Fall Fest debut aims to put McClure Commons on the map
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McCLURE -- Pony rides, a petting area with goats and a chicken barbecue by the McClure Fire Company will be among the attractions when McClure Commons hosts its first Fall Fest on Saturday, Oct. 17.
The festival runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 5 Bubb St., with approximately 35 vendors expected to participate. Admission is free. Organizers hope the food, shopping, and family activities will introduce more people to a marketplace that many still don’t know exists.
Since opening in June, the Commons has struggled to attract shoppers unfamiliar with its location. Lori Feehrer, a vendor and Fall Fest organizer, understands the challenge.
"A lot of people still don’t know it’s there," Feehrer said. "We just want a lot more shoppers."
Through her business, Teddy’s and More, Feehrer sells handmade stuffed animals and custom-order memory bears. Feehrer pays rent for her space, making the Commons’ ability to attract shoppers important to her business. She volunteered to help organize Fall Fest to draw more attention to the marketplace.
For Maureen and Scott Durst, the festival is part of a larger undertaking that began with a need for storage space. The couple had a 40-foot camper in one place, a boat in another, and antique cars somewhere else. When a large warehouse in McClure came up for sale, Maureen saw room for those belongings and much more.
"McClure was kind of a very vibrant town at one point," she said. She wondered whether the building could help bring some of that activity back.
The year-round vendors offer everything from goat’s milk soap and antiques to Amish furniture and stuffed animals. Additional vendors will set up for Fall Fest, creating what Feehrer described as an on-site craft show alongside the Commons’ regular merchandise.
Feehrer said the Commons already has repeat customers, although the vendors would welcome more. She pointed to one seller who calls himself the "junk farmer" as an example of the unusual merchandise available. The variety, she believes, gives visitors plenty to explore beyond the traditional craft offerings.
Children can get their faces painted, paint pumpkins, or take pony rides. A visiting business will bring small goats for petting and a chance to snuggle them. The goat activity costs $5, while face painting and pumpkin painting are free.
The McClure Fire Company will prepare chicken barbecue on site. Commons co-owner Maureen Durst said proceeds from the fire company’s chicken sales will go to the department, with the Commons taking none of that money. The Dirty Lemon Cafe also plans to bring its drink trailer. Door prizes and free coffee and donuts are among the other offerings, and Feehrer expects the permanent vendors to run specials.
The festival will take place rain or shine. Feehrer said organizers can move the animal attractions indoors if necessary.
Organizers put Fall Fest together on short notice. Feehrer, a regular craft-show participant, said many vendors schedule events a year ahead, limiting participation this year. She hopes earlier planning will attract more vendors next fall.
The Dursts bought the 27,000-square-foot warehouse and began making plans. Part of it now holds about 25 craft vendors. Other areas accommodate RV and boat storage and a demolition business. The couple has begun preparing another section for 20 to 25 additional vendor booths, with a small restaurant also in the plans.
The couple also operates a concession business and a restaurant. Maureen said they’re considering other uses for the warehouse, including auctions. An auctioneer has expressed interest in looking at available space, although nothing has been finalized. The possibility appeals to Durst, who has a longtime affection for antiques and auctions and wants the Commons to accommodate a variety of businesses and activities.
Durst expects work on the restaurant to begin this winter. "I seem to like winter projects," she said. "I’m not sure why, but I do."
One new dividing wall stretches 80 feet. Feehrer said workers are building the booths with reclaimed lumber and installing electricity in each. She said there’s already a waiting list of vendors interested in space.
Durst’s enthusiasm extends to the goods themselves. She grew up around antiques, collects clocks, and loves quilts and auctions. She’s been impressed by artisans from McClure and surrounding communities, particularly an embroiderer whose work she admires despite not knowing how to sew herself.
"They need a space to put their things out so that people can see," Durst said.
Durst said some potential shoppers have struggled to locate the warehouse off Route 522. Fall Fest offers an opportunity to introduce those customers to the Commons while raising money for the fire company. Outside the festival, the Commons is normally open Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Both women would like to see the celebration become an annual event. Feehrer believes more advance planning could bring in additional vendors. Durst hopes the Commons eventually grows into a business that supports local jobs and gives people another reason to come to town.
Durst summed up her goal for the building and the town: "I want the Commons to put McClure back on the map."