Chestnut Ridge firemen kick off scaled-down fair in Stahlstown, fireworks to close show

The Chestnut Ridge Community Volunteer Fire Company’s 59th annual fair in Stahlstown will be “a whole lot different” from past events — except for the traditional fireworks display to wrap things up.

The coronavirus pandemic brought the department’s usual fundraising efforts, including weekly bingos, to a standstill and forced firefighters to cut back on some usual fair offerings, which runs Thursday through Saturday, said fire chief Shawn Kestner.

“We’re really way behind in fundraising. In fact, this will be our first fundraiser of the year,” he said. “We’re hoping people come out and can safely enjoy themselves and, at the same time, we are able to raise some money for the department. We’re hoping the community comes out and supports us.”

Outdoor picnic tables are more than 6 feet apart in a section of the Flax Scutching Grounds on Route 711 that is usually reserved for children’s inflatable rides. Those were eliminated this year due to safety concerns with the pandemic.

Through Facebook and mailings, firefighters urge fair supporters to follow recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“We are taking many precautions to abide by CDC guidelines. Please remember to keep a safe distance while you are on the fairgrounds,” reads a post on the the department’s Facebook page. “We do encourage you to wear a face-covering or a mask to protect individuals around you. We did invest in additional hand sanitizing stations for your use by each food station.”

The fair begins 6 p.m. Thursday and ends with fireworks at 10 p.m. Saturday.

Highlights of the fair include the parade 7 p.m. Thursday which will be followed by an acoustic performance by Katelyn Rose, a garden tractor pull at 7 p.m. Friday and Rose will perform again Saturday fro 8-10 p.m., prior to the fireworks show. Westmoreland County Sheriff’s Department mobile gun permit unit will be on site Wednesday and Friday.

Food offerings such as hot sausage sandwiches, hamburgers, hot dogs, steak and cheese sandwiches, pulled pork, cotton candy, funnel cake, ice cream, milk shakes, popcorn and baked goods will be available for take out or eating on site.

Raffle tickets will also be available for sale.

Admission will be charged Saturday to cover the costs of the fireworks at $5 per car or $2 per walk-in patron. The department has also established a charity GoFundMe campaign to help with costs of the fireworks display. As of Wednesday, the campaign had raised less than $700 toward its $10,000 goal.