It may not be the Clearfield County Fair, but one of the most popular aspects of the fair will still be offered at the Clearfield Driving Park – Fair Food!
Everyone has their favorite fair foods and the fair board is trying to fulfill that need with a special Fair Food Court from Aug. 2 through Aug. 8.
This event involves 29 different food vendors who will be located in the grove area.
“Normally we have about 140 food vendors” at the fair, Fair Manager Greg Hallstrom said. For this event, they tried to get a variety of food choices.
This option at least, gives people a taste of the fair. “We hope the community supports these people because this is their livelihood.”
Many food vendors with trailers have been setting up in local parking lots as a way to drum up business.
“We are hoping this helps us and them at the same time.”
The fair was cancelled in June due to the restrictions on gatherings due to the COVID-19 crisis.
“It was a tough decision and we held off as long as we possibly could,” Hallstrom said. But after checking with their insurance companies and lawyers, he said they made the right decision.
He pointed out that some of the restrictions in effect in June have now been rolled back. Earlier this month, Gov. Tom Wolf limited indoor events to only 25 people.
“We could have been planning it up to last week and then had to pull the plug.”
Canceling the fair impacts the county’s tourism numbers and summer employment.
Many people plan their vacations around the fair and others take time off from their regular jobs to work during fair week, he noted.
The initial job loss was to the 250 people the fair board usually employs in the parking lots, as gate keepers, security and at the barns.
The fair board decided to try to salvage as much as they could of the annual gathering with the Fair Food Court and a few other events happening that week including Harness Racing on Sunday, Aug. 2 and Monday, Aug. 3 starting at 11 a.m.
“We are not sure yet whether we will be able to have spectators or not,” Hallstrom said.
If people are allowed to watch, they will be in the bleachers only with a limit of 250 people. Social distancing will be enforced, but people will not be required to wear masks because the event is held outdoors.
On Saturday Aug. 8, there will be a junior livestock sale.
“Our fair is all about the agricultural community,” he noted, adding that it didn’t seem right that students were working with their animals all year and we were not going “to fulfill our commitment with them.”
Although the “barns will not be full of animals,” the participants will bring their animals on Thursday.
Previously the livestock sale was advertised as being held at the Expo 2 Building, but due to renewed restrictions on crowds, it will now be an outdoor event at the show ring.
Everyone will be monitored to ensure the state’s COVID-19 guidelines are followed.
Also, on Saturday, Aug. 8, there will be a horse show in the horse arena that will give “kids practicing all year (an opportunity) to show their talents.”
Hallstrom provided the following list of the food vendors, which will be at the fairgrounds from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. starting Sunday, Aug. 2.
Vendors included: John the Greek Gyro, John the Greek Pizza, Boyer’s Ice Cream, Stromboli Land, Seaver’s Concessions, Rubel’s Funnel Cake, Rubel’s Lemonade, Denny and Pearls, The Panini Stand, Sweet Adventure Ice Cream Treats, Hewitt’s Kettle Corn, Kozak Monkey Bread, Marcco’s Steak Sandwich, Ricco Concessions, N & N Cinnamon Rolls, Tony’s Pizza, Miller & Schenk, Becky’s Soft Serve, R & J Food Concessions, Brody’s BBQ, Buntz Apple Cart, Molnar’s Concessions, Snyder’s Concessions, Shulick Apple Dumplings and Andy’s Philadelphia Style Cheesesteaks.
