Horse Trading Days is a community festival that takes place primarily in Zelienople Park, but also extends down S Main St as a way to bring guests into the downtown area and include the participation of downtown businesses.
2024 DATE: July 18-20, 2024
Location: Zelienople Park
Intersection of N Main St and E Grandview Ave
Zelienople, PA 16063
Website: https://www.horsetradingdays.com/
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This post documents my visit on July 22, 2023.
Festival History
In 1963, Pennsylvania Amateur Horsemen’s Association (PAHA) President Wyndle Watson had an idea. The PAHA annual horse show was coming up and he wanted to create an event that would help promote the show as well as the Zelienople area.
So he spoke with business owners and, with the assistance of Zelie Finance President Donald Waltman, had merchants organized to promote the area and the horse show.
Horse Trading Days was born.
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Festival Structure
Horse Trading Days takes place primarily in Zelienople Park, where two of the corners are set with gift vendors, one corner offers food and the last corner offers activities and vendors for children.
None of the roads are closed off to traffic between the sections, but the traffic lights at the intersection change quickly enough for it not to be an inconvenience.
And while horses are no longer a part of the festival, promotion of the Zelienople area is still important…
…which is why vendors were also set up along several blocks of S Main St (Keffalas Designs/Designs by T)…
…leading festival guests into the downtown area as well.
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Downtown
But it wasn’t only the vendors that led people downtown (Couldn’t Bee Better Honey/Chocolate Moonshine Co.).
There were also booths for adult beverages, including wine slushies (MLH Distillery/Harkins Mill Wines)…
…a spot for face painting and henna…
…historic home tours (the Buhl House)…
…and a staged area for concerts and special events…
…some of which may require a ticket to attend.
Fortunately, The Strand Theater offered a free concert that night.
With all the extra foot traffic, downtown businesses were able to entice visitors with sidewalk sales…
…games…
…food…
…and even spiritual guidance (Modern Alchemy).
Vendors in the Park
Vendors in the park offered a great variety of items…
…from houseplants and wooden wall decor…
…to handcrafted jewelry and handmade soaps (Light Shine/Hollie’s Handmade Soaps).
There were also women’s clothing, illustrated art…
…more economical items like microwaveable heating bags…
…artistic services, such as caricatures and Henna (left – Adam Walmsley Art)…
…and a bunch of Amish donuts that looked as big as your head.
Food in the Park
The corner of the park with the Lion drinking fountain was where most food vendors were located…
…offering gyros and pizza…
…walking tacos and pierogi…
…and still more.
There was also a covered eating area for visitors to enjoy their food.
Children’s Area in the Park
Lastly, in the corner of the park honoring Zelie Basse Passavant…
…there was a section devoted to children…
…offering inflatables…
…a petting zoo…
…and a train ride that the kids seemed to enjoy.
This was also where kids could get their first taste of Henna…
…and book Princesses and Superheroes for many birthdays to come (Princess and Superhero Parties).