Rain did not dampen spirits at DeSales University’s Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival Community Day. On June 27, it was a fairly easy pivot to move most of the activities into the university’s Community Center. Only the Lower Saucon Fire Department, the Car Cruise In, and bounce house were canceled. There were still many activities for young and old.

The food trucks obviously could not come indoors, so they lined up against the sidewalk and opened awnings or set up tents. There were trucks from Cactus Blue, The Udder Bar, The Flying V, and Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee. The food trucks also served as a “You are here” notice to drivers.

DeSales also had a staffer outside the Labuda Center (where the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival plays are usually performed) to redirect drivers.

Several vendors, including the wildly popular Face Painting by Kim Einsla, lined the main hallway. Separate rooms held more vendors and community partners, and the temporary theater. Vendors and Community Partners included Raising Cane’s, Community Music School, Lehigh Valley Martial Arts, Pocono Water Skirmish, Civic Theatre, Jefferson,

Lovely Little Lotus, Parkland Library, PA Youth, Theatre, LEPOCO Peace Center, Cedarbrook Senior Care and Rehab, Coach Melissa, Next Wave Ministries, Lehigh- Carbon Community College, Ribbons of Care, Dorney Park, Easton Area Public Library, Lehigh County District Attorney’s Office, Historic Bethlehem Museums and Sites, Drama Club, PA Shakes Makes! tent,

And PA Shakes Welcome tent. Special Guests:

Face Painting by Kim Einsla and Joe Keppel Magic.

There were also performances, including Story Time from the Parkland Library. At 11 a.m., the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival players performed As You Like It, for a crowd of about 60, followed by a brief preview of Sheila the Magical. By the time the plays ended, the food trucks had lines of hungry patrons.

Toucan learn more about the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival by visiting pashakespeare.org.