Jun 1, 2026 By Nick Jacobs 4 min read

A few years ago, Henry Cook, the retired chair of Somerset Trust Bank, asked me if I wanted to help him throw a party. Since Henry and I had already survived at least five Laurel Arts Somerfest celebrations back in the 1980s, I said yes immediately. At our age, when somebody offers you one more bite of the apple, you grab it and show up early.

Henry told me a former Somerset County judge who once organized a major county celebration inspired him. But Henry being Henry, his vision was far bigger.

He wanted Somerset County to host a four-day celebration this August honoring the 25th anniversary of 9/11, the 250th anniversary of the United States, and the service of first responders, all during the Western Pennsylvania Fireman’s Convention.

At first, it sounded almost impossible.

Raise hundreds of thousands of dollars. Invite hundreds of fire companies and emergency organizations from New York City, New Jersey, Washington, D.C., Western Pennsylvania, and beyond. Coordinate concerts, parades, fireworks, exhibits, ceremonies, military tributes, flyovers, food vendors, and enough logistics to make your head spin.

But if you know Henry Cook, you know two things.

First, he never thinks small.

Second, once he commits to something, you better clear your calendar because it is going to happen.

And it always does.

Henry has assembled an army of volunteers, sponsors, musicians, police officers, firefighters, civic leaders, non-profits, and community organizations that has turned this ambitious idea into a real event.

As more details continue rolling out, Somerset County is preparing to host one of the largest community celebrations in its history. Nearly everything Henry originally envisioned is officially on the schedule.

There will be concerts at Laurel Arts and the Somerset Historical Center. There will be marching bands, family activities, food trucks, an antique show, exhibits, ceremonies, and enough fire trucks to impress every little kid in the county.

One of the major highlights will come Friday when a fire truck procession travels to the Flight 93 National Memorial for a public remembrance ceremony featuring the Johnstown Symphony Orchestra Strings. Laurel Arts will also host a major 9/11 exhibit, and the Quecreek miners exhibit will be featured as well. Events will stretch throughout Somerset County all weekend long.

And yes, because this is a legitimate large-scale festival, there will also be plenty of porta potties. Nothing says “major civic event” quite like a well-organized porta-potty strategy.

Security and logistics are already being coordinated by local, state, and fire police, corrections officers, emergency personnel, and countless volunteers who are making sure everything runs safely and smoothly. Somerset County is taking this seriously so families can simply come out and enjoy themselves.

One of my assignments involved helping with the opening night celebration on Aug. 5, and that evening alone is shaping up to be remarkable. Combined professional musicians from Johnstown, Forest Hills, and Somerset will perform alongside the U.S. Air Force Strolling Strings, the U.S. Marine Silent Drill Team, the Laurel Highlands Chorus, and a helicopter flyover, with activities for children throughout the evening.

Then the celebration rolls on for three more days with concerts, ceremonies, exhibits, parades, firework/drone show following Saturday’s parade.

But maybe the best part is this.

This is not a political event. There will be no campaign speeches, no partisan nonsense. This is simply a community celebration centered on family, service, patriotism, remembrance, and the joy of spending time together.

Honestly, Somerset County has not seen a party like this since the Whiskey Rebellion, and even those folks didn’t have a drone show.

So mark your calendars now for Aug. 5 through 8, 2026.

Then get ready.

And to Henry Cook, thank you for the vision, the persistence, the leadership, and your remarkable ability to convince a lot of people that this crazy idea would actually work.

Turns out, you were right.

It is going to be one heck of a party.