Horse Trading Days remains popular
ZELIENOPLE — The heat didn’t nag anyone Saturday, as thousands of patrons hoofed it around the 58th Annual Horse Trading Days to get some carnival food, play games or buy a craft item.
“I just moved her from North Carolina, and this is my first time here,” said Sydney Lewis, 12, as she clutched her Hello Kitty tin containing the cash she planned to spend at the event. “It’s hot, but it’s a different type of hot.”
She explained that North Carolina in July is much more humid, but there she could jump in the ocean to cool off.
Sydney pointed out another big difference between her native home and Western Pennsylvania.
“It snows here,” she said.
Sydney bought a small gnome figurine and a flower necklace at the booths on the southwest corner of Main Street and Grandview Avenue, and she had her eye on an item among the food vendors across the street.
“I saw this giant slushie, and I’m going to ask if I can get one,” she whispered.
Sydney also kept her eye out for earrings, as she is getting her ears pierced in the near future.
“It’s a really nice thing to go to,” she said of her first Horse Trading Days excursion.
Newly engaged Anne Schaar and Brian O’Donnell of Evans City are familiar with Zelienople’s summer festival and looked forward to lunchtime among the food vendors.
“I’ve lived in Zelienople most of my life, and it’s just been something I’ve done ever since I was little,” she said of attending Horse Trading Days. “It’s important because it brings the community together.”
Schaar had some Amish doughnuts and old-fashioned root beer shortly after the festival opened.
“I mostly come for the food,” she said.
O’Donnell agreed.
“The root beer is a standout, and I like window shopping,” he said. “I’m looking forward to a gyro and something sweet.”
Sandi Misicko, of Portersville, comes to Horse Trading Days most years to look at the widely varying and high-quality merchandise available from vendors.
As of 11 a.m., she had Pampered Chef cookware and fresh peaches in her bag.
“It’s a $7,000 day,” joked her friend, Charlie Vought, of Prospect.
Vought has one goal during the festival.
“I eat,” he said. “I had some fresh fruit. It was excellent.”
The festival was replete as usual with food from chocolate-covered strawberries to corn dogs, items for sale from clothes to bookmarks to plants and popcorn, and games and activities for children in one corner of the main intersection.
Saturday’s events included a dog show, cornhole tournament, pedal-power tractor pull and the first Horse Trading Days hot dog-eating contest, among others.
