It will be an event full of dedications, bands, food and plenty of fun to be had by all.

Hosted by the Diamond Fire Company of Walnutport and the Diamond Fire Company Social Club, Summer Bash 2024 will take place Friday through Sunday at the fire station.

The fire company will raffle off its 1983 Pierce Dash Fire Engine, with the goal to sell 200 tickets at a cost of $100 a ticket, said Diamond Fire Company of Walnutport Chief Michael Wentz.

After the presumed 200th ticket sale, or after all tickets are sold, Wentz said the lucky winner will be drawn. Interested parties may visit Diamond Fire Company on Facebook, or walnutport-fire-co.square.site to purchase tickets.

Wentz said the raffle is meant to serve a dual purpose: enable the fire company to replenish its truck fund, and set the rest aside for its Summer Bash.

He said the Summer Bash will be held in conjunction with the Diamond Fire Company Home Association.

Things get underway at 6 p.m. Friday with a performance by Toolshed Jack.

The event continues on Saturday with a performance by the Prime Cuts Band from noon to 3 p.m. A dedication ceremony will then take place around 1 p.m. American Street Band will perform at 6 p.m.

That day will see the fire department dedicate its rescue pumper truck, its new squad truck, and the bell the fire department previously put back up, Wentz said. The rescue truck will be dedicated to the person it was originally dedicated to in 1996, he added.

Wentz said they will do the dedication, a memorial service, and as they read the names, family members are going to ring the bell.

He added it’s going to be significant between the dedication of the trucks and the dedication of the bell, not to mention the fire companies that will arrive with trucks, as there will be some judging along with some awards.

Larry Merkle, a member for 57 years who is the longest tenured member of the fire department, said the dedication of the bell that was on top of the fire company’s social club before a 2014 fire destroyed the building and was put out front of the social club last year will be extra special.

“It means a lot to me,” Merkle said.

The event concludes on Sunday, complete with a performance by The Boondock Barons at 3 p.m.

Wentz underscored the significance of the dedication ceremony of its refurbished rescue pumper, the dedication of its remounted bell to the front of its social club, and a memorial service for its past active members and of active members from other fire companies.

“This is not a day for a fundraiser, this is a day of fun to memorialize people that laid the groundwork for where we are today,” Wentz said. “Without a lot of those people who are no longer here, we would not be here.”