CLEARFIELD- Clearfield Revitalization Corporation (CRC) has earned two prestigious Townie Award from the Pennsylvania Downtown Center (PDC) for the group’s efforts: one in honor of the work to revamp the Riverfront Festival, and the other to recognize the façade improvement of Spanky’s Courthouse Cafe.
The awards were presented at the PDC’s Townie Awards gala in Bedford in May. The CRC was honored specifically with the Townie Award recognizing Promotions and Marketing for Special or Neighborhood Events, as well as the Townie Award recognizing Physical Improvements and Design for Individual Façade Restoration.
The Clearfield Riverfront Festival has become a staple early summertime event in Clearfield County. While the Riverfront Festival got its start in the early 1990’s , the event experienced a hiatus of more than 20 years. When evaluating the mission and vision of the CRC it became clear to Main Street Manager, Sue Diehl, that the Riverfront Festival needed to return. The CRC led the charge to revitalize the event and return it to its spot along the West Branch of the Susquehanna River at Lower Witmer Park in Clearfield.
Now managed and organized by the CRC since 2022, the festival has grown significantly over the past three years. CRC Main Street Manager, Sue Diehl, accepted the Townie Award on behalf of the CRC. “We are humbled and honored for Clearfield’s Riverfront Festival to be recognized at a state level,” Diehl said. “It takes many hands to make this event a success, and we are thankful for the Clearfield community’s continued support. Our hard work to revitalize this longtime favorite festival has been well worth the effort.”
The 2024 event had more than 13,000 individuals attending the three-day festival, and the 2025 had a similar number despite some weather-related challenges. “This year, we had more vendors than we even had space for,” said Diehl. “It’s clear that the Clearfield community had a real desire for this event to return, and people showed up to support Downtown Clearfield and our local artisans. Vendors are also seeing this as a win-win. For them, it’s a way to be a part of helping to renew this festival, as well as a great weekend for connecting with thousands of customers.”
The 2025 Clearfield Riverfront Festival included dozens of family-friendly events, which drew in a diverse crowd. Special events during the festival included axe throwing, Passport Radio Cruise the Past car cruise, a boot drive to benefit the Clearfield Borough Fire Department, a mullet contest, bounce house obstacle course, petting zoo, dice run, cornhole tournament, live music each night, and a fireworks display to wrap up the festival. “Our goal is to bring as many people from Clearfield and outside the area to see what an amazing Main Street and great downtown we have,” said Diehl. “Once someone gets a glimpse of what Clearfield has to offer, they’re more likely to come back and spend more time in our downtown stores.”
Diehl also noted that events like the Riverfront Festival build a sense of community pride. “There’s something special about seeing your friends and neighbors come together to celebrate your hometown,” she said. “These events get people outside, encourage community members to talk to each other, and build lasting relationships and memories.”
The second Townie award was presented to the CRC and Spanky’s owners Rob and Heather Inguatiato. Spanky’s Courthouse Cafe has been in business since 1997. Rob and Heather, applied for a facade improvement through CRC with the hope of renovating the exterior of the building. CRC’s facade grant allowed Spanky’s to transform the exterior façade of the restaurant by removing old bricks and the brick wrap and replacing it with Genstone materials, creating an updated Chicago brick-style front. A new awning was constructed, giving 22 and 24 N 3rd St a completely cohesive look. Can lights installed provide lighting and additional safety for both pedestrian traffic and customers. A new block-letter sign designed for Spanky’s leaves no question as to which business you are entering.
“Improving the exteriors of our downtown buildings uplifts not only the business that is in that specific building, but it also uplifts other businesses too,” explained Diehl. “It’s a source of town pride when our buildings look their best. Customers are more likely to stop into not just that restaurant but others too.”
PDC presented 19 total awards during the organization’s annual statewide Townie Awards gala. The Townie Awards are a festive and venerable tradition designed to recognize the commonwealth’s core communities and individuals for creation and implementation of projects, programs and events that exemplify the goals of PDC’s community revitalization mission. Eligible communities consist of Pennsylvania Downtown Center’s nearly 200 member organizations, including Main Street and Elm Street programs, making the Townies a competitive award process each year. Pennsylvania Downtown Center’s executive director, Julie Fitzpatrick, said, “The Townies are an opportunity for us to showcase our member communities and celebrate their incredible work in our commonwealth’s business districts and neighborhoods. Our Main Street and Elm Street community leaders work tirelessly to make our Pennsylvania communities places where we are proud to call home, start a business, build a family, or retire. These award winners are true examples of why ‘Main Street Matters.’ We are thrilled to honor 19 incredible award winners.”
The Townie Awards were presented as part of this year’s Gather and Townie Awards and Manager’s Meeting in downtown Bedford, PA. Over 100 community leaders from across the Commonwealth attended to celebrate the achievements of these awardees. Founded in 1987, the mission of Pennsylvania Downtown Center is to advance the sense of place, quality of life and economic vitality of Pennsylvania’s downtowns, traditional neighborhood business districts and nearby residential areas. For information about the Townie Awards and this year’s recipients, visit PADowntown.org.
