Families gather, enjoy August Fun Fest at Cedar Creek Park in Rostraver

Bright and warm summer weather Sunday morning brought crowds of Westmoreland County visitors to Cedar Creek Park in Rostraver for the annual August Fun Fest.

The event, part of a summer series of monthly festivals held at Westmoreland County parks, was projected to bring between 8,000 and 10,000 visitors, according to county parks communications coordinator Lauren Titterington.

“The goal is to have a family-friendly event, where the whole family of all ages can come for the day, listen to music, eat, and buy their activity pass, and check out arts and crafts and everything, just kind of spend the day together, enjoy the nice park and the nice weather and just spend time as a family.” said Titterington. “We just try to provide something for our community and for families to come and enjoy.”

Previous festivals were at Mammoth Park and Twin Lakes Park, and a Labor Day festival will be at Northmoreland Park.

The free Cedar Creek event featured a host of inflatable play areas and obstacle courses available to families with the purchase of a $4 activity pass, alongside a petting zoo, live music, food, a flea market, bingo, a craft marketplace and more.

The weather was better during the morning than last year, Titterington said, when the event was rained on.

“The heat may keep some people away, but it’s nice, it’s not raining, there’s a breeze,” she said. “Good weather definitely helps out.”

Car cruise

Upward of 400 classic cars already were lined up in the park just before noon at the Road Kings Car Club car cruise. Colt Datz, a member of the club, said he expected 600 or 700 vehicles to be on display by the end of the day. The cruise is the biggest annual event for the car club, he said.

The group accepted donations to keep the show going and raised funds through a 50-50 raffle for the Westmoreland Humane Society.

“We plan for it all year. We might start doing more events in the future, but at the moment, this is the one that we do,” he said.

Datz brought his own ’54 Oldsmobile to the event, a car he customized and refurbished.

“It’s got a lot of work done to it,” he said.

The cars brought to the event vary, but the cruise is a social gathering for the members of the car club first and foremost.

“We’re all just friends, and people into cars,” Datz said.

Families enjoy the day

Amanda Foster of Clarksville brought her son Caleb, 14, to the festival. It was the family’s first time attending, she said.

“We saw the post on Facebook, and thought it looked fun,” she said. “(We’re looking forward to) the cars, and some of the vendors, and the little kids’ area. It seems like a great deal.”

Josh Coltura played with games in the kids’ area with his daughter Saylor, 4.

The Scottdale family had attended the Mammoth Fest event earlier in the summer.

“We had a good time, so we came over (to Cedar Creek) with the kids,” he said.

John Brady brought his grandchildren from Baldwin to the festival. It was the family’s second time attending the event.

He was interested in the car show, the food and the activities for kids, he said.

“We want our grandchildren to come out and see a petting zoo,” he said. “It’s a nice activity.”

Chloe McKinney, 5, held the hand of her aunt, Dayna Evans, while feeding pellets to a small goat from the petting zoo. The family comes to the event from Smithfield every year.

“I’m excited to see the little baby ones there,” Chloe said.

Correction: This story was updated to correct the name of Chloe McKinney and her aunt, Dayna Evans.