A local cemetery is hosting its annual car show this weekend, but it's not sitting well with some who have buried their loved ones there.
"It's just weird," said Bill Petrosky.
This event at Jefferson Memorial Cemetery & Funeral Home in Pleasant Hills is in its 11th year. It will include food trucks, live music and an auction.
Petrosky's mother and grandparents are buried at the cemetery. He told the Big K Morning Show staff never mentioned the car show, even as he was making final arrangements for his loved ones.
"I wouldn't even know if my dad hadn't happened to go there the day they had it last year and got tangled up in their parade and got ignorantly spoken to," he said.
Petrosky has been speaking against the event since then, asking cemetery management to at least be more transparent or consider moving the event. He said he even met with management last year.
"He did say if they were going to do it again next year, 'we'll reach out to you, maybe we'll do it somewhere else,' blah, blah, blah, but nothing."
The car show typically raises money for charity. According to a Facebook advertisement, this year's proceeds will go to the Cameron Heyward Foundation. The Cloverleaf Food Pantry will also be on site taking donations.
Still, Petrosky believes there is a better way to support a good cause.
"I'm all for raising money for cancer, but not in this particular way," he said. "For what they make, they could write a check."
News Radio KDKA reached out to Jefferson Memorial Cemetery & Funeral Home. A spokesperson said they plan to release more information about the event later this week.
Here is Jefferson Memorial's statement:
Jefferson Memorial Park will again host its 11th Annual Car Show on Sunday, Aug. 13 from noon to 3 PM. The Company has been privately held since 1929.
The charity event is open to the public and has been a hit across generational lines. “Last year, we had nearly 200 attendees and over 150 cars entered the show,” says marketing director S.
Brooke Neel. It was the biggest turnout in over a decade of hosting the event, which shows how well it has generally been received in the local community. “Until last year, we received nothing but support and most of the reaction has stemmed from one individual, whom we met with last year to address his concerns.”
Jefferson Memorial’s statement last year was an opportunity to educate the public on why we host events. This year, we’ve increased signage and made clear what entrance will be used exclusively for the car show and what alternative entrances and/or routes are available for those cemetery and funeral home visitors. “At the end of the day, this event brings families and neighbors together to enjoy a summer afternoon at our park,” says Dagny Neel Fitzpatrick, Vice President. “We’ve had no issues whatsoever with anyone acting inappropriately when they attend our events, whether the car show or annual Memorial Day Ceremony, which showcases peoples’ respect for the lives we honor here every day.” The park uses non-burial property only to host this event.
“We hope car enthusiasts and families come and enjoy as much of the day as possible,” Dagny Neel Fitzpatrick says.
Many cemeteries across the country host events, including concerts, wine tastings, yoga, and movies in the park. In Western PA, various churches host a car show weekly and recently funeral homes have begun hosting such events. Neel Fitzpatrick notes, “We believe that our cemetery showcases the future of what a cemetery should be, not just a place for mourning or death, but a gathering place for the community, daily