What started as a day for neighbors to hold yard sales has evolved into Harmony Day, an annual celebration that involves organizations and businesses throughout the Honey Brook community.

This year's event, themed "Celebrate Honey Brook Harmony," will be presented by the Honey Brook Community Partnership (HBCP) on Saturday, Sept. 16, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The center of activities will be at the Honey Brook Fire Company, 679 Firehouse Lane, where there will be children's activities, including carnival games, a rock wall and an obstacle course. Food for sale at the firehouse will include hoagies and hot dogs by the Honey Brook Women's Club, jerky and popcorn by Cub Scout Pack 9 and coffee and cold drinks by the Honey Brook Youth Center. The September Farm pretzel and doughnut truck, as well as a milkshake truck, will also be on hand.

Fire company members will have an open house and gifts for children, and CPR instruction and demonstrations will be offered by Elverson-Honey Brook Area EMS. Brandywine Martial Arts Academy will hold a martial arts demonstration at 11 a.m. on the grounds near the fire company pavilion.

Members of the Twin Valley High School Mini-THON will have a car wash at the Honey Brook American Legion Post 422, 4820 Horseshoe Pike, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. A pickleball round robin tournament will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the James A. Umble Memorial Park in Honey Brook Township, located at 173 Supplee Road.

New this year will be a historical display at the Honey Brook Presbyterian Church, 4331 Horseshoe Pike, which is celebrating its bicentennial this year. The church will also offer yard sales, free snacks, a kids' art show, a performance by guitarist Paul Columbo and face painting.

"The church will have pamphlets available (about the church's history)," said HBCP member Dawn Schaffer, a member of the Harmony Day organizing committee.

Other events on Harmony Day will include a book sale by the Friends of the Honey Brook Community Library, which will take place at the library, 687 Compass Road, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Shoppers will be able to purchase a bag of books for a fee. The library will also host yard sales from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., and a food truck will be on-site.

Honey Brook businesses will also have special Harmony Day sales.

A highlight of the day will be a Blankets of Honor presentation to a local veteran at 12:45 p.m. at the Long Way Home, 4690 Horseshoe Pike, followed by a performance by the Celtic band Down by the Glenside from 1 to 2 p.m. Visitors will be able to meet adoptable pets at the location beginning at 1 p.m.

According to Schaffer, the HBCP organizing committee has been meeting since March to plan the event at the Lanchester Landfill and Reclamation Center, Harmony Day's title sponsor. She said that while most neighbors hold yard sales on Harmony Day in the morning, that is just the beginning of the day. "The yard sales start early, and they are usually over by 10 a.m.; that's when all events kick off at the fire hall that people can enjoy," said Schaffer.

For more information about Harmony Day, visit http://www.hbpartnership.org or http://www.facebook.com/hbpartnership.org.