It might be Labor Day, but in the Shenango Valley, it's also Buhl Day. An annual tradition that started back in 1915 with an all-day celebration for people to enjoy food, entertainment and the park.

"A gathering of the Shenango Valley and the community to celebrate Labor Day," Tom Roskos, Executive Director of Buhl Park said. "It's a giant picnic in the park. We take great pride in that here in Buhl Park having everybody in the community out here enjoying their family and friends."

Tom Roskos, Executive Director for Buhl Park, says this years event is bigger and better.

"This year we added more activities to the children's location so the kids had more things to do," Roskos said. "We brought in a Motown experience band so more of a show and a performance at our performing arts stage and we're up to 17 food vendors this year which is almost double what we had last year."

Of course, everyone has their favorite Buhl Day food.

"Sausage, peppers and onions, Kiwanis Club, good sausage," one man said. "Double cheeseburger, everything on it, the meat is very big, it's worth the ten bucks and it's delicious," another man said.

Buhl Day has become a tradition for so many in the Shenango Valley and beyond.

"Born and raised in Hermitage and I'm 33 years old now and this is probably my 33rd Buhl Day I'd say," Sean Zippie said. "You can't beat the food, can't beat the entertainment behind me here and bring the whole entire family. Great to see people young and old from all over the country that come back that do something in the community, get to see a lot of old classmates, get to see a lot of people in the community and what they do here at Buhl is unmatched around the country honestly what we have here at Buhl Park and the staff they do a fantastic job and fantastic food as well."

"Just the friendly people and the community, it's so community oriented and family based and we really like that," Valerie White said.

Every Buhl Day, special guests are honored for their service to the park and the community. This year's honorees were Frank Evans from Sharon, Rene McIntire from Hermitage and Jim Stevenson from Hermitage. Stevenson recently passed away but his nephew was among the family there to accept on his behalf.

"My uncle was a pillar to the Shenango Valley, he was a funeral director so he knew a lot of people, formed a lot of relationships and was very much involved with serving the community and serving the buhl park, so for him to be honored today was a fitting tribute to all that he's done for the community and the people that he served," Christopher Norris said. "Hearing all the wonderful things people had to say about him makes me even more proud to be his nephew."

There were art exhibits, a petting zoo, car show, the popular mermaid show, inflatables for the kids, axe throwing, a dunk tank just to name a few, but if you ask people what's the best part about Buhl Day?

"The coolest is being here, enjoying everything, enjoying the day, enjoying the people, making new friends, just the whole atmosphere," Maritza Conley said.

"Great to see people young and old from all over the country that come back that do something in the community, get to see a lot of old classmates, get to see a lot of people in the community and what they do here at Buhl is unmatched around the country honestly what we have here at Buhl Park and the staff they do a fantastic job," Zippie said.