Horse Trading Days under way in Zelienople
ZELIENOPLE — The borough was full of activity Thursday with the start of the 51st annual Horse Trading Days.
Visitors enjoyed food, craft vendors, live music, and sidewalk sales in the Four Corners Park and along Main Street.
Jennifer Ackerman, director of the Zelienople-Harmony Area Chamber of Commerce, said in the afternoon that the first day was going well.
“It's been fantastic. The weather's perfect, and there have been plenty of people,” Ackerman said.
Though part of the northeast corner of the park had to be roped off because of damage to the Park United Presbyterian Church from a truck accident on Monday, all the vendors were relocated to other areas, she said.
Several people from Zelienople and the surrounding area said walking around the borough during Horse Trading Days is a tradition.
Rich and Sharon Goehring said they have lived in Zelienople since 1970, and they attend the event nearly every year.
“It's nice to walk around and see everybody. We just saw some people we hadn't seen in a year,” Rich said.
Chelsea Hillard of Evans City said attending the event is a tradition with her group of friends who all attend Seneca Valley schools.
“The food is good, and I like seeing all the unique stands,” Hillard said.
Some were visiting the event for the first time.
Don Anchors of Southern California visited Horse Trading Days while in town visiting family.
“It's fairly complete if you're coming down with family to spend a day and have some fun. There's plenty to do,” Anchors said.
Patty and Gary Minner of Butler said they came to Horse Trading Days because they knew that Sarah's Amish Donuts would be there.
Despite never having attended Horse Trading Days before, the couple said they like visiting Zelienople occasionally.
“We enjoy walking through the town of Zelienople,” Gary said. “If I were to pick a small town to live in around here, this would probably by number one on my list.”
At the festival's information table, visitors can pick up a free wood nickel, which can be exchanged for discounts at 17 participating vendors and businesses, though some people opt just to collect the nickels instead, Ackerman said.
Horse Trading Days will continue today and Saturday. Events today include the horse parade at 7 p.m. and at 7:30 p.m. a free concert by bluegrass group Bits 'n Pieces in the Strand Theater.
Saturday will feature children's games, including frog jumping contest and rodent races, starting at 10 a.m. in the Spring Street Parking Lot.
At 3 p.m. doo-wop group The Softwinds will perform a free concert at the Strand Theater. At 7:30 p.m. the Corbin/Hanner Band will play at the amphitheater in the Zelienople Community Park. Admission for that concert is $5 per person.
