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Tamaqua gears up for annual summer festival

Organizers for the upcoming Tamaqua SummerFest continue to add to the annual Father’s Day event.

The multi-block street fair will feature vendors, crafters and entertainment as always, but recently, plans were solidified to host live music at Depot Square Park. Representation from the Lenape Native American tribe — which once settled Tamaqua — will also be on hand.

The June 15 event is being coordinated by the Tamaqua Odd Fellows, which took over planning from the Tamaqua Area Historical Society earlier this year.

“We thought this would be a great chance to have local artists show off their skills,” explained Justin Bailey, Odd Fellows committee member. “We have several different genres playing for everybody.”

Musicians will perform from the gazebo at Depot Square Park. Amaris Means takes the stage at 1 p.m., followed by Suzie Johns at 2 p.m., and Bob Alonge at 3 p.m. The last performance features Tommy Helmer and begins at 4 p.m. Organizers said a “special guest” will perform from 10-11 a.m.

And, the new addiction recovery movement, “Recover Out Loud” with Jimmy G and Boaty Blanco, will be at the gazebo from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. They will be joined by Safer Streets for Tamaqua’s Little Feet, which provides free educational programs focused on preventing and helping with addiction.

Lenape tribe clan mother and keeper of language, Shelly Windamakwi DePaul, will share information about Tamaqua’s heritage.

Bailey is hoping attendees stroll to the gazebo for the entertainment — and the vendors.

“We are also going to have vendors on the sidewalk going up to the train station. We felt by having music in the park, this gets more people over to the other side of Broad Street,” Bailey said. “If this works out, we’re going to make this happen every time.”

Many businesses and nonprofit organizations will sell crafts, foods and other items from South Railroad Street from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Bailey said.

Polka Joe Manjack from WMGH/WLSH will return with a live broadcast of “The Magic Polka Machine” from the area of Tink’s Antiques.

The Tamaqua Area Historical Society, Hegarty Blacksmith Shop and the Tamaqua Anthracite Model Railroad Club will be open.

The Reading Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad will have 70-minute round-trip train rides at 11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m.