Events
One of the primary functions of the Petersburg Volunteer Fire Department and Summerfield Township Volunteer Fire Department is to serve the community. To help facilitate this, the organizations plan events throughout the year. What follows is a brief description of some of the events which are held annually.
Community Days
In order to properly function, all organizations must be funded. The primary annual fund raiser for the PVFD doubles as a festival for the community.
On the third weekend of July every year the PVFD and the Ladies Auxiliary organize a festival for area residents and visitors. The festival begins Friday evening with a bed race. Area residents come to watch as local businesses & fire departments push wheeled beds down Center Street in a race for charity. After the bed race, the beer tent opens and a live band or DJ plays for all to hear in downtown Petersburg.
Thousands of spectators line the streets as Saturday begins with a parade through town at noon. Several area fire departments bring trucks to show in the parade. Participants in the parade range from the Summerfield High School band to area politicians to local farmers and other businesses. Children fill bags with candy that is tossed from parade vehicles.
Open House
Each year the Summerfield Township Volunteer Fire Department opens it's doors to the general public for an open house, allowing area residents to learn more about the fire department and what it means to be a fire fighter. This event is held each year on the second Saturday of October.
Fire fighters spend the afternoon answering questions and giving tours to inquisitive residents of all ages. Often, a jaws-of-life demostration is given for attendees. This demonstration allows them to see what it takes to perform a possible life-saving extracation from a vehicle accident.
Santa Comes to Town
On Christmas Eve every year, the PVFD, along with many area businesses and the local "Woodchuck Club" helps Santa to visit area homes.
Santa visits all homes in the City of Petersburg with a porch light on and any home in the Township of Summerfield where the parent's requested a visit ahead of time. Santa hands out bags of goodies and gifts to all children at the visited homes.