DURYEA — Potential inclement weather did not stop the community from enjoying the third annual Duryea at Dusk Festival June 1. Fortunately, the bad weather stayed away, but the event was moved from the Duryea Community Park to Holy Rosary School gym to be safe. Proceeds raised went to the Northeast Regional Cancer Institute.
Members of the Duryea at Dusk Board Katie Brudzinski and Kristen Kabacinski chaired the event, with Brudzinski volunteering for the event in honor of a relative currently battling cancer.
Holy Rosary School gym was filled to capacity with food vendors, retail vendors, face painting, and a DJ providing entertainment.
When the forecast early in the day did not look promising, event planners made the decision to be cautious and move it to the school gym, securing floor space for the approximately 15 vendors, according to Brudzinski.
“As the week went on, it kind of looked like it was going to start to raining more and we just decided to not take a chance; we just wanted to give everybody the chance to sell the (raffle) baskets,” Kabacinski said. “It was a last-minute decision and I think it was the right thing. We still have a good turnout for being inside.”
Both Brudzinski and Kabacinski believe the community came out in force to support the event, despite weather conditions.
Bridget Scott, of Pittston, brought her sons, Braden and Sean, ages 8 and 5, respectively, to the event.
“My friend Katie Brudzinski runs the organization and I came down to support her,” Scott said. I didn’t think there would be enough room in here but it’s nice. My boys are having fun; they love putting the raffle tickets in the baskets, the food and the face painting.”
First-year business owners Madeline Moss and Camaryn Lokuta, of C and M Crafting Co., reserved a spot to sell their homey creative products. The two have been friends for many years.
“After I graduated from college, we were looking for something to do and we hang out anyway so we thought we’d put our talents to good use,” Moss said. “We’ve only been in business about a month. We have a Facebook page and that’s how we started. People have been asking us to make items for them and we do custom crafts.”
Moss was happy the event was moved indoors and didn’t believe it hurt the event at all.
“You really can’t predict the weather in northeast Pennsylvania, unfortunately and if they held it outside, it probably would have rained,” Moss added. “I think it’s a really good crowd that came out and I’m happy with the move that people knew and were able to come inside.”
The 5K run and 1-mile walk were held on time at 7 p.m. with another large contingent of runners and walkers participating.
