by Fleetwood Council of Community Organizations
Fleetwood continues its year-long anniversary with the 150th Celebration Weekend from Sept. 27-30 in the streets of Fleetwood as well as the Fleetwood Park. The three-day event promises to be a great tribute to Fleetwood’s 150 years of history. The weekend kicks off with the public release of Finding Fleetwood and includes free entertainment all weekend long in the Fleetwood Park along with the celebration parade and concert featuring Grammy-nominated Chuck Mead. All the events are free for the community and presented by the FCCO.
“The entire tribute has been going wonderful all year long and this weekend will be a great party to celebrate Fleetwood,” stated Kelly Ebeling Schaeffer, Chairman of the 150th Celebration. “The entire town will be toasting Fleetwood in the park and along our streets over the three-day
Celebration Weekend.”
FCCO is also asking residents and businesses to decorate their buildings and paint the town red, white, and blue for the weekend celebration. Prizes will be given to the best house and best business decorated.
The 150th Celebration is sponsored by Fleetwood Bank and East Penn Manufacturing Co.
Sept. 27
Finding Fleetwood
The Award-winning documentary Finding Fleetwood will be available on the Fleetwood Borough’s YouTube Channel for anyone to watch. Finding Fleetwood is a documentary film on the history and people of Fleetwood, Pennsylvania over the past 150 years. Twenty-four residents – ranging from age 13 to 91 – share their experiences of growing up to spending their life in this special town. The traditions and memories come alive as they reveal how living in Fleetwood has influenced their own lives. From The Hill Car to Rauch’s Drug Store to Strause’s Store, the history of Fleetwood is brought to life in this portrait of what Fleetwood was then and what it is today. Written and directed by Eric Schaeffer and narrated by Emmy Award winner Kathie Lee Gifford, this film is a walk down memory lane to share with your friends and family. Click here to start watching on the 27th or visit the Fleetwood Borough’s website.
Sept. 28, 29, 30
150th Fleetwood Hometown Celebration
Food, rides, games, and entertainment kick off the Weekend Celebration nightly at Fleetwood Park from 5-10 p.m. Special free entertainment will be held on the Park Stage; The New Individuals on Sept. 28 at 6:30 p.m.; Sloth Love Chunk on Sept. 29 at 6:30 p.m.
Sept. 30
Fleetwood Main Street Business Fair
Main Street is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to highlight Fleetwood businesses with special giveaways and prizes. Many of the town businesses will be set up on Main Street for everyone to stroll down the street and meet the vendors.
Sept. 30
150th Celebration Parade
Bands, floats, and everything Fleetwood! The Celebration Parade begins at 2 p.m. through the streets of Fleetwood to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the town. Get your lawn chairs out and enjoy the bands, floats, fire trucks, and our 150th queens in one of the biggest parades Fleetwood has ever seen! The parade will include local and state dignitaries as well as Fleetwood’s oldest residents, and community groups. Bands participating include the Fleetwood High School Band, Oley Valley High School Band, and Brandywine Heights Band along with the award-winning Quaker City String Band, The Woodlawn String Band, Hamilton Celtic Pipe Band, Junior’s Grade Band, Allentown Hobo Band, Reading Philharmonic Band, and the Buccaneer Alumni Association Drum and Bugle Corps. The reviewing stand will be at 28 W. Main St., between Richmond and Franklin streets on Main Street in the middle of the block. The Celebration Parade is sponsored by Service Electric Cablevision and Stony Creek Rentals. The rain date for the parade is Oct. 1.
Parade route:
Parade begins at the Fleetwood High School on Richmond Street and goes up Richmond Street to Arch Street. The parade turns left down Arch Street past St. Paul’s UCC and St. Paul’s Lutheran Churches to North Willow Street. Parade turns right on North Willow Street and then turns right onto Main Street, continuing all the way to Turkey Hill. The parade turns right onto Chestnut Street and continues to the corner of Vine and Chestnut Street, where it ends.
Sept. 30
Fire Company Housing Ceremony
Immediately following the parade, the fire company will be welcoming friends for a beer as well as dedication of the new rescue truck at the Fire House, at 16 N. Chestnut St., Fleetwood.
Sept. 30
Celebration Concert
The free celebration concert will be held at the Park at 6:30 p.m. Grammy-nominated country artist Chuck Mead and his Grassy Knoll Boys come to Fleetwood from Nashville to rock the park in rockabilly style and toast Fleetwood in this one-of-a-kind performance. The perfect finale for the Celebration Weekend.
Chuck Mead is a country singer with a rock n’ roll heart. He’s also a renowned songwriter, producer, music director, musicologist, and architect behind the rebirth of Lower Broadway and the Global Neo Traditional Country music movement. This Kansas native has been at the forefront of what has come to be known as Americana Music for the better part of 25 years. Perhaps best known for co-founding the famed ‘90s Alternative Country quintet, BR5-49, whose seven albums garnered a CMA Award for Best International Touring Act and three Grammy nominations, helped build an indelible bridge between authentic American Roots music and millions of fans worldwide. Since then, he’s toured the globe, entertained thousands on the high seas, released four solo albums, made 137 appearances on the Grand Ole Opry, co-produced critically-acclaimed tribute albums to Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings, and acted as Musical Director/Supervisor/Producer of the Broadway hit musical Million Dollar Quartet and the companion CMT television show Sun Records. With a deep connection to Memphis and a burning desire to keep building musical bridges, Chuck packed up the band and took time out of his crazy schedule last summer to record his fourth solo album with Matt Ross-Spang (Margo Price/John Prine/Jason Isbell/Al Green) at legendary Sam Phillips Recording Studios, the result of which, ‘Close To Home,’ was released June 21, 2019 on Plowboy Records. Since 2019, Chuck has also hosted a radio show on 650AM WSM Radio in Nashville called “Face the Music with Chuck Mead.”
The Fleetwood Council of Community Organizations (FCCO) is a community organization comprising representatives from Fleetwood non-profit organizations.
