Sidewalk artists Bridget Klein of Karns City, center, and Kristen Foss of Fort Lauderdale, right, use Zelienople's Main Street as their canvas Saturday during Horse Trading Days.

ZELIENOPLE — The 45th annual Horse Trading Days had a number of highlights to remember. The welcomed return of horses to the event. A beard and mustache showdown and a karaoke contest dubbed the Zelie Idol.

It had the traditional favorites, including the frog hopping contest and baby races. But it also had a few new wrinkles, including a rodent race and some downtown musical entertainment that warmed up attendees for the headliners at Zelienople Community Park.

But most of all, Horse Trading Days did what it has been doing for four-plus decades — provided an opportunity for families to come together and have some fun.

The Horse Trading Days festival was introduced in 1963 by Ron Roach, Jim Cleaver, Franklin Health and Donald Waltman as a way of promoting the Harmony and Zelienople areas. The event, which is sponsored by Zelienople-Harmony Business Association, has grown to one of the largest such festivals in the area. Festival organizers have estimated that 40,000 guests visited the borough each year.

This year, the event looked to some of its old-fashioned roots with the return of horses and wooden nickels that could be used at businesses for discounts and free items.

Hot weather dominated the three-day festival and had crowds heading for something cool to drink after perusing the vendors selling their wares.The event draws families from around the area to enjoy the summer festival.Joy Studey of West Deer Township brought her two daughters, Hailey, 5, and Julia, 8, to participate in the frog jumping contest Saturday morning. The two participated in last year's event. Hailey also was a part of previous baby races."It's really a lot of fun," she said. "We're now going to watch the karaoke contest."Charles Ingram of Plum was attending Horse Trading Days for the first time Saturday afternoon with his wife, Cheryl, and his 9-year-old grandson Noah.Ingram said the family usually tries to attend a couple summertime festivals around the area to enjoy the different activities."I always have to go because I have to drive," Ingram joked."He's here to eat. I've never heard him complain about eating," said his wife, Cheryl.

Ray Ayers of Zelienople eats his way to victory in the adult division of the pie eating contest Friday night at Zelienople Community Park during the 45th annual Horse Trading Days. The three-day festival included a horse parade Thursday evening on Main Street.