Clarion County commissioners are expected to at least discuss today requests related to the Autumn Leaf Festival – an event that is unlikely now to include its usual two parades but could still host a very scaled-back crafters day and other events.
Commissioner Wayne Brosius said Monday afternoon the county had just received the annual list of Autumn Leaf-related requests from the Clarion Area Chamber of Business and Industry, the lead agency organizing the festival.
The ALF planning committee met Monday morning, but no one who attended that session would comment on the discussion.
Brosius said it is his understanding the chamber is considering reducing the nine-day event down to a four-day festival “with about 75 percent of the events not taking place.”
Brosius said some of the events that might be held could look different this year or be much smaller, such as crafters day having one-third the number of crafters as usual in order to make social distancing easier.
“The overall crowds should be smaller as there will be no parades, no Junior Olympics, fewer concession stands and no Clarion University alumni events,” Brosius said in a late afternoon email exchange with the Clarion News.
“The situation is very fluid because of the pandemic – things can change anytime between now and October. What anyone is thinking now may change by the time the festival starts.
With the official requests from the chamber submitted to the county, Brosius expects more discussions with chamber and ALF participants.
The two Autumn Leaf parades are the main parade and the kiddies parade. The car and motorcycle show and tractor show could also be affected by plans for a scaled-back festival.