Everson fair begins Friday with ‘homecoming’
EVERSON – Everson Volunteer Fire Company officials say the “homecoming” scheduled for this weekend at the fairgrounds will give participants a glimpse into fairs gone by. Fair chairman Jeff King and fire company vice president and committee member Eric Christner said the weekend will be full of entertainment, good food and family-oriented attractions, making for a real “country fair” experience.
The homecoming will be held at the fairgrounds on the corner of Jones and Graff streets.
The fun will begin Friday at 6:30 p.m. with an old-fashioned firemen’s parade, said Christner. Units will line up on Feed Mill Road, and the parade will travel north onto Brown Street, continue to the Everson Bridge, then turn west onto Vance Street, following through to Graff Street before disbanding at the fairgrounds.
Traffic will be rerouted onto Painter Street during the parade.
The fair will officially open at 7 p.m. Friday with entertainment on the center stage by Xtreme Sound, followed by Crazy Cowboys, who will play until the fair closes at 11:30 p.m.
The Saturday festivities begin at 5 p.m. when Xtreme Sound will play until 8 p.m., followed by Switch, who will perform until closing at 11:30 p.m.
Events Sunday begin with a chicken and biscuit dinner served at the firemen’s social hall on Jones Street from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The fire company’s first annual car show will highlight the final day of the fair. Vehicles of all sorts will be on display at the fairgrounds beginning at 4 p.m.
Door prizes and 50/50 drawings also will be held. Fans, according to organizers, will determine car show winners and trophies will be awarded at 8 p.m. The fair itself opens on Sunday at 5 p.m. with Zero Production at center stage, followed by Triple Creek Band until the fair’s official end at 10 p.m.
Mark Keyser will provide wood-carving demonstrations, and the Everson Police Department will offer a variety of free services, including inspecting bicycle helmets and providing replacements for those not meeting safety standards.
Police also will distribute gunlocks and offer photo identification cards and fingerprinting for children for identification purposes.
The exact times of the demonstrations and services have not been finalized but will be announced when completed.
Everson Council President Mike Banaszak said he is looking forward to the weekend and said that in recent years a scaled-down version of the fair has been held in the vicinity of the firemen’s social hall.
He also said this year’s weekend event promises to offer more food choices and more entertainment.
“A small kiddy midway will be part of this year’s fair, including several children’s games, a moonwalk and a miniature train ride,” said Banaszak. “Games of chance will be available for adult entertainment and a cake wheel.”
In addition to the firemen’s kitchen, Aumer’s Sausage, Courtyard Catering and Dairy Haus will set up food booths on the grounds. Organizers said ample parking will, as well as portable facilities, be located just off Pennsylvania Avenue.
King and Christner agreed that this year’s fair committee wanted to try some different ideas.
“This is the time to start rebuilding the fair,” said King. “We want it to grow into something big that can be part of the Everson community for years to come.”
Banaszak said he hopes that all Everson residents and residents of the surrounding communities will plan on being at the fairgrounds.
“The Everson firemen’s fair is coming home,” said Banaszak. “We want everyone to help celebrate its return.”
For more information about the fair, call King or Christner at 724-887-4421, the fire company’s non-emergency phone number.