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Autumn Leaf Festival: Ten Days of Award Winning Events and Entertainment

This year will be the 62nd year of the Autumn Leaf Festival™, an event which is sponsored by the U.S. Army. Each year visitors flock in numbers greater than half a million to Clarion to celebrate the changing of seasons and the beautiful fall colors of Pennsylvania. Inspired originally by a neighboring towns potato festival, Autumn Leaf Festival has grown into a can’t miss event for people all over the Northeastern United States. This festival is packed full of fun activities and events that will entertain visitors of all ages. The focus of the festival is family and families will love the rides, food and all the hand on experiences the festival offers. Autumn Leaf Festival also coincides with the Clarion University’s homecoming celebration creating a community wide sense of celebration and enjoyment.

 

Unlike other festivals that are single day events, or take place over the course of a weekend, this one goes on for 10 days! This gives all visitors enough time to enjoy the wide range of events and attractions as well as experiencing the rich culture and breathtaking vistas of the Clarion area. Clarion is a great place to live and visit. It was ranked as one of the “Best Communities for Young People” by America's Promise - The Alliance for Youth. You will come for the spectacular festival and your family might stay for the rich and productive community. We got the opportunity to sit down with Event Director Tracy Becker to talk about the event and its rich history.

 

RAL: Tell me about the history of the event.

TB: This will be the 62nd Annual Autumn Leaf Festival™. Three gentlemen (Don Stroup, Lee Hufnagel and John “Poe” Haskell) sat around a table and decided to form the Clarion Chamber of Commerce. Soon after, the discussion focused on how they could bring attention to our beautiful town. One of the gentlemen, Lee Hufnagel, had been up north to a “Potato Festival” and suggested that Clarion could maybe do something similar. The three gentlemen thought autumn leaves would be a great theme, thus the Autumn Leaf Festival was born in 1953.  

 

Their first projects were to create a town swimming pool and to join with the Clarion Teachers College (now Clarion University) and have the first Autumn Leaf Festival™ parade. It was a small parade that year with some bands and a few floats. The College President, Dr. Paul Chandler, and the first Chamber President, Don Stroup, rode together in the first parade.

 

Soon a couple of businessmen, George Wolf and Russ Helpler, got involved and were very important to the beginning of the Autumn Leaf Festival™, especially the parade. Within the first few years of the festival’s birth, the gentlemen were able to grow the festival substantially. Over the next couple of decades, additional events were added to the festival and what started as a two-day event has grown to five, seven, nine, and now 10 days.

 

RAL: How many people annually attend the event, who are they and what makes the Autumn Leaf Festival unique?

TB: According the stats received from PennDOT, we draw an average of 400,000 to 500,000 people each year during the duration of the festival. The three largest days for attendees are the third day which is the first Sunday (Autorama Cruise-In and Motorcycle Cruise-In), the eighth day which is the Annual Farmers & Crafters Day (350+ craft vendors) and the ninth day which is our “Tournament of Leaves Parade”, part of Clarion University’s Homecoming festivities on campus.

 

We have over 50 events taking place during the 10 days. Every event is geared toward families.  We have seven events which are truly focused towards children being involved. The Autumn Leaf Festival™ happens in conjunction with Clarion University’s Homecoming. The second weekend of ALF™ is Homecoming weekend  (Football Game, Alumni Events, etc.). Anyone who has attended Clarion University looks forward to coming back for this Homecoming Weekend. Most colleges and universities have a weekend of activity, but in Clarion it is 10 days of food, entertainment, events and a football game!

 

RAL: Take me through a day at the event include activities, guest appearances, dining and overall environment.

TB: As you can see by the online schedule there are a lot of activities taking place. The weekends are busy busy busy. Monday through Thursday, we all still have to work, so events and activities take place after 5p.m.

 

Each year we have a Grand Marshal for the “Tournament of Leaves Parade”.  Past Grand Marshals include the Pittsburgh News Anchors & Weather Team and other individuals with local ties who truly have made a mark on the world. Chris Kirkpatrick’s (formerly of N’SYNC) grandparents live in Clarion and approached us about him coming one year.  

 

We have 20 food vendors providing everything from Gourmet Funnel Cakes, Stromboli, Gyros, Hot Sausage, Fresh Cut Fries, Apple Dumplings, Chinese, Cinnamon Rolls, Elephant Ears, NY Style Pizza, Wings, Gourmet Nuts, Taffy, Cinnamon & Caramel Apples, Cavatelli in a Bread Bowl, Gourmet Burgers and Grilled Cheese Sandwiches made out of Glazed Donuts. We also have great restaurants located in Clarion and the surrounding areas.  

 

When the trees of Pennsylvania start to glow of vibrant colors each fall, our town lights up to welcome people near and far to our International Award Winning festival.

 

RAL: What can visitors to Clarion expect to find for lodging during the event?

TB: We have hotels located at Exit 62 off of I-80 (Clarion), have a number of Bed & Breakfast facilities as well as a number of lodging and cabin amenities located north of Clarion including the Clarion House Bed and Breakfast and The Brick House Bed and Breakfast. Make sure to plan your trip in advance because local lodging sells out fast!

 

RAL: What does the event mean to the community and does the event support any special causes?

TB: The businesses depend each year on the festival to bring in income that will help them until the holiday shopping season happens. The hotels are booked within an hour stay of Clarion, the local restaurants are extremely busy and the retail shop owners are extremely pleased that the festival has come to Clarion.

 

Out of the 50+ events which take place, about 17 of them are actually run through our office and one of those events is the Clarion County Community Bank “FoodStock”. During the month of September each year, our local County Commissioners declare it “FoodStock” month. Local groups go and collect food in each of the communities. When people attend events during the festival, they are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to help us “RAM” Up FoodStock and fill a RAM truck which has been donated by Clarion Chrysler Dodge Ram. The food is sorted into different categories, counted and distributed to the 12 foodbanks in the county. Monetary donations are accepted and that money is then used to purchase Turkeys at Thanksgiving, Hams for Christmas and Easter and are delivered to Community Auction to hand out to those families who have fallen on hard times.

 

RAL: Why should people come to the Autumn Leaf Festival?

TB: The Autumn Leaf Festival™, sponsored by the U.S. Army, is a 10-day internationally award winning festival striving to provide meaningful programming and entertainment for children and adults of all ages. Every year committees and volunteers work tirelessly to ensure that the legacy of the festival carriers on for many years. We truly do offer a large variety of events and activities for those coming to our beautiful community.  


For additional information about the festival and the area please visit their website.