Drive-thru bingo set for under the bridge in Tarentum

It’s not your grandmother’s bingo.

Tarentum’s recreation board is hosting an open-air, drive-thru event at the borough’s marina for a festive hour of bingo, raffles and socializing.

It’s calling the event Scratch Off Bingo and it’s set for 1 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 9. The rain date is the following Thursday.

It’s aimed at local senior citizens.

“They drive into the marina and get scratch-off tickets,” said Carrie Fox, recreation board president. “When someone has a winner, they honk their horn, wave and get a prize.”

This is the third such bingo hosted by the group after the pandemic guidelines that limited large scale get-togethers.

Fox said the recreation board has traditionally hosted indoor bingos in spring and at Christmas, usually at the Dalton’s Edge senior center.

“Since covid, the center has had many restrictions which make that impossible,” Fox said. “We’ve been forced to think outside the box.”

Participant Sally Weeter has walked away a big winner at past events.

“I always win,” Weeter said. “We have a good time.”

An avid bingo fan, Weeter appreciates the borough’s efforts to host various activities.

“We all go down and sit in our cars under the bridge,” she said. “It’s nice.”

Attendees get five tickets when they arrive and then five more a little later. Winners get five additional tickets.

A longtime borough resident, Weeter has taken home prizes including candy and gift cards for the Dollar Tree, both of which she considers a treat.

“I really enjoy it,” she said.

The recreation board consists of nine members who host an active schedule of events throughout the year.

There is a scarecrow decorating contest each fall, a house decorating contest at Christmas and a slew of summertime concerts at the riverfront amphitheater.

“We love hosting and giving back to our community,” Fox said. “We want everyone to come out and have a fun time, and it’s a pleasure to see the excitement on everyone’s faces.”