(7/1) Emmitsburg’s 39th Community Heritage Day dawned bright and sunny on Saturday, June 25th. Every year, the day begins with the famous Vigilant Hose Annual Breakfast and doesn’t end until the glorious fireworks around at 9:45 that night.

If you ask those attending the day who is responsible for the full day of fun events, you will get answers ranging from "the town" to "the Lions" to "I have no idea."

But the real answer is more complex! It is true that the Lions Club began the event 39 years ago, but realized that it takes "a village" to make the day complete. Over the last eight years, the event has been planned and implemented by The Emmitsburg Community Heritage Day Committee (ECHDC). Representatives from the Lions Club, Brute Council #1860 Knights of Columbus, Sons of American Legion, Tyrian Lodge, the Vigilant Hose Company and Auxiliary, the Emmitsburg Osteopathic Primary Care Center, Emmitsburg Trails, and Friends of the Library.

It may look easy but the event involves a full years’ worth of planning and dozens working to make it all look smooth. If you weren’t lucky enough to come, Community Heritage Day combines games; such as a raw egg toss, water balloon fight, sack race, and watermelon and pie-eating contests; a chalk art contest; hard fought horseshoe and cornhole tournaments; a dog skills demonstration; chicken BBQ; much-needed water spray from the fire truck; a creative crafts show; a beer garden; candy thrown by several parade floats; and toe tapping music from Special Delivery Band. The day was capped off by the best fireworks for miles around.

In addition to the volunteers on the ECHDC, the town’s businesses and organizations generously donated funds for the fireworks. Without them, the fireworks would not have been possible.

Other organizations pitch in too. Shannon Cool organized a cornhole tournament. Funds raised are for Team Cool's Legacy at the "Out of the Darkness Walk" in Frederick, for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention in honor of her brother Dicky.

The Friends of the Emmitsburg Library and the Emmitsburg Trails sponsored a Beer Garden. Smoketown Brewery virtually donated three kegs of ice cold, craft beer, charging an astonishingly low price. Smoketown owner Dave Blackman is a dedicated advocate for youth literacy and mountain biking. For those interested in biking, the next race at the Emmitsburg Trails will occur on Saturday, August 6.

The Friends of the Emmitsburg Library worked the front table of the Beer Garden by checking IDs, selling beer tickets, and engaging in great conversations about good beer and good books!

According to Jennifer Joy, who has been involved in organizing the event for the last decade, "The future of this event is entirely dependent on community involvement. This festival is truly a hometown event that adds vital community cohesion and integration."

If you would like to help with next year’s events visit www.emmitsburgevents.com. We would love to have your enthusiastic help!