Although the COVID-19 pandemic has forced the cancellation of many summer events, the Clarion Chamber of Business and Industry is still planning for I Love Clarion and Autumn Leaf Festival.
“We are still planning to do the I Love Clarion event in July,” Chamber Executive Director Tracy Becker said.
The plan, Becker said, calls for events at Clarion University’s stadium with social distancing being observed. Children’s games and bingo will not be part of the lineup this year.
Becker said there might be a special guest at the event.
“I am not able to say who that may be,” she said. “The special guest may do a few numbers with our own Wrangler Band.”
“We will make sure that, somehow, this happens in Clarion. The board really wanted to be sure that we did the fireworks.”
Becker said the chamber refrained from reaching out to the business community for donations because it has been hit hard by the lockdown. Instead, the chamber started a Go Fund Me page. Details are on the chamber’s Facebook page.
In addition, the chamber will host a photo scavenger hunt on June 20.
For a registration fee, people may go by car in search of certain Clarion County landmarks. When they find a landmark, they take a photo of the team at the landmark. Photos will be posted online and a grand-prize winner will be drawn July 3 at the I Love Clarion event. The proceeds will benefit the fireworks fund.
The Autumn Leaf Festival committee is continuing to plan for the fall festival.
“Our plan is to move forward with Autumn Leaf,” Becker said. “We will be having a committee meeting (this) week.
“A couple of our events may not happen this year. We may restructure some events. We will reach out to other organizations that hold events associated with ALF to see what they are planning.”
There also could be changes to Clarion University’s Cultural Week, which is held concurrent with Autumn Leaf Festival.
“The University has informed us that they are taking a different approach to their Cultural Week this year,” Becker said. “They may be using more local talent. The priority is to be certain everyone is safe.”