Arendtsville celebrates community with a fiesta
ADAMS COUNTY >> For the seventh year in a row, the town of Arendtsville is holding a fiesta to unite a community that has changed over time into one which is more ethnically diverse. Residents invite everyone Aug. 29 to "a treat not to be missed."
Fiesta was started by Dick Price, former fire chief, when he noticed that the newcomers, most with Spanish-speaking backgrounds, and long-time residents engaged in little communication.
On Aug. 29, visitors to Fiesta will find common ground with Arendtsville residents in a Spanish-flavored party featuring music, food and games in the shade of the maple trees at 38 N. High St. Activities from 3 to 6 p.m. take place in the parking lot across from the sponsor of the event, Trinity Lutheran Church.
Consider the Fiesta a great eating occasion to tempt even the most fastidious appetite. Look for traditional hot dogs and hamburgers, if you must, but these will be accompanied by Mexican and Central American specialties such as tingas (made with chicken) and tamales.
To beat the heat, there will be snow cones and cool summer drinks, as well as fruit kebabs, the latter prepared by members of St. Paul's Lutheran and Benders Lutheran churches.
To polish it all off there will be cake walk cakes, prepared by congregants of Zion United Church of Christ.
All afternoon, music will be provided by bagpipers and guitar players, along with traditional Mexican dancing.
Games for all ages will include miniature golf and pinata-bashing, along with a bumpity barrel train ride and ricocheting around a bounce house for the young. For those with less energy, there will be antique cars and fire engines on display — just for the looking. Animal lovers will have a chance to meet and greet visiting greyhound dogs, too.
Representatives from Lincoln Intermediate Unit will also host a table with information about educational opportunities for migrant workers.
Robert McQuaid, who with his wife, Jan, has been involved in Fiesta since its inception, said, "We wanted to do something to get the two cultures in our community together."
For more information, call 717-677-8921.