Randy Griffith
rgriffith@tribdem.com
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Behind-the-scenes changes at two Labor Day Weekend traditions have not altered their commitments to affordable family entertainment, good food and community support, leaders say.
Crowds filled the midway and kept exhibitors busy Monday at Cambria County Fair, despite the lack of top-name entertainers this year.
“Went away from the big acts,” fair Manager Pat Brown said Monday, blaming cuts in state funding for fairs.
“Today we had local bands playing, and we had a good turnout in people for that,” he said.
He expects strong attendance to continue today with performances by at least eight high school bands.
For 13-year-old Adriana Frontino of Northern Cambria, the fair is entertainment enough.
“I come for the rides,” Adriana said after her turn on a mechanical bull on the fairgrounds’ main midway.
Funding cuts also threatened some of the fair’s traditional agricultural events, Brown said, but hard work by his team of volunteers garnered sufficient premium money to fill the barns for sheep, beef, dairy, swine, rabbit and poultry competition, along with horse shows and crop exhibits.
That was good news for 10-year-old Jordan McDevitt of Loretto.
Painstakingly running the electric shears over his lamb, McDevitt was preparing for today’s sheep competition. He is hoping to follow up on last year’s champion paired lambs award.
In the pig barn, Emily Kutskel said the hardest part of her job is keeping her pigs, Hansel and Gretel, clean for the competition.
Meanwhile, the 22nd annual Forest Hills Festival’s second year under Adams Township Volunteer Fire Company No. 2 leadership hasn’t skipped a beat, with throngs of visitors working their way through the craft and food booths at Festival Park in St. Michael on Monday.
“We had excellent crowds,” fire Chief Paul Kundrod said.
“Everything has gone really well, all three days. We have a good blend of entertainment along with food and crafts.
“That’s what makes it so popular.”
Popular with both visitors and vendors, said Jack Hartfield of Thomas Mills.
“I’ve seen a lot of people and had a lot of sales,” Hartfield said in his wood craft booth.
“Things have been dead since last September. I was selling half of what I usually do. This has been the first sale to live up to expectations.”
Hartfield credited Forest Hills’ success to its family-friendly atmosphere.
The festival is a tradition for Brianna Kostan and her mother, Tess.
“It is a happening every year to come down and see all your friends,” Brianna said.
The South Fork family members also volunteer at a number of St. Michael Catholic Church fundraising venues at the festival.
In its first two decades, the Forest Hills Festival was the premiere fundraiser for Friends of the Johnstown Flood National Memorial. That group disbanded after completing its primary mission of acquiring historic South Fork Hunting and Fishing Club property and donating it to the National Park Service.
