Deb Mellish knew her committee's year of planning had paid off on the first night of Old Home Week.

"When I saw the great turnout for the Large Flowerheads, I knew we had a hit," she told The Press last week, after the conclusion of the community homecoming event. The popular oldies band performed at the June 27 opening night kickoff event at the Catasauqua Park.

Co-chairing the committee that planned the 10-day event was Catasauqua Mayor Barbara Schlegel.

"The first concert set the pace and everything turned out well," she said.

Mellish expressed gratitude to the committee members who planned multiple events and to the people who attended and supported them.

Historical Catasauqua Preservation Association and the Borough of Catasauqua sponsored the 2014 Catasauqua Old Home Week events. Lehigh County contributed tourism funds to support the events. The county funds helped cover the cost of advertising and a new Welcome Arch, constructed at the Catasauqua Park to resemble arches created for the 1914 event.

Local businesses contributed to the program with volunteers and prizes.

On the first weekend of Old Home Week, a 5K race, coordinated by Run Lehigh Valley, attracted 138 runners who took on the challenging hills around the borough. After the race, local bands, food vendors and company displays populated Bridge Street for an Old Home Week Block Party.

The headline event for Saturday evening was a contra dance under the stars at Willow Brook Farms. More than 80 people attended the square dance, with music by the Contra Deceptives, dance calling by Diane Hartzell and a barbecue meal catered by Fat Daddy's.

"Everyone who attended declared this was the most fun and hope that the Farms will continue to offer the site for events like this one," Mellish said.

The next day, Sunday at the Park featured a host of family-friendly activities. Surrounding the Welcome Arch, participants enjoyed children's crafts and games, sports tournaments, demonstrations and music, as well as opportunities to dance, swim in the pool and jump into an inflatable moon bounce.

Thursday night featured some adult fun with a pub crawl. Ten food and drink establishments in North Catasauqua and Catasauqua participated. Many visitors began at McCarty's Tavern and Metro & Johns, which had early closings, and then moved on to the Arch Street Hotel, Tony's Top Cat Bar & Grill, Fossill's Last Stand, Catty Corner, Richie's Public House and the Blue Monkey. Those who had a passport stamped at all 10 locations qualified for prizes, and special promotions and features were offered at some of the bars.

At a more sober event the following morning, a July 4 reading of the Declaration of Independence took place at the George Taylor House. The Antebellum Marine Band, under the direction of Catasauqua alumni Kenneth Serfass, entertained the rain-soaked crowd with patriotic music. Local historian Martha Capwell Fox read the Declaration of Independence and an American Legion Post 215 Honor Guard presented the colors. Brenda Wieder and her volunteers conducted tours of the George Taylor House and the Biery House, both historic sites.

On Saturday at North Catasauqua Park, the Old Home Week Mega Reunion, held in conjunction with the Catasauqua-North Catasauqua J4 event, attracted a large crowd. (See related article.)

Old Home Week's final day featured an HCPA House andd Garden tour, which attracted 273 visitors to 16 homes, buildings and gardens on the tour.

Organizer Janice Lathrop was pleased with the outcome.

"The graciousness and friendliness of the homeowners, volunteers, and guests were noted by all," she said.

All in all, the 10 days of community activities were ruled a success by Mellish.

"The goal was to bring people to Catasauqua so they can see what a great community we have and to bring back friends," she said. "I think we succeeded in our goal."