The 2018 PA Firefly Festival is in the books. It was a wet but wonderful event. The weather cleared and the attendance counter reached 550! So many people helped make it a success. Thank you to all the PAFF Board: Ken Butler, Jeff Calta, Bruce Parkhurst, Rowan Rose and Rob Santangelo; volunteers from AMVETS Post #113, and friends and family volunteers: Marshal and Gail Ariza, Stacey and Audrey Barnes, Lisa Albaugh Bee, Sam Butler, Patty Calta, Helen Fielding, Hailey Kiser, Barbara Litton, Marion & Steve Sherwood, Naryan Thompson, Shannon Thompson, David Wilton and Jay Woodring; exhibitors/experts: Ernest and Karen Boyd, Sierra Club-Moshannon; Aaron Haugh & Jessica Leacock, USDA Forest Service; Sara Lower, PhD., Bucknell University; David & Lara Mitchell, Lumican; Jennifer Moore, Chapman Dam State Park; Tory Porter & Dalton Silvis, USACE Tionesta Lake; Cecile Stetler, DCNR and Adele Wellman, Allegany State Park, NY; vendors: Brad & Jen Feltenberger, Felt-N-Burgers; Casey & Aiden Hennig, Mobile Fresca; Sandy Mills, Tionesta Moon Jewelry; Bonnie Rubin, Butterfly Bean Studio; Joan Swartz, The Pretzel Place; and Katie Taggart & Erin Crownover, Twig & Kootie's Nursery; musicians: Matt Miskie, John Stony & Co, Jesse Smith & Whiskey for 3, Angelina D & Angel Blue; performers: Ibiyinka Alao, United Nations Arts Ambassador, Tara and Tory Brown, Delta Circus, Glow Performance; sound/stage technicians: Nat Licht and Rob Santangelo; guides: Melissa Becker, Lisa Bee, Rod Daum, Tory Porter, Ariel Wenner, and Cecile Winder, and last but NOT LEAST... Interns: Kaylene Brink, Western Washington University, and Kylie Voss, State University of New York-ESF. A HUGE Thank-You goes to our sponsors and grantors: Allegheny Defense Project, Black Caddis Ranch, The Bridge Builders Community Foundation, Erie Insurance, Flying W Ranch, the Forest Area Arts Council, Heartwood, Heffern Septic Services, Huplits Wildlife Fund (Sierra Club Allegheny Chapter), Lumican, Mount Zion Lutheran Church, Northwest Savings Bank, the Paul & Ellen Charitable Fund, the PA Great Outdoors Visitors Bureau/Forest County Tourism Grant, PNC Bank J. Bowman Proper Trust, for their contributions and support of our 6th and best festival ever. We couldn't have done it without each and every one of you.
Sorry, I didn't get pictures of everything and everyone, but here are a few. Of course, the FIREFLIES performed like the STARS of the show they are, and no one left disappointed. Thank you to all the visitors who came to witness this amazing display by the "spirits of the forest". Until next year, Peggy Butler.
