A crowd-pleasing event is set to return to Palmerton after a one-year absence.

The 31st annual Palmerton Community Festival is scheduled from 5 to 11 p.m. Sept. 10, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sept. 11, and noon to 9 p.m. Sept. 12 in the borough park.

Chairwoman Susie Arner explained the decision to forge ahead with the borough’s most popular event of the year.

“The officers and directors considered the rate of immunizations going up,” Arner said. “People are in need of funds for their nonprofit causes since last year was a loss for them as no events were held.”

Arner said that while they are unsure what CDC guidelines will look like in September, they plan to move forward.

“We will maintain CDC and Department of Health guidelines as much as possible, and we will continue to monitor those as they change and evolve in the summer and into September as we get closer to the event,” she said. “We will have increased hand-washing stations and hand sanitation stations, and we encourage people to wear masks as much as possible.”

Arner said they ask that everyone respect each group that participates to earn funds for their organization by following any guidelines necessary in order for the event to run smooth.

“One thing that everyone wants to stress is people need to be respectful of each other and behave like adults. We’re not here to debate the rules, these are recommended guidelines,” she said. “We need to respect the fact that everyone has different opinions.

“Be responsible for yourself. If you feel the need to wear a mask and or gloves, feel free to do that. But, you have to understand not everyone is going to do that.”

Arner said all of the highly sought-after favorites will be available.

“It appears as though we will have nearly 100 percent of all the usual stands that you usually see at the festival participate. Rides and entertainment will be there. The bingo tent will be open and we’re looking into the possibility of a bit larger tent to accommodate better distancing. The craft tent may appear a little bit different to allow some distancing in that area as well,” she said.

The festival was canceled last year after new restrictions from the governor as a result of a rise in COVID-19 cases.

That decision came several weeks after the event had received the go-ahead to run Sept. 11-13 in the borough park.

However, there would have been no rides, craft tent, bingo tent or live entertainment.

Any nonprofit groups who would like to become involved in the festival may contact Arner at 484-522-8899.

For more information, visit the Palmerton Community Festival website at www.palmertonfestival.com.