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Families take to the streets at Mercersburg Townfest


MERCERSBURG >> Two-year-old Carter Hykes was bouncing around in a bouncy house, enjoying himself since "he has too much fun in those things" according to his mom Brandi, when his world went flat, literally.

The house deflated, but it couldn't deflate Carter's day at the Mercersburg Townfest. He just moved on to the petting zoo, especially once he saw the ducks. He loves ducks, Brandi said.

Carter, Brandi and her husband Devyn were just some of the many people who were out on Saturday morning to attend the annual event in downtown Mercersburg. Around for 36 years, the festival brought out over 120 vendors and craft-sellers on Saturday for visitors to enjoy.

Good food, handmade crafts, pottery and other trinkets were for sale, while music the James Buchanan middle and high school bands performed the music playing in the background.

For the little visitors, there was the aforementioned bouncy house and petting zoo, a pony ride, a rock-climbing wall and other forms of entertainment.

One of the more popular booths of the day was the Amish Donuts booth. Several people were waiting in line, including Tracy Houpt and her young son Gavin and Gernie Davis. They have been coming to the festival since Tracy was Gavin's age, but this was the second year they were experiencing the donuts.

"It's kind of like a family thing for us," Tracy said of coming to the festival. Gavin was more interested in his toy binoculars, but he said that he enjoyed the M&Ms he got from the Christmas store.

One of the returning vendors this year was Jodi Sowers. This was her second year at Mercersburg, selling pottery in the shape of different leaves. She uses actual leaves to design the bowls she sells.

Sowers came last year, figuring she'd give it a shot and see how well it went. She enjoyed herself and made enough money that she decided it would be worth her while to come back. The fact that the festival is well-organized and the volunteers are helpful was a determining factor in her deciding to return.

"The people who organize it do a nice job," she said.

David Barr can be reached at 717-262-4752.