While the grandstand stage always draws the most attention at the Crawford County Fair, there are plenty of other acts, events and entertainment for fairground visitors to enjoy.
Although not very big, the West End Stage sees quite a bit of activity throughout the week, including two newcomers to the fair.
The Northwestern Pennsylvania concert band will perform on Wednesday at 7 p.m. for its country fair debut. Formed in 1982, the band brings together music lovers from across the region to share their love of the art form.
Armond Walter, who became the band’s director after the founding director retired in June, said the musicians are enthusiastic about performing and want to return.
“This is an exciting new venue for us and hopefully we can continue every year,” he said.
Walter said the band aims to “keep it light” in their song choices for concerts, with a more “summery” feel. There is also a song selection from “Ficent Seven”.
Walter, known as the band director at Meadville Area High School, said playing in a concert band was a very different feeling.
“People are there because they want to be there,” he said. “They are excited to make music. They want to share their gift with the communities we serve.”
Another newcomer to this year’s fair is the Animal Rescue Program, Canine Partners Program, which hosts adoption and educational events multiple times during the week of the fair on the West End Stage.
The program’s founder, Judy Troyer, said the organization’s events include dogs, cats, kittens and puppies, and children even get the chance to interact with the latter two. They will also discuss pet training.
“We are very excited,” she said. “Frankly, I am thrilled and honored to be asked to represent the rescue world.”
Although the Canine Partners Program only started in 2016, Troyer said he has been helping animals for 30 years. The program began training animals with behavioral problems to be sent to other programs for adoption, but recently began processing their own adoptions.
For those looking to adopt an animal, the program’s events at fairs help make the process easier. You can proceed smoothly.
Troyer said the organization will also provide information on how people can help with the program, as well as an explanation of how Canine Partners operates.
Dean Maynard, chairman of the Crawford County Fair Commission, said the commission brought the program to the fair because many people adopted pets during the COVID-19 pandemic and probably struggled to train the animals. said.
“And of course everyone likes to hold dogs and cats,” he added.
It’s not the only new feature at the fair. The Zerubini Family Matches with his circus take place regularly throughout the week of the fair, with free performances by jugglers, animals and clowns. The circus will pitch his tent on Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, August 27th and his second on Monday.