History of "Sparky The Sparkle" The Mount Pleasant Glass and Ethnic Festival Mascot During the early 1900's glass manufacturing was prominent in the friendly town of Mount Pleasant Pennsylvania. A young immigrant glass artist made Mount Pleasant his home while working for a small glass factory. He worked diligently day after day, hour after hour, creating crystal works of art with a delicate hand and a unique precision. He was the only glass blower and cutter in the area and was known throughout the town as a gifted craftsman, capable of shaping glass into almost anything imaginable. This young artisan was asked by the company's founder to create unique crystal pieces to give to young men from Mount Pleasant who were going off to war. Now they could have a small piece of their hometown with them abroad when they were homesick. One evening, while laboring late into the night, he got an idea. Working carefully with the molten glass, he blew into the pipe, swung it back and forth, and varied the temperature in order to create the desired shape. Then, with detailed artistry he cut designs into the glass and polished it for hours. As a result, the glass smith created an object that had a beautiful and flawless "sparkle". The young immigrant could see his reflection in the sparkle and dreamed of a promising future in the small town of Mount Pleasant. He was heartfelt and proud. Sadly, all of those young men who were given the glass pieces died in the war and the people of the town grieved for many years, building memorials in their honor. Many years later upon his retirement, and no longer able to do the work he loved, the elderly artisan was cleaning up his work area and found an extra shining and sparkling glass piece just like the ones he remembered making for the young soldiers. Throughout the years this sparkle of glass became a symbol of hope and inspiration for Mount Pleasant. The Glass and Ethnic Festival was formed to celebrate the ethnic diversity and glass heritage of the community, and took on the "sparkle" as a symbol of vision. This vision needed to become reality…..through "Sparky". "Sparky The Sparkle" continues to this day to bring joy and goodwill to all of Mount Pleasant and during the Glass and Ethnic Festival people from far and wide continue to celebrate and enjoy a sparkling fall spectacular and homecoming tradition. For more information on special event appearances and parades please call: Jeff at (724) 547-6745

For more information on special event appearances and parades please call: Jeff at (724) 547-6745