A look back at the ‘Taste of the Fair’ in 2020

Despite the challenging circumstances that 2020 presented, Unionville Community Fair organizers off ered a little ‘Taste of the Fair’ over three weekends

By Chris Barber Contributing Writer

“The fair” resides deep in the heart and soul of folks who, for decades, have brought their crops and handiwork to an event that started out in 1924 as the Unionville Community Farm Products Show.

A welcomed sign of autumn each year, the event has grown through time from a mere corn show to an extravaganza with special events, vendors, livestock and a variety of contests.

And so, when the COVID-19 pandemic struck in early 2020, and there were widespread cancellations of public events, Bonnie Musser, a lifelong Unionville Community Fair supporter and frequent president, was not going to let the tradition that so many loved face a yearlong oblivion.

Musser explained that she and her fellow board members knew it was a bad omen in late spring when other events scheduled for the fall were being scaled back or canceled. She said it was obvious to them that many of the usual sponsors would be faced with limited funding and that the 250-crowd limit placed by the state would not work for the fair, which attracts thousands of visitors every year.

“We have about that many volunteers alone running it,” she said of the 250-person limit that was in place in mid-2020.

So she and former fair chairman Jayne Shea did some brainstorming and decided it would be a workable idea to give people just “a taste of the fair.”

The name “A Taste of the Fair” stuck, and they proceeded to plan for a drastically reduced celebration which still captured some of the memorable charm of the annual event.

They came up with a model of three “tastes:” one in August, one in September and one in October – October being the month in which the fair traditionally takes place.

Once and future fair royalty join for a photo shortly before the coronation ceremony. From left are 2020 Queen Lauren Chamberlain, 2019 Queen Lexie McNeil, 2019 Princess Sophie Halsey and 2020 Princess Tomasina Petragnani. A welcome balloon announces the “Taste of the Fair” to passers-by. Priscilla the alpha cow from Baily farm in Unionville makes a return appearance.

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On Saturday, Aug. 15, that first event, “Taste of the Fair: Ice Cream Sundaes,” took place in the center of Unionville on the grounds of the Foxy Loxy Ice Cream Parlour and Coffee Shoppe.

Shea, who managed Foxy Loxy carried out the theme by offering $5 ice cream sundaes that people could assemble with ingredients of their choosing.

But there was more.

As Musser and Shea laid out plans for the event, those plans expanded to include a horseshoe-tossing tournament, live music, a visit by a local cow, a few children’s games and an open house at Lou Mandich’s Last Chance Garage, which services antique vehicles and sits adjacent to the Foxy Loxy property.

The event was enthusiastically received by friends and neighbors and had an almost serene and sentimental atmosphere reminiscent of the old days when it was held at what is now the elementary school.

It even included Irenee DuPont Jr., age 100, who drove up in his 1936 Olds Touring Coupe which he said his father gave him as a Christmas gift two months before his 16th birthday.

Additionally, at this makeshift fair, Pennsylvania Master Farmer and former state Secretary of Agriculture Charles Brosius showed up with a calliope he recently refurbished. It played uplifting celebratory music and had people gathering around and asking for more.

Out front, a horseshoe tournament led by Bill Combs was getting started, and a makeshift livestock pen in the yard housed a local cow from Baily’s Farm in Pocopson. It lounged in a pile of hay and stared back at onlookers.

The next Taste of the Fair was on Saturday, Sept. 12, and it featured a “Classic Chocolate” theme and included the chocolate cake competition that usually takes place in the regular fair.

There was also a heavy emphasis on classics of the past with plenty of old music and old vehicles as well as the continuation of the horseshoe tournament.

Following in the footsteps of the Aug. 15 celebration, Brosius returned with his reconditioned calliope, and many old car enthusiasts who had arrived in August drove in again with their prized vehicles.

In September, however, the star of the show was the chocolate cake judging, which had long been a popular attraction during the history of the fair.

In the end, the winning cake with multiple layers and topped with a circle of rosettes came from Emily Cwyk of Chadds Ford. She called it “Modernizing Mom Mom’s Chocolate Cake.” Second place went to Addison Twesten.

All photos by Chris Barber

The judges were heartened by a big turnout for the apple pie competition.

Continued on Page 84

Longtime fair chairman and first lady of the event Bonnie Musser relaxes at a table at Foxy Loxy. Antique auto shop owner-operator Lou Mandich, left, greets drive-in visitor Irenee DuPont Jr., age 100, who arrived at the Taste of the Fair in his 1936 Olds Touring Coupe. Bill Combs shows his winning form with horseshoes.

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Adding to the entertainment throughout the day was music from vinyl records provided by retired Unionville School District administrator Tom Marinelli. He brought a few of his 30 crates of old records and covers which he said he’s been accumulating since his youth.

“I never threw any records away,” he said.

Over at Mandich’s the auto repair car garage State Rep. John Lawrence brought over his newly acquired 1969 mail delivery Keyser truck. Several other owners showed off the interiors of their classic cars and explained the upgrades they had provided.

Vendors returned as well, including booths for honey, chocolate, soap and decorative signs. Abram Broughton brought an elaborate display of honey with varieties that ranged from totally raw to thin sticks to sweeten tea.

The attendance didn’t abate throughout the day, with visitors – including many local high school students – sticking around to order ice cream and snacks from Foxy Loxy. On the third “Taste of the Fair” on Oct. 14, the 2020 queen’s crown was bestowed on Lauren Chamberlain by 2019 Queen Lexie McNeil. Tamasina Petragnani assumed the title of Fair Princess from 2019 princess Sophie Halsey.

The crowning ceremony took place under a huge tree and was boosted by musicians Dan and Galla, who brought entertainment to the occasion.

A competition that has often elicited excitement through the years is the naming of the best apple pie. In past years, that winner proceeds with his or her pie to the Pennsylvania Farm Show to compete with other winners throughout the state. Alas, that statewide competition was canceled for 2020 because of the pandemic.

The 2020 winner was Anne Nuse, whose apple crumble pie was in the shape of a pizza. She was chosen as the first place finisher out of 11 entries. The judges agreed that her pie was not only creative but had “an excellent crust and beautiful presentation.”

Also highlighting the activities was the reassembling of dozens of classic cars in what became in three months a convivial fair tradition at Mandich’s garage.

“He’s here!” the vehicle owners cheered as 100-year old driver of a 102-year-old Buick Irenee DuPont arrived again. DuPont then handily backed his car precisely into a parking place alongside a passel of other old vehicles.

Again, Brosius brought his reconditioned calliope, which provided classic tunes in alternating time periods with music entertainers Dan and Galla providing additional entertainment.

Also returning for a second visit to the Taste of the Fair was Priscilla the cow, who is known around town as the alpha cow on the nearby Baily’s Farm.

In all, Musser, who has been attending and often participating in the fair for more than seven decades, said she was not deterred by the pandemic.

“It was well attended,” she said of the 2020 event, which offered many people ‘a taste of the fair’ and a favorite tradition just when they needed it.

Musser is already looking forward to the 100th anniversary of the fair in just a few years.

Pennsylvania Master Farmer and former state Secretary of Agriculture Charles Brosius showed up with a calliope he recently refurbished that played uplifting celebratory music that had people gathering around and asking for more. A young child beholds the ghoulish balloon statue that was set up for the fair celebration in October. Longtime pumpkin judge Bob Struble selects the winning carved pumpkins brought by kids.

84 Fall 2021 • Unionville Community Fair