Bethel Park Art and Music Festival set for July 26; Park Avenue closed, shuttles provided

Christine, director of the Bethel Park Public Library, announced that the Bethel Park Art and Music Festival will be held Saturday, July 26, from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Park Avenue between the community center and the schoolhouse. "I only have 1 item tonight, but it's a big 1. It's the Bethel Park Art and Music Festival," she said during the council meeting.

The festival will feature more than 80 artists selling one-of-a-kind items in the community center and schoolhouse, a dozen food trucks along Park Avenue, and live music on the main stage in the schoolhouse parking lot. The library director said actors from the South Park Theater children's program will provide musical interludes between bands, and additional music will be staged in the community center and lobby.

Children's activities are planned near the splash park and on the field, including face-painting, lawn games and craft activities, plus playground equipment. The library director said more than a dozen local businesses and organizations will host information booths and there will be multiple raffles, including two 50/50 drawings.

Organizers warned that on-street parking will be limited; Park Avenue will be closed from Mesta to South Park Road during the event. Shuttle buses will run from the high school every 15 minutes from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m., with stops at the Lytle Park & Ride and the Municipal Building parking lot. Attendees were advised to look for shuttle-bus stop signs at those locations.

The event is hosted by the Bethel Park Fantastic 4 and the Bethel Park Recreation Department. Christine thanked the municipality, council, police, fire department, Tri Community EMS and the Bethel Park School District for supporting the event. "We could not do it without us all coming together and cooperating," she said.