ARTICLE
By Joe Eckstein Special to The Morning Call | Jun 25, 2022 The Lou Franco Project Band performs. Whitehall Heritage Fest took place Saturday, June 25, 2022. The festival is a celebration of the heritage and history of the Whitehall area. (Amy Shortell / The Morning Call) As the Whitehall Heritage Fest began on Saturday, Michael P. Harakal Jr., the township’s mayor, asked guests to remember that “Whitehall is a lot more than MacArthur Road and the [Lehigh Valley] mall.” He said everyone should also try to find things that will make them “feel very proud of being in Whitehall.” Heritage Fest, which was last held 30 years before under the name “Heritage Days,” is dedicated to honoring the history and heritage of Whitehall while also supporting local businesses and nonprofit vendors. The event was organized by the Lehigh Valley and Whitehall Area chambers of commerce, with sponsorships from Trulieve, Fellowship Community and Authentic Adjustments. Harakal — who was township executive in the 1980s — said “it’s been fun” to see the fest return and would like to see the community “enjoy this beautiful weather” amid the pandemic. “We just need them outside collecting and understanding not just the history, but the potential future of life,” Harakal said. Kylie Adams-Weiss, assistant vice president with the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, said she was most excited to see the turnout. “To be able to carve out a big section like this street and be able to have people out and exploring and seeing the parks; really just showing off the community and all that it has to offer is the best part of this festival,” she said. As people arrived off shuttle buses, they were greeted to carnival-style games, prizes and The Lou Franco Project Band, a group that played classic rock covers of The Doobie Brothers and Tom Petty. Venturing past the bandshell, guests were greeted by 50 vendors, offering food and homemade crafts. One of those vendors was Debbie Holt, an independent consultant with Norwex, who said the fest is a great way for the past and present to come together. “It’s important for the community, because there’s many different walks of life in our community,” Holt said. “And I think it’s really wonderful because of the history. A lot of people don’t even know the history about it. So this is a nice way to kind of meld the old with the new, the current.” Angela Moscoso, community engagement liaison with Trulieve, said the fest serves as a way of uniting the community, to say “we’ve missed each other.” “I think if COVID has taught us nothing else … it’s just how pivotal community is,” Moscoso said. “I mean, everything from just support to general hospitality, to getting a smile from somebody, you know, from the corner, right? Those little things do a lot for feeding our internal self.” Heritage Fest offered family-friendly activities beyond the vendors, such as face painting, a rock-climbing wall and a horse-drawn hayride. Many found themselves at the Wildlands Conservancy demonstration, where visitors could touch reptiles, including a corn snake and a wood turtle. For David Barilla, this was the highlight of his time at the festival. He said events that bring people together are pivotal for the community. “I think sometimes it’s forgotten that we’re all Americans,” Barilla said, “So no matter what your views are, you know, things that bring people together rather than divide them is crucial.” With history being a key part of Heritage Fest, guests were able to learn more about the Civil War and Revolutionary War, with replica rifles, harmonicas and Necco Wafers (which were carried by Union soldiers). Henry Green, a member of the 153rd PA Volunteer Infantry who has been a part of the group for 10 years, said he hopes there will be more festivals like this. “Hopefully [the township] will make it an annual event,” Green said.