Harmony Silvester pays tribute to borough’s German heritage
HARMONY — You know an event is successful if folks are smiling and having fun despite a chilly, gloomy drizzle.
Harmony Silvester, the borough’s German-themed New Year’s Eve celebration, was held from 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 31.
Happy participants wore hoods, hats or carried umbrellas as they traversed the borough while shopping, eating or participating in the event’s activities.
Adults participated in the annual Christmas Tree Toss behind Harmony Museum, where competitors flung a pine tree onto a course to try and get the farthest distance.
Derek Papakie, of South Fayette in Fayette County, tossed the ungainly projectile twice.
“I’ve never thrown a Christmas tree before,” Papakie said of his decision to pay $5 for two tosses. “It sounded fun.”
His mother, Harmony resident Michele Papakie, also threw the tree twice.
“It looks like fun, and I like to set a good example for my granddaughter to do things,” she said.
Her delighted granddaughter, Lana, 3, was hopping with excitement after she and her brother, Sutton, 1, participated in the event, which saw those age 8 and younger tossing pine wreaths.
“I moved to Harmony in August, 2021, and I love the sense of community and how much fun everyone is,” Papakie said. “Everyone is fun and happy.”
Proceeds from the Christmas Tree Toss benefited the Harmony Museum.
One conspicuous teen at Harmony Silvester was Eamonn McElfresh, 14, of Pittsburgh, who wore a gray sweater, lederhosen and a Tyrolean hat.
Eamonn explained that he came to Silvester with his parents, who ran in the Harmony Silvester 5K.
He bought the Germanic outfit a few months ago for picture day at school.
“This was another time for me to wear it, so I thought I might as well,” Eamonn said as passersby smiled at his outfit with delight.
He said he enjoyed his first Harmony Silvester and finds small-town festivals important.
“It keeps them alive,” Eamonn said. “I feel like these small towns could be forgotten, but these events encourage more visitors.”
The Harmony Museum offered pork and sauerkraut dinners, and Harmony Fire District sold hot dogs or bratwurst with sauerkraut, popcorn, hot apple cider and other items.
Shops in Harmony were open to shoppers and enjoyed a brisk business during the celebration.
Bottlebrush Gallery offered face painting, acoustic music, art vendors and the sale of their usual art.
Ella Scaltz, of Wexford, accompanied her parents and brother to Silvester, and enjoyed looking at the art in the gallery.
She most looked forward to the ball drop and fireworks at 6 p.m., and explained that the turn of the new year was celebrated at 6 p.m. instead of midnight because 6 p.m. Eastern Standard Time was midnight in Germany.
Asked why small-town festivals are important, and the young Ella gave a thoughtful answer.
“More people can come together and meet each other,” she said.
A disc jockey in Harmony square played rock and country tunes in addition to traditional German folk music.
Michelle Steffler, of Ellwood City, enjoyed the music while her son, a cross-country athlete at Lincoln High School in Ellwood City, ran the 5K race.
She planned to shop and grab a bite to eat with her son after the race and enjoy the festival.
“Silvester is very home-towny,” Steffler said. “I think it’s cute.”
Just after the start of the festival, more than 230 runners and walkers lined up at the starting line for the 5K as well as the 1-mile walk and run.
The DJ blasted Tom Petty’s “Runnin’ Down a Dream” as the runners stretched and set their watches.
Three participants dressed as a unicorn, a man riding a huge chicken and a colorful caterpillar waited among other athletes and walkers for the horn signaling the beginning of the race.
Andrew Mascio, co-owner of Wolf Creek Race Management of Mars, said his company times and manages more than 225 races per year.
“It’s unique to have the New Year’s festival with the race,” Mascio said. “It really adds a lot to the experience for the runners because there’s a lot more energy and excitement.”
The afternoon and evening were capped off by the dropping of a lighted, mirrored ball, which was suspended high in the air from the bucket of an RB Tree Service truck.
The countdown to midnight in Germany was done in German, and fireworks followed shouts of “Happy New Year” that echoed down Harmony Square as another Harmony Silvester celebration came to a damp but cheerful close.
