Tait "Papa Tater" Harbaugh and Michelle Harbaugh have been married for 24 years. They share experiences, they share beliefs, they share a life.

Papa Tater is proud of his wife and what she has accomplished as director of Steps to Success, and one of the ways he supports her is nothing short of magical.

"(Michelle) is my dream come true," said Papa Tater. "Helping her is a big part of this. I want to make her happy. I love what she's doing with Steps (to Success). I love magic. I love the magic community. It's done so much for both of us. We hope (the upcoming event) is a positive for everyone."

Above all else, the Pennsylvania Entertainers' Swap Meet and Sale is Papa Tater's initiative to support Michelle and her local nonprofit, Steps to Success. But it's also his way of assisting local kids.

The 12th edition of the annual Pennsylvania Entertainers' Swap Meet and Sale, sort of an amped-up yard sale geared toward magicians, entertainers and those who love them, will be staged from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 28, inside the gymnasium of Zion Lutheran Church, Steps to Success' home at 18 Quarry Road, Leola. The unique fundraising event is free to attend, and freewill offerings for Steps to Success - which provides child care and early education - will be accepted.

"It's energetic," said Papa Tater, the event's official coordinator. "A lot of time, I'm feeling joy. These magicians are friends. There's all this magic to look at. It can be very electric. A lot of people seem to understand that they're helping a nonprofit child care."

"It just seems like a blend of our passions," said Michelle.

Some 100 professional and semiprofessional magicians and entertainers from five states are expected to attend the event, and the swap meet and sale will feature 40 tables overflowing with tricks, games, illusions, props, slights of hand and sight gags. The fundraiser will also include a concession stand stocked with beef hot dogs, sloppy joes, black bean chili, assorted snacks, coffee, water and soft drinks.

"Even if you're there to look, it's fun," said Papa Tater. "There will be thousands of tricks and props, everything from beginner's magic to stage illusions. Every year there is something I never knew existed or something I never thought I'd see in person. There are no performances, no scheduled events. But if you ask, someone will do a trick. We're also trying to expand the awareness of magic and encourage new magicians."

"There are some people who come for the social aspect," continued Papa Tater. "We get a lot of magicians who are looking for certain types of magic. Some people collect magic. There are very few magic shops anymore, and we get such a big variety of things."

Last year, the Pennsylvania Entertainers' Swap Meet and Sale took in about $1,200 for Steps to Success. Since its inception in 2015, the convention has raised nearly $10,000 for the local nonprofit.

This year, the raised funds will go toward improvements in educational and child care services for kids.

"I really enjoy the feeling that this is a positive in the magic community," said Papa Tater. "Almost everyone there is saying every year, 'You're doing this again, right?' Every year the child care center makes more than it did the year before."

One of the magicians' most common tricks involves accumulating treasure.

"With magic, there are thousands of tricks I could buy," said Papa Tater. "When I first started, I was buying everything I had interest in. I realized there were other magicians who had the same issues. We realized this would be a fun event to do, that it could be a fundraiser and that Steps to Success could benefit. Now we've been doing it 11 years, and it's kind of gotten into my blood."

Founded by Michelle in 1995, Steps to Success is funded through private pay, subsidies from the state, fundraisers and donations. Steps to Success serves about 280 children from six weeks to 12 years old and employs nearly 50 staff members.

For additional information, go to http://www.papatatermagic.com.