From 2:00 pm and continuing through the day and into the evening, we offer homemade food, plenty of activities for all ages, music and above all, spectacular fireworks, courtesy of Brilhart Ace Hardware, Hilltop Labs Inc, and Mid Penn Bank. That lead to the Creation of an Anniversary Booklet as a tribute to our hometown, honoring our heritage. Many hours of work and preparation followed; however t
he Committee considered it an honor to serve in this manner for the present and also for the future generations. The original Book Committee was Sue Killinger, Karen Nicholson, Kathy Zaffina, Don Graft, Bob Miller and Tinky Nist. This group soon included Allan Nicholson, Pete Zaffina, Tim Carson, Tom Killinger and Bud Santimyer who joined as Sue Killinger proposed sponsoring an old-fashioned Community Picnic at Loucks Park. Picnic In The Park became a reality. " Let's plan a one-time community picnic at Loucks Park as our last group project-like the early 1900's" exclaimed Sue Killinger. Little did the original committee realize what they had started. The committee raised money and involved family, friends, husbands and wives to take on the task of creating the first picnic. The first major task was raising the money needed to hold the first picnic and several fundraisers were started. One of the fund raisers was a giant bake sale/flea market that was to be held in the Borough parking lot. Unfortunately, Mother Nature presented high humidity and hot temperatures. This sent the group scurrying into the road salt storage shed. Picture a sunburned sweating gang slowly being covered by the road salt. By day's end they resembled salted cod fish but they made the money. They would work on several fundraisers throughout the year and obtain sponsorships for locale businesses. The Committee was determined to keep the price down and put on an event that everyone could afford. To this day the food prices have not increased and the committee has no intention of raising the prices. This event is different from any other event that Scottdale holds, this event is for the town to gather together relax and have a good time.
2014 marked an exciting change in the picnic in the park. That year the annual Citizen of the year award was replaced with an annual scholarship to a Southmoreland High School student. 2017 marks the 19th anniversary of the picnic with some changes in the Committee, but the concept has remained the same. From 2:00 pm and continuing through the day and into the evening, we offer homemade food, plenty of activities for all ages, music and above all, spectacular fireworks, courtesy of The Scottdale Bank & Trust Co. and Brilhart Ace Hardware. The original committee hopes those who follow in their footsteps will continue the traditions and keep this tradition on the 3rd Sunday in August for many years to come.
