With no fair, Bloom vendors take to Rt. 11
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL - A selection of Bloomsburg Fair vendors set up in Briar Creek, Columbia County on Sept. 27, 2020.
SOUTH CENTRE TWP., Columbia County – This year’s Bloomsburg Fair was called off as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, though many of its offerings can still be found in Columbia County this year.
For the past few days, and through the rest of fair week, vendors are setting up along U.S. Route 11 from Briar Creek through Bloomsburg.
“I do the fair every year, and I know everybody here, I’m friends of theirs,” said Chris Leiby, owner of Sunrise Pools and Spas. “We’ve got to try to help out the community.”
The turnout, Leiby said, has been “incredible.”
“Everybody’s losing money. With the fair not there, they make a lot of money down there. These people rely on the Bloomsburg Fair, so without the fair, they’re not making any money,” Leiby said.
Among the stands set up at Leiby’s shop were Vince’s Cheesesteaks of Allentown, Levan’s Tacos, Honey’s Sugar Waffles, among others.
Carol Seigfried, Berwick, set up a Scentsy stand at Sunrise Pools.
“We’ve had our loyal customers come from Delaware, Jersey, and Shenandoah, and they’ve been amazed because of the lines,” Seigfried. “We’ve been Facebooking it every day and people have been coming out.”
Seigfried has been operating at the fair since 1983, she said. Her stand is among a few non-food vendors set up along the Route 11 corridor.
“This way, people can come out and it’s not just food,” Seigfried said.
A local staple, Rollin’ Mac-a-roni, of Ashland, is set to be in Bloomsburg this Saturday, joining a host of other stands.
In Briar Creek, Yogi’s Potato Pancakes, Maddy’s Doghouse, Joe’s Pierogies, and Udder Delites Ice Cream were among the stands.
Closer to Bloomsburg, outside the Juice Vaporium next to Wendy’s, El Puerto de las Empanadas of Berwick and Denny and Pearl’s Pizza were set-up.
Off Route 11, in Espy, several vendors set up at the Espy firehouse, including Long’s Fresh Pizza and Joe’s Pierogies.
Many of the vendors plan to set up each day throughout fair week.
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