MOUNT JEWETT — The Mount Jewett Swedish Festival committee will be holding the fifth annual St. Patrick’s Day Party at 6 p.m.March 17 at the Mount Jewett Veterans Memorial Club.
The event will feature the recently reunited band PF Flyer from St. Marys.
“This is the festival’s biggest fundraising event,” said Beth Carpenter, festival committee chairperson. “It’s been lots of fun and a blast every year. This year we have PF Flyer playing for us, and they’re very good.”
PF Flyer isn’t a stranger to the Mount Jewett area or the Swedish Festival. The band was featured on the main stage at the 22nd annual Swedish Festival in 1991.
In addition to the band, the St. Patrick’s Day party will include appetizers, a full dinner, pop, draft beer and dessert for the ticket price of $25. tickets can be purchased through any committee member, Hamlin Bank, the Veterans Memorial Club or at the door on the night of the party. Handmade goods, baskets, raffles and other games will also be available at the event.
Carpenter also said, “Leslie Davis is the chair of this specific event, but it really takes all of us to put this on. Other than the core committee, there are a lot of people that do a lot for us in the background. Those people may not come to the monthly meetings, but we can count on them getting things done. It’s a work of love and community.”
When asked about this year’s Swedish Festival, Carpenter wrapped up saying, “I’m really excited about this year’s festival because we’ll have a lot of new stuff along with the old favorites. This year’s festival will be held the second full weekend of August with the theme, ‘Always Better, Always Sweder.’”
The Swedish festival core committee consists of Co-chairs Carpenter and Lisa Leschner, Secretary Leslie Davis, Treasurer Penny Conant, Beverly Sitler, Lisa Johnson, Tom Davis, Tom Geer, Lori Peterson and Kim Carlson.
The Mount Jewett Veterans Memorial Club is located at 61 E. Main St., Mount Jewett, and tickets are on sale now.
Emy Troutman, who was one of three chairmen of the ’91 Swedish Festival, is thrilled to see PF Flyer returning to the stage in Mount Jewett.
Troutman stated, “It’s really cool that they have reunited and are now going to play at our event on the 17th. I went to hear them a week ago and they still rock! We’re so excited about this.”
PF Flyer debuted on Feb. 13, 1988, at the Elk Casino in St. Marys with keyboardist Lance Eastman, drummer Dave Foote, guitarist Kurt Thomas and bassist Gordon Jesberger. Their signature three- and four-part vocal harmonies coupled with solid musicianship helped the band build a reputation in the local music scene.
“The Fly Boys,” as they were nicknamed, had their share of ups and downs during their time, but family obligations and careers finally caused the band to break up in March of 1992 with the final band roster including Eastman, Thomas, Jesberger, drummer Kevin Dippold and guitarist and vocalist Dave Piccirillo.
By this time, the band’s solid musical talent and notoriety stretched from Bemus Point, N.Y. to State College.
After years of attempted reunions, Eastman, Piccirillo, Jesberger and Dippold met for a practice in late 2017. Those practices grew more frequent, and their first gig in 30 years was secured at the Wildwoods Bar and Grill in St. Marys on Feb. 17 — almost 30 years to the day of their debut.
On the band’s Facebook page, they posted, “We have some great fans in Mount Jewett and we’re excited to be part of their event! Who’s up for a road trip?”
