Autumn Leaf Festival Ramps Up for Weekend Events

An in-depth look at this weekend’s events at the 61st Annual Farmers National Bank Autumn Leaf Festival.

2014 Autumn Leaf Festival Schedule (PDF)

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2014

CLARION INDUSTRIES, INC. “FARMERS AND CRAFTERS DAY”: Clarion Industries, Inc. “Farmers & Crafters Day” is Friday, September 26, in downtown Clarion from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Handmade and homemade crafts and goods are the feature of the day, along with food, from over 300 crafters. The crafters and handmade goods line Main Street from 2nd Avenue to 8th Avenue. Whether looking for home décor, that special gift, or good eats, you’ll have a good time at the Clarion Industries “Farmers and Crafters Day”. Although a FREE event, we ask that you bring a non-perishable item to benefit the Clarion County Community Bank “FOODSTOCK.” For information please call 814-226-9161.

IC LADIES GUILD ARTS & CRAFTS SHOW: The Immaculate Conception Ladies Guild Arts & Craft show is on Friday, September 26, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Immaculate Conception Meisinger Center. For more information, please call 814-226-9390.

IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CONCESSION STAND: The Immaculate Conception School Cafeteria will be open on Friday, September 26, from 7 a.m. to sell out. Come and enjoy a variety of homemade foods, including soups, sandwiches, snacks, and baked goods. For more information, email tlowrie@clarionichawks.net or call 814-226-8433.

CLARION UNIVERSITY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD MEMBERS MEET AND GREET: Homecoming weekend officially kicks off with a meet and greet with Clarion University Alumni Association Board Members on Friday, September 26th, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. along Main Street. Here you’ll find CUAA board members interacting with alumni and family with cookies, coffee and tea and providing information about the Alumni Association. There also will be information on volunteer opportunities, CU license plates and distinguished award nominations.

SPECIAL BINGO NIGHT: A Special Bingo Night will be held on Friday, September 26, at Moose Lodge #101, 401 Grand Avenue. Doors and kitchen open at 5:30 p.m. with bingo starting at 7:00 p.m. Play bingo all 24 ways. Bring non-perishable food items to receive a $5 discount. The first 50 participants will also receive a free gift. All food donations benefit Clarion County Community Bank FOODSTOCK. For more information call 814-229-2709.

CLARION UNIVERSITY HOMECOMING HEADQUARTERS: As you arrive in town, visit the Clarion University Homecoming Headquarters located at the Clarion Holiday Inn Courtyard on Friday, September 26, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Stop in and use this as a meeting place for your affinity groups & friends to catch up and remember great times!

FIRST UNITED NATIONAL BANK CONCERT: “American Pie” oldies group is on tap for The First United National Bank Concert on Friday, September 26, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in front of the Clarion County Courthouse. This event is free and open to all festival goers. Kick loose with cool tunes and free fun!

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2014

CLARION UNIVERSITY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION HOMECOMING PARADE RECEPTION: The Clarion University Alumni Association Homecoming Parade Reception takes place Saturday, September 27, in the Walter Hart Chapel parking lot on the Clarion University Campus from 10 a.m. to 12 Noon. This year’s parade reception will be filled with tons of activities for the family. There will be activities for kids, live music, a fun photo opportunity and a chance to meet the Clarion University mascot. Visit with various alumni groups, academic departments and campus groups at their tables. Commemorative event pins for all. Alumni and their family will enjoy complimentary hot dogs, popcorn, blue and gold cotton candy and drinks. Don’t forget to check out the history club’s open house in Founders Hall.

CLARION HOSPITAL “TOURNAMENT OF LEAVES PARADE”: Join Clarion as it celebrates all it has to be proud of during the Clarion Hospital “Tournament of Leaves Parade” on Saturday, September 27. The parade showcases marching bands, floats, and organizations of the grandest kind! This year’s Grand Marshal will be Rear Admiral Craig S. Faller, Chief of Legislative Affairs for the Secretary of the Navy. Parade steps off at 12 Noon on Main Street. Reserved seats are on sale at the Clarion Area Chamber of Business & Industry, 21 North 6th Avenue, for $8.00. Contact the Clarion Area Chamber to place ticket orders or for more information at 814-226-9161.

Although a FREE event, we ask that you bring a non-perishable item to benefit the Clarion County Community Bank FOODSTOCK. Sponsored in part by Burns & Burns Associates, Inc., Central Electric Cooperative, Inc., Colony Homes, Dr. Marc Maslov (Ear, Nose & Throat Associates of NW Pennsylvania), Holiday Inn of Clarion, Kriebel Wells, Structural Modulars, Inc., and WRC Senior Services. VIP Brunch sponsored by Chartwells Dining.

EAGLE ENDZONE ALUMNI PARTY: Come to the Eagle Endzone at 1 p.m. and join fellow alumni cheer our Golden Eagles to a homecoming victory against the Gannon Knights at 2 p.m. at Memorial Stadium. All alumni and friends will have a bird’s-eye view of the game and endless appetizers. The first 100 people will receive a free T-shirt. Show off your Clarion pride and be entered to win one of many prizes. All alumni and their families are invited to Eagle Endzone! Tickets can be ordered in advance and picked up at will-call the day of the game. Tickets are $9 per person. Game ticket required for entry into Eagle Endzone. To register for the event, please call 814-393-2572 or visit www.clarion.edu.

CONCERT AT THE COURTHOUSE: Rock out to the sounds of “Mis B’Havin”, a classic rock band, on Saturday, September 27. The live concert, sponsored by Mega Rock, will be held in front of the Clarion County Courthouse, from 7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2014

NORTHWEST SAVINGS BANK “ANTIQUE TRACTOR SHOW”: Are you a tractor enthusiast? Then make plans to attend this premier tractor show to be held on Main Street, Clarion between 2nd and 5th Avenues from 12 Noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, September 28. Farm, garden, lawn, implement, hit & miss engines, and toys are welcome—anything farm related! Pre-registration is requested, but participants are welcome the day of the show. Trophies will be awarded in several classes. There will be free barrel train rides for the children, too! In the days leading up to the tractor show, visit Northwest Savings Bank Main Street Clarion branch for a sneak peak of a Hit & Miss display!

Back again to perform throughout the tractor show will be Next O’Kin, a gospel & country group from southern Clarion County. This ensemble is a family band that enjoys being together, blending their voices in song, and sometimes laughing at their own slip-ups. Whether performing at churches, nursing homes, or community events, they encourage their audience to join them in singing familiar praises and old country tunes.

Although a FREE event, we ask that you bring a non-perishable item to benefit the Clarion County Community Bank FOODSTOCK.
In addition to this event there will also be pedal go-kart rides on Main Street on the corner of Main and 4th avenue. These Berg USA, LLC pedal go-karts out of Lititz, PA are being brought to the festival by the Clarion 4H Club. Various designs and sizes of pedal go-karts will be at the event for children to ride. There is a $1 per ride fee for taking a ride in the pedal go-karts. For more information or for questions, please call 814-221-0801.

PNC BANK “JUNIOR OLYMPICS”: Kids, have you ever dreamed of winning an Olympic gold medal? Your chance is finally here! On Sunday, September 28, children between the ages of 5-12 who live in or attend school in Clarion County are invited to go for the gold. Children will compete against children of the same age and gender. Each child will participate in 4 events–Standing Long Jump, Dash, Softball Throw, and the Modified Javelin Throw. The top 3 performers in each event (for the age and gender category) will receive a medal, and anyone who participates all day will receive a ribbon. Refreshments will be provided for the children. Do not miss your chance to make your Junior Olympic dreams come true! The games will be held at the Clarion University Stadium from 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. with sign in beginning at 12:30 p.m. Members of the U.S. Army, and Clarion sports teams will be supervising the day’s events. Pre-register (required) online at www.clarionpa.com at $3.00 per child. For more information call 814-226-9161. While the event is free for attendees, we ask that you bring a non-perishable item to benefit the Clarion County Community Bank “FOODSTOCK.”

WEEKLONG EVENTS

 
FOOD CONCESSIONS: Be sure to bring your appetites for the food concession stands. There are a wide variety of foods that are sure to please everyone, so prepare your taste buds and try them all! Look for your favorites – those beloved funnel cakes, stromboli, cinnamon rolls, gyros, Philly steak sandwiches, apple dumplings, chicken on a stick, pizza, taffy, hot sausage sandwiches, French fries—and find new fare, like burritos, turkey burgers, and grilled cheese! These tempting morsels can be found in the Clarion County Memorial Park and along Main Street. Picnic tables are located throughout the Memorial Park so you can have your dessert, too!

AMUSEMENTS BY SWANK’S STEEL CITY SHOWS: Feel like a kid again with Swank’s Steel City Shows – rides and games that appeal to all ages. Swank’s has provided high-quality entertainment for over 25 years and strives to provide the best family fun. Swank’s has an excellent safety record, and all of their equipment is well maintained according to manufacturers’ guidelines. Swank’s also provides fun games with great prizes. Be sure to see all that Swank’s has to offer – it’s all about the fun! All rides and games are located around the Clarion County Memorial Park and the Clarion County Courthouse parking lot

The rides are open Saturday, September 20 – Sunday, September 28.

Rides operate (weather permitting):
Sunday, September 21, 12 noon – 8 p.m.
Monday, September 22 – Thursday, September 25, 5 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Friday, September 26, 11:00 a.m. – 5 p.m. & 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Saturday, September 27, 12 noon – 10:30 p.m.
Sunday, September 28, 12 noon – 6 p.m.

CLARION COUNTY COMMUNITY BANK “FOODSTOCK”: By proclamation of the Clarion County Commissioners, September is “FOODSTOCK” Month in Clarion County. The Mayors of Clarion, Foxburg, Knox, and Strattanville have also named September “FOODSTOCK” Month. So, clean out your cupboards for this great cause!

Clarion County Community Bank “Foodstock” is a countywide food drive that collects non-perishable, non-expired food items, benefiting thirteen local food banks. Not everyone is fortunate enough to have a well-stocked cupboard—please help out!

RAM up the food banks with Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-RAM and help out in any of three ways! 1) Donation collection trucks will be located at all major festival events. 2) Donations can be dropped off Tuesday, September 23 – Friday, September 26, from Noon – 5:00 p.m. at the Clarion Mall. 3) Donations can also be dropped off at these locations: Clarion Area Chamber, Clarion County Community Bank locations, Clarion County YMCA, Clarion Forest VNA, Clarion Mall, Clarion Free Library, Comet Food Warehouse, Eat’n Park, Foxburg Free Library, Fryburg Sportsman’s Club, Kate’s Hair Studio, Kelly’s, Leeper Market, PA CareerLink in Clarion, Palmer’s County Store, Strattanville Borough Office, Tom’s Riverside locations, Wal*Mart, and Wolf’s Camping Resort. To make a monetary donation or for more information, please contact the Clarion Area Chamber at 814.226.9161. Sponsored by Clarion County Community Bank.

AIRPLANE RIDES Experience the Autumn Leaf Festival™ from a new perspective this year—get a bird’s-eye view of the beauty that the Clarion area offers. All week long, the Clarion County Airport gives airplane rides beginning at the airport and circling the Clarion area. Gather family and friends and visit the Clarion County Airport, 395 Airport Rd in Shippenville. For more information or to arrange rides or check flight times, call 814-226-9993.

2014 ART SHOW: The public is invited to the 56th Annual Autumn Leaf Festival™ Art Show by the Clarion
County Arts Council, September 21-28, in the Main Street Center, space donated by the Area Agency on Aging. Cash prizes will be awarded in high school, amateur, intermediate, and professional categories. Clarion University students and faculty will participate in exhibit activities this year with assistance from CCAC members.

CLARION MODEL RAILROAD CLUB EXHIBIT: The Clarion Model Railroad Exhibit is located in the basement of the Clarion Masonic Lodge Building on Main Street in Clarion. Enter at the rear entrance to see the fascinating display of various scale railroad layouts. The Clarion Model Railroad, Inc. sponsors the event.

The display is open the following days and times:

Sunday, September 21 – 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Wednesday, September 24 – 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Friday, September 26 – 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturday, September 27 – 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday, September 28 – 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

MODEL HOME & FACTORY TOUR: All week long come and take a tour of the Structural Modulars Inc. factory and see how modular homes are manufactured. The plant is open for tours, and there is a sample ranch style model home available to view. In order to see the model home, please report to the factory first. The tours are held at 101 Southern Ave. in Strattanville, Monday, September 22 through Friday, September 26, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, please call 814-764-5555.

CLARION COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY’S SUTTON-DITZ HOUSE MUSEUM: The Sutton-Ditz House Museum, located at 18 Grant Street in Clarion, is a National Historic Register property featuring a period style turn-of-the-century parlor, library, dining room, kitchen, sewing room, master bedroom, and children’s bedroom/playroom. Exhibits include the following: Clarion County military, local industries, Labino glass, Hawthorn and Purinton pottery, and a country store. The Thomas Sutton Museum Store offers Clarion County souvenirs, historic publications and Victorian selections. Owned and operated by the Clarion County Historical Society, the museum is open Monday – Friday during The Farmers National Bank Autumn Leaf Festival™ from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. For more information, call 814-226-4450.

DEER CREEK WINERY: Enjoy the ambiance of a Pennsylvania winery on a country road. Tour the winery production area, taste their wine, and have a glass of wine on the porch. Deer Creek Winery is located at 3333 Soap Fat Road in Shippenville. Open Saturday, September 20 – Sunday, September 28, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Live music will be provided on Saturdays from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. For more information contact the winery at 814-354-7392 or visit www.DeerCreekWine.com.

PAUL’S PUMPKIN PATCH: Paul’s Pumpkin Patch at Stahlman’s Farm, 395 Marks Lane, Fairmount City, will be open Sunday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m; Friday and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Enjoy a hay ride, or visit the barnyard zoo and hay mountain. Pick your own pumpkins in the pumpkin patch or host a party in the party tent. Paul’s Pumpkin Patch grows a full line of pumpkins, gourds, ornamental corn & squash. Don’t miss the Famous Frogtown Slinger or a ride in the Barrel Train! Admission is $5. For more information, including group rates, special events, and hours throughout September and October, call 814-365-5161 or visit www.PaulsPumpkinPatch.com.

The information contained within this guide was provided by the Clarion Area Chamber of Commerce. For more information, visit www.clarionpa.com.

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