Festivals, events attract thousands to Beaver
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Beaver Borough’s grassy Irvine Park sits across from the county courthouse and adjacent to Third Street, the town’s three-block main street that is home to 73 shops and businesses.
As befits a borough that has been designated a Tree City USA, tall, leafy trees line the streets and tower over Irvine Park, casting welcome shade over the large white tents that filled the park Saturday.
The park and business district are the gathering point for a growing list of events and activities that draw thousands of people — not only from Beaver County but from surrounding counties as well.
“Yes, Beaver has become a destination,” said Jack Manning, president and executive director of the Beaver County Chamber of Commerce. “We think it’s the best-kept secret in southwest Pennsylvania.”
Mr. Manning and his wife, Dianne, are members of the committee that organizes the annual Beaver County BookFest, the event that took over Irvine Park on Saturday.
A total of 77 authors mingled with book lovers and sold their books. An estimated 4,000 to 5,000 visitors attended, said Valentine Brkich, a writer and blogger. He and his wife, Cassie, started BookFest in 2007 in his nearby hometown, Bridgewater. The event moved to Beaver in 2015.
It’s difficult to estimate the crowd, Mr. Brkich noted, because admission is free.
Also “free” is parking, which is abundant.
“Years ago, they took parking meters out of the business district to revitalize the downtown,” Mr. Manning said, and that move has been popular with shoppers and merchants.
Events such as BookFest tend to spill over into the business district, he noted.
Near the business district and next to the courthouse is a Beaver Countyowned parking garage with 350 spaces. Parking is free all week for people who have business in the courthouse. County officials have agreed to provide free parking in the garage for people who attend weekend events, including BookFest.
The next big event in Beaver will be Saturday, when 14 Pennsylvania wineries take part in the second annual Beaver Wine Festival put on by the Beaver Area Chamber of Commerce.
Festival chairman Mike Cirelli said it drew 3,000 to 4,000 visitors last year.
“We’ve added more food trucks because the restaurants are packed during events,” he said.
Third Street merchants will offer incentives to festivalgoers, he said. At his shop, Cirelli’s Fine Jewelry, he will give away $50 gift certificates every hour.
Admission to the wine festival is $25. For tickets: www.beaverwinefestival.com.
Other upcoming events include the Halloween Hop and Parade on the Saturday before Halloween and the Light-Up Festival the day after Thanksgiving.