first chance this summer to go swimming with her 8-year-old daughter, Amelia, and Amelia’s friend, Violet Seglowich.

With Sunday’s temperatures climbing into the 80s, prediction of little chance of rain, plus the DJ, food and frozen ice truck, live band, games and fireworks planned at the Crabapple pool, Parker said it was the “perfect” opportunity.

“After the pool being closed last year with the pandemic, it feels wonderful to finally get out and enjoy the sun and swim again,” Parker said.

“And the DJ music is great — and we’re looking forward to the frozen ice truck, too,” Parker said.

Township supervisor Brian Merdian said the “Pool-A-Palooza” idea was born in 2018 and its popularity throughout the community has turned it into an annual event.

Merdian said the festival was created to “show off” the $200,000 in improvements made to the park and pool.

“It was so popular, we held it again in 2019, but had to cancel last year due to the pandemic. But we scheduled it again this year because people like it so much,” Merdian said.

Plus, Merdian noted there’s a lot to celebrate with people beginning to take part in community activities once again.

Pool manager Yvonne Shawl said annual pool passes “bounced back” this summer after the pandemic, but attendance as always is “entirely dependent on the weather, and we have had some rain this summer.”

“But when it’s humid and hot outside, we’re always really crowded,” Shawl said.

When local band Ruff Creek Trio begins playing at 6 p.m., with fireworks scheduled later, Shawl anticipates the pool grounds will be full.

Merdian added that the rolling hills throughout the park will likely be full of spectators to watch the fireworks show at 9:30 p.m.

“All of these events today are paid through community donations; no taxpayer dollars are used. And the really nice thing is that all of the proceeds generated throughout the day go toward supporting the pool,” Merdian said.

Parker’s daughter, Amelia, who will be entering the third grade at West Newton Middle School this fall, gave the festival a big thumbs-up.

“I really like being out in the sun and swimming,” she said.

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