Amanda Firefighters Festival cut back

LANCASTER - The Amanda Township Firefighters Festival is being scaled back to a one-day community event this September.

The festival posted on a notice on its Facebook page Wednesday stating: "I am sorry to inform you that there will be no festival this year. We are planning a one day community event for everyone to enjoy. I have not seen the list of activities yet but I will post them once I have confirmation on a date and the activities that everyone will be able to enjoy."

Amanda Assistant Fire Chief Don Simpson said that the festival was cancelled due to a lack of participation.

"You can't put a festival together with two or three people," said Simpson. Despite the lack of help, the department still wants to put on an event for the community.

Lisa Tabor, secretary for the Amanda Township Firefighters Association, said the one-day community event is still being fleshed out. The exact date is still unknown, but it will still be sometime in September, she said.

The announcement is upsetting to Rachel Davis, who has helped put the festival together for the past three years.

Only recently hearing of the cancellation, Davis said she has put a lot of work into the festival in the past. She said the Amanda Township Fire Department does no longer has the resources to put on a large, multiday event.

The festival has traditionally been during the second full week in September and used to raise money for the Amanda Township Firefighters Association, which purchases equipment and supplies for the firefighters and medics.

tthurston@lancastereaglegazette.com

740-681-4345

Twitter: @tristathurston