Slippery Rock celebrates 21st annual VillageFest
SLIPPERY ROCK — Nearly two decades ago, Tom McPherson was tasked with adding more excitement to grow the attendance of Slippery Rock VillageFest.
After taking over in 2006, the executive director of Slippery Rock development had the idea to hold the festival on the same day as a home game for the Slippery Rock University football team.
Fast forward to the 21st annual VillageFest — held on Saturday, Sept. 28 — and it’s clear the coordination between the festival and football program has been a success.
In the last five years inside Mihalik-Thompson Stadium, excluding 2020 when its season was canceled, Slippery Rock has gone 5-0 and outscored its opposition 227-56 on the same day as VillageFest, which regularly brings anywhere between 7,000 to 10,000 people each year to the town’s streets and alleyways.
“That was the reason they got me to do this, because they wanted me to grow it,” said McPherson. “I expanded the kids games area because if parents bring their kids, then they’ll stay longer because the kids will play. We have vendors that have been coming since this started. We fill the street every year, with both people and vendors.”
More than 120 craft and food vendors lined the streets in addition to a large children’s area and live music at the gazebo.
“This is great,” said Jeff Matty, a Slippery Rock resident who drew quite the crowd selling Boba Pops, which are flavored alcoholic popping boba. “I think in general it brings the community together, which we need more of in this country and in this area. Nobody cares about your political affiliation or what you’re thinking. They’re just having fun, and that’s what we need.”
The event is consistently drawing more people from across the region like Joanne Condon, who came from Franklin to experience VillageFest for the first time.
“I absolutely love it,” she said. “It’s a lot smaller than some festivals near where my husband and I live, which is nice. It’s nice to be able to bring your dog with you. There’s great food here, and a bunch of friendly people.”
Since there are plenty of Slippery Rock University students that make the short walk over to VillageFest, the event is also the perfect chance to get them registered to vote ahead of the upcoming election.
“I think it’s super beneficial because you’re going to hit a lot of first-time voters here because of the university, and it’s bringing parents in who potentially need their address changed,” said Tricia Aulbach, who was working to register voters throughout the day.
Aulbach has attended VillageFest in the past and said it’s become a special tradition for the community.
“I think it’s an amazing event because this is a small college town,” she said. “The people here are special and have a lot of products to offer. It’s just a really cool hometown feel.”
