Big Weekend of Events in Bristol Kicks off Friday

Thrift, family, community, culture and music are on tap for a big weekend of events in Bristol Borough.

With a glorious forecast for cool day and night Friday, many are preparing for a weekend of events in the historic borough.

Weeds were pulled and American Flags were added at the Gateway Crossing as shop keepers eagerly await the beginning of events.

Sbionik Thrift, in partnership with LevittownNow.com, is holding a Christmas in  July Sale. Staff spent a majority of  Thursday preparing for the 20 percent off of sale.

Perpetration seemed to  be the theme of the day as public works employees trimmed grass in Lions Park in advance of Friday night’s big family event-Movie Night in the park sponsored by Bristol Borough. The event kicks off at 6:30 p.m. with drinks, arts crafts and a showing of the Lego Movie.

Borough Police Chief Arnold Porter said its about the 8th year for family movie night in the borough.

Hundreds made their way to Lions Park last year’s movie night,  filling the park with families, friends and neighbors as kids looked on watching “Wreck it Ralph” to the backdrop of a summer night sky.

Before Friday’s movie, a hot dog fundraiser in support of  Hope for Hannah will be taking place at Josefina’s Salon on Pond Street beginning at 2 p.m. According to organizers, the funds raised will to go offset medical costs for Hannah who is living with Krabbe Disease.

Workers and business owners were spotted this week touched up the merchant district on Mill Street with a little paint here and there, storefront scenes adjustment, and so on.

The second major event of the weekend – the Puerto Rican Day Festival  kicks of Saturday at 12 p.m. with a celebration of the culture and its contributions to the community.

Rosado’s Sales owner Victor Rosado, who is Puerto Rican, is looking forward to Saturday’s festival as a business owner and a decedent of the culture spent Friday prepping to with T-shirts he’s made for the event. Rosado, a veteran,  is optimistic the events of the summer and fall in the heart of the merchant district goes from hope to reality.

The Puerto Rican Cultural Association of Bucks County was created to celebrate and recognize the culture of Puerto Ricans, as well as preserve the annual festival in Bristol. The community group sponsors a variety of events throughout the year. The festival is the largest, which averages an attendance of 7,000 people of all cultures and ethnic backgrounds, organizers told BucksLocalNews.com this week.

It’s the 43 incarnation of the celebration of the Puerto Rican culture with food, live music, cultural awareness elated activities dealing specifically with the customs endemic to the values of  the Puerto Rican Community, according to organizers.

As Saturday turns to Sunday, the weekend closes out with one of the many concerts of the season brought to Bristol by the Lions Club. This weekend, the Doris Simon Swing Band will be performing.

Next Sunday’s concert brings personal favorite Blue Reign to The Wharf for their first appearance as part of the summer concert series.

As one mom said,  “It’s a big weekend for kids and family in the borough.”