Golden Anniversary Chicken Barbecue
to be held Saturday, August 21
This one will be special.
The 50th Annual Chicken Barbecue, Car Show & Auction will be held on Saturday, Aug. 21 at Cross Keys Village – The Brethren Home Community.
50th Annual. GOLDEN Anniversary. That’s a lot of drumsticks.
When the first grill fired up in 1961, the “Church of the Brethren Home,” as it was known at the time, had just expanded. The old Cross Keys Hotel still functioned as a “rest home,” but for those needing a higher level of car, the Infirmary Wing had been added, creating what would now be recognized as a nursing home.
That first Barbecue event featured chicken and roasted potatoes. Since then the meal has become more elaborate, and the event has grown to feature other foods, crafts, music, books, children’s activities, a car show and an auction, initially featuring quilts but now also including various antiques, collectibles and other items.
Additionally, the thousands who come to the Chicken Barbecue each year look forward to:
- Thousands of “previously read” books, nearly all priced at $1 or less.
- Live music by Set Free, Ray Owen and others.
- Food vendors selling fries, ice cream, pork BBQ, funnel cakes, cold drinks and more.
- A bake sale featuring cakes and pies, cookies, bread and other goodies – some pies also are sold by the slice.
- Craft vendors with a variety of wares.
- Incredible bargains from the Cross Keys Almost New Shop.
- A variety of children’s attractions – including moon bounce, inflatable slide, inflatable obstacle course and barrel train ride (10 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.).
- Unusual gifts and other items from the Bee Hive Gift Shop.
The event is held from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. on the Cross Keys campus, between the Health Care Center and Assisted Living and PA Route 94. The auction begins at 1:00 p.m. in Nicarry Meetinghouse.
While much has changed over the past half-century, what has remained the same is the event’s stewardship by the Auxiliary, and the number of volunteers – from churches, the community and the villagers and team members on campus – who work to make it successful. Proceeds continue to go toward Auxiliary projects, including the Good Samaritan Fund, which helps residents who can no longer pay for their own care.
Take a look at last year’s event, as seen by photographers Dennis Hare and Ron Harris.
Click here for slide show of Dennis Hare photos
Click here for slide show of Ron Harris photos
For more information about the 50th Annual Chicken Barbecue, call 717-624-5203.
