More than 5,000 people are expected to converge June 14 on Emmerling Park when Indiana Township celebrates its annual Youth Day.

With balloon art and jugglers, home run derbies and scrumptious eats, the event is billed as a social extravaganza, according to Township Manager Dan Anderson.

What started out as a neighborly picnic at Rural Ridge Parklet has grown to be the biggest event in the township.

A benefit for the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program, Youth Day brought in about $25,000 in 2007. After costs, the committee was able to turn over about $5,000 to the anti-drug program.

Money is used specifically to bring workshops to the Fox Chapel Area schools that promote healthy living.

Students talk with DARE officers about a variety of subjects that include smoking, nutrition, bullying and drugs.

In its 13th year, Youth Day will kick off at 3 p.m. and run to 9:30 p.m.

The theme, "Our World Today is our Community Every Day," was created by Hartwood Elementary third-grader Calle Zmenkowski.

Anderson ensures that a slew of activities are scheduled to please every age.

Expected at the event are inflatables, rock climbing walls, Tae Kwon-Do, fingerprinting and a speed pitch contest. Presentations by the township's K-9 unit, the Wild World of Animals and the Westmoreland County Obedience Training Club are planned.

"Everything is free," he said. "We try to change up so there's always something new."

Anderson happily noted that the event will finish with fireworks this year, something that was absent in 2007.

"We've done well with sponsors so far, so we're bringing them back!"

With the picnic still a month away, coordinators are encouraging residents to volunteer -- and donate.

For more information, call township police officer Kirk Vandenbord at 412-767-5333, ext. 45.