Thrilling Third Thursdays Magically Reappear in Willistown

A puppet show, magician and free popcorn await you and the kids this Thursday evening at Willistown’s Greentree Park, as a young Willistown tradition returns for its third season.

at Greentree Park—or T3@GT, for short—is a summer events program designed to bring the community together, said Mary McLoughlin, director of the Willistown Parks and Recreation Department, which sponsors the series.

“Everyone just loves the events,” McLoughlin said. "They love the idea of getting to spend time with family outside, getting to know their neighbors and meeting new neighbors.”

At 2011’s first T3@GT event this Thursday, West Chester-based magician Kevin Joyce will perform, followed by puppeteers from Puppets Pizzazz.

The event will run from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Free popcorn will be provided for kids, McLoughlin said, and hot dogs, drinks, snacks and water ice will be available.

On its website, Puppets Pizzazz describes using popular songs to convey environmental messages:

For 2011 we are doing songs like Lady Ga Ga's "Poker Face" but changed to "Baby Face" with all the baby animals that live in a pond and why they shouldn't be taking out of their environment.

Generally, about 100 people show up to each T3@GT event, McLoughlin said. In the event of inclimate weather, events are bumped to the fourth Thursday of the month.

“The mission of the Parks and Recreation Department is to create community through people, parks and programs, so we have these community events not only to entertain the public but also to get to know each other,” McLoughlin explained.

Next month on June 16, T3@GT will celebrate the end of school with children’s band Alex and the Kaleidoscope.

“They’re a fantastic kids band,” McLoughlin said. “They’ve won over 14 national awards for excellence in children’s entertainment—they’re just unbelievable.”

The Parks and Recreation Department tries to design events to appeal to both children and adults, McLoughlin said. May and June’s kid-centric events will be followed by activities the whole family can enjoy in late summer:

• On Aug. 18, T3@G3 will continue its country fair tradition. The night will feature pony rides, a petting zoo, face painting and a prize product contest.
• Sept. 15’s Party in the Park will feature music by Uncle Buck Band.

As a reminder, no pets are permitted in the park.

If the weather looks iffy on Thursday, you can call the Parks and Recreation Department’s messaging service at 610-647-5300 ext. 224, which will say whether or not the event has been rescheduled. The rain date for each Thrilling Third Thursday is the following Thursday.

You can also sign up for event reminders on the Willistown Parks and Recreation website, so you don't miss an event.

“I think it’s a very Normal Rockwell-type experience,” McLoughlin said. “A beautiful, simple day of neighbors sharing fun at our quaint little park.”