The 31st annual Tamaqua Summerfest will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday in downtown Tamaqua.

The Father’s Day event will feature a large street fair, handmade crafts, vendors, scenic train rides, Jukebox Cruisers car show with oldies music, Tamaqua Fire Police rubber duck race on the river, tons of great food, children’s amusements and games and the reopening of the Tamaqua Historical Society Museum with new renovations and several new historical exhibits.

The lineup includes the Faculty Brass Band, Tamaqua Heritage Players costumed re-enactors, live broadcast of the WMGH Polka program with Joe Manjack, Leiby’s Carriage Service horse-drawn trolley car rides, Tamaqua Anthracite Model Railroad Club operating H.O. scale model railroad layout, folk musician and clogger Jay Smar, Buster the Clown, 1848 Hegarty Blacksmith Shop tours, DJ Shawn, shopping at Tink’s Antiques, Tap S Trees gifts and decorating shop and the Victorian Hiwheeler bicycle riders.

Father’s Day specials will be in effect at several downtown restaurants and local craft breweries, and many local organization booths from schools, Scout groups, animal rescue, fire police and more.

Presented annually by the Tamaqua Historical Society, the Tamaqua Summerfest is the first big celebration of the summer season in the Tamaqua area and encompasses several blocks of the downtown.

Crafters and many street vendors from all over will display their items for sale.

“The weather is looking fantastic for this year’s event,” said Historical Society president Dale Freudenberger.

Three scenic train rides are being offered by the Reading and Northern Railroad and will depart the historic Tamaqua Train Station at 11 a.m. and 1 and 3 p.m. The first and third trips will head north to the Hometown High Bridge before returning, and the second trip will head south to the area of New Ringgold before returning. Passengers will ride in restored passenger coaches pulled by diesel locomotives. Tickets will be sold the day of the festival in front of the Tamaqua Station. Advance tickets may be purchased by calling the railroad at 610-562-2102. Tickets can be purchased in person using cash at Tinks Antiques on South Railroad Street.

Visitors can check out the H.O. scale model train layout at the Tamaqua Anthracite Model Railroad Club at the corner of West Broad and Nescopeck streets. A fully restored, vintage coal truck from Rarick’s Coal will be on display near West Broad and Hunter streets.

The Jukebox Cruisers Car Club will hold a show beginning at 10 a.m. on South Railroad Street including the St. Luke’s parking lot. Three “People’s Choice” trophies will be presented at 3 p.m. No preregistration is necessary. There is no fee and all are welcome. Vehicle owners are asked to enter the car show area from the intersection of Spruce and South Railroad streets.

One of the favorite attractions each year is the large street fair with handmade items, decorations, hot sauces, honey and more. There will also be children’s rides, games, face painting and a bounce house. Buster the Clown will be strolling the festival route making balloon animals for the kids.

The 1848 Hegarty Blacksmith Shop on Hegarty Avenue will be open for free tours. Hegarty’s Shop was the oldest continually run business in Schuylkill County when it closed in 1974 after being operated by three generations of the Hegarty family since 1848. It is now owned and operated by the Tamaqua Historical Society.

Ethnic and favorite festival foods will be offered by vendors and local organizations, including hard and soft ice cream, milk shakes, sundaes, fresh cut French fries, Volcano Drinks, cotton candy, fresh squeezed lemonade, Italian ice, wood fired pizza, funnel cake, meatball subs, beef and pork pit barbecue sandwiches, shish kebabs, grape leaves, gyros, hot dogs, hamburgers, home baked goods, fresh tapped birch beer, fresh made kettle korn, and more.

Indoor dining opportunities and special menu items will be offered at restaurants and shops in the borough.

Stokers Brewery on Mauch Chunk Street and Revere Brewing Co. on East Broad Street will be open.

Polka Joe Manjack will broadcast the WMGH Polka program with from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in front of the Tamaqua Museum. DJ Shawn Frederickson will be spinning favorite summertime tunes from 1 to 5 p.m., and there will also be oldies music at the car show from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Tamaqua Fire Police will have their Rubber Duck Race on the Little Schuylkill River. Tickets can be purchased at businesses around the area and Mauch Chunk Trust Co. The race will start at 3 p.m. at the Elm Street bridge with the finish line being near Boyer’s Market.

For more information on the Tamaqua Summerfest or to register as a vendor or exhibitor, contact Freudenberger at the Tamaqua Historical Society at 610-597-6722 or by email to dalefreud@gmail.com. Emails are preferred.