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Happy ‘Days’ are here again: Annual Duncansville event will feature steady lineup of musical acts, new activities

Courtesy photo / Chuck Blasko (right) and The Vogues — Sean Moran (left) and Tim Scott — are headlining the upcoming Duncansville Community Days 2017.

One of the original members of The Vogues is bringing his latest version of traditional pop music, including the hit “You’re the One,” to the Duncansville Community Days 2017 later this month.

Chuck Blasko and The Vogues will headline the 35th annual event on July 20 to 22 that celebrates the historic borough, founded in 1831.

Event coordinator Lloyd Forshey said new activities have been added and visitors will enjoy the lineup of music that also includes Chris Woodward and Shindiggin’, a country rock band from Chambersburg, which opened for a recent Keith Urban tour.

Additionally, Three of Hearts, a Creedence Clearwater Revival cover band from Johnstown, is on tap, along with Free Donuts featuring Kenny Fetterman and the Hollidaysburg Community Band. Forshey encouraged visitors attending the concerts to take lawn chairs or blankets because bleacher seating is limited.

Besides the entertainment and fun activities, “it’s historical, plus it’s a fundraiser for all our nonprofit organizations,” including the Duncansville Volunteer Fire Department and local Boy Scout troops, he said.

Forshey was particularly excited about bringing in the nationally known Vogues from Turtle Creek and its orchestra for a two-hour show at 6 p.m. July 22.

“Chuck is the only original singer … but he’s still doing it,” Forshey said. “They compiled many gold records, platinum albums. The last time they performed in this area was 30 years ago.”

Originally from Turtle Creek and called the Val-Aires, the early Vogues scored two top-10 singles, “You’re the One,” which was written by Petula Clark, and “Five O’Clock World,” which later was in the movie, “Good Morning Vietnam” and “The Drew Carey Show.”

Other hits followed, and the band got busier.

“One year, we did 281 nights,” Blasko said. “That was the downfall. Just physically and mentally, it really hurt us. We didn’t have time to do anything else. When we were off, we were in Los Angeles recording.”

Or chatting with Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show or taping a show with Red Skelton, which the group did monthly for a time.

“He wanted us to move to L.A. to be regulars on his show every week,” but not all band members wanted to, Blasko said. “It was amazing the opportunities we had, the people we met. The memories are just phenomenal.”

The band started breaking up in the early 1970s, and a later court battle dictated who could use the trademark name and where each could perform.

Blasko kept performing, picking up different singers for his band. While he has slowed down considerably — his group performs 25 to 30 concerts a year — Blasko said he still loves what he does, even after 52 years.

“It’s been a wonderful career,” he said. “I still enjoy it; I still love getting out and performing.”

His audiences aren’t just folks remembering the early days and The Vogues’ original music; some are youngsters, he said.

“People still not only remember and reminisce, we have a younger crowd that knows all the music. And we do updated stuff, like K.C. and the Sunshine Band, a Four Seasons medley, some Eagles … even Diamond Rio,” he said.

“The audience is a variety of people who bring either their kids or their grandkids.”

With entertainment spread out over three days of the festival, Forshey said there’s something for everyone: alpacas are scheduled to appear, along with children’s games, a petting zoo, a “bounce house,” Bingo, arts and crafts, a car show and more.

Vendors will offer traditional festival food from pizza to chicken wings to pulled pork sandwiches, and the VFD will have a chicken barbecue on Saturday.

New this year is a display by the U.S. Army National Guard, including a Stryker unit and climbing wall.

The celebration will close with a fireworks display at 10 p.m. that Saturday.

Mirror Staff Writer Cherie Hicks is at 949-7030.

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If you go

What: Duncansville Community Days 2017

When: 6 to 10 p.m. on Thursday, July 20, and Friday, July 21; 4 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, July 22

Where: Duncansville Memorial Park

Admission: Free for all entertainment and select activities

More info and complete schedule: Search Duncansville Community Days 2017 at www.Facebook.com

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Duncansville Community Days 2017

Schedule of Events

Thursday, July 20

6 p.m., opening ceremony, Hollidaysburg Community Band concert.

7:15 p.m., The ToonTown Clowns

8 p.m., Studio on the Fifth Dancers

8:30 p.m., Dancing under the Stars

6-9 p.m., Lilly Mountain Alpacas, beside stage; Antique Car Cruise-In and Diesel Doctor Portable Dyno Testing, near baseball field.

6-10 p.m., food, games, arts and crafts, Bingo, U.S. Army National Guard displays and activities

Friday, July 21

6 p.m., Free Donuts featuring Kenny Fetterman

7:30 p.m., Chris Woodward and Shindiggin’

6-9 p.m., Bruce Wallace Miniature Horses and Children Friendly Petting Zoo near baseball field

6-10 p.m., food, games, arts and crafts, Bingo, U.S. Army National Guard displays and activities

Saturday, July 22

11 a.m., Duncansville Volunteer Fire Department Chicken Barbecue

4-10 p.m., food, games, arts and crafts, Bingo and U.S. Army National Guard displays and activities

4 p.m., The Horseshoe Cloggers, on stage

5-9 p.m., Bruce Wallace Miniature Horses and Children Friendly Petting Zoo

6 p.m., Three of Hearts, on stage

7:45 p.m. Chuck Blasko and the Vogues

10 p.m., fireworks

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