First of 3 Horse Trading Days showcases lively town, ‘Main Street community’
ZELIENOPLE — Residents say that live music, friendly chatter and groups of people walking along Main Street are not exclusive to open-air events like Horse Trading Days, but are emblematic of Zelienople’s energy.
The town’s lively atmosphere was on display on the first day of the annual family-friendly festival on Thursday, July 20, in downtown Zelienople as people from around Butler County gathered for food, drinks, games and live performances that continued throughout the morning and afternoon into the evening.
“This type of community feel is in Zelienople all year ’round,” said Stacy McCaffrey, a volunteer raising funds for Seneca Valley North Football and Cheer. She motioned to Tim Murray, whose family has been in the area for over 75 years. McCaffrey and Murray have known each other since elementary school, she said, and now their children are together at the event.
“We’re not a dead Main Street,” said Murray. “Zelienople has been able to survive through all the ups and downs over the years. It’s never really experienced any real downturns and then this revitalization … a lot of people in the community doing these festivals brings back a lot of excitement to make the Main Street community rather than a strip mall town.”
On Thursday, vendors stretching across Main Street to corners of West New Castle Street offered everything from deep-fried carnival eats to hand-spun cotton candy, locally-sourced honeys and cocktails, while artisans and businesses displayed wooden handcrafted items, quilts and clothing for sale.
On the road, a red tractor pulled children and adults in a wooden wagon to different ends of the festival, its driver unbothered by the cars coming through Main Street. People sat in chairs outside restaurants and across the ShuBrew Main Stage, cooling down from the enveloping heat with icy lemonades and other cold drinks.
“It’s real small-town energy,” said Zelienople resident John Schurko.
Seneca Valley high school student Olivia Straw said that Amish doughnuts were her favorite festival treat, while her friend Liv Zarilla said she liked the pizza cones from the Chubby’s food truck. Olivia and Liv said they met at Connoquenessing Elementary School and have attended Horse Trading Days for years. They said they enjoy that the event showcases local businesses.
“It’s a small town, so you know ... everyone around you,” Olivia said. “It’s good people here.”
“There’s like two stores that I go into down here where it’s like I know the people and I can say, ‘Hi, how are you?’” Liv said.
People found shade beneath tents of other local businesses such as Belle Farm, Hollie’s Handmade Soaps and Honey So Good. Across the street, the tops of bounce castles could be seen providing shade and hours of fun for children.
Tiffany Keffalas, Renfrew resident and owner of Keffalas Designs on Route 8, said she was able to sneak away from her stand for a moment to take a peek at the festival for herself.
“Everybody’s coming up to support local businesses,” Keffalas said. “I think it’s gonna be a great weekend.”
