The moment many Lehighton residents have waited for is here.

Dates have been set for the borough's 150 Celebration, to be held over an eight-day period next year.The celebration will take place from Saturday, June 25, 2016, through Saturday, July 2, 2016. The committee is working on a tentative schedule of events.Autumn Abelovsky, secretary, said the borough's 150 Celebration Committee has set aside the days to embrace the borough's beginnings, as well as to remember all of the notable milestones over the past 50 years.Abelovsky said events being discussed include: historic town tours and discussions, a square dance, scavenger hunts, ghost tours and cemetery walks, soap box derby, kids day, talent show, Miss Lehighton pageant, theater productions, and naturally, a parade.Each day of the celebration will also have a street fair and music featured nightly at the Amphitheater, she said.The committee has revisited the idea of having Charters of the Brothers of the Brush and Sisters of the Swish register and compete in various events throughout the celebration, Abelovsky said.All competitions will also be open to individuals, said Abelovsky, who added that a few of the competitions already slated include corn on the cob eating, pie eating, lumberjack, hoop and stick, and for the men, the beard growing contest.Special events will also include naming a citizen of the century and a 150th baby and burying a time capsule, she said. The committee hopes to end the celebration with a fireworks display, Abelovsky said."As the event grows closer, more information will be provided to the public," Abelovsky said. "It is the hope of the committee that by announcing all of the exciting events they have planned, that the interest will grow and grow."The committee recently held nominations and elections of their newly restructured executive board. Holding positions are Clark Ritter, chairman; Duane Dellecker, co-chairman; Autumn Abelovsky, secretary; Brenda Koons, treasurer; Nicole Beckett, borough manager/committee liaison.Other members of the committee are Cherri McKinstry, Courtney VanFossen, Grant Hunsicker, Helen Torok, Kathy Long, Louise Christman and Mary Levendusky.The committee has several open positions, should anyone like to join as an active member, Abelovsky said.Meetings are open to the public, and are held on the first Monday of each month at the Pfc. Clyde R. Houser Building/Lehighton Borough Annex. Guests are encouraged to attend, including residents of the community, businesses and civic organizations.Abelovsky said the committee has held several fundraisers over the past few months and has several other events and ideas planned to raise funds.A $55,000 budget has been set for the actual celebration, said Abelovsky, who noted that funds are expected to be obtained by fundraising, sponsorships and grants.Upcoming fundraising events include an art gala on May 17 and a historic trivia night slated in the summer, she said. Both events will feature and promote local talent.The committee will also be developing a Lehighton-opoly game to promote local businesses, she said.In addition, a commemorative ornament of the Lehighton Borough Park Fountain was designed.The ornament may be purchased for $22, or $26 with a stand, at the borough municipal building.For more information, email

celebration@lehightonborough.com or call the borough secretary at 610-377-4002, ext. 211.The group can also be found on Facebook at

www.facebook.com/groups/Lehighton150.