All Home Days

Welcome to our 99th Annual Labor day Celebration

Since the Autumn of 1919 we have joined together as a community to honor veterans of today and yesterday. It’s a time to eat, Laugh  and celebrate with neighbors, while paying tribute to those brave men and women who have given selflessly to the armed forces.

The weekend begins, as past years, with a community breakfast on the Saturday morning. This Breakfast is sponsored by the All Home Days Assoc., with proceeds going towards the Maintenance and improvement of the Ralpho Township Community Park. The Celebration officially begins as the Color Guards leads the parade though our park entrance where the flags stand waving in the breeze to salute the veterans. After the Military and the Marching Band, watch the children with their pets, wagons, bikes and floats decorated with the pet parade theme “The Pet Parade”, and make sure to cheer on area firefighters, ambulances and rescue vehicles. At 2:00 pm make your way to the stage and watch the Dedication Ceremony, as this year’s celebration is dedicated to the veterans. Check out the schedule for the various events we have arranged for your entertainment throughout the day. Stop in at the dining hall for breakfast by AHD, and enjoy the music of “Chris OZ” late into the evening hours.

Start you day on Sunday at the annual community breakfast sponsored by Ralpho Township Business association. Next be sure to visit the car show featuring over 100 cars (antique, muscle, classics and more) and then take time to worship with your neighbors at our community church service. Visit the craft booths, play some games and enjoy the wide variety of foods from the vendors. The highly anticipated Vera Bradley Bingo takes place in the dining hall starting at 1:30PM. Finally grab a few snacks and enjoy the music of “Light Switch”.

Need a way to work off all that wonderful celebration  food? Sign up for the annual adult mini marathon “Run for Fun” Sponsored by the Rotary Club or simply cheer on your friends as they cross the finish line. All Home Days Association will be serve a chicken BBQ meal in the dining hall starting at 4:30PM and serving until sold out, so come early! The largest of the weekend’s festivities begins at 6:30PM as the Tribute to Those Serving and Served. As heads are bowed and tears begin to fall, we will be reminded how proud we are of our red, white and blue. And Music by “Memory Lane”

Thank you to all the local businesses that support us.

Enjoy your Labor Day Weekend, Melissa Snarski, President All Home Days

How ” All Home Days” Began

The Ralpho Township Contingent of the First World War Troops returned from active duty to their home in the Autumn of 1919. The Citizens of the Township, please that the war was over and their fel-low-citizens were all home, deemed it fitting to celebrate this wonderful occasion.

That same Autumn, the first All Home Days Celebrations took place . The gala affair was held at the I.O.O.F. grounds on South Market Street in Elysburg, with a picnic and dinner highlighting the festivities. Each year following. on or about the Labor Day weekend, this tradition begun in 1919, has taken place.

In the year 1925, a parcel of land was donated to the residents of Ralpho Township for the use as a park by Mr. and Mrs. John J. Lewis. In that year the All Home Days Committee voted to hold the Home-coming at Ralpho Park. From that time to the present, the All Home Days Celebration have been held at the Park. Another parcel of land adjoining the park was acquired by the Committee some years later and added to the previous site.

How does a township say thank you to its son and daughters for their contribution to their Country? We hope to try in some small way in the activity mentioned in the fore-going. We never will be able to completely, but in some way I an sure they know the gratitude we fell for them and their Contribution to the cause of Peace. Them, Maybe our sons and Daughters sacrifices might not have been, and may not be in vain.

The officers of the Ralpho Township All Home Days Association in 1919 were:

• Edward Emerick, President
• A.J. Startzel, Vice E’resident
• Will Richard, Secretary
• Harry C. Kase, Treasurer

-Taken from Ralpho Township Historical Committee, 1977