DANVILLE -- An annual event in Danville that drew thousands of people each year to Montour County is cancelled. Organizers of the Iron Heritage Festival recently announced the longtime festival won't happen next year.
"It just about breaks our heart to do this and we are just not able to continue," Jean Knouse said.
Jean Knouse served as the festival's treasurer since it began in 1999. She says the reason for the cancellation is lack of volunteers and money concerns.
Knouse says the Iron Heritage Festival depends on the money it makes from the train rides. Those train rides were cut short this year after someone committed suicide on the tracks.
While her heart breaks for the victim, Knouse says the festival lost a lot of money.
"Unfortunately, we had our first ride and the others had to be cancelled," Knouse said.
Knouse says this year's festival cost around $87,000 to put together, but it brought in a lot less. The Montour County Commissioners voted to give organizers $5,500 to cover the debts from this year's festival. Officials say that money will come from the local hotel tax.
Knouse also says organizers have a hard time filling its volunteer slots.
"The sad thing is if more people would come forward, it would be less work for everyone," Knouse said.
People who attend the Iron Heritage Festival say they're disappointed to hear it won't continue.
"I think it's a disservice to the kids. I mean, I understand it takes volunteers to make it happen but there is a lot of history that you just can't explain to the kids without showing them," Amber Swiderski said.
"I wish they had more support for it. I'm going to miss it," Rose Levis said.
Organizers say if more people volunteer they are not ruling out an Iron Heritage Festival in the future, but they say 2015 is not possible.
