This year’s West End Fireman’s Festival will have a bigger fireworks display, free carnival rides Thursday and Friday, and a band new to the festival join the fun Thursday through Saturday at the West End Fairgrounds in Gilbert.

“We want to have a bigger and better fireworks display to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary,” said Aaron Keller, festival chairman and Polk Township firefighter. “The festival also includes food, carnival games and rides, music, a tricky tray, activities for the kids and various vendors.”

Four local fire departments — Polk Township, Kunkletown, West End and Blue Ridge — began the festival in 2019. It was on hiatus in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic and returned in 2021.

“The money raised is divided among the four departments, and each decides how to use the funds, whether it is on apparatus, gear or other day-to-day expenses,” Keller said.

The gates open Thursday and Friday at 5:30 p.m. and at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday.

“We want to emphasize that you only have to pay to park. There is no cost at the gate. The price to get in is $10 whether you have one or 10 people in the car, or $5 for those on motorcycles,” Keller said.

Mystery City, a classic rock tribute band from northeast Pennsylvania, is new to the festival lineup. They will play Thursday evening from 6-9. Steel Creek will perform Friday from 6-9 p.m.; Chris Eckert will perform from 3-6 p.m. Saturday; and Brian Dean Moore Band will take the stage from 6-9 p.m. Saturday.

“We are excited to offer free rides on Thursday and Friday, and $20 wrist bands on Saturday,” Keller said.

Rides include the Ferris wheel, Berry Go Round, a couple of fun houses, Himalaya, Gravitron, airplanes and elephants. There will also be pony rides for children.

The tricky tray will be in the Everett Building. Decorative signs, gift baskets, retractable hose, a Sentry safe, pool toys, garden supplies, coolers and a vibe light are just some of the items for the raffle. Sheets are $10 each. Tickets can be purchased all three days. The last call to buy tickets is 7 p.m. Saturday, and the drawing will occur an hour later.

Festivalgoers can purchase a commemorative T-shirt for $10. It’s red with the festival logo on the front and lists the various sponsors on the back.

Kids and their families are invited to come over to Touch-A-Truck, which starts at 3 p.m. Saturday and includes firetrucks, police cars, heavy equipment and a medical helicopter. Weather permitting, the helicopter will drop candy at 4:45 p.m.

The Shooting Star Fireworks’ fireworks display will occur Saturday at 9:30 p.m.

Volunteers from the four fire departments will run their food stand, which has hot dogs, hamburgers, cheeseburgers, sausage sandwiches, clams and pizza.

“Blue Ridge Hook & Ladder is making their roasted chicken meal, which comes with a side and dinner roll,” said Brian Stankovich, Kunkletown’s fire chief and a volunteer in the food stand. “All the food is prepared daily by our hardworking volunteers.”

The festival will also include a handful of other food vendors, like Dale’s Concessions, Elephant Ears and Coastal Cravings, and beer and wine vendors such as Barley Creek and White Tail Winery.

There are plenty of other vendors offering unique, decorative or handmade items around the festival grounds.

“I am excited for lots of good music each night and the awesome fireworks display Saturday,” Stankovich said.

The West End Fairgrounds address is 570 Fairgrounds Road, Gilbert.