Montgomery County Community College and Whitpain Township to Host Annual Whitpain Community Festival Sept. 29

Montgomery County Community College (MCCC) and Whitpain Township invite the community to enjoy a day of family fun, food and musical entertainment at theWhitpain Community Festival held at the College’s Central Campus, 340 DeKalb Pike in Blue Bell. Admission is free for the festival and musical performances, thanks to the generosity of the event sponsors. Donations are welcome and will be used to support scholarships for MCCC students.

The festival schedule is packed with activities for all ages. At noon, the craft fair, children’s games, petting zoo and inflatable rides will start and be available throughout the afternoon until 4 p.m. The fun-loving Phillie Phanatic will pop-in for a visit and photos from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. MCCC students will host their Health Expo with screenings and display tables of health care information throughout the afternoon.

During the event, the Love, Hope & Strength Foundation will be hosting a bone marrow information table, where visitors can learn about making bone marrow donations. Volunteers can have a cheek swab performed and complete the required paperwork to be added to the National Bone Marrow Registry. For more information about Love, Hope & Strength, visit here.

Starting at 1 p.m., there will be a community dance recital followed by performances by the award-winning husband and wife duo Two of a Kind at 2:15 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. Jacqueline Brooks will get everyone exercising with her Zumba class at 2:45 p.m.

The food court opens at noon, and P.J. Whelihan’s beer garden opens at 2 p.m. – both will be open throughout the evening’s musical performances.

The School of Rock kicks off the evening entertainment at 4 p.m. followed by headliners The Craig Thatcher Band at 5:30 p.m. and CTO Tribeca at 7:30 p.m.

A guitarist, vocalist and songwriter, Thatcher has worked with and/or opened for many great artists including Buddy Guy, Derek Trucks, John Mayall, Jimmie Vaughan, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Train, John Mayer and GE Smith, among others. He is well known for his tribute shows to Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, George Harrison, the Allman Brothers Band and Cream.

Led by Maylyn Murphy, CTO Tribeca will get the audience moving with its relentless rhythm section, talented musicians and soaring three-part harmonies. Murphy has been compared to Alicia Keys, Norah Jones and Vanessa Williams, and she has shared stages with Patti Labelle, Lil Kim, P. Diddy and Usher.

The daylong festivities wrap up with a spectacular fireworks display at 8:15 p.m.

Event sponsors include Baird/The Foley Hillsley Group and MCCC Lively Arts Series. Gold sponsors include Arden Credit Union, Chambers Associates, McCaffrey’s Food Markets and P.J. Whelihan’s. Silver sponsors American Heritage Credit Union, MidAtlantic Construction, Sesame/Rockwood Camps and Whitpain Police Association. Bronze sponsors include Blue Bell Country Club, GSI Concrete, Janney Montgomery Scott – Patitucci Wealth Management, McMahon Associates, Inc., Professional Data Solutions, TD Bank and Univest Bank and Trust Co. Friends of the Festival include the Rothman Institute and Weichert Realtors.

For more information, visit the festival website here or their Facebook page. Share your photos of the festival on Twitter with #WhitpainFest.