Conservative Christian Center and York County Action Co-Sponsor 7th annual Heritage Fiesta with State Senator Mike Folmer, State Rep. Kristin Phillips-Hill, County Commissioner Chris Reilly, Mike Jones, George Scott, Judith Higgins, Shanna L. Danielson, Heritage Dance Troupes, July 21 starting 11 AM West Manchester PA
The 7th Annual “Heritage Fiesta” featuring “bring a dish” Heritage foods with burgers, hot dogs, condiments, drinks and ice and a DJ with music will be held this Saturday at Cousler Park, West Manchester, co-sponsored by Conservative Christian Center and York County Action, with a nominal $2 admission charge, $5 maximum for a family.
Featured guests include for the first time an almost even match of Republicans and Democrats running for office – all have been invited – with one joining this year as a Platinum Sponsor, Democrat candidate for Congress, George Scott. He will speak to the group briefly and also will feature a full page ad in the free Heritage Fiesta program journal.
The incumbent Congressman, Scott Perry, has been the keynote speaker at two of the previous seven annual “Heritage Fiesta” gatherings but as a Brigadier General, US Army Reserve, is away on military duty during the time of this year’s picnic. Representative Perry, the 2017 “Statesman of the Year” of York County Action and Conservative Christian Center, has won reelection by a wide margin of over 30 percentage points in the past.
But a Democrat dominated State Supreme Court, ignoring the requirement that only the state legislature draws district boundary lines, redrew the lines for Pennsylvania to give Democrats a better chance at capturing more of the Congressional seats. The new 10th congressional district gives Democrats their best chance yet to topple Freedom Caucus conservative Congressman Scott Perry.
Congressman Perry will be represented at the picnic by a surrogate, as will the GOP nominee for Governor of Pennsylvania, former State Senator Scott Wagner.
All of the candidates have been invited to speak, meet and mingle, and to sponsor the event which includes the opportunity for a table setup and ad in the program journal.
With doors open 11 AM, program starts 12:30 PM, Conservative Christian Center and York County Action are joined once again this year by co-sponsors Philippine American Heritage Council and New Americans by Choice.
A festive occasion with a wide variety of dance troupes representing diverse heritage nationality groups, the “Heritage Fiesta” encourages attendees to bring a “heritage dish” of their own choice to the event, with a nominal $2 admission with a dish or $5 admission without one (with a dish, $5 family maximum) and with grilled burgers, hot dogs, soda, condiments, ice, paper plates and cups provided.
Attendees are urged to bring your own lawn chairs or blankets for seating in case the limited picnic-bench seating is all filled up. Past years have had an overflow crowd of over 100 for the two pavilions. An advance reservation is suggested to confirm your space, York@ConservativeChristianCenter.org.
All candidates for office in York County are invited to attend and speak and to take out a Sponsorship which includes ad space in the free Heritage Fiesta Program.
Confirmed to attend, in addition to Senator Folmer, are Mike Jones (R-93rd), Judith Higgins (D-28th), Shanna L. Danielson (D-92nd), a representative for State Representative candidate Stephen Snell (D-94th). This is the first year that Democrats speaking and participating outnumber Republicans.
The highlight of the event however, is not the short speeches by those seeking office and their mingling and meeting attendees, but the performers representing various nationalities, including:
Tiffany “Kama Nuru” Trueblood (Vocalis/Songwriter), Bongga Ka Day dance team of Harrisburg, Halo-Halo Youth Dancers of Harrisburg, Spanglish Program Youth Culture & Arts (York, PA) KalayaanUSA Cultural Ensemble (cultural & contemporary dance performers of South Central PA).
Also at the Fiesta: a wide variety of Heritage dishes, Cultural & Contemporary Performers, short program, cultural exhibits & sponsors’ tables, music by DJ Blake Hoke, “meet and greet” by candidates, Salute to Veterans, and fun activities for all ages, to include: group dancing and games.
Heritage Fiesta Sponsors help underwrite the event and are also given the option to have a literature table, as are all incumbent officeholders.
To join as a corporate or individual sponsor of the annual event – which helps keep the cost low for attendees – you may join as a Sponsor at the following levels: Platinum ($250), Gold ($125), Silver ($75), Bronze ($40). The first two include a full page ad in the Program Journal handed out to all attendees. To reserve your Sponsor slot write York@ConservativeChristianCenter.org or call (717) 827-7330. Volunteers are welcome to help with event setup by coming earlier than 11 AM, and those bringing a dish (or pay $5 at the door instead of $2) may come at 11 AM or earlier. Candidates are welcome to hand out literature to attendees, but table setup is only permitted for event sponsors.
York County GOP has been a past Gold Level Sponsor but with a new chairman we haven’t heard from them this year, while the Democrat candidate for Congress, George Scott, is the first Democrat to become a Platinum Sponsor.
Past keynote speakers include State Rep. Seth Grove (twice) and Stan Saylor. Also speaking at past annual events have been State Rep. Kristin Phillips Hill, Kate A. Klunk
Originally organized by the Philippine-American Heritage Council in 2012 as an annual Heritage Picnic, this festive summer event was co-sponsored with York County Action starting in 2016. In 2016 the annual event expanded to include New Americans by Choice and an annual “Heritage Fiesta” theme with all heritage communities welcome to participate. In 2017 Conservative Christian Center joined as a co-sponsor.
The event co-sponsors are non-profit (501/c/4) organizations which do not endorse or support candidates for office. The Conservative Christian Center does publish an election issues survey showing how candidates answered questions and giving them a rating. It also has an annual “Statesman of the Year” breakfast and Candidate Forum every September and a primary election Candidate Forum in every May as a free evening event.
Heritage Platinum, Gold, Silver or Bronze level sponsors may be individuals, corporations, candidates or party committees.