Lansford Alive’s annual downtown festival on Saturday provided a chance for nonprofits to get the word out about their organizations and for vendors to show their wares.

“I was glad to see it return to the downtown after canceling it last year, and it turned out to be our biggest turnout since the festival began,” said Lansford Alive President Chris Ondrus. “We had more vendors, bands and a larger crowd than previous festivals.”

The Panther Valley Elementary School PTO had one of the busier stands, with baked goods for sale donated by school parents. Parent and volunteer Brenda Yarnall said, “It’s going really well. We’ve been here the last couple of years. Lots of people are interested.”

Through the bake sale and other fundraisers, the PTO is able to provide gifts for holidays and send every school student on field trips. The field trips were on hold last year because of the pandemic, but some are planned this year.

“We’re happy to get back to going places,” Yarnall said.

Sheila Hartranft also wanted to get the word out about her organization. She works with the local group of the Arc of Northeastern Pennsylvania, which provides activities and support for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Hartranft said activities for the 20 residents she oversees include miniature golf, a visit to an alpaca farm, a deer farm, hayrides and more. Three activities are planned each month.

“A lot of people don’t know what we do,” she said.

For more information, visit www.thearcnepa.org.

Cub Pack 765 leader Donald Smale was selling meat sticks for the organization, but he wanted to let children from kindergarten through fifth grade know they can still join.

“We accept boys and girls,” he said.

Before COVID-19 hit, the group was averaging 45 members. Virtual meetings were a struggle.

“The Scouts became couch potatoes, playing video games.”

The group is back in person, meeting every Tuesday night at Trinity Lutheran Church on Abbott Street in Lansford.

All are welcome. Contact Smale at dsmale74@gmail.com.

The Lansford Historical Society table drew a lot of interest as Director Bruce Markovich displayed many old-time pictures and a model of the Welsh church the organization is working to refurbish. The church was built Dec. 26, 1850.

One of the old photos showed a street packed with people who came to town on the train.

“The train would come to town six times a day,” Markovich said.

When residents look at the photos, “They are amazed at what was here,” he said.

Visitors to the No. 9 mine and museum are down this year.

The year before the pandemic, 2,000 people visited the museum. In 2020, the number dropped to 40.

So far this year, 120 people have visited.

“The museum and mine are the last thing on people’s minds right now,” Markovich said. “People want to see family.”

The line was constant for halupki and potato pancakes provided by St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church of McAdoo. The American Cancer Society was selling funnel cakes, pierogies, soups and baked goods. Grace Community Church advertised that their food stand had nothing over $2. Hot dogs were $1 and hamburgers, $2.

Free pumpkin painting and a bounce house provided lots of fun for kids.

Many took a stroll throughout the day to see cars owned by members of the Juke Box Cruisers car club, who were set up on Coal Street.

Throughout the block people listened to the free music provided by Grace Community Church Band, Reilly Bauer, Easy Listening, Angela Nardini, John Frye Acoustics, Joe Krushinsky as Elvis and the Pennsylvania Villagers polka band.

Saturday was Philomena Amato’s first time at the Lansford Alive event. She makes and sells lighted shadow boxes.

“This is really nice. There are a lot of vendors,” she said, adding that she took some time to visit the thrift shop and Porvaznik’s Flowers and Gifts.

“It’s so nice to see a town cares enough to so something for people in the community,” Amato said.