West Homestead’s 125th Anniversary Celebration | Aug 13-15

West Homestead’s 125th Anniversary Celebration | Aug 13-15

Join the community in celebrating a major milestone as West Homestead marks its 125th Anniversary with a three-day lineup of events bringing together neighbors, families, and local organizations for a weekend of connection, history, and fun.

This anniversary event is a celebration of West Homestead’s past, present, and future. From longtime residents to new neighbors, everyone is invited to take part in honoring the borough’s history and building connections for years to come.

West Homestead’s 125th Anniversary reflects more than a milestone—it represents generations of community, resilience, and growth in the Steel Valley. This celebration brings together local organizations, families, and leaders to honor that legacy while looking ahead to the future.

When

This multi-day celebration highlights the history, people, and spirit of West Homestead with a variety of activities for all ages.

Thursday, August 13 | Birthday Party at Calhoun Park (6:00 PM)
Kick off the celebration with a throwback-style gathering featuring music, food trucks, community connection, and a birthday cake to mark 125 years. This evening is all about reconnecting with neighbors, sharing memories, and celebrating the borough’s legacy.

Friday, August 14 | 125 Years of the West Homestead VFD (5:00 PM)
Hosted at the West Homestead Volunteer Fire Station, this night includes community activities, refreshments, and special programming such as the Battle of the Barrel and Prospect Pro Wrestling. West 8th Avenue will be closed between Forest Avenue and 8th Avenue during the event.

Saturday, August 15 | Community Day at Calhoun Field (4:00 PM – 9:00 PM)
Wrap up the weekend with a full community celebration featuring rides, games, food trucks, public safety engagement, and fireworks. This is a family-friendly event designed to bring the entire community together.

Where

Calhoun Park
West Homestead Volunteer Fire Station
Calhoun Field
West Homestead, PA

West Homestead’s 125th Anniversary Celebration | Aug 13-15

About West Homestead

History

West Homestead is a borough on the Monongahela River in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, eight miles southeast of Pittsburgh. The population has changed only slightly over the years, reflecting turns in local industry and commerce. According to the 1910 census, 3,009 people lived in West Homestead; as of the 2010 census, the population was 1,929.

There are two primary residential communities in West Homestead: the historic district and the Village, a post-WW II hilltop community. The historic district consists of a series of hillside residential streets adorned by intact worker houses reflecting the architecture of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century period when most of these homes were originally built. Comprised of homes perfectly suited for contemporary restoration, this neighborhood has a commanding view of the gorgeous river valley.

One of the most noteworthy structures in the historic district is the great Mesta Mansion and accompanying gardens, which was originally built by steel manufacturer and engineer George Mesta, founder of the Mesta Machine Company. Upon his death in 1925 the mansion became the property of his widow, the celebrated socialite and political hostess Perle Mesta, and remained in the Mesta family until the 1970s. This marvelous structure is on the National Register of Historic Places and has undergone a luxurious  and ongoing restoration process in recent years.

Another feature of the historic district is the Bulgarian Macedonian National Educational and Cultural Center on West Eighth Avenue. Since 1935, this facility has continued to be the center of Bulgarian and Macedonian cultural activity in Western Pennsylvania. West Homestead’s Eighth Avenue itself is a tree-lined boulevard adorned by Victorian shops on the National Register of Historic Places, and the neighborhood is surrounded by the largest group of ethnic churches on the National Register.

West Homestead Living

The West Homestead community was originally marked by the steel industry that dominated the region. As the character and personality of the area changed in the latter half of the twentieth century, West Homestead embraced the progress. Sandcastle Water Park, a family favorite that draws crowds from all over the region, opened in 1989, and the year 2000 saw the opening of The Waterfront, a magnificent shopping center built on the former site of the US Steel Works.

Most of the structures associated with the steel mills have been removed, but some of the brick stacks from the Homestead Steel Works have been retained as a visible link to the area’s industrial past.

Proud of its history and fully encompassing the technological and cultural advances of the twenty-first century, West Homestead is a safe, family-friendly community offering a welcoming array of shops, restaurants, hotels and other businesses to suit any need or appetite.

We are proud of the folks serving and protecting our community – our law enforcement officers, our volunteer firefighters, first-rate maintenance crew and borough personnel, and our local government officials are all working together to make West Homestead a wonderful place to call home.