They chowed down on their favorite delicacies, and took a stroll down memory lane, rekindling conversations with friends from yesteryear.

The 35th annual Palmerton Community Festival opened on Friday as guests jam-packed the walkways to support their favorite volunteer groups.

The festival began with an opening ceremony by the Palmerton United Veterans Organization, followed by the Palmerton Area Girl Scouts singing the national anthem.

Jodi Smale, secretary and co-chair of the festival, thanked the board of directors and Officers for all their dedication and hard work in planning the event “that we know everyone looks forward to year after year.

“Countless hours of dedication, many meetings, emails, late night calls and texts, your work does not go unnoticed,” Smale said. “Additionally, I would like to thank the Girl Scouts for their participation in today’s ceremony.”

Joe Uhnak, first vice commander of the Palmerton American Legion Post 269, noted that this coming Wednesday marks the 23rd anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the United States in which we lost more than 3,000 lives.

Mayor Don Herrmann told guests to enjoy the rides, entertainment and food, and to support all the volunteer organizations, while also giving thanks to the Palmerton UVO and the Palmerton Area Girl Scouts who sang.

Smale then asked what significance the numbers 35 and 60 have in reference to the balloons that were set up.

While it marked the 35th annual Palmerton Community Festival, Smale noted that the event started in 1965 as the Palmerton Hospital Festival “which would bring us to 60 years in total of a wonderful community event. Something of this significance deserves recognition and celebration, and we are thankful to all of you for joining us.”

“But something of this magnitude wouldn’t be possible without volunteers who so graciously give of their time and talents to put together everything you see here,” she said. “Each organization spends hours planning and prepping to organize their stand.

“Committee members come together to organize and execute all aspects of the event, down to every detail. Without volunteers like this, many events and organizations in Palmerton would not be as successful as they are.”

Bands TimeWhys and AM GOLD Yacht Rock entertained guests at the event, which has more than 90 vendors set up throughout the park this weekend.

Keturah Dise of New Tripoli attended the event with her daughter, Grace, 4, who tried her hand at the Shark Tank game.

“I’ve been coming her since I was a kid,” Keturah said. “My mom’s from Parryville, so I grew up here.”

Floyd Michael of Palmerton was sure to grab some strawberry shortcake from the St. Luke’s Carbon Auxiliary stand.

“Good food and entertainment,” responded Michael when asked what he enjoys most about the festival.

Priscilla Offen, volunteer with St. Luke’s Carbon Auxiliary, impressed the importance of the event for the organization.

“More than the money, it shows we as a community are supporting St. Luke’s,” Offen said. “St. Luke’s built us a new stand this year; the old stand the roof would leak, and this is a much nicer stand, and we have shade from the sun.”

Just a little further down the fairways, Lisa Solt of Palmerton eagerly bit into one of the potato pancakes she purchased from the St. Nicholas Roman Catholic Church in Walnutport stand.

“I love potato pancakes; I’m a big fan,” Solt said. “They are delicious; very good.”

Susie Arner, festival president and co-chair of the event, said organizers were “thrilled with this great crowd enjoying the music, fun and the superb show of community support.

“On behalf of all the participants, we say ‘thank you’ to everyone,” Arner said. “Hope to see everyone the next two days as we continue the fun.”

The festival continues today from 11 a.m.-11 p.m. and noon-9 p.m. Sunday.

Today’s entertainment includes the Palmerton Community Band (bandstand) from noon-1:30 p.m., The Buzz Band, 3-4:30 p.m., South Penn Dixie, 5:30-7:30 p.m., and M80 Band, 8:30-10:30 p.m.

Entertainment on Sunday will be comprised of The Steelworkers Polka Band Robbie Lawrence and the Steelworkers from 1-3:30 p.m., The Rehrig Brothers, 4:30-6:30 p.m. and CJ Solar, 7-9 p.m.

Ride specials are 1-5 p.m. today and 2-6 p.m. Sunday.

There is no smoking in the borough park. For everyone’s safety, pets (except for properly identified service dogs), bicycles and roller blades are not allowed in the park the entire weekend.