Freeport’s September by the River festival a welcomed return for residents, visitors
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Damani Clemons took the title of a Freeport community celebration to the next level earlier this month as he swam about near the Allegheny River bank.
The Vandergrift boy was accompanied by his grandmother, Rosa Clemons, and her 5-year-old Chihuahua, Diva. Clemons recently had moved to Freeport from Tarentum.
When asked if the water was hot or cold on the 80-degree afternoon, Damani said, “It is normal.”
That was a common feeling expressed by those who attended Freeport’s September by the River — a return to normalcy.
“It’s really nice that things are starting to get back to normal,” said resident Bobbi Warren. “We came down here the year before (2019), and it was really nice. We live in Freeport so we literally just walked down here. It’s nice to be able to do that again.”
Warren brought her daughter, Dessie, 7, who could not stop smiling at Peach the Cat, a pink balloon creature crafted by Giggles the Clown.
The event was canceled last year because of the pandemic.
About a thousand-or-so people marked its return Sept. 18-19 at Riverside Park along the Allegheny River.
There were several food trucks and about 30 other vendors.
New activities included a petting zoo and horse-drawn wagon rides.
There were performances from local musicians such as Anne Ferguson, Lauren Fischer, the Family Tradition Band and Freeport Area sophomore Katelyn Hemphill, 15, who drew in a crowd with her acoustic guitar and vocal skills.
Students from Lisa Marie’s School of Dance also made their return to the stage this year, much to the delight of the crowd.
“I think we were able to provide a pretty good event considering the circumstances,” said Mary Bowlin, Freeport councilwoman and Freeport Renaissance Association president. “People seem to be having a good time. The boat dock is full.”
Bowlin said many residents and others expressed gratitude with the festival’s return.
“People that are from outside of the area look forward to it as well,” Bowlin said. “I think a lot of people that were raised in Freeport look for a reason to come back to Freeport for something.”
Steven Harmon of Ford City brought his twin sons, Rowen and Rayden, 4, to the festival. They were visiting friends and family in the borough.
“This is the first time we’re here,” Harmon said. “My brother’s girlfriend is from down here. (We wanted) to come down and hang out and get some food, check out some crafts. I think it’s awesome that they give kids the opportunity to go out and do stuff now.”
The boys played a duck pond game provided by the Kiwanis Club and staffed by Freeport Area High School Key Club members.
Mayor James Swartz Jr. helped volunteer at the fire department’s tent. Firefighters sold about 600 chicken dinners.
“The Good Lord blessed us with some nice weather, so we’re pretty busy down here,” said Swartz, who also is fire department president. “I figured there would be this many people on a nice day like this.”
One thing that didn’t return this year was the Chinese auction. The festival usually has about 30 gift baskets to give away. Organizers decided to not have it this time to help with social distancing, because it’s held inside a tent.
Instead, there were three separate raffles including one for gift cards, one for lottery tickets and one involving a “Wheelbarrow of Cheer” filled with adult beverages.
Bowlin said she isn’t sure what may be returning for next year’s celebration.
“I think it depends on what the atmosphere is like next year in terms of covid,” she said. “I’m hoping it will be closer to what normal is.”
Freeport Area Library had its flea market open several hours prior to the event’s opening day Sept. 18.
More information and photos from the festival is available at the association’s Facebook page.