Community has always been at the heart of Glatfelter Memorial Field, located at 1249 Lancaster Ave., Columbia. Now you are invited to take part in a Community Celebration at the field on Saturday, May 6, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

"We wanted to give families something to do and give kids a little bit of old-fashioned fun," said Robin Gamby, secretary of the Gladfelter Memorial Field Trust board and fundraising chair. "If you are looking to come out and have some old-fashioned fun, please join us. We want to bring the community together."

The festivities will include food trucks Cafe 301 and Kurtz's Concessions. Gift card bingo will be played in the large pavilion starting at noon. A variety of games and activities will be available for children as well. "We are going to have a dunk tank, which is something I know the kids love every year when they have it at National Night Out," Gamby noted.

The event is a fundraiser for the field, which is a private facility and does not receive any municipal or state funding. Expenses at the field include completing the funding of the brick entrance restoration, which is approximately 95% funded, and covering the costs of continuous maintenance and improvements of the facility. The park includes a large pavilion, a small pavilion, basketball courts, football and baseball fields and a track. It is used by a variety of groups throughout the year, including CBAA baseball and softball teams, the Columbia High School girls' softball team, Dayspring Christian Academy's track team and the PA Gremlins traveling football team. Additionally, community members have reserved the facility for events such as a community Easter egg hunt, birthday parties, reunions, the National Night Out event and the Boy Scout can drive.

Gamby stated that the community celebration is the first in a series of planned fundraisers for the field. At least two more bingos will be scheduled for this summer or fall. On Friday, Sept. 29, the inaugural Glatfelter Memorial Field golf outing will be held at Cool Creek Golf Club, with an 8 a.m. tee time.

She noted that Glatfelter Field has been the site of many memories for residents of Columbia and the surrounding area. "This is definitely a community site," she explained, adding that the field is a spot full of nostalgia. "A lot of people grew up at this place. They played baseball when they were little, or they participated in other sports here. This event is a way for people to give back while also having fun."

For more information about Glatfelter Memorial Field, to reserve the facility or for information about the golf outing, contact GlatfelterMemorialField@gmail.com.