An extravaganza that combined Alexandria Township’s AutumnFEST and Delaware Valley High School’s Diamond Jubilee Jamboree has been canceled. It had been scheduled for Oct. 10.
“After careful deliberation, the Alexandria Township PTO is making the difficult decision to cancel AutumnFEST this year,” said PTO president Jay Arancio. “With current outdoor gathering limitations and additional ongoing variables over the next few weeks, sadly there is no good way to continue planning for such a large-scale event.”
The pandemic-induced postponement of Del Val’s Jamboree last spring, and the desire to reschedule it, had been the catalysts for the township/school district partnership. Del Val Superintendent Daria Wasserbach also sees the need to cancel, but found a bright side: “We are excited to continue our newfound relationship with Alexandria AutumnFest, and will look for ways we can continue to work together to bring another community celebration in the fall of 2021.”
Arancio agrees, advising, “We will continue to collaborate with DVRHS in the future, so please stay tuned for a bigger and better 2021 community event!”
AutumnFEST, which is the township’s annual community day, takes place in Alexandria Township Park. The Jamboree is a celebration of Del Val’s 60th anniversary; Del Val graduated its first class in 1960.
Wasserbach said, “When we launched the Jubilee Jamboree idea a year ago, I never dreamed it would grow to the extent it did. The support we received from our staff, families, local community, and sponsors was overwhelming and will not be forgotten.”
She added, “All donations, both cash and goods, will be returned to the donors.”
The combined event would have included live music, an array of food trucks, inflatables, pony rides and face-painting for the kids, exhibits by local organizations, games of chance and a beer garden for adults, tethered hot-air balloon rides, a Strike Out Hunger softball tournament, a chance to greet former Del Val faculty, historical displays, fireworks and more.
