Community Corner
Start Your Engines for Das Awkscht Fescht
Get ready for music, fireworks, crafts, food, bingo and hundreds of antique and classic cars starting Friday at Das Awkscht Fescht in Macungie.
Quick, what does Das Awkscht Fescht mean?
If you come from Pennsylvania Dutch stock, you should have been able to spit out “The August Fest” lickety split. If you’re an auslander, you’re forgiven if your answer was, “I have no earthly clue.”
Das Awkscht Fescht at Macungie Memorial Park is creeping up on its half-century mark with the 49th annual festival starting Friday, Aug. 3. It has become known as one of the premiere antique and classic car shows in the nation but the local families who created it began with a different kind of horse power.
Find out what's happening in Lower Macungiewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
“It actually started as a horse show and they grew it from there,” said Amy Hillegass, manager of Macungie Memorial Park. The families who organized the festival also had an interest in antique cars and they began incorporating a car show as part of the festivities. It now attracts more than 1,200 antique, classic and sports cars.
When: Aug. 3, 4 and 5. Gates open at 6 a.m. for walk-in visitors, show cars enter the fields after 7:30 a.m. Entertainment runs until 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 4:30 p.m. Sunday.
Find out what's happening in Lower Macungiewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Where: Macungie Memorial Park, 50 N. Poplar Street, Macungie. It's just off Main Street (Route 100) near Walnut Street.
How Much: $7 for adults, $2 for age 15 and under. If you pay for one day, you can get a discounted Next Day pass at the information booth inside the park.
Here are some of the highlights planned for this year:
-- 1,200 antique, classic and sports cars on display, organized by the Ontelaunee Car Club. This year’s featured car is the Crosley.
-- A flea market for classic car parts.
-- Fireworks at 9:30 p.m. Saturday.
-- Kids activities and entertainment, including magicians, jugglers, face painting, sand art, and a moon bounce.
-- Bingo is back in the park’s main building, which is air conditioned.
-- Crafts, artwork and antiques will be on display and for sale from more than 120 artisans.
-- 13 bands playing a variety of music will perform at the park’s refurbished band shell over the three-day festival.
-- A wide variety of fair foods.
-- The park pool and playground are open all weekend.
Macungie Memorial Park is one of the few parks in the area that are owned not by a municipality or other government entity but by a nonprofit organization. The park relies on donations and revenue from its events and rentals of buildings and pavilions to maintain the park.