Horse Trading Days marks 52nd year in a row
ZELIENOPLE — The 52nd annual Horse Trading Days festival is expected to draw as many as 40,000 visitors.
The event on July 16 to 18 is organized by the Zelienople Area Business Association and is supported by residents, businesses, police and fire officials and the borough. Activities will run from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on all three days.
Visitors will be encouraged to tour historic sites, attend concerts and shop downtown. The festival will include a parade, live entertainment and food and craft vendors.
“This festival has been going on for so long that people have just gotten used to it, and that's why it's so popular,” said Matthew Edwards, the festival's coordinator.
However, Edwards said several new events are scheduled to take place.
On July 17 there will be a golf outing at the Strawberry Ridge Golf Course. On July 18 there will be a corn hole tournament on the Passavant House lawn.
There also will be a farmer's market for the first time at the corner of Beaver and Main streets. It will be open all three days.
The annual horse parade will take place on July 17, and the Hot-to-Trot 5K run/walk is scheduled for July 18 at Zelienople Community Park. It's been “several years” since the 5K run/walk was held, Edwards said.
“We have quite a few new things this year, and a couple of things that we are bringing back,” he said.
“This is just a summer tradition that everyone is used to,” he continued. “I think we see so many people each year because people will drive right through here and come across this festival, almost on accident.”
In addition, there will be free concerts at 7:30 p.m. on all three days at the Strand Theater. The tickets will be distributed free at the box office on the day of the show. The tickets are first-come, first-served with a four ticket limit per person.
The first Horse Trading Days festival was held in 1963 as a sales promotion, and it took place at the same time as a horse show. Supporters from both events converged and agreed to promote the Zelienople and Harmony areas along with the horse show.
For information on the attractions and schedule of events during the festival, visit horsetradingdays.info.
