Many attendees at the 30th Annual Tamaqua Summerfest on Sunday said it’s time to turn the corner on the pandemic and start enjoying life again.

For 1,200 of the thousands at the festival, the best way to celebrate was to buy a ticket to ride a steam train while many others explored food and craft goodies offered at the daylong event.

The celebration, sponsored by the Tamaqua Historical Society, drew many who traveled great distances to spend time with family and renew friendships.

The star of the day, according to many, was the 1928 Pacific 425, built by Baldwin Locomotive Works of Philadelphia for the Gulf, Mobile and Northern Railroad.

“We came from Valrico, Florida, to ride this train,” said visitor Glenn Fahringer. “The grandkids have never on a steam engine ride.”

The family included a local resident, Karen Edmonds of Mary D, and youngsters Zachery Fahringer, 8, Isabella Fahringer, 9, and Piper Klingaman, 10.

Another traveler, this one from Texas, said he came to check out the grand old steamer because he’s familiar with the workings of the old iron horse.

“I’m from Galveston Island and I used to service one like this on my job,” said Bill Vogler. I worked for a grain elevator and we owned our own.”

Dale Freudenberger said steam engine tickets, the first festival rides from the new depot platform, were a big hit.

“The three excursions sold out and most were advanced ticket sales.”

The railroad reportedly added another coach to the train but those seats, too, went like hot cakes.

Many who arrived hoping to buy tickets had to be turned away.

The event featured a large open house at the Tamaqua Anthracite Model Railroad display where host John Shucavage and other volunteers greeted visitors to the region’s largest scale model train display.

Sunny skies attracted folks in droves and sidewalks filled with thousands by early afternoon.

At least one person was taking advantage of the bustling crowd to drum up support for yet another local festival.

“I’m here handing out flyers for our Eighth Annual Lansford Alive Downtown Fall Festival,” said board member volunteer Donna Valent about the Sept. 25 event.

“We’ll have live music all day long and The Villagers are coming.”

In Tamaqua, festival goers enjoyed live music by acclaimed folk musician Jay Smar, along with strolling musicians such as troubadour Dave Matsinko, who specializes in American heritage and folk music. Other music included DJ Shawn, and a live remote of the WMGH Magic Polka Machine by popular radio and television personality Polka Joe Manjack.

A car show sponsored by the Jukebox Cruisers Car Club was a hit with the crowd, as were Leiby’s Carriage Service trolley rides pulled by Belgian Draft horses, and open houses at the 1848 Hegarty Blacksmith Shop and Tamaqua Historical Society Museum. Five members of The Victorian Highwheelers with their 1880s riding machines made their first appearance in two years.

Tamaqua native Andy Leibenguth, wearing a jester hat, entertained festival goers by performing sleight of hand tricks on West Broad Street.

The event returned after skipping a year due to the pandemic.

Shoppers took advantage of dry weather to pick up handmade crafts from street vendors. Others took photos of the Tamaqua Heritage Players, a group of volunteers who dress in period costume and stroll the festival grounds.

Tamaqua Summerfest is the first major celebration of the summer season in eastern Schuylkill County and features a midway that spreads over several blocks of West Broad Street, as well as South Railroad, Berwick and part of Nescopec Street and Hegarty Avenue.