In 1950, six groups of women from local farms convened at the Quarryville fire hall to discuss the idea of creating an annual fair in the Solanco community. Sadie Greenleaf, who was president of the then-County Farm Women, sent letters to local businesses and service organizations, Solanco School District administrators and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture requesting their support, and the interested parties gathered the following summer to square away the details. Decades later, the Solanco Fair has become one of the community's most beloved traditions, and the event celebrated its 75th anniversary this year.

The 2024 Solanco Fair took place from Sept. 18 to 20 at the Solanco Fairgrounds in Quarryville. The festivities kicked off with the judging of various exhibits and dairy cattle, followed by the market lamb show and the market goat show. A performance of the national anthem and a moment of silence was observed on each day of the fair.

The annual parade through downtown Quarryville was held on Sept. 18. The theme of this year's parade was "Bring the World to Quarryville," and participants incorporated cultures from around the globe to take spectators on an international adventure.

Fair activities were in full swing by Sept. 19, with swine judging and an antique tractor pull. The first full day of the fair also included the Holstein feeder calf show, a concert from the Jess Zimmerman Band in the lower ball field and an antique and classic tractor pull. The day's events wrapped up with a market steer show and the annual baby parade in the upper ballfield.

The final day of the fair commenced with a tractor driving contest in the upper ballfield. In the afternoon, candidates in the Solanco Fair queen contest gathered in Building No. 5 at the fairgrounds to vie for the crown. The young women shared their personal connections to the Solanco Fair and how they would use the platform if chosen as fair queen. The competition concluded with remarks from 2023 Solanco Fair queen Keeley Kreider and the coronation of Kyrsten Byers as the 2024 Solanco Fair queen. The final day of the fair wrapped up with a milking contest between local celebrities, the youth participation awards and a pedal tractor pull competition.

On each day of the fair, attendees enjoyed a mouth-watering array of traditional fair foods, including hamburgers, hot dogs, barbecue sandwiches, funnel cakes, french fries and milkshakes. Food stands were operated by local service groups and nonprofits, and a portion of each group's sales benefited its organization.

To commemorate the 75th anniversary of the fair, the Solanco Fair Committee gave volunteers custom-made T-shirts to recognize the many individuals who have helped run the event since it began. "We want to honor everyone who helped make the fair what it is today, whether they volunteered for one year or 50 years," said Scott Peiffer, general manager of the fair.

"The fair is a wholesome event that brings people back to their roots," Peiffer said. "I still see friends from high school 45 years ago, as well as people who I just saw last week. People come every day for the fellowship. Add good food to that, and you've got a perfect storm."

For more information, visit https://solancofair.org.