Carnival, fair season underway
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RICHFIELD -- The calendar might say summer is winding down, but fair and carnival and fair season is just getting started.
"It's the end of the summer, but at the same time, it's the beginning of summer for the fairs and carnivals in the area," said Daniel Stump, chair for the 55th Annual Richfield Dutch Days.
That means plenty of festivities for carnival- and fair-goers in the coming weeks.
Tuscarora Valley Heritage Days kicked off the carnival and fair schedule with its annual event, which wrapped up on Sunday. That means it's time for the Juniata County Youth Fair and Richfield Dutch Days to take center stage.
Here are some highlights of what's coming up:
Juniata County Youth Fair:
Through Thursday
The Juniata County Youth Fair takes over the Juniata County Fairgrounds, 308 Eighth St., Port Royal all this week. Today's highlights include goat show at 9 a.m. and decorated cake silent auction and sheep show at 1 p.m. Wednesday should be a hoppin' good time with the rabbit show at 9 a.m., market steer and heifer show at 3 p.m., bake-off auction in the livestock barn at 5:30 p.m. and swine show at 6 p.m. The supreme showmanship contest starts off the final day at 10 a.m., followed by the animal costume contest. Buyer registration starts at 5 p.m., with the rocket launch at 5:30 p.m. and the livestock sale at 6 p.m. For more information, find the Juniata County 4-H page on Facebook.
Richfield Dutch Days:
Wednesday-Saturday
This year's Richfield Dutch Days honors local farmers with its theme, "Thanking Our Farmers." "That is a big part of our area here," Stump said. "Each year we brainstorm ideas for a theme. Several of our farmers are part of our organization as well, so we wanted to honor them."
Good food, fun and games are on the schedule each night of the four-day event at Basom Memorial Park, 6972 Heister Valley Rd., Richfield, along with nightly entertainment.
Opening day features kids night with buy one, get one on wristbands for the carnival rides and the Dutch menu features homemade beef pot pie at 4:30 p.m. The Broken Record Band provides entertainment with shows at 8 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
Thursday is fireworks night, with a show at 10 p.m. sponsored by Regester Chevrolet. There's also music by Lucky Afternoon at 7:15 p.m. and 8:45 p.m. and a baked ham dinner on the menu.
On Friday, the Pentagon Band provides entertainment with 8 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. shows, and pork and sauerkraut will be served.
Gold City returns on Saturday for appearances at 8:15 p.m. and 9:45 p.m. and a chicken barbecue is scheduled. The parade, with floats, bands and walking groups, is slated for 4 p.m. with a quilt auction at 10 p.m.
Dutch Days wraps up Sunday with a community picnic at 5:30 p.m., followed by an outdoor church service at 7 p.m.
Additionally, there's bingo, with cash prizes nightly, along with other games including the dime pitch and a Chinese auction. Dutch Days collectible commemorative items will be available, such as a pottery coffee mug with the name and year on them, Stump said.
Last year, the crowds were estimated at about 1,500 people per night, Stump added.
For more information, visit www.dutchdays.com or find their page on Facebook.
Fayette Community Carnival:
July 30-Aug. 5
"Country Living" is the theme for the Fayette Community Carnival, which opens with an outdoor church service at 6 p.m. Sunday, July 30, at Lost Creek Community Park in McAlisterville. An ice cream social follows at 7 p.m. at the main pavilion.
The carnival features five days of fun-filled events every night.
The carnival meal menu features soups and sandwiches on Aug. 1; hot turkey sandwiches on Aug. 2; ham loafs on Aug. 3; roast beef on Aug. 4; and a chicken barbecue on Aug. 5. Meals are served starting at 5 p.m.
A Chinese auction, which benefits the Fayette Fire Co., will be held nightly in the Fayette Fire Hall. Donations are also being accepted for the local food and pet pantries.
Fireworks will be held on Aug. 2, with a cornhole tournament on Aug. 4, with bags flying at 6:30 p.m. Registration starts at 5:30 p.m. The cornhole tourney is a new attraction to the carnival. The entry fee is $20 per person, a blind draw will be held to select teams.
The 28th annual Vehicle Show is set for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Aug. 5 at the Fayette Community Carnival Grounds. The cost to pre-register is $10 and $15 the day of the show. "If it has wheels or an engine, it's welcome," organizers said.
The carnival concludes on Aug. 5 with the parade at 4 p.m. Registration starts at 1 p.m. Line up is at Rickenbaugh's Building Supply's back lot. Cash prizes will be awarded for Best of Show as well as individual categories.
Halves at the chicken barbecue are $7, starting at 11 a.m. Dinners will be available after the parade and cost $10. Tickets are available.
The main stage will have different performers every night. On Aug. 1, SonBeam Early Learning Center starts at 6:30 p.m. with the Greenwood Community Band at 7 p.m., Lewistown Community Band at 8 p.m., Logan Guard at 9 p.m. and EJ Sax Quartet at 9:30 p.m. On Aug. 2, Lucky Afternoon will perform at 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Country Express has the same schedule on Aug. 3. On Aug. 4, Borderline performs at 6:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., while on Aug. 5, the Seger Family entertains at 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
Nightly entertainment includes bingo from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. McAlisterville Soldiers Orphan School limited edition t-shirts will also be on sale during the carnival. Discounted wristbands are also available.
For more information, visit www.fayettecommunitycarnival.com or find their page on Facebook.
Mifflin County Youth Fair:
Aug. 5-12
Highlights of this year's event to be held at the Mifflin County Youth Park, 110 W. Logan St., Reedsville, include the open rabbit show which kicks off at 8 a.m. Aug. 5.
That night, at 7 p.m., visitors are cordially invited to the coronation ceremony for the 2023 youth fair queen.
The youth fair concludes with the 4-H and livestock sale at 10 a.m. Aug. 12, with hogs, lambs, goats, rabbits, dairy feeders and steers. There are three buying options this year: buy and keep, buyback and donate.
The first Rodeo Night is scheduled for 7 p.m. Aug. 12, with barrel racing, pole bending, rodeo clown, mutton busting, trick riding and a calf scramble. Trophy buckles will be awarded to division champions in barrel racing and pole bending. Open kids rodeo events are also planned. The event is sponsored by Midridge Farm and Rocky Ridge Ranch. Admission is free but there is a fee for parking.
For more information, visit www.mcyouthfair.com or find their page on Facebook.
Juniata County Fair:
Sept. 2-9
Opening day on Sept. 2 at the 169th Annual Juniata County Fair features a rabbit show, fair queen contests, food auction, free entertainment and fast cars racing at Port Royal Speedway.
Gates open at 11 a.m. at the fairgrounds, with rides opening at 2 p.m. Admission is free.
On Sept. 2, The Boyz will perform the national anthem during the opening ceremony at 12 p.m. The rabbit show also kicks off fair week in the Livestock Barn Show Ring. Fair queen contests will be held from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., and Echoes provides entertainment with 4 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. shows. Racing hits the dirt oval at 6 p.m. with the Butch Renninger Memorial. The swine show wraps up day one at 7 p.m. in the show ring.
Performances by the Gospel Sound Duo and Broken Record Band highlight Sept. 3, along with the beef and dairy shows, truck and tractor pulls, Farm Family of the Year presentation and church service.
Labor Day is Sept. 4, and it features goat and sheep shows, supreme showmanship and best-dressed critter contests, go-kart racing, performance by Best Friend's Girl and 72nd Annual Foss Jewelers of Lewistown Labor Day Classic.
A petting zoo and pony rides highlight the slate for Sept. 5, along with goat snuggling, kids' painting party and face painting, bicycle giveaway, flower arranging for adults and performances by Nathan Merovich.
On Sept. 6, the petting zoo, pony rides and goat snuggling return, along with a greased pig contest, cornhole tournament and performances by Buffalo Mountain Bluegrass and American Pride.
The Sept. 7 slate has two performances by local singer-songwriter Chris Woodward and Shindiggin, goat snuggling, honeybee display and the All-Star Circuit of Champion sprints.
On Sept. 8, Velveeta takes the stage, while the Speed Palace hosts the "Night Before the 50" All-Star Circuit of Champion sprints and late models.
The fair wraps up on Sept. 9, with performances by Lady Patriot Twirlers and Poms and Modern Outlaws on the stage as well as the 56th Annual Tuscarora 50.
For more information, visit www.juniatacountyfair.com or find them on Facebook.
Beaver County Fair
Sept. 17-23
Celebrating more than 90 years of agriculture, food and country living, the seven-day event in Beaver Springs is filled with exhibits, livestock and farm competitions, truck and tractor pulls, kids games, carnival rides and musical events.
This year's live performances include the Fuller Family Singers, local singer-songwriter Chris Woodward and Shindiggin, Erich Cawalla and the Uptown Band, Rick K Road Trip, Danielle Cressinger Band, New Individuals and American Pride.
Other main events include the fair queen contest.
Admission is $5 Monday through Saturday, with ages 5 and under free. A weekly pass costs $15. Parking is free. A $7 nightly pass is available for $7 for the rides, which are open 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sept. 17-21 and 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sept. 22.
For more information, visit www.beaverfair.org or find them on Facebook.