ALBURTIS, Pa. — Alburtis Area Community Center is lined up to hold one of the biggest events ever in the small Lehigh County borough.
The 2023 Alburtis Community Day will take place from noon to 9 p.m. Saturday.
- The 2023 Alburtis Community Day, a sprawling event of activities and live music, is set to take place at the Alburtis Area Community Center on Saturday
- Community center coordinator and Borough Councilman Hector Moss said it will be one of the biggest events the small borough has seen, driven by the community center's ambitious new board
- Local organizations, a petting zoo, an open pool at daily rates, ax throwing and many other activities will be present at the festival.
"Living in the borough for almost 24 years, I don't remember anything of this magnitude taking place at the actual community center itself," said Borough Councilman Hector Moss, the Alburtis Area Community Center coordinator.
"As far as an actual community day event, they've always had events in the past, but I don't think anything of this magnitude."
The event will feature many food offerings, live music and activities for all ages at the Walnut Street stretch from the community center to the Alburtis Elementary School parking lot, also encompassing the Alburtis Area Swimming Pool.
The rain date will be Sunday, June 18.
A variety of attractions
Attractions at the event will include ax throwing, a petting zoo, live bands and DJs, various raffles, the center's first car show and more.
An adult swim at the pool will be 7-9 p.m. with a live band, and the pool will remain open for the day.
About a dozen organizations in the borough will be at tables inside the community center, advertising their local services.
"The main reason why I wanted to create the event along with our committee, was because I wanted to help bring awareness to the community and the residents of all the different services that the borough has to offer," Moss said.
"There are a lot of businesses in the borough that people are simply just not aware of. So we wanted to bring awareness to that to our residents and say, 'Hey, by the way, this is what we can do in the borough. This is what is available to you."
He said that's why the board has kept most of the event's vendors from within the borough — outside of primarily food trucks and some vendors such as Skeggy's ax throwing.
The event has no affiliation with the borough government, which is only assisting by closing the two roads nearby.
Partnering with East Penn School District to make the Alburtis Elementary parking lot available, the event's first car show still is seeking more owners to registertheir classic car or hot rod in advance of the event to fill its 30 spots.
Awards will be given out in relation to the event, with community ratings by attendees.
Various donors in the community and sponsors have stepped up for the event, allowing many activities such as the petting zoo and other children's events to be offered free of charge, Moss said.
In addition, donors have allowed the event to secure three live bands.
"We're just really excited because we have so much going on," Moss said.
Attendees will still need to buy food and pay for some activities, such as the pool and ax throwing.
New board, new ambitions
Moss said the new board, elected in January 2022, has been a big catalyst for more ambitious events such as this coming to the borough.
Moss joined as coordinator in April, and emphasized the new leadership and board now in place behind the community center, which includes another borough council member, Ashlynn Rivera, as vice president.
"Ever since I came on board with the rec hall, it's been nothing but exciting," Moss said. "I love how they're open to change, they're open to new things, and they're eager to bring events and do more for the community.
"The future's looking bright for the center."Borough Councilman and center Coordinator Hector Moss
"The future's looking bright for the center," he said.
He said the board is working on a revitalization project, including repainting and installing further electronic amenities such as security cameras and the recently installed WiFi.
"So it's exciting, you know, I'm really happy to be part of a team that is enthusiastic with doing more for the community," he said.
The board for the community center meets at 7 p.m. every third Tuesday of the month at the center. The community encouraged to attend.
The board now is discussing plans for the borough's holiday festival, and bringing the new Halloween parade, which was run by a team of external volunteers last year, under the leadership of the community center.
Moss said he's hopeful the events can become annual staples of the community and that people can see the work the new board is doing and rekindle or start their relationship with the center.
