ZELIENOPLE — As communities change and evolve, some events remain and become part of the history and fabric of the community.

In this borough, a community of rich history founded in the early 1800s and with a population just more than 4,000, the annual Horse Trading Days festival is one of the those traditional events.

Thousands across the region attend the three-day festival every summer.

For organizer Arlene Krava, the event takes months of planning, scores of volunteers, financial support from the businesses, help from the borough's police and fire police, and borough officials to make it successful.

Then, there's lining up the entertainment and food vendors along with requesting street and park closures and use of the Community Park, all necessary parts that go into this community tradition.

Krava has organized the celebration for four years, taking over for Joella Baker, who did that for about six years.

The 47th Horse Trading Days is set for July 15 to 17.

Sponsored by the Zelienople-Harmony Business Association, it was first staged in 1963 by Ron Roach, Jim Cleaver, Franklin Health and Donald Waltman as a way of promoting the Harmony and Zelienople areas.

It has grown to one of the largest in the area and welcomes about 40,000 guests each year.

Krava said she's had to cut costs and scale down some the entertainment in recent years because of the poor economy, but she added businesses have been wonderful in sponsoring events and donating materials such as garbage cans, tents and other items.

The borough has been supportive of the event, contributing $3,400 both last year and this year.

Krava said she plans to send out a second reminder letter to last year's business sponsors in hopes of adding new entertainment and keeping many of the old favorites.

Don Pepe, borough manager, said Horse Trading Days is an important aspect of the community because it not only brings people into the community, but it also helps generate economic benefits for the businesses.

"It's an event that shows off the town. People come from all around to attend. It means a lot for the character of this community," Pepe said. "That is why council has been supportive and will continue to be supportive (of Horse Trading Days.)"

Pepe added Krava has done a good job since she began organizing the event and learned quickly the feel of the community and what she could and couldn't do with the event.

Horse Trading Days again will work with Ron Carter of the Strand Theater to provide at least one free performance.

The festival last year helped ring in the grand reopening of the theater after years of being closed.

This year, the folk singing group Simple Gifts will perform July 17. Based in State College, Linda Littleton and Karen Hirshon have performed as Simple Gifts since 1995.

Simple Gifts has opened for Natalie MacMaster, Tom Paxton, John McCutcheon, Robin and Linda Williams, Jay Unger and Molly Mason, and the Boys of the Lough. The group plays a variety of instruments, including the violin, mandolin, hammered dulcimer, guitar and some other unusual instruments such as the bowed psaltery, baritone fiddle, banjolin, guitjo and doumbek.

This year, there will be some different events for Children's Day, including the half-pint hoedown in which children can learn square and line dances with their parents.

The children also will have the opportunity to learn how to play the spoons with the help of the Simple Gifts. Later that evening, the children will be invited to perform with their spoons during a concert by the State College folk group.

Other events are still being finalized. With every year, activities are assessed and changes made.

To remedy a situation that occurred last year, no food vendors will be allowed to set up in the parking lot next to the Four Corners Park this year so the handicapped-accessible parking spaces in the lot aren't blocked.