Open Streets Sharpsburg draws thousands

Tawnya Panizzi
Wednesday, June 5, 2019 1:49 p.m. | Wednesday, June 5, 2019 1:49 p.m.

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Jan Pakler | For the Tribune-Review

Mackenzie Hanlon, 4, poses with the Hulk on Main Strreet during the annual Sharpsburg Open Streets 2019.

Jan Pakler | For the Tribune-Review

Live entertainment by Jimmy and the Frogmen performed on Main Street for the Sharpsburg Open Streets 2019 on June 2.

Jan Pakler | For the Tribune-Review

Ifeyinwa Uwazie instructor at Art in Motion dances on Main Street during the annual Sharpsburg Open Streets 2019.

Jan Pakler | For the Tribune-Review

Crowds gather on Main Street for Open Streets Sharpsburg 2019.

Jan Pakler | For the Tribune-Review

Josh Hartman owner of Black Box food truck sells pulled pork sandwich to Leverne Conley on Main Street for Sharpsburg Open Streets Festival.

Organizers of Open Streets Sharpsburg didn’t rest too long after a wildly successful event last week.

“Every year the event has grown in size and popularity,” coordinator Greg Domian said. “We already have plans for an even more exciting event scheduled for June 6, 2020.”

Domian and other volunteers estimated more than 3,000 people flocked to the borough on June 1 for the festival which saw 80-plus vendors, musicians and demonstrations.

“The place was packed,” Domian said.

“The weather really cooperated which surely added to the turnout.”

The record crowd mandated an expansion, and the event spilled over from Main Street onto North Canal Street to accommodate more people.

“Every square foot of available space on Main Street was filled and this year we actually had to turn away vendors,” Domian said.

Allegheny County approached Sharpsburg in 2016 to participate in the Open Streets concept, following Bike Pittsburgh’s successful program across the city.