35th annual Tamaqua festival spotlights culture

History was the central theme and perfect autumn weather painted a colorful canvas Sunday at the 35th Annual Tamaqua Heritage Festival.

The street fair, presented by volunteers of the Tamaqua Historical Society, included everything from Greek, Polish and other ethnic foods to folk music, colorful entertainment, re-enactments and the largest car show in years.

Many visitors commented on the impressive showing by automobile enthusiasts who arrived in highly polished vehicles which were entered into judging. The overflow turnout of show cars filled the South Railroad Street venue.

“We’re happy to have the Jukebox Cruisers Car Club taking over the car show,” said Dale Freudenberger, society president. The Carbon County-based organization is a social group for those interested in classic, antique and special-interest vehicles. The group stepped in to fill a void at Tamaqua festivals after the Tamaqua Street Machine Association disbanded after a strong run of many decades.

The festival included handmade crafts and holiday decorations, WMGH Magic Polka Machine live broadcast with Polka Joe Manjack, DJs, strolling musicians, such as “Minstrel of the Mountains” Dave Matsinko, and others.

Other highlights included a peek inside the 1848 Hegarty Blacksmith Shop, historic Padora’s brick-oven, coal-fired bakery, and horse-drawn trolley car rides. The Tamaqua Heritage Players, dressed in period costume, entertained throughout the midway and staged an original street theater presentation in front of the Tamaqua train station at 2 p.m. The lively group used clever dialogue to resurrect voices of Tamaqua’s Victorian past, presenting their rich, immigrant-spawned dialect against a vivid backdrop of autumn foliage.

The historical society museum was open for visitors and vintage photo collections were on display at the museum annex.

The Victorian Highwheelers, its members in period costume, provided demonstrations of vintage 1880s riding machines. Members of the educational, nonprofit organization offered attendees an opportunity to learn more about the development of personal transportation and see some of the first bicycles ever produced, including a rare, nickel-plated 1890 Columbia racing machine. The group has been a staple at Tamaqua festivals for nearly two decades.

Entertainer Andy Leibenguth baffled visitors with intriguing magic tricks and sleight-of-hand wizardry, challenging all comers to figure out how each gimmick was perfected.

Other activities included a World War I display, children’s amusement rides and games, petting zoo, Leiby’s Autumn harvest market, Tamaqua Anthracite Model Railroad operating train layout, local artists, a chance to visit Stokers Brewing Company and Revere Brewing Company, bake sales, and other attractions.