Cecil Fall Festival Puts the Fun in Funnel Cake

Popcorn was popping, Gyro’s were being stuffed, and funnel cakes were funneled into shape at the Cecil Township’s 24^th annual Fall Festival last weekend.

There was plenty of live entertainment Saturday at the festival. The kids could ride ponies and pet animals at the petting zoo.

At the opening ceremonies at noon on Saturday, there was a memorial dedication to William "Bill" P. Burns, a life-long resident who served on the township's parks and recreation board for 10 years. Burns died April 23. Pavilion #3 was dedicated in his name.

Later that afternoon, Dance Extensions—a group of dancers who contorted into pretzel-like shapes performed.

Afterward, an improvisational comedy troupe, the Steel City Improv, performed a mini-musical.

The mini-musical was a long-form improvisation where the comedians, Brett Goodnack, Umar Javed, Steve Gottschalk, Anna Gilchrist and Tessa Karel, sang songs they made up on the spot, wrapped around a story that was also conceived while they were on stage.  

It’s the first time the comedians have performed outside of their regular venue, the Steel City Improv Theater, on Pittsburgh’s North Side. The troupe also performs under the name Wunderstudies.

They were delighted to perform at the Fall Festival. After the show, the troupe enjoyed the rest of the festival.

Goodnack took a bite of funnel cake, smiled, gave the obligatory thumbs up, and said, “The funnel cake is top notch!”

The headliners, Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers took to the stage, rocking out old favorites from their albums, “True Companion,” and “East Carson Street.”

The famous Pittsburgh band has been performing since the '80s. 

Several children were running around after having their faces painted—A.J. Strangess was painted to resemble a tiger. Though, the young boy was ignoring most of the events and playing on the swing set (a permanent fixture at the at the Cecil Municipal Park).

His mother, Zena Strangess, said, “He got his face painted, and we did have some of the funnel cake, but mostly he wants to play on the jungle gym with his friends.” 

There were games, pony and train rides. A variety of vendors sold arts, crafts and artisanal foods, such as specialty jams and honey.

Of course, black-and-gold jerseys were sold. There isn’t an event in Pittsburgh that doesn’t have a vendor selling Steelers paraphernalia. The vendor also had shirts that read, "Cecil Rocks."