Hartslog Heritage Day in Alexandria is a one-day heritage festival — coming up this Saturday, Oct. 11, for its 28th year.
Many have asked in the past, “Why just one day?”
Answers vary slightly, but all have similar meaning. It starts out the same way on the second Saturday on October — craft vendors and artisans move into town as the sun is rising. Alexandria residents awake from their sleep and check the brisk activity outside their homes. Main Street and its tentacles fill quickly with serious buyers, slow strollers, fast moving children and stop-and-talkers.
The pace reaches a high point just after lunch, then begins to slow a bit as those who have other things to do leave town. The remaining crowd is comprised of later arrivals, town residents and those who savor the day so much they can’t drag themselves away.
When the final act is over at the library lawn stage, the craft stands are dismantled and the remains of the day hauled away, the citizens of Alexandria — and the hard working committee that put the event together — sit down and call it a day.
Why drag it out an extra day? The work that goes into Hartslog Day on the second Saturday of October is exhausting for the many volunteers. But it is a labor of love for those who are raising money for the fire company, ambulance, church, booster club, sports team or the main benefactor, the Hartslog Heritage Museum.
Hartslog Day began in 1975 as a homecoming celebration to promote the sale of “Hartslog Heritage,” a local history book. The next two celebrations marked the 200th anniversary of the nation and the 150th anniversary of the incorporation of Alexandria Borough. No festival was held in 1978, but it was greatly missed and has been brought back by popular demand each year since 1979.
The festival is now the primary means of financial support for the museum, located on the second floor of the Memorial Public Library. Don Litzenberger of Huntingdon is the festival chairman — also a long-standing tradition. He and his committee members plan the entertainment, food, crafts, exhibits, children’s activities, parade and shuttle service.
The latter runs from parking lots at Juniata Valley schools and MeadWestvaco to Alexandria from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Park the vehicle and ride for free to Alexandria and back.
The traditional Pumpkin Pole raising takes place in front of the Memorial Public Library at 7:30 a.m. and the parade moves at 9 a.m. on Main Street.
