Fair draws from near, far
FRANKLIN TWP — Residents of Butler County and visitors from surrounding counties made the drive on Sunday to eat, ride, play, shop and pet at the 164th Big Butler Fair.
The bright, sunny day included just enough wind to keep patrons cool as they walked the fairgrounds midafternoon, looking for the yummiest morsels, daring rides, perfect pair of sunglasses or cutest goats. Many of the smiling families who strolled the midway drove for an hour or more to enjoy the fair.
Chris and Brittany Felentzer of Indiana County come to the Big Butler Fair every year.
“It's the best fair in the area,” said Brittany Felentzer.
The couple looks forward to gyros from John the Greek and fresh-squeezed lemonade.
“It's good for the community to get everyone together, and it helps the local businesses who have set up stands,” Chris Felentzer said.
“The fair also teaches kids about agriculture, with all the animals,” said Brittany Felentzer, who attended the fair each year as a child growing up in Greensburg, Westmoreland County.
“It's something families can do together that doesn't involve electronics,” Chris Felentzer said.
Talia Colaizzi, 10, of West View, Allegheny County has also been to the fair before.
On Sunday, she came with her grandparents and little brother, who swung his new plastic sword at an imaginary foe.
Talia likes to play games at the fair and win toys. She won a sword and stuffed dog on Sunday as well as a few other trinkets.
She also likes to walk through the many barns and look at the horses, sheep, goats, cows and chickens, but one particular animal is her favorite.
“Here, it's probably the bunnies,” Talia said.Her favorite snack at the fair — among those whose aromas wafted in the breeze — is ice cream.“I like the Butler Fair because I get to spend the day with my grandparents,” she said.Kailee Crise of New Kensington looks forward to the fair every year.“It's a great place to be out in the country and away from city life,” Crise said.On Sunday, she looked forward to two particular activities.“Pet some horses and eat some food,” Crise said.Like the Felentzers, she planned to get a gyro from Jimmy the Greek and deep-fried Oreos for dessert.Crise and her family also enjoys the tractor pulls and school bus demolition derby.“It's so much fun,” she said.Zachary Wagner of Rural Valley, Armstrong County, enjoyed the fair with a group of family members, including his four kids, aged 7 months, 1, 4 and 7.“The weather is nice and it gets everyone out of the house,” said Wagner, who brings his family to the fair each year.He looked forward to an order of deep-fried Stromboli from the famous Denny & Pearl's stand.Wagner said the Big Butler Fair should continue in perpetuity, as it is good for the county.“If you don't give the people something to do, they are going to get into trouble or move away,” he said.Teenager Nathan Adamietz of Pittsburgh enjoyed playing the physical games Sunday during his second visit to the fair.He tried climbing the unstable rope ladder, competing in the booth where winners must do 10 pull-ups and another where participants must hang from a bar for two minutes, and even took a spin on the mechanical bull.While he didn't win at any of the games, he had a good time trying.“It's definitely harder than it looks,” Nathan said of the bull ride. “It's surprisingly fun, even when you fail.”He said while all the food offered in the various booths and stands looked good, he would probably hit the crepe stand before leaving.Nathan hopes to return next year.“There is a lot of fun stuff to do and watch,” he said.
Ben Roenigk, vice president of the Big Butler Fair's board of directors, is not surprised that so many out-of-towners attend each year.“They lost the Allegheny County Fair, the Butler Fair is easy to get to, there's free parking, kids 6 and under are free for the last two years, and there's entertainment on the grounds and in the stands,” Roenigk said.New this year, Roenigk said, are giant oxen that weigh more than 3,000 pounds each, a contest to decorate round bales of hay among the 4-H youth and the country band Blackhawk on Sunday night, to name a few.He said 150 food vendors sell treats that are sweet, savory and everything in between.Among the most popular are John the Greek gyros, Denny & Pearl's Stromboli and Amish doughnuts, Roenigk said.“I like Denny & Pearl's Stromboli, extra sauce,” Roenigk said.Jan Fichter of Cheswick never misses the fair, which she strolled with her husband on Sunday afternoon.She and her husband make it a point to attend each year.“Every time we come, it seems to have beautiful weather,” she said.Fichter summed up the thoughts of those who attended under a clear blue sky on Sunday.“It's just a good time,” she said.
