Many events were canceled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The annual Solanco Fair was one of them. As for this year, Robert Lowery, president of the Solanco Fair Association, said he hopes that the 72nd annual Solanco Fair will be the biggest ever.
After hitting a pause on the event last year, Lowery noted that he is looking forward to getting back into the swing of things. "People put so much time and effort into their produce, livestock, crafts, and more," said Lowery. "The fair is a huge event for the Solanco area."
Since the fair's inception in 1950, efforts have been made to make each year bigger and better than before. The Southern End saw its first Wednesday evening parade in 1952. In 1957, the Lions Club brought its french fries to the fair, and three years later, the popular milkshake stand made its debut. Due to the fair's growth, the fair relocated from the property of Jerome H. Rhoads to Legion Park in 1966. Soon thereafter, the Fair Association purchased 5 acres of ground adjoining the park. In 1975, the first permanent Fair Association building was erected. The next land purchase was made in 1982, which introduced two access points to the fairgrounds. From 1975 to 1985, a series of livestock pole buildings were added. The next building was constructed in 1985, and the addition of a large show barn was brought in two years later. That same year, in 1987, a funnel cake stand was added to the grounds by Farm Women Group No. 15. The next addition to the grounds was a building to house various exhibits. The largest structure to date was built on the grounds in 2000, and the last building was completed in 2003.
The 72nd annual Solanco Fair will take place at the Solanco Fairgrounds, 172 South Lime St., Quarryville, from Wednesday, Sept. 15, to Friday, Sept. 17. Festivities will kick off at 9 a.m. on Sept. 15 with various exhibit judging. The parade will begin at 6 p.m. that same day with Carl Hess serving as the grand marshal. This year's parade theme will be "A Few of My Favorite Fair Memories."
The officers and directors of the fair felt from the start, and included in the bylaws, that gambling, concessionaires, and carnival-type activities should not be permitted. As a result, the Solanco Fair has maintained its agricultural and family roots.
"The Southern End is special because of the people, and they appreciate the tradition we try to preserve," stated Lowery. "An agricultural fair is what we want to maintain."
The Solanco Fair Association redesigned its website this year. "We're looking forward to keeping the community engaged by presenting new content," explained Lowery.
The Solanco Fair Association welcomes volunteers. For more information, search for "Solanco Fair" on Facebook or visit http://www.solancofair.org.
To view photos from the fair, visit townlively.com/in-the-community throughout the week.
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