MONTGOMERY - It's called a quasquicentennial, but you could just call it the 125th anniversary of the establishment of the borough in 1887.
"We're holding a three-day birthday celebration," Borough Manager John Lynch said.
Those three days will be packed, with two parades, two nights of fireworks, residents dressed in period clothing and contests to determine such things as best business appearance, oldest living resident and other categories.
According to the Quasquicentennial Committee, festivities will be held Aug. 9 to 11.
The carnival grounds open at 5 p.m. Aug. 9 and 10 and 1 p.m. Aug. 11, according to Walter Bohner, borough codes enforcement officer. The festival will be held at the Montgomery Fire Co. carnival grounds and the Montgomery Park.
Activities include a parade that starts at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 9. The parade forms on Brook Street and will proceed straight down Main Street, Bohner said.
Fact Box
IF YOU GO:
WHAT: Montgomery 125th anniversary celebration
WHEN: Montgomery carnival grounds and park
WHERE: Opens at 5 p.m. Aug. 9 and 10 and 1 p.m. Aug. 11
Following the parade, opening ceremony speeches may be heard from dignitaries such as Mayor Andrew Onufrak II and other guests at 7 p.m. on the stage. Entertainment by the band "Explosion" starts immediately after opening ceremonies and continues until 10 p.m.
At 5 p.m. Aug. 10, officials will crack open a capsule buried a quarter century ago and not to be opened until the Quasquicentennial on stage.
Immediately following the revealing of the capsule, a Ladies Tea will be held at 6 p.m. at the carnival grounds. That night entertainment will be provided by "Partners in Time," a suitably named band since the capsule had been opened.
The culmination of the quasquicentennial will be the final day with a presentation at the Montgomery Area Historical Society on West Houston Avenue at 2 p.m.
During the day, at the carnival grounds activities include living history of the borough. Residents of the borough and surrounding townships will dress in period clothing. A contest will be held for those in the following categories: oldest resident, the resident who had the most years at a residence within the borough, the longest residing family within a residence, the best appearing residence, and the best appearing business, Bohner said. "All participants must be either a resident of the borough, Brady, Clinton or Washington townships," he said.
A parade will follow at 4 p.m. It forms outside the Weis Market building on Route 54. After the parade, officials plan to announce the contest winners.
A car show will be held after the parade at the Montgomery Park. "There is no entry fee," Bohner said.
Entertainment that night will be by the band, Clyde Frog, a collection of younger musicians, including college age performers. A fireworks display will be put on at dusk.
The Quasquicentennial Committee is selling commemorative coins, which are numbered, and selling mugs and bottles of wine made by Four Friends Vineyards near Montgomery.
Firefighters will provide food for the event. A chicken barbecue starts 1 p.m. Aug. 11.
