Muhlenberg Spring Fiesta attracts crowds with meals, music and household actions

Some got here for the tacos, some for the music and others for the enjoyable family-friendly actions. Whatever their purpose, festival-goers discovered a lot to take pleasure in Saturday at Muhlenberg Township’s Spring Fiesta.

The daylong celebration of Latino tradition stuffed the township’s Jim Dietrich Park with the sounds of stay music, the aroma of food-truck fare and actions for all ages.

The free competition featured greater than two dozen meals distributors serving every little thing from tacos, quesadillas and different Mexican specialties to stuffed pretzels, sizzling canine, lemonade and frozen treats. There additionally was beer, wine and margaritas for adults wishing to imbibe.

Bands carried out a mixture of Latin, salsa, reggae and modern music whereas meals distributors, artisans and group organizations welcomed guests in a subject close to the middle of the park.

The competition, now in its eighth yr, encourages folks to spend time collectively within the park, stated Kelly Gorski, recreation applications supervisor for the township.

“It’s really designed for the families in Muhlenberg and beyond to kind of spend the day together,” she stated. “We love our parks. We want everyone to be in our parks and use them.”

The occasion began as a food-truck competition and grew in scope over time.

But make no mistake, meals was nonetheless one of many largest points of interest.

“We came for the tacos,” stated Joseph Martin of Denver, who attended the occasion along with his spouse, Lisa, and their daughter Ella, 2.

The couple stated their plate stuffed with folded and stuffed tortillas was nonetheless too sizzling to pattern, however judging by the reactions of mates at their desk, they anticipated a tasty meal.

While many guests spent the afternoon sampling meals, youthful attendees discovered loads of points of interest of their very own.

Children gravitated towards the Kids Zone, the place bounce homes, big bubbles and piñatas stored kids entertained all through the afternoon.

The youngsters’s space was sponsored by Living Word Fellowship Church, which rents house from Good Shepherd United Church of Christ within the township.

“We’re a new church,” stated Deb Goodman, the church’s administrative assistant. “We just planted here in Muhlenberg in March.”

Goodman stated the congregation sponsored the kids’s space for the second consecutive yr as a group outreach.

“It’s a good way to meet people and serve the community because it’s a free event from the township,” she stated.

Among probably the most anticipated youngsters’ points of interest, had been the piñatas, scheduled intermittently over the course of the 10-hour competition.

The first, at 1 p.m., drew about 20 youngsters who waited patiently for a flip at whacking the brightly adorned papier-mache container with a stick.

Brother and sister Jace and Ariana O’Brien delivered the profitable blows, spilling the treats onto the grass, the place scrambling youngsters rapidly scooped them up.

The boy, 8, and his sister, 10, loved the competition with their mother and father, Jonathan and Theresa O’Brien of Leesport and Ariana’s pal Aubrey Kirtner, 11, of Mohrsville.

On the alternative aspect of the sector, a mechanical bull added a problem for adventurous attendees.

Christian Vasquez, 16, was among the many first to check his stability on the amusement designed to simulate driving a bucking bull. Although he held on tightly, it took simply minutes earlier than he was thrown off, touchdown on the inflatable security mat.

“It was harder than I expected,” he stated, smiling. “It kept trying to throw me off the side.”

Vasquez and his household just lately moved from New York and made settlement on a house within the township final week. The household stated the competition was an incredible introduction to the group and a strategy to meet new folks.

Gorski stated occasions similar to Spring Fiesta are supposed to carry the group collectively whereas showcasing the township’s parks and leisure facilities.

“Everything is free, free parking, free admission, free to just come and grab a chair, sit down, listen to music,” she stated. “We’d like you to support our vendors who are here, obviously, but there’s no obligation.”