Germania Hose Co. annual picnic to be held July 16 through July 20 in Duryea

By Jimmy Fisher

jfisher@timesleader.com

Samantha Williams, right, and Matthew Walsh, both of Pittston, play the crane game at the 2014 Germania Hose Company Bazaar.

Garret Santiago, 5, of Duryea, races down the slide at the 2014 Germania Hose Company Bazaar.

Heather Fikes, of Benner’s Concessions, dusts fried Oreos with powdered sugar at the 2014 Germania Hose Company Bazaar.

DURYEA — Summer bazaars continue with the Germania Hose Company’s annual event up next.

The hose company will hold its picnic from 6 to 11 p.m. from Thursday, July 16 through Sunday July 20 at the hose company grounds at 430 Foote Ave.

Foods will include pierogies, halushki, soups, clams, corn, hot dogs, kielbasa, sausage, pizza and peppers.

There will be children’s games like a dunk tank and rides by Sunshine Shows which include a Ferris wheel and about 15 other rides, said hose company vice president Jim Steer.

Musical entertainment will include Pair of Mice on Thursday, Flaxxy Morgan on Friday, Sperrazza’s Band on Saturday and Tommy Gun on Sunday. Each band will perform from 8 to 11 p.m.

A parade is scheduled for Friday evening, starting at 7 p.m. Fire trucks will start at the hose company while marching bands will begin at the borough building on Main Street. A fireworks display is set for dusk on Sunday.

Vendors on hand include the Coin Club, who will sell coins, as well as jewelry vendors. Raffle baskets will also be available.

Proceeds go to the hose company for communication equipment, insurance on the firetrucks and other necessities.

“People understand that what we make there goes for a good cause,” said Steer. “It goes back into the fire department. Kids have been coming for years and years. I’m going on my 59th year with the fire station.

“There’s been big improvements over the years,” he added. “We’ve expanded, built a couple of sheds for the food and refreshment stand. It took years, but everybody comes and supports us. People come in from Scranton, Taylor, Old Forge, Pittston, Wilkes-Barre, West Pittston — they come from all over and we appreciate that.”

Steer is unsure as to how long the hose company picnic has been around.

“I’ll be 80 in October and it’s been going for as long as I can remember,” he said. “For how long, I couldn’t tell you. They didn’t have much in the beginning, but it’s evolved.”

Reach Jimmy Fisher at 570-704-3972 or on Twitter @SD_JimmyFisher