Each year, 100,000 attendees pass through the gates of the Clearfield fairgrounds. Fifty percent of ticket sales for its grandstand entertainment come from outside the county, according to Dave Franson II, president of the fair and park board.
Franson said that the remaining 50 percent comes from people residing within Clearfield County. However, only 8 percent of grandstand ticket purchases come from within Clearfield’s zip code – 16830.
A few years ago, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and Penn State studied the economic impact of county fairs. It found that the Clearfield fair generated $1.6 million in revenue for the county, Franson said.
He said the study additionally found that $3.2 million was generated for the surrounding area. He pointed out that it has resulted in approximately 1,000 overnight stays at local hoteliers during fair week.
But this year, fair officials have bumped into some problems booking its celebrity entertainment, while hotels are filled with guests staying and working locally because of the influx in natural gas drilling.
“It’s been hard to book the artists. They want to stay right here in town. We have people going to DuBois to book rooms,” Franson said. “It’s not a big deal, and actually, it’s a nice problem for us to have.”
According to him, the future of the fair is “stable,” and it can be evidenced in admission prices, which haven’t been raised in two years. He said the Clearfield fair ranks as about the fourth largest statewide behind Bloomsburg, York and Allentown and ranks closely with the McKean fair.
“A lot of people are staying here, and they’re using (the fair) as their vacation. People plan their whole year around the fair. Think about it, if you grew up in Clearfield or anywhere around here, when is your class reunion? It’s either the Saturday before or the Saturday after the fair because everyone is here.”
The 151st fair has been set for Monday, Aug. 1 through Saturday, Aug. 6 and will feature some novelties for its attendees.
Bill Medley of the Righteous Brothers will entertain at the grandstand Tuesday night; Trace Adkins and Kelly Pickler Wednesday night; and the Full Pull Productions Truck ‘n Tractor Pull Thursday night.
Franson said the “biggest kiddie band around” – Big Time Rush – will take the stage Friday night, and he is confident the concert will sell out. He said they were trying something new Saturday night, and the track would be standing room only for its rock show featuring Cinderella with special guests Firehouse and Slaughter.
He said the Culinary Competition on Monday, Aug. 1 is new to this year’s fair and sponsored by the Sweet Art Bakery, Ethan’s Café and The Angry Bean and King Arthur’s Flour. The Walker Brother’s Circus was newly added and is free with gate admission to the fair.
In her report, Executive Director Holly Komonczi indicated she touches base with local hoteliers monthly and has heard differently than what was reported by Franson. She said while there are corporate stays through the week, the hotels are packed with leisure travelers on the weekends.
Komonczi said the CCRTA will now conduct business under “Visit Clearfield County” and believed it was an ideal time to incorporate a new look in its promotional materials. She received permission to explore the possibilities of Lunar Cow Design Inc. producing a logo in addition to the 2012 Travel Planner.
According to her, the office staff has started selling advertising for the upcoming year’s travel planner. The staff has developed a social networking theme, and it will look similar to Facebook and Twitter, Komonczi said.
In addition, Komonczi sought permission for the hiring of someone to produce photography for the travel planner. In the past, she said the CCRTA has done photo contests and collected photographs; however, she wanted some fresh for promotional use.
Komonczi indicated she’s developed a list of particular shots that she wants from around the county. She would also be present while the photographs were taken and have “full control” of the individual shots.
She told the board she has a couple local photographers in mind but is also open to requesting proposals for the same. She said it wasn’t budgeted with the travel planner but could come from their mobile marketing funds.
Board member Tracey Mahan suggested working out some sort of trade-off with a photographer. She said the photographer would receive credit and in turn exposure and perhaps would consider being contracted at a reduced rate.
Mahan said the CCRTA would need photographs from year-around, not just one particular season. Board member Terry Malloy suggested possibly structuring some sort of deal where the CCRTA would only pay for photographs used.
Komonczi was asked to further explore the costs involved in hiring a photographer.
Komonczi also approached the board about purchasing a mascot to represent the CCRTA. She suggested a burger-related costume since Denny’s Beer Barrel and Pub has been a big draw for the area.
She estimated that it would cost close to $5,000 for the CCRTA to have a costume designed and produced. Board Chairperson Nancy Micks said it wouldn’t be something used every day and needed further exploration.
Also, Micks said she didn’t want the CCRTA to separate itself from other partners by focusing on one alone. She said it was a “big concern” of hers to have one identifying a single partner to which Komonczi later agreed.
Board member Greg Sheehan asked if many other visitor bureaus had mascots. Komonczi said probably only a half dozen, which wasn’t many, but it was an idea to add onto their presence at events, such as parades.
Mahan suggested that CCRTA consider a mascot but maybe not a full costume. She said Clarion’s Autumn Leaf Festival has a plush leaf, and in Punxsutawney, they have a plush Phil.
“See if it catches first and build from there,” Mahan said.