Pennsylvania’s first cabbage festival drew a large and steady stream of visitors to Weatherly’s Eurana Park this past Saturday.

Festivalgoers at the Weatherly Cabbage Festival enjoyed cabbage classics such as halupki and halushki as well as a variety of different foods offered by the vendors in attendance there. Visitors also enjoyed family games and even had the opportunity to take a ride in tractor drawn wagon.

Weatherly Mayor Tom Connors said, “I’m really excited. It’s a great day. Everybody came together to make this happen. It’s the first cabbage festival in the state of Pennsylvania and Weatherly now owns it. Hopefully we’ll just grow from here and keep it a town tradition. The only drawback we’ll have today is we’ll sell out of the food a little early. We weren’t expecting the great crowds we got and we’ll learn from it and make up for that next year. I’m excited the way it went. It’s all good.”

Also in agreement was Weatherly town councilman and Weatherly Hill Climb President Joe Cyburt, who said, “I think it’s great the way the chamber from Carbon County got involved with us. The way our borough and the borough workers threw this together it’s incredible. We weren’t too sure what kind of turnout we would have. It’s only an hour into the festival and people are running out of food. We’ve had a really nice turnout. We had 20 to 25 vendors which is really good. So it’s been a really nice first event. We’ll definitely do it again next year bigger and better.”

Carbon County Commissioner Thomas J. Gerhard agreed, saying, “It’s a great day to be here in Weatherly at the first ever cabbage festival in the state. I’m certainly proud to be a part of that. I want to commend Tom Connors and the committee. The Chamber of Commerce got involved and certainly made it a top-notch event. We have the Weatherly Hill Climb that takes place twice a year here. Now we have another premier event here in Weatherly that we’re certainly very proud of. A lot of sponsors, a lot of different vendors, a lot of ethnic foods. So a lot to see, a lot to do. A great day and certainly a great crowd.”

State Rep. Doyle Heffley also attended and said, “It’s such a family oriented community and just to have the first Cabbage Festival in Carbon County, it’s a unique thing and to see the turnout of people from across the county. It’s about the community. It’s an event for everybody to get together and have a nice time. Perfect weather to celebrate fall and celebrate cabbage.

“I’m excited to be here and really happy that it’s a successful event. Hats off to Mayor Connors for spearheading this event and putting it together with all of the different organizations of the community here to support the community and provide people with a nice atmosphere and a nice afternoon,” Heffley said.

A lot of the festival decorations throughout the park were donated by nearby Sernak Farms.

So, next year’s festival, bigger and better.