As the summer air begins to sizzle, settle your post-pandemic malaise with a dose of culture and community at the inaugural “Bethel Park Art & Music Festival.” Slated for Saturday, July 27, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., this free shindig promises a cornucopia of local talents, tasty eats, and splash-tacular fun at the newly minted Bethel Park ‘Park Ave. Streetscape’. Stretching from the Schoolhouse Arts & History Center to the Bethel Park Community Center, the festival spotlights over 80 artists and a lineup of live tunes that could have you grooving all day long, from the plucky twang of the Ringgold String Band to the evening serenade by the Classic Brew Band.
According to official statements, this brainchild of community benefactor Andy Amrhein – who moonlights as VP of the Bethel Park Community Foundation and hardware store baron – has been a decade in the dreaming. Amrhein spun the festival idea as a way to buoy local creatives who weathered the economic tempest of COVID-19. Generating this cultural whirlwind wouldn’t have been possible without a powerful coalition of the Bethel Park’s Fantastic Four Charities and municipal support cast.
Municipal Manager Kristen Denne lauded the event as evidence of how “a dedicated group of leaders in the community leverage public and private partnerships to create an event that adds to the wonderful quality of life in Bethel Park.” Meanwhile, Bethel Park Historical Society President Tim Moury teased the festival as “the event of the year” and primo opportunity to flaunt the Schoolhouse Arts & History Center.
The festival also doubles as a fundraiser with proceeds benefiting local organizations and initiatives. From improvements to Bethel Park's own architectural gem to nurturing fresh batches of community-driven programs, the festival underpins the local Progress with a capital 'P'. And for those fueled by the finer things in life, lending a gastronomical edge to their cultural exploration, a coterie of food trucks will grace the park with the likes of Bethel Bakery and Johnny’s Seafood Shack – because every artful excursion should challenge both palette and palate.
For families looking for a chill escape from the art-admiring and hip-shaking, a discounted splash at the park’s new 1.05-acre Splash Park beckons. And, should you decide to sponsor before the big day or showcase your own artistic prowess, reach out to Amrhein at [email protected] or give a ring at 412-760-9614. With free shuttle service tidying up transportation woes, the event all but secures its spot as a must-go community gathering.
Details on the full artist roster and event nuances can be snagged at the festival’s official webpage, and remember folks, rain or shine, Bethel Park is the place to be on July 27. Now, before you flutter away to mark your calendars, keep antennae tuned for the next Fantastic Four Charity event – a chili cookoff and bourbon/wine tasting worth staying warm for come February 1, 2025.
