CLARION, Pa. (EYT) — More than a half million people will descend on Clarion County beginning this weekend as Clarion’s 63rd Annual Autumn Leaf Festival kicks off Saturday and runs through October 2.

The Clarion Area Chamber of Business & Industry is feverishly putting the finishing touches on the festival, sponsored by the U.S. Army.

Tracy Becker, Chamber Executive Director since 2004, has worked for the Chamber for 30 years, and she still has the same excitement for Clarion and the festival that she has always had.

“I just want people to enjoy themselves,” Becker said. “I want people to have pride in the Clarion area and the festival, and we’re really looking forward to it this year.”

Weather always plays a huge role in outdoors festivals, and last year is one that people would just as soon forget with rain on seven of the nine days of ALF.

The forecast for this year looks much more promising with very little rain predicted.

“Some things are easier, some are harder, but every year is different,” Becker said. “It’s getting harder to find volunteers for some of the things, but we will overcome that.”

Becker was particularly excited about some of the new events to this year’s festival, including Mariachi bands and Chinese acrobats.

She also said there are already 160 cars signed up for the S&T Bank “Autorama Cruise In” slated for Sunday.

“That’s an amazing amount, and we’ll probably have another 100 to 200 just show up Sunday,” Becker said.

“We are happy to continue working with the U.S. Army as our sponsor, and we also welcome Mid­Atlantic Systems of Western Pa., Inc. as our new overall supporting sponsor of the festival,” Becker said.

For information on parking and ATA shuttle bus service, check the Chamber website at www.clarionpa.com.

Food concessions can be found in the Clarion County Memorial Park and along Main Street. Picnic tables are located throughout the Memorial Park.

Midway rides and carnival events will be open every day of the festival.

All rides and games are located around the Clarion County Memorial Park and the Clarion County Courthouse parking lot.

On Sunday, October 2, on 5th Avenue between Main Street and Grant Street, Clarion Borough and the Clarion Area Chamber of Business & Industry will be coming together to celebrate the 175th Anniversary of the establishment of Clarion.

From noon to 4:00 p.m. there will be an information table, a walking tour, a tour of the Clarion County Historical Society, a window display at the old Haskell Furniture building, and other entertainment.

At 1:00 p.m. there will be a ceremony featuring the presenting of the colors, guest speakers, and proclamations. There will also be a 175-pound sundae.

For more information, contact the Clarion Area Chamber of Business & Industry at 814-­226-9161 or info@clarionpa.com.

The Clarion Area Chamber of Business & Industry and the 63rd Annual Autumn Leaf Festival will hold its annual Clarion County Community Bank “Foodstock,” a countywide food drive that collects non-­perishable, non-­expired food items, benefiting local food banks.

For more information on the Clarion County Community Bank “FoodStock” and other ways to donate, contact the Clarion Area Chamber of Business & Industry at 814­-226-­9161 or info@clarionpa.com.

Here’s a look at the festival and some of the scheduled events.

• Saturday, September 24, the talented teens of Clarion County compete for scholarship prizes and awards during the “Miss Junior Teen and Miss Teen ALFTM Scholarship Program” at Clarion High School.

Reserved seats for the program can be purchased in advance at the Clarion Area Chamber of Business & Industry at 650 Main Street or at the door for $12.00.

• Deer Creek Winery in Shippenville will have live entertainment each weekend during the festival.

Stop by and sip your favorite wine on their new 60 foot covered porch, sit by the outdoor firepit, and relax to the live music of local musicians every weekend.

For more information, contact the winery at 814­-354-­7392 or visit www.DeerCreekWine.com.

• The Clarion County Airport will once again be giving airplane rides throughout the week.

Rides begin at the airport and circle around the Clarion area. Get a bird’s­-eye view of the beauty that the Clarion area offers.

Gather family and friends and visit the Clarion County Airport on 395 Airport Rd in Shippenville. For more information or to arrange rides, call 814­-226­-9993.

• The 32nd Annual Clarion County United Way 5K & 10K Race takes place on Saturday, September 24. The course begins at Clarion University Memorial Stadium and runs along the beautiful streets of downtown Clarion.

Registration begins at 7:00 a.m. with the race starting at 9:00 a.m.

• The “PA State Old Time Fiddlers’ Contest” will be held Saturday, September 24, at the First United Methodist Church on 600 Wood Street, Clarion.

The event will also include contests for guitar, banjo, and mandolin. Pre-­registration is coordinated through the Chamber by visiting their website at www.clarionpa.com.

Day of registration opens at 9:30 a.m. with the contest starting at 11:00 a.m.

• The Clarion Psychiatric Center “Cornhole Tournament” will be held on Saturday, September 24, in front of the Clarion County Courthouse. Registration will be from 11:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m., with the tournament starting at 1:00 p.m. The 1st place team will take home $500.00, 2nd place wins $300.00, 3rd walks away with $150.00, and 4th place will receive $50.00. Pre­-registration is available online at www.clarionpa.com; deadline is Friday.

• Saturday, Clarion Mall will host the Q102/ZDB/ZDD “Kids’ Carnival” and the Advanced Disposal “Touch­ A­ Truck!” There will be free games and activities as well as a balloon artist.

Kids will also have a chance to explore big rigs, cars, tractors and construction vehicles.

• For kids, there will be a Power Wheels® vehicles for a fun­-filled derby Saturday, Sept. 24 at the Clarion Mall. Kids will have the opportunity to drive their favorite Power Wheels® vehicle on a fun course obstacle course set up with tunnels and bridges. Although a free event, children must bring their own Power Wheels® vehicle(s) to participate.

• The public is invited to the 58th Annual Clarion County Arts Council Art Show, to be held from Saturday through Oct. 2 in the Main Street Center.

This year’s opening reception will be held on Saturday from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Main Street Center, 516 Main Street.

• Rain or shine, shades or umbrellas, the S&T Bank “Autorama Cruise In” sponsored in part by Brad Johnson Agency, Nationwide Insurance, will be held from noon to 4:00 p.m., on Sunday, September 25. The event takes place on Main Street in Clarion from 2nd to 8th Avenues.

• The 18th Annual Brad Johnson Agency, Nationwide Insurance Motorcycle Show will be held from noon to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 25. All makes, models, and classes are welcome. The show takes place on Main Street in Clarion from 7th Avenue to Weaver Place. Parking begins at 9:00 a.m.

• The Clarion Model Railroad Club Exhibit will be open Sunday and every day from Tuesday through Sunday, October 2.

The Clarion Model Railroad Club is located in the basement of the Clarion Masonic Lodge Building on Main Street in Clarion.

Enter at the rear entrance of the building to see the fascinating display of various scale railroad layouts.

For more information, please contact 814­-223-­9699.

• The Sutton-­Ditz House Museum, a National Historic Register property, will be open from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday during the festival.
• The opening Community First Bank and Clarion University “Cultural Night” will take place in front of the Clarion County Courthouse from 7-9:30 p.m., Monday, Sept. 26. The evening will feature a Mariachi Band with traditional Mexican Folk Music incorporating amazing sounds including but not limited to: vocals, violins, trumpets, guitarrons, and vihuelas, all while performing in beautifully crafted Charro outfits.
• Join C­93 Radio from noon-2 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 27 at the Clarion Mall for the Clarion County Community Bank “FoodStock” kick off. Bring non­-perishable, non-­expired food items and receive a free chair massage, courtesy of Sapphire Moon Healing Arts Center. The collection drive will be held at the mall throughout the Festival. Food donations can be dropped off between noon and 5 p.m. each day of the festival.

• The Women’s Healthcare of Clarion & Healthy Beginnings Pediatrics “Kiddies Parade” will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 27, beginning on Main St.

• The Clarion Fire & Hose Company No. 1 will once again be offering free fire truck rides at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 28. The rides depart from the Fire Hall at 525 Wood Street.
• The second Community First Bank and Clarion University “Cultural Night” will take place in front of the Clarion County Courthouse from 7-9 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 27. The evening will feature “Saakumu Dance Troupe,” one of the leading traditional/contemporary dance and music groups in Ghana, West Africa.
• Karaoke Night will be held from 9-11 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 28 on Main Street in front of the Clarion County Courthouse.
• Night three of the Community First Bank and Clarion University “Cultural Night” will feature Russian Dancers from 7-9 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 28. This dance troupe presents Russian, Cossack, Ukrania, Jewish, and Gypsy Roma traditional dance, songs, and solo performances on instruments like the balalaika, garmoshka, and the balalaika contra bass.
• The Clarion University Homecoming Pep Rally will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 29 in Tippin Gymnasium. The Homecoming Court will be announced and the crowd will be introduced to various university groups and athletic teams.
• The fourth and final Community First Bank and Clarion University “Cultural Night” will take place in front of the Clarion County Courthouse from 7-9 p.m., Thursday, Sept 29. This final night of multicultural entertainment features “Chinese Acrobatics,” whose routines include contortions, foot juggling, spinning, Chinese yo­yo, and group acrobatics.

• Clarion Industries, Inc. “Farmers & Crafters Day” will be held from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 30 on Main Street in Clarion. Handmade and homemade crafts and goods will be the feature of the day, along with food, from over 300 crafters.

• Friday, Sept. 30, after the Clarion Industries Farmers and Crafters Day, our title sponsor, the United States Army will host a concert featuring U.S. Army Sgt. Corrin Campbell. The concert will be held in the parking lot of the Clarion Mall beginning at 6 p.m.

This event is free for all to attend and will feature live entertainment starting with local singer and American Idol contestant Isaac Cole performing from 5:30-6:30 p.m.

A special recognition of all veterans will be held at approximately 6:45 p.m., followed by a performance by U.S. Army Sgt. Corrin Campbell.

• A Special Bingo Night will be held Friday, Sept. 30 at the Clarion Moose Lodge 101, located at 401 Grand Avenue in Clarion.

• Clarion University alumni and friends can catch up at the Homecoming Headquarters at the Park Inn by Radisson from 6-10 p.m., Friday, Sept. 30.

• The Clarion University Alumni Association Homecoming Parade Reception will be from 10 a.m.-noon, Saturday, Oct. 1 in the Walter Hart Chapel parking lot.

• The “Tournament of Leaves Parade” is at noon Saturday, Oct. 1. The parade will showcase marching bands, floats, and organizations.

Reserved seats are available for purchase at the Clarion Area Chamber of Business & Industry for $9 each.

• Come to the Eagle Endzone at 1 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 1 and join fellow alumni as the Golden Eagles play the Edinboro Fighting Scots at 2 p.m. at Memorial Stadium.

All alumni and their families will have a bird’s­-eye view of the game and endless appetizers. The first 100 people to register will receive a free T­-shirt. A game ticket is required for entry into the Eagle Endzone.

To register for the event, please call 814-­393-­2572 or visit www.clarion.edu.

• The Seidle Chevrolet­ Buick­ GMC “Wild World of Animals Show,” will be held in front of the Clarion County Courthouse at 4 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 1.

• The First United National Bank “Oldies Concert” will be held from 5:30-8:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 1. Returning to perform for this year’s concert is oldies band “American Pie.”

The concert will be held in front of the Clarion County Courthouse.

• The PNC Bank “Junior Olympics” will be held from 1:30-3:30 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 2 at Clarion University’s Memorial Stadium.

Children between the ages of 5-­12 who live in or attend school in Clarion County are invited to go for the gold in this fun event.

Pre-­registration is required and available online at www.clarionpa.com at $3 per child. For more information, contact the Clarion Area Chamber of Business & Industry at 814­-226­ 9161 or info@clarionpa.com.

• The Northwest Savings Bank “Antique Tractor Show” will take place from noon-5 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 2 on Main Street in Clarion.

• The Central Electric Cooperative of Parker is sponsoring The Touchstone Energy Hot Air Balloon.

Balloon rides (weather conditions permitting) will be available early in the evening Friday, Sept. 30, and Saturday, Oct. 1, at the Clarion Mall parking lot.

For more information, contact Ken Maleski at 800-521­-0570 or kmaleski@central.coop.