Greencastle Sidewalk Days will feature shopping, eating and more
Shawn HardyDowntown Greencastle will be a shopper’s delight during the 55th annual Sidewalk Days from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, July 8, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 9.
There also will be plenty of good things to eat, a variety of entertainment and a Kids Zone.
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Sidewalk Days also is the kickoff of badge sales for the 41st triennial Old Home Week celebration Aug. 6 to 13.
Strolling, shopping and socializing will be easy, with Baltimore Street from Jefferson Street to Washington Street and South Carlisle Street from Center Square to Franklin Street closed to traffic.
Shopping and dining options
“The chamber is happy that we have had a tremendous response from vendors. We have very few booth spaces remaining,” said Debby Cunningham, executive director of the Greencastle-Antrim Chamber of Commerce, which sponsors Sidewalk Days.
“We have a good mixture of community groups, businesses, food and many merchant vendors participating,” she continued. “In addition to vendors located in the street, the downtown businesses will be open and there are ‘pop-up’ shops in the Aura Building.”
The dozens of vendors run the alphabet from Airplanes and Adventures Travel to Woven Notions.
In between, a sampling of the selection includes artists, jewelry, bees, books, distilled spirits, collectibles and fashions.
Local churches, other organizations and businesses will be set up and providing information.
There will be tables around Center Square where people can enjoy food from Antietam Dairy, Balkan Traditions, Bubble Eats, Carnival Concessions, CC Funnel Cakes, CUL•TURED Soul Food, Foltz’s, J&M BarBQ, Keep It Smokin’ BBQ, Kona Ice, Mama K’s Buns, Meadow Products, The Ragged Edge Roasting Co., Rollin’ Pretzels, Roy’s Concessions, Sherry’s Crab Cakes, Sweet Rollers and The Carving Board.
Entertainment and activities
Sidewalk Days will begin with an opening ceremony featuring Greencastle Mayor Ben Thomas Jr. at 10 a.m. Friday.
“A unique feature this year is the Army National Guard’s climbing wall,” Cunningham said. “It will be in the parking lot at the Greencastle Church of the Brethren for anyone ages 14 to 75.”
There will be face-painting, games and other activities in the Kids Zone at Greencastle Presbyterian Church. Cumberland Valley School of Music will offer a make-and-take musical craft on Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to noon, followed by a balloon twister from 12:30 to 2 p.m.
Entertainment on Friday includes Cumberland Valley School of Music student performances at 3 p.m., the Back Creek Valley Boys at 4 p.m. and Runaway Train at 6:15 p.m.
A puppet show by Barb and Friends will kick off the Saturday entertainment at 9 a.m. and Evan Crider will perform at 1 p.m.
Demonstrations by Momentum Martial Arts, Rockstar Cheer and Majestic Cheer will take place periodically during the two days.
Old Home Week badges
Badges for the 2022 celebration will be sold on Center Square by the Old Home Week Association.
A badge costs $6 and provides entry to virtually all OHW events. The exception is the Greencastle Loyal Daughters meeting, where the $5 membership fee is payable at the door.
This year marks the 240th anniversary of the founding of Greencastle and Allison’s Tavern, its earliest structure, is highlighted on the badge.
No one knows when it was built or what it looked like, but local artist Andy Barbuzanes created a rendition of the tavern as it may have appeared when the town was laid out by Col. John Allison in 1782.
Badge sales will continue at a number of locations in Greencastle and during the celebration at OHW Headquarters on Center Square.
Details
Blaise Alexander Chevrolet is the signature sponsor of Sidewalk Days with additional support from F&M Trust, Orrstown Bank, UPMC and WellSpan Health. Entertainment is sponsored by Manitowoc Cranes, with the stage provided by Lumber Direct.
A full list of vendors and entertainment is available at tinyurl.com/gacc-swd55.
For more information, contact the Greencastle-Antrim Chamber of Commerce at 717-597-4610, email info@greencastlepachamber.org, or visit greencastlepachamber.org
Shawn Hardy is a reporter with Gannett's Franklin County newspapers in south-central Pennsylvania — the Echo Pilot in Greencastle, The Record Herald in Waynesboro and the Public Opinion in Chambersburg. She has more than 35 years of journalism experience. Reach her at shardy@gannett.com.