More than two years have passed since Lansdale last celebrated the borough’s birthday. But this Saturday, Aug. 28, Lansdale's Founders Day returns with a full morning-till-night schedule of fun, food, funk and fireworks.
"It's been too long since our last Founders Day,” says Mary Fuller, president of Discover Lansdale, which organizes the annual celebration. "We're thankful we are able to safely hold this event this year, not only because we missed celebrating Lansdale's history last year, but this year's celebration will also be great practice for
next year's 150th Anniversary shindig!”
In 2020, COVID called a halt to Lansdale’s largest party. This year, the possibility of precipitation threatens the festivities. According to Fuller, as many pieces as possible will proceed on Saturday, rain or shine. Only the fireworks would be rescheduled for another date, and a determination will be made by mid-afternoon. Check the
Lansdale Borough and
Founders Day Facebook pages for updates.
This year's theme, "Preserving Our Past,” is in honor of the 50th birthday of the Lansdale Historical Society, formed in 1971 to preserve of the history of the borough and the North Penn area and to share its collection of archival material and resources with the greater community.
Each Founders Day starts with the bestowing of the Lifetime Achievement Award.
This year’s honoree: Raymond E. Walton, 97, long-time businessman and community supporter. Raymond is the son of Clyde S. Walton, founder of the four-generation fuel oil company. "So many of Mr. Walton’s contributions to Lansdale have flown under the radar because he is such a humble man who has worked behind the scenes to help a wide variety of causes,” says Dick Shearer, former president of the Lansdale Historical Society.
The ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. at the Historical Society on Jenkins Avenue.
Other highlights (parking will be free throughout the borough all day):
- Festival of the Arts, 10 am - 4 pm, Memorial Park
- Historic Downtown Walking Tour, all day. Get a guidebook at the LHS and take a self-guided tour of downtown Lansdale.
- Chamber GMC Health & Wellness Fair, 10 am - 2 pm, Railroad Plaza
- Jenkins Homestead Open House, 11 am - 3 pm, Jenkins Avenue
- Model Trains Display, 11 am - 4 pm, Fairmount Fire Co.
- Open House at District Court with Judge Ed Levine, 11 am - 1 p.m, 430 Pennbrook Parkway in Station Square Center
- Beer Garden, 1 pm - 7 pm, Century Plaza Lot
- Cemetery Tour, 1 pm, Lansdale Cemetery
- Live Music Performances, 1 pm - 3:30 pm and 4:30 pm - 7 pm, Century Plaza stage
- Little Miss Lansdale, 4 pm, Century Plaza stage
- Family Entertainment and Food Festival, 1 pm - 7 pm, Green Street
- Whites Road Park Walking Tour, 2:30 pm, Whites Road Park
And in the highlight of each year’s celebration, fireworks will cap off the day’s events, about 9 pm, at Penndale Middle School. "Over the years I’ve heard people comment that Lansdale puts on one of the best shows around,” says Fuller. "After a year’s hiatus, I think the bursts will seem brighter, and the thrill of coming together as a community again will end with a bang.”
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