For thousands of people dwelling within a hundred mile radius or so of Hookstown, Pennsylvania, they know that August is Hookstown Fair time in western Pennsylvania. This year will be the 62nd annual Hookstown Fair. Fair time also brings thousands of people from far away places. Some people arrive with campers and will stay the entire week on the grounds at the Hookstown Fair. Others stay in area motels, camp in parks or stay with local family or friends.
Hookstown, PA, a rural Mayberry-like small town with about 520 people, is best known for nice, out going residents, amusement rides and the Hookstown Fair every summer. The Hookstown fair grows by thousands every August since 1947 when it all began.
In fact, Hookstown gets bombarded with thousands and thousands of people every night of the five day Hookstown fair. The crowds that are drawn to this event are overwhelming to this modest town because of traffic, small stores, parking, noise and lots of strangers.
The Hookstown Fair is a gala event, far-famed in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ohio. The tri state area of these three states is where the fair is located, almost immediately inside the Pennsylvania line. The fair is only 45 minutes from Pittsburgh International Airport in PA.
At any rate, at fair time there is always extreme excitement, loud music, and noise including wild screams from the amusement rides. One can find many different fun activities at the Hookstown Fair to engage in. Besides a huge bingo tent in which to play bingo, there are booths scattered all around the fair grounds with water games, dart games, animal games, and more typical fair type games, such as pitching pennies.
Likewise, there are booths for refreshment sales set up around the fair. Yes, cotton candy and candy apples are still a fair favorite at the Hookstown Fair. Some display tables are local organizations that bring products to sell or show. Also, the grange hall sells delicious cafeteria style meals in the basement, which opens right out onto the midway amusement rides.
At the same time, the two grange halls contain interesting exhibits like 4-H projects and demonstrations of products. This is where one can find yummy Hershey recipe cakes and such that get awards and prizes. Also, there are various collections of butterflies and other insects preserved under glass, as well as quilts and other hand made goodies. There are many more unique items in these two buildings worth the short tours.
In addition, so many people love the tractor and garden tractor pulls, horse pulls, horse shows, demolition derbies, and mini mod pullers. Children especially seem to love the derbies and pulls at the Hookstown Fair. Some people like these activities better than the amusement rides. There are many tractors, riding lawn mowers, and other equipment out at the front of the fair grounds to look at and sit on, so kids love this too. There are mobile homes on site to tour as well.
Then there is judging of livestock at the Hookstown fair. There are many beautiful horses, cows, sheep, and other animals located away from the amusement rides. For kids of all ages there is also a petting zoo. One will find chickens, ducks, pigs, lambs, goats, llamas, raccoons, rabbits, turkeys, and whatever else is available. Each year is slightly different in what animals come at fair time to Hookstown.
Also, at fair time in Hookstown, other than the amusement rides, there are elephant rides, jumping, helicopter rides, or a surprise ride on something fun for sure. It is usually not known until fair time at the Hookstown fair, when it opens. Other activities include a fair princess pageant, and a contest for fair queen of the Hookstown Fair.
Live shows at the Hookstown fair are awesome treats to enjoy, and include live rock and country bands in the community tent. A favorite at fair time is the hilarious diving act called Diving Fool. A newer, very exciting show it that of the tigers and is a very different type of big cat show. Another valiant feature is the high wire walk that a tiger does across tow wires suspended more than ten feet in the air! Brunon Blaszek is the remarkable trainer of these smart, beautiful animals. Definitely an act worth seeing at the Hookstown fair.
Last, but never least, are the midway amusement rides. Kiddie land has a few fun amusement rides for the little ones. The rides are always filling up with smiles and giggles from the riders. There are other original amusement rides too, such as the Merry-Go-Round and Ferris Wheel.
Besides kiddie amusement rides, there are usually at least three to five adult amusement rides at the Hookstown Fair. Some are brand new and other amusement rides are the same as other years. No matter which amusement rides are set up for the current year, there are always happy riders and lots of screams from the thrills of having fun. The lines get longer as the days live on too, so going early is advantageous. Amusement rides at the fair do fill up fast, so go early to have the longest fun time.
The Hookstown Fair is a special fun time that people love each and every year. The fair usually starts on Tuesday, the last week of August, and the last night is Saturday. At midnight, at the end of the fair, there are usually fireworks for the grand finale. Don’t forget to get some neat souvenirs to take home from the Hookstown Fair and make sure to visit every year.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hookstown,_Pennsylvania
Reference:
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hookstown,_Pennsylvania
- youtube.com -> Type in search for Hookstown Fair. There are a few videos there of the fair.
