Dual festivals provide food, fun, fellowship in Zelie, Harmony
Lovers of all things autumn were out in force Saturday, Oct. 12, to celebrate two festivals in a pair of close-knit boroughs.
The Zelienople Fall Festival and the Sleepy Hollow Festival in Harmony started out under dreary skies, but the sun emerged from hiding at about 11 a.m. to greet the hundreds of delighted revelers who walked both events.
Linda Powlus, of Harmony, drove to neighboring Zelienople with her brother, Roger Werner, of Ocala, Fla., to hunt for Amish doughnuts.
The siblings had fun checking out all the food and items for sale at Zelie’s fall festival, which pretty much took up all of downtown.
“My brother hasn’t been to a festival in a while, so he wanted to take a look,” Powlus said.
“They didnt have any of this stuff when I was a kid,” said Werner, who grew up in Lancaster Township and graduated from the former Zelienople High School in the 1960s.
He hoped to run into some old high school friends at the fall festival, which his sister said is an important thread in the fabric of Zelienople.
“People can get out and meet each other and (vendors) can sell their wares, and everything is all in one place,” Powlus said.
“I wish they had these in Florida,” said Werner.
A food court on the southeast corner of Zelienople’s main intersection offered all manner of delicious morsels, including mini Bundt cakes, fajitas, pumpkin funnel cakes, hot sausage, pizza, and the much sought-after Amish doughnuts.
Across East Grandview Avenue, dozens of tents and booths greeted customers, who bought purses, clothing, jewelry, custom travel mugs, dog kerchiefs and many other items.
The other two grassy areas at the intersection also held myriad vendors, who sold everything from freeze-dried sweets to chocolate moonshine.
Bob and Lori Artzberger moved from Wexford to Zelienople three years ago, and enjoyed their third fall festival on Saturday.
“Zelienople is fun, and we like to do what we can to support the local businesses,” Lori said. “We go to a number of festivals, and I think this one is one of the nicer ones.”
Lori entered the festival’s chili cook-off for the first time, and she greatly anticipated the response of tasters who voted on the various bubbling pots of chili.
“I have a secret hot sauce that you can use to add a little more zing to it,” she said.
But mainly, the couple enjoyed strolling the borough and meeting lots of nice people.
“And dogs,” Lori said. “That’s always a bonus.”
Chris and Ally Sparacino, of McCandless Township, Allegheny County, brought their sons, Luca, 4, and Cesare, 11 days.
“We come every year,” Ally said of the festival.
“It’s our favorite part of fall,” said Chris.
The family also made a bee line for the Amish doughnuts, but they said they also enjoyed traversing the borough to enjoy the autumn weather.
“It’s a nice excuse to get outside, and it’s not too hot anymore,” Ally said.
Luca reported that he was thrilled to pet an alpaca, and he answered enthusiastically when asked about his favorite thing at the festival.
“Seeing all the animals, because I love animals,” he said.
Brielyn Relihan, 8, also enjoyed the three small alpacas inside a fence at the festival.
“I made him jump, and he made me jump,” Brielyn told her father, Justin Relihan, of Penn Township.
“I just like this town, and they always have nice things for sale,” Justin said of the festival. “And I don’t mind the food.”
He named gyros as a lunch item he always seeks out at a festival.
Brielyn said she prefers french fries.
“It’s such a great community gathering,” Justin said of the event. “It brings everyone out. Fall is awesome in Pennsylvania.”
The 39th annual Zelienople Fall Festival continued on Sunday.
Harmony was hopping on Saturday, as activities, music, food and vendors filled the historic borough during the 12th annual Sleepy Hollow Festival.
Events were held on Mercer Street from Main Street to the Center of Harmony.
Children dressed in costume were able to trick or treat at vendors’ booths, and a square dance demo, sing-along for kids led by a witch, a drone demo, pumpkin race, ghost tours and various musical acts entertained those who enjoyed the festival on Saturday.
Samantha Pike and Matt Trombley, of Lancaster Township, brought their daughter, Rose, 4, who dressed up as Pikachu.
In fact, about a dozen members of the Trombley family gather each fall to attend the two-day Sleepy Hollow Festival together.
“We’ve come for three years now,” Pike said. “We’re very excited. We love Harmony.”
She said the group planned to go to the Zelienople Fall Festival later on Saturday.
Pike enjoys perusing the vendors and bought a handcrafted plush turtle for Rose. For herself, Pike said she favors the decor vendors, and she donated to a local foster pet program that brought a few dogs to the festival.
“And Rose likes the candy,” she said. “It’s great for the community. If you live nearby and are looking for something to do, you might even make a new friend here.”
Trombley said the couple moved to Lancaster Township in 2018 from Vermont. He greatly enjoys the hometown feel of the festivals in Harmony and Zelienople.
“It just makes us feel like we are part of the community,” Trombley said.
The Sleepy Hollow Festival continued on Sunday, with a pet contest, bagpiper, various music and other activities.
