PHILIPSBURG — From watermelon seed spitting to log cutting, Centre County residents got a chance to live like lumberjacks during the recent Black Moshannon State Park’s 32nd annual Summer Festival.
Held next to the park’s lake, the festival was visited by some unwelcome weather.
“The threat of the rain has it quieted down a little,” park manager Jared Fencil said. On and off for a few hours, festivalgoers didn’t let it get in the way of their day, or stop them from enjoying the funnel cake and hot dogs.
“This is what it’s all about — getting people out into the park,’ said Fencil. ‘I’d say it’s the high peak of our summer season.”
On July 22, a competition combining scores from each of the eight activities took place, and axe throwing, log birling and a scat drop were some of the better ones, according to Michelle McClosky, Moshannon’s environmental education specialist. She said they used to use real deer excrement for the scat drop, but stopped for obvious health reasons. Now, people try to drop raisins into the bottles instead.
Other competitions at the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources-sponsored event included seed spitting, log cutting, nail-hammering, horseshoe tossing and log rolling.
Fencil said he think it’s cool to let kids see the old-school equipment lumberjacks used.
“How often do you get to use a log saw? Besides here, they might see it in an antique store.”
Letting them use one of these saws gives them a much better understanding of how life was.
July 23 also saw festival activities. A build-a-boat contest, kayak and canoe races, music by harmonica player Richard Sleigh and a visit from Smokey the Bear filled the day.
The Friends of Black Moshannon were back at the festival, where they’ve helped out for the last 10 to 12 years, president Peg Culp said. Teresa Armstrong, a fellow member, said the club is going on its 25th anniversary, and tries to fill in around the park where the state can’t.
“Everything we do revolves around the park, and this is a really big event,” Culp said. Fundraising is a key part of the Friends’ agenda.
With plans to erect a playground adjacent to the lake sometime next year, events like the summer festival are invaluable.
“They already raised the funds for the (playground), but they need money for landscaping,” McClosky said. Manning the registration tables for the day, Culp said the Friends are “definitely in need of volunteers,” and meet the second Wednesday of every month from 6 to 8 p.m. in the park’s main office.
The next big event the Friends of Black Moshannon is hosting is the Cranberry Festival on Saturday, Oct. 14. Cranberry lovers can pick their own during a tour through the bogs of the lake.
JAMES TURCHICK
The cross-cut saw event at the Black Moshannon Summer Festival was popular for kids and adults alike.
