Patient First in the Community

This event has always been a fun one for Patient First to be part of, and it was great to be back again this year as a sponsor! Mother Nature was kind to us on event day too, delivering a beautiful summer day -- hot and sunny, and no rain until after the event concluded. The crowd this year was enormous, and the number of vendors on site doubled to more than 100 this year!

A big shout out to the Spring-Ford Chamber of Commerce and the TriCounty Area Chamber of Commerce. This event was a joint production of theirs, and it was well done and very organized.

The Spring-Ford Area High School marching band performed to kick things off for the day. There were several food trucks on site as well to keep people fed and hydrated. Many area first responders came out for the event to show off their equipment. It was also fun to have a disc jockey playing music all day for everyone to enjoy.

We handled a steady stream of requests for blood pressure checks all day. We were happy to hear from so many people who have been patients - some with frequency - at both our Pottstown and Collegeville locations. It is always so rewarding for us to hear from patients and community members who have praises to share about the quality of their care and their experiences in our centers. They are always happy that with Patient First they can walk in to any of our locations without an appointment any day of the week, including weekends and holidays.

We're counting the weeks until the 2024 Community Day!

Patient First headed to the Diamond to join the Richmond Flying Squirrels for Back to Teaching Night.  This celebration recognized the hard work and dedication of our educators and support staff as we say goodbye to summer break and welcome students back to school.  Local teachers, administrators and staff were admitted free with a valid school ID courtesy of Patient First.  We had a great time interacting with the fans as they stopped by our marketing table to pick up some Patient First swag. Nutzy and Nutasha made a cameo appearance at our table as well.  The Flying Squirrels were kind enough to let us throw the opening pitch and invited us to do a radio interview with their Media Exec.  Our very own, Dr. Cora Owen sat down with Blaine McCormick to talk about some important back to school tips.

The night was eventful and our team had a blast.  Patient First would like to wish teachers, staff and students a safe and healthy school year!

The 2023 Maryland Seafood Festival came a little earlier this year than in years past, and at a different location. What remained the same though, was the fun, the food, and the festive atmosphere that have kept crowds coming for 57 years!

This year, the festival moved from its traditional location, and came to City Dock in Annapolis, just a stone's throw from the Naval Academy and the State House. Crowds were literally lining up at the gate, which was directly in front of the Patient First tent bringing each and every one of the thousands of ticket holders past our booth. We had scores of great conversations with people from all over the Delmarva region, who thanked us for the service we provided them, and loved how clean and organized the centers were. We also had quite a few people from western Maryland, the eastern shore, North Carolina and New York, who while unfamiliar with what we do, were very interested in having us expand into their hometowns.

In addition to over a dozen seafood trucks, vendors, and craft beer tents, there were also a number of fantastic live bands performing, a crab soup competition, an oyster shucking contest, and an inflatable playground for the kids. Add to all that the fact that the weather was picture perfect, and you have the makings of a great summer festival weekend-- one we can't wait to come back to next year, as well!

Thousands of people were looking to the skies in the fields of Delta, Pennsylvania this weekend. It wasn't because of some crop circle phenomena, but because of the Chesapeake Bay Hot Air Balloon Festival.

Typically held on Maryland's eastern shore, this year the event was scheduled to be held in Bel Air, Maryland. Just 11 days before the event however, that location was no longer deemed viable by the Harford County Government. So, like any baloon pilot knows, an alternate landing site had to be found, and found fast. Fortunately, the Mason-Dixon Fairgrounds just a dozen miles to the north provided a safe haven for this year's event.

Despite the sudden change of venue, tens of thousands turned out for this weekend long event. The vendor fair played host to our table and tent, where people from both PA and MD came by to collect our giveaway items, and tells us how much the appreciated the work our staff does, and the professionalism with which they do it.

In addition to the awe-inspiring sights of the balloon ascension and tethered rides, there was also live music featured throughout the afternoon, an inflatable playground for the kids, truck racing on a huge dirt track, and a whole host of vendors and food trucks to satisfy patrons of every taste.

Balloon festivals are always very vulnerable to changing weather conditions, and this one was particularly so. The threat of a severe storm, coupled with high winds forced the cancellation of Friday evening's balloon glow. All of Saturday's balloon related events, fortunately, went off without a hitch.

It will be interesting to see if next year's festival will return to it's eastern shore roots, or if it will find another location in 2024. Watch this space....

Musikfest returned for its 40th year in the Lehigh Valley and Patient First was part of the action on "Preview Night" again this year. The Bethlehem, PA event is the country's largest free music festival, and it draws more than 1 million people annually. A record-breaking 1,240,000 people attended Musikfest in 2022, and 2023 attendance will likely be larger. This 10-day festival features more than 500 performances across 16 stages located throughout the city of Bethlehem. It is so much fun and we love being part of the activities each year!

Hundreds of performances can be enjoyed by 'Festers' throughout the run of the event, and almost all of the events are free. The only ones that required a purchased ticket are the headliners each evening. On our day at the fair, the band AJR was the headliner and performed to a sold out crowd of 7,000+ people.

Although we are only able to be on site for a single day, event organizers, staff and volunteers always go above and beyond to be accommodating and welcoming to us, and we couldn't be happier.

The event is enormous, and spread out over a large area, but with the prime location we were stationed gave us the ability to talk with so many people up close and personally while on Preview Night. We offered complimentary blood pressure checks, and of course a variety of giveaway items that are always a hit.

It made us smile hearing about how happy folks are who have had the opportunity to visit any of our centers as a patient. Our Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton centers were the centers most event participants raved about. We did have others visit us from all over Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, as well.

This is always such a great event. We are already looking forward to our return in 2024!

Patient First has participated in Woodbury's FAF Coalition Lot 323 Experience since 2017, and each year the event seems to grow and become even more fun than the year prior. 

Lot 323 is a cool, urban pop-up park right in the heart of Woodbury, NJ. It has a funky industrial vibe that is an inviting area to gather, play, relax and enjoy light fare and entertainment. The event provides a great gathering place for the public, as well as emerging artists and musicians, other arts and cultural organization, schools and educations groups to enjoy an evening out. Focal points included a large performing area stage, food trucks, art installations and music sculptures.

Although we hoped to be on site twice this summer, Mother Nature had other plans, forcing organizers to cancel an event in late June. But the July event we attended was warm and dry, and it far exceeded our expectations. It was great fun, and it gave us an opportunity to reconnect with many long-time Patient First fans who have had great experiences in our centers. We also had an opportunity to introduce what we do to several new folks from the community who stopped by to visit with us. 

The organization hosts these FREE Friday events several times during the summer for residents of Woodbury, and nearby towns. We are already looking forward to returning for the 2024 event season.

The address for Candyland this past weekend was Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, as the Harrisburg Dessert Festival returned to the Pennsylvania Farm Show & Expo Center on June 22nd.

Over 1,300 people brought their sweet tooth with them to sample the offerings of over three dozen vendors from the central Pennsylvania region. Cakes, cookies, ice cream, cupcakes, dessert scented bath bombs, pastries, and a host of other goodies were available to satisfy the cravings of everyone who came out. The event also featured attractions that included a cake decorating demonstration, a cookie decorating art station, a balloon maze, and balloon animals for the kids. There was even an appearance by Miss Pennsylvania 2023, Miranda Moore, a Harrisburg native! The day culminated in a cake decorating contest, showcasing the talents of bakers of all skill levels.

This was the second year for this event, and Patient First's second year of sponsorship as well. While our table didn't feature any goodies of the caloric variety, we did include a recipe for some heart-healthy blueberry muffins, which was quite well received, along with our usual assortment of yo-yo's, magnetic clips, and hot/cold packs.

Time and again we were told by those who came by our table what a wonderful job Patient First did in taking care of them and their loved ones. It was our pleasure to be there, and we look forward to coming back to see what they cook up in 2024!

The Burlington County Farm Fair in South Jersey has become a legacy event for Patient First, with our participation spanning the years. It was great to be back again this year!

The fair's mission is to promote agriculture, social life, and youth, as well as educating the general public by conducting a yearly agricultural fair with exhibits, livestock and farm products.

Located on the beautiful Burlington County Fairgrounds in Springfield Township, NJ, the Fair offered a variety of activities to the thousands of visitors that attended. The location of the Fairgrounds is about midway between our Delran and Hamilton Patient First centers, and it draws people from all over New Jersey and Southeastern Pennsylvania. It's a big deal in South Jersey, and we always have fun being there.

Historically, Fair Week has been one of the hottest weeks of the year, and Mother Nature didn't disappoint this year, either. Although our day started off sketchy with heavy rains, the storms quickly passed and it ended up being a hot, steamy, but overall fantastic day.

Fair Manager Rosemary Kay and her team were a delight to work with again this year, and we are so pleased to have received such a warm welcome back to this year's event.

It was a great celebration of Hanover's favorite fruit, as the community gathered together for the annual Hanover Tomato Festival 2023.  Over 12,000 pounds of juicy, ripe tomatoes were packaged and delivered to Pole Green Park for the two day, event filled weekend.  Festival goers were able to purchase tomatoes by the bag or by the box.  From signature tomato-themed dishes to tomato incorporated games, it was apparent that these were certainly a crowd favorite.  With nearly 150 vendors in attendance, a kid zone, a live band, and a DJ, there was definitely something for everyone.

Patient First was excited to join this beloved festival that has been a long time tradition for so many local families.  Many patrons stopped by our tent to get their free blood pressure checks, along with some Patient First swag.  We were happy to share some fun facts on the health benefits of tomatoes with the community.  Not only does this juicy fruit taste great, but its also good for you!

Patient First would like to thank the folks of Hanover County for their wonderful hospitality.  We enjoyed ourselves at the festival and we look forward to seeing you all in 2024!

The Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites Organization hosted its 36th annual Blueberry Festival at the beautiful Burnside Plantation in mid-July, and we were pleased to once again be a part of the fun!

This event was very busy and featured crafters, artists and vendors; historical and canine demonstrations; live entertainment on two stages; pony rides; contests, games and activities; and, of course, a variety of all things blueberry including pie, ice cream, strudel, and coffee cake, plus blueberry jams and jellies, salsas, syrup, coffee, baking mixes and even blueberry bushes to take home and grow at home.

Saturday's event day was a blockbuster! It was very warm and sunny, and we were very busy with lots of people from all over the Lehigh Valley and beyond, stopping by our tent for a free blood pressure check, or to pick up some of our many give away items.. In the spirit of "all things blueberry" we also provided a blueberry muffin recipe, which was a big hit as well. We even had a visit from Miss Pennsylvania 2023 Miranda Moore, who dropped by for a blood pressure check before heading off to judge the pie eating contest.

Mother Nature was not so kind on the second day of the event, delivering rain the entire day. Even though the second day was a wet one, we were happy to be a part of things, and we are looking forward to returning this fall to participate in Apple Days. All proceeds from these events help Historic Bethlehem maintain 20 of its historic landmarks.