Manor is one step closer to making its Community Day celebration an annual tradition again.
The festival was hosted by the local fire department every Labor Day for about 80 years before it ceased in 2002. The borough revived the tradition last year.
Last year’s event drew about 1,000 people. Mayor Ed Malinoski aims to double — if not triple — the turnout this year.
“That’s the goal — to get the Manor community down there,” said Malinoski, who has served as mayor for about two years. “Since they had a taste of the first event, hopefully the word of mouth will spread.”
Community Day, slated for Aug. 17, again will feature an array of children’s activities, raffles and vendors at the borough building parking lot and community room, Malinoski said.
But the borough also will expand Community Day’s live music lineup this year, which Malinoski believes will draw a bigger crowd.
Three local bands — acoustic rock trio Tres Lads, country western band Stampede and rock band Twisted Fate — will start at 1 p.m. and last until 10 p.m. at the ballpark, near the intersection of Brush Street and Brush Creek Road.
Malinoski also hopes to increase attendance by hosting the event in August as opposed to Labor Day, when families might be out of town, and offering an extensive shuttle service to carry people to and from the event spaces all day.
As Malinoski approaches his final day as mayor in December 2025, he is unsure that he will take the lead on organizing Community Day in future years.
Although Malinoski has the help of a 12-person planning committee, it is hard for volunteers with full-time jobs to adequately pitch in, he said — which leaves a lot of the responsibility to him.
Malinoski said he will recommend to the borough council that the recreation board take over Community Day planning in future years.
“I need more hands on from my committee members,” he said. “That’s the struggle — getting people to commit time to it.”
Those interested in volunteering to plan future Community Day events can email mayor@manorborough.com or message Malinoski on Facebook.
“(If) people want to continue to bring the community together, people have to volunteer to make that happen. It just can’t happen on its own,” Malinoski said. “We’ve really tried hard over the last two years — me and the rec board — to put on some great events, and we’ve been very successful with it.”
With the help of Sen. Kim Ward, R-Hempfield, the borough secured a $20,000 grant from the state Department of Community and Economic Development to support the event.
“Strong communities help build strong economies, and Mayor Malinoski and the Manor borough council have done a great job in reviving the Manor Community Day tradition after a nearly 21-year hiatus,” Ward said in a statement.
The grant will cover all of the costs associated with Community Day, Malinoski said. Any funds that are not used will be directed back to the state.
