For two days each July, the "community" part of Washington Boro Community Park comes into the spotlight. The Washington Boro Tomato Festival will be held at the park, 2010 River Road, on Saturday, July 11, and on Saturday, July 18. Food will be served beginning at 3 p.m. each day, with music and other activities from 5 to 9 p.m.

Tomatoes are the star of the show, with bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwiches a top seller, said Dick Schock, a member of the Blue Rock Fire Rescue Support Group, which organizes the festival.

Washington Boro tomatoes are known for their flavor and texture, he said, noting that Lancaster County makes the perfect location to grow the fruit.

"It's the sandy soil," he said. "These tomatoes are sweet and juicy. They're a more juicy, more meaty tomato, and they're great for sandwiches."

Tomatoes are coming in late this year, he said, but the festival will definitely have them.

"We use about 400 pounds of tomatoes," Schock said.

Additional food for sale will include hamburgers, hot dogs with or without sauerkraut, sausage sandwiches and homemade chicken corn soup.

Funk's Riverview Greenhouse will sell pies and fresh fruit, and both milkshakes and french fries will be for sale by vendors.

"This year, we're also going to have green tomato pie," Schock said. "A local guy is making it, and this is the first time he'll be here."

A variety of carnival-style games will be available, with a wide range of prizes.

People will have the opportunity to enter to win an e-bike, a grand prize of $500 or one of five $100 prizes.

On July 11, the band Border Line will entertain. On the 18th, Kracker Beez will provide the music.

"People will sit out and listen to the music all night long," Schock said, encouraging attendees to bring their own chairs.

The festival is a fundraiser for the Blue Rock Fire Rescue, which covers 55 square miles of Manor Township and Millersville Borough, including six miles of the Susquehanna River.

"This festival has been going on for over 75 years," Schock said, noting that the support group has not organized it that long. It was started by a local fire company, then run by the local Lions Club for years and then managed by the Washington Boro Fire Company before that company merged with the Highville, Millersville and West Lancaster companies to form Blue Rock Fire Rescue 15 years ago, he explained.

Pulling off a successful event requires a team of volunteers, which includes both members of the Blue Rock Fire Rescue Support Group and the wider community. Volunteers from Penn Manor FFA, the Washington Boro Historical Society and other groups give their time and talent to make the event fun for everyone, Schock said.

"It's a lot of work to set this up," he said. "We'll start setting up on the Monday after the 4th of July weekend, and we'll be here all week getting ready. On Thursday each week, we'll probably cook about 75 pounds of bacon."

Many people come out for both weekends to enjoy food, fellowship and live music at the event, which will be held rain or shine.

"The festival is a great local community event," said committee member Kathy Fry. "It's a fun time with family and friends."