Two big community events are teaming up on the calendar to turn Saturday into a full day of color, noise, laughter and wide-open fun.

From balloon animals and face paint to games, food and hands-on adventures, it’s shaping up to be one of the most family-friendly days of the year.

At Walker Park in Mifflintown, Helping Hands of Juniata County will host its Second Annual Special Needs Community Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., a free celebration built around inclusion, comfort and connection.

The event is designed especially for families with disabilities, offering a relaxed space where kids can explore without pressure and parents can breathe a little easier. Outdoor activities, animal interactions, games, balloon twisting and face painting will fill the park, along with the chance to meet local agencies and learn about resources available in Juniata County.

Photo courtesy of RHYNE MCCORMICK
Musician Rhyne McCormick takes the stage at the Hungry Run Distillery in Lewistown on Saturday.

The heart of the day is simple. Let kids be kids. Let families feel welcome. Let everyone enjoy a space where differences are embraced and joy comes easy.

Just a few miles away, Sacred Heart School will be kicking off its FunFest at St. Jude Thaddeus Church, located at 3918 William Penn Highway in Mifflintown, running Saturday and Sunday. The school is combining two longtime traditions, its annual benefit auction and the community street fair, into one big weekend of food, games, entertainment and family activities.

Kids can bounce between raffles, treats, music and the excitement of both silent and live auctions, all while parents catch up with friends and neighbors.

FunFest aims to be exactly what its name promises, a place where families can spend the day together, try something new and support the school in the process. With activities running from morning to late afternoon, it offers a full slate of things for children to do, see and enjoy.

Together, the two events create a weekend that feels tailor-made for young families. One celebrates inclusion and connection, the other celebrates community and tradition, and both put kids at the center of the experience.

Whether your child wants to pet an animal, win a prize, get their face painted, chase bubbles across the grass or just soak up a day that feels like summer arriving early, Saturday offers plenty of chances to play.

For families looking to make memories, this is the weekend to circle on the calendar.

Chicken and waffles benefit meal

A chicken and waffles benefit meal, sponsored by Church of the Open Door, will be served at the McAlisterville Community Building, 115 School St., McAlisterville, on Saturday, from 3 to 7 p.m. Eat in or grab some take-outs. Proceeds benefit Danny Snyder, who is currently battling cancer. Any questions? Call 717-443-4081.

Blessing of the bikes

Lewistown Assembly of God, 160 Summit Drive, Lewistown, is hosting its Blessing of the Bikes from 9 to 11 a.m. Sunday.

Stone Arch Players Present ‘Crimes of the Heart’

This is the final weekend for Stone Arch Players’ “Crimes of the Heart” at Theatre in the Park at Kishacoquillas Park. The scene is Hazlehurst, Miss., where the Magrath sisters have gathered to await news of the family patriarch, their grandfather, who is living out his last hours in the local hospital. Lenny, the oldest sister, is unmarried at 30 and facing diminishing marital prospects; Meg, the middle sister, who quickly outgrew Hazlehurst, is back after a failed singing career on the West Coast; while Babe, the youngest, is out on bail after having shot her husband in the stomach. Their troubles, grave and yet, somehow, hilarious, are highlighted by their priggish cousin, Chick, and by the awkward young lawyer who tries to keep Babe out of jail while helpless not to fall in love with her. In the end the play is the story of how its young characters escape the past to seize the future — but the telling is so true and touching and consistently hilarious that it will linger in the mind long after the curtain has descended.

Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets cost $15. To purchase tickets, go to https://stonearchplayers.csstix.com.

Miss Stephanie’s Recital 2026

Miss Stephanie’s Recital 2026 is set for Sunday at the Mifflin County High School, 501 Sixth St., Lewistown at 1 and 5 p.m. Join them for an exciting day of dance. Tickets are $15 and will be available for purchase before each show.

Live entertainment

• Free Range, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Hungry Run Wine Bar and Bistro, 10042 Route 522 South, Lewistown.

• Coal Aly, 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, Shy Bear Brewing, 35 Meadowbrook Lane, Lewistown.

• Grab Your Bestie Sing-A-Long Brunch, 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Brookmere Winery and Vineyard Inn, 5369 Route 655, Belleville.

• Bernie Rich, 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Seven Mountains Wine Cellars, 324 Decker Valley Road, Spring Mills.

• Music Trivia with Ffej, 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Shy Bear Brewing, 35 Meadowbrook Lane, Lewistown.

• Under the Lights, rodeo exhibition at 5:30 p.m. Saturday and 7 p.m. show, Rocky Ridge Ranch, 4357 Ferguson Valley Road, McVeytown.

• Rhyne McCormick, 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Hungry Run Distillery, 10 Ridens Road, Lewistown.

• Rocket Blasters, 8 to 11 p.m. Saturday, The Bierhaus, 10141 Route 522 South, Lewistown.

• “The Grease Experience,” 9 p.m. Saturday, Miller Cinemas, 42 W. Market St., Lewistown. Doors open at 8 p.m.

• Jeff Gibble and Zeb Cruz, 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Seven Mountains Wine Cellars, 324 Decker Valley Road, Spring Mills.

• Allan Combs II, 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Shy Bear Brewing, 35 Meadowbrook Lane, Lewistown.

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Have an event coming up? Email the details to events@lewistownsentinel.com by 5 p.m. Tuesday the week of the event.