Terre Hill Days Festival Begins Four-Day Run Thursday

BY CAROLE DECK

Correspondent

Family-friendly fun is what draws more than 5,000 people to the Terre Hill Community Memorial Park each year for Terre Hill Days.

The four-day annual community celebration, sponsored by Terre Hill Days Committee, kicks off on Thursday and ends on Sunday.

"We appreciate all people who support Terre Hill Days each year. It's a fun time with something for everyone to enjoy," said Mayor Bob Rissler, who is also president of Terre Hill Community Days.

The festival features an outhouse race, a talent show, an arts and craft fair, bi-plane acrobatics, bingo, a pie-eating contest, rides, food, games and more.

The 23rd annual Shoe-Fly 5-Mile Run, sponsored by the Garden Spot Cross-Country Booster Club, is scheduled for Saturday.

Ongoing musical entertainment is always a crowd favorite, and this year a performance by the Dan Emrey Band will take place on Friday night.

Emrey, a well-known singer/songwriter, grew up in East Earl.

"Bob Rissler asked me several times to perform at Terre Hill Days and this time it finally worked out," said Emrey in a phone interview.

The 39-year old graduate of Garden Spot High School earned a bachelor's degree in art with concentration in music, theory and vocal performance from Shippensburg University.

Since 2005, his classic rock band has performed locally at places such as The Village, Annie Bailey's, Vinola's, New Holland Pub, Zia Maria's and Reinholds Station.

In 2009, Emrey moved to Cave Creek, Arizona, where he lives with his wife Bianca, 10-year old daughter, Monet, and 6-year old son, Versailles.

He performs solo, but each summer, in July or August, returns to Lancaster County for a visit and to perform with the band.

Emrey's band members are: Dave Heisey, guitar, from Ephrata; Brent Kerchner, drums, from Blue Ball; and Eric Foster, percussion, from Quarryville.

Emrey said he has fond memories of Terre Hill Days and trips to the community memorial park in his younger days.

Emrey said he finds it funny that Rissler now owns the restaurant in town - now Terre Hill Family Restaurant - where he worked in his first job.

"Maybe if things don't work out in Arizona, Bob could give me my old job back at the restaurant," he quipped.

Along with his musical career, Emrey is employed as a licensed insurance agent for Good's Insurance Agency Inc. in Scottsdale, Arizona.

He's also a vocal instructor for the School of Rock and a co- director and program manager/instructor for Mindfulness First, a nonprofit organization.

"I feel blessed to have the opportunity to play at Terre Hill Days while visiting with family and friends in the area," said Emrey.

The community event ends on Sunday with a church service in the park, along with a picnic and performance by the Bowmansville Band.

Terre Hill Community Memorial Park is located at 210 Lancaster Ave. For a complete schedule of events visit terrehilldays.com or call 445-4581.

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