County fair draws thousands to Ebensburg

EBENSBURG -- Thousands of people spent their Labor Day at the 71st annual American Legion County Fair in Ebensburg, formerly the "Cambria County Fair."

Organizers said a group of 12 American Legion posts have always run the fair.

This summer they received permission from their national office to use the American Legion name.

The fair plays host to games, rides and animals.

"Labor Day, end of the summer, everybody's interested in getting out and having a good time and this is a great place to do it," said Phil Rice, president of the American Legion County Fair.

Rice said it takes a lot of workers and volunteers to make the fair happen.

"This year we've changed the name to the American Legion County Fair to let people know that the American Legion has actually owned and sponsored this fair for the past 71 years," Rice said.

But for Carol Miller from Clearfield, co-owner of Miller and Shank's Sugar Waffles and Funnel Cakes, the name change isn't exactly new.

"Well many years ago when I first started, my father-in-law called it the Legion fair then, even though it was Cambria, because him and some of the other concessioners would go up to the legion and play cards and make us do the work,” Miller said.

People at the fair love what she makes.

"I've been here 46 years and we keep coming back because people don't want us to leave,” Miller said.

It's both the food and the people that keep many coming back.

"It's nice. It's a good culture,” said high school student Sean Steffen. “I meet a lot of different people, new people to meet and what not. I think it's an all-around fun time."

"They have lots of rides and I like playing games," 9-year-old Alex Wingard said.

Ed Migut comes to the fair for his daughter.

"She just loves to ride rides and see all the animals," Migut said.

Bonnie Hite is a 4-H parent helping out in the Dairy Beef Barn.

"My son's in the Cambria County beef and veal club, so it's very helpful to the kids,” Hite said. "It helps the kids learn about the animals, taking care of the animals and showing the animals up at the fair."

Whether it's seeing the animals, a death defying motorcycle show or hopping in bumper cars, there’s something for everyone to see and do.

Officials said the average attendance for the week is about 40,000 people.

The fair continues this week from noon to 8 p.m. until Saturday.

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