By PHYLLIS ZORN

Staff writer

This year’s Chingawassa Days brought 1,800 people eager to have fun, eat food, play games, and listen to music.

Rain forced a break in Friday night’s stage entertainment, canceling music by Steel Skarecrow. Committee member Adam Heery said the committee hoped to get the band back for a future Chingawassa Days.

“One of the things we wanted to do this year was boost activities for the family side and boost non-food vendors,” Heery said.

Heery said Saturday night headliner Casey Donahew told him it had seemed people were smiling and having a great time.

“That was nice to hear,” Heery said.

The committee arranged 14 non-food vendors, offering an assortment of times ranging from household décor to toys to educational exhibits.

Festivalgoers ate barbecue and ice cream Friday before playing games, checking out vendors, and sitting down to enjoy That Hypnotist present a comedic show “written” in the minds of the eight people he called to the stage.

Soon after his performance was finished, committee chairman Clayton Garnica announced that a brief but heavy rain was expected, so Steel Skarecrow would be delayed.

Steel Skarecrow’s performance ended up being canceled.

Stage entertainment returned Saturday with the PettyCash band and Casey Donahew.

Other festival entertainment included races, a watermelon feed, a pancake feed, a cornhole tournament, a church service with pro basketball player Garrett Stutz speaking, door prizes, a scavenger hunt, card games, wiener dog races, a fun run, disc golf, carnival games, a scavenger hunt, Texas Hold ’Em, Dinky Duck races, inflatables, face painting, lemon/lime pucker up, rock/paper/scissors, bingo, human battleship, rhino-size Jenga, and heads or tails game.