Campi's fresh pizzas, sliced and ready to be served.
State and County fairs are infamous for the eclectic food offerings. A week’s worth of food for a week at the Crawford County Fair.
What: Campi’s Pizza
Description: Eating a Campi’s slice of pizza is like attacking an inflated Chicago deep dish slice–it’s so big, you don’t know where to start. The shop based in Dunkirk, NY, comes to the Crawford County Fair, because it’s a huge money maker for them.
Campi’s offers slices in Cheese, Cheese and Pepperoni, Veggie, Supreme, and Sausage. A vegetarian, I chose the veggie. This slice was loaded with broccoli, tomato, peppers, and onions, but not so much as to overwhelm the serving. Not that this pizza colossus would ever feel overwhelmed.
Testimonial: “It’s a meal in itself,” says Beth Knoedler of Saegartown.
A Campi’s sever says that Cheese has been the most popular at the Crawford County Fair, but normally at other fairs, the most popular prize goes to Cheese and Pepperoni. Which would you choose?
Cost: $5
Verdict: I would get this Fair Food again, but split the giant serving with a friend. It’s filling and fresh, just the way food ought to be.
Contestants congratulate a stunned Kelly Thayer on her new title.
The Miss Crawford County Fair Queen Pageant, now in its third year, crowned Kelly Thayer as it’s newest queen Sunday night at the grandstand stage at the Crawford County Fair.
“Honestly, I thought I didn’t have it,” said Thayer, the newly crowned queen. “I had to do a double take when they called my name.”
Out of eight contestants, Thayer, 20, of Linesville, took the 2011 title. Thayer is a sophomore at DeVry University.
Thayer was awarded a $500 check from BIG Investment Group of Meadville. The Crawford County Fair Queen acts as the fair’s ambassador, visiting at community events and organizations on behalf of the fair.
“I can’t wait to be a representative for the Crawford County Fair. I’ve wanted this for so long,” said Thayer. “I messed up my skit, but I guess no one knew!”
Contestants are judged on a variety of criteria, including pre-pageant interviews, eveningwear, and on-stage questions. The women also perform a skit, as a form of a personal statement about what’s special about the Crawford County Fair and why someone should visit. This year’s contestants dressed up as a range of characters, including a rat, a tour guide, Dorothy from the Wizard of OZ, and Maria from the Sound of Music complete with a musical statement. Thayer portrayed a farmer’s wife, in a plaid dress and apron.
Katie Steider, departing Queen, takes her final walk.
The pageant also hosted over thirty visiting pageant royalty from around the region. Any and all titleholders were invited to attend.
It was an emotional night for departing Queen Katie Steider, who even choked up a little on stage during her final walk.
“It’s been even better than I ever could have imagined,” said Steider, who said that ending her reign is bitter sweet.
She said her favorite memories included getting to read to regional elementary school students, and then having them greet her on the street.
“A little boy came up to me at a parade, and said, ‘Remember me? I’m from Mrs. Egan’s class,’” said Steider. “People really do look to you as a role model.”
She said she’s so thankful for the experience, but offers some advice to the next queen.
“To be as open minded as possible and meet as many people as you can,” said Steider. “We really have a lot of great people in Crawford.”
In addition to the title of queen, the pageant also recognizes the young women with several other awards. Jenny Washok won Miss Congeniality. Ashley Jackson took two, the Essay Contest (“What the Crawford County Fair means to my community”), and the Advertising Competition. The Community Choice Award went to Rebecca Hyde. The Interview Award went to Brianna Gallagher.
Check out photos from the pageant in our photo gallery. Were you there? Add your photo to our community photo album on GoCrawfordCounty.com.
Lady Antebellum headlined the Crawford County Fair Saturday night, with the group Stealing Angels opening. Watch the video below for a clip of Lady A performing “Our Kind of Love.”
Check the Lady Antebellum photo gallery for more from the Lady A concert.
Lady Antebellum headlined the Crawford County Fair Saturday night, with the group Stealing Angels opening. Watch the video below for a clip of Lady A performing “Friday Night.”
Check the Lady Antebellum photo gallery for more from the Lady A concert.
Team Smoking Dragon, striking very intimidating ninja poses.
One was wearing a Darth Vader helmet. Others ninja costumes. All this to match their outfit to their boat. Cardboard boat that is.
32 boats raced in 16 heats at the Bayfront Maritime Center’s Second Annual Cardboard Boat Regatta Saturday afternoon, as part of 2011′s Celebrate Erie. People lined the BMC’s lake side and onto the deck of the Erie Maritime Center to cheer on their teams and their elaborate cardboard creations. It felt more like a family festival, the more crazy your costume and boat the better, than a cut-throat race.
Team Smoking Dragon, clearly dressed to intimidate in white home-made ninja costumes, crewed a craft that actually blew bubbles at the bow. Another craft named their boat “Charlie Sheen AKA Winning.”
The first regatta was held at the Tall Ships Erie festival, and was a major success with visitors and the crowd. Many of last year’s crews had so much fun they decided to roll up their sleeves and try again this year. The Lake Erie Piranha, a wobbly yet 2010 fan-favorite, returned for another try.
“We started this at 10 last night and finished around 2,” said Sam Rigotti of the Piranha’s Revenge, the Lake Erie Piranha reincarnation.
Although enthusiastic, their last-minute efforts proved unsuccessful, and the crew capsized before making it to the buoy. The last man paddling in the boat saluted as he sank, “Don’t give up the ship!”
Before their untimely demise, the crew raced The New Hope, a Star Wars-themed craft that entered the area to the Darth Vader theme. Both boats pelted water balloons at each other, which you can watch in the video below.
Bob Allshouse, a Director on the Board of the BMC, said they hope to make this a popular, reoccurring event.
“We hope to expand, bring more people down to the water front, make more people aware of what the bayfront has to offer,” he said. “The center helps children at risk, and helps them learn life skills.”
Team Commodore Perry The Paddlepus, with Nicole Lichtenger and Haley Martucci.
With the BMC, kids’ groups engage in hands-on boat building projects, like the cardboard boat regatta. This year, the Housing Authority of the City of Erie sponsored two boats for area kids’ groups, the JFK Center and the YMCA, to build boats for the race. See the JFK’s Hope and the YMCA’s Watermellon in our pre-race preparations gallery.
Commodore Perry The Paddlepus had a cheerleading team of friends of and family, dressed to match their Perry the Platypus character themed cardboard creation. 8-year-olds Nicole Lichtenger and Haley Martucci crewed the vessel.
Rich Eisenberg, Executive Director of the BMC, says he’s optimistic the event will grow.
“Who doesn’t have access to cardboard? It’s a great team building activity, great way to share Erie’s greatest asset, the bayfront. It’s easy.”
Following the enthusiasm from today’s regatta, the future looks promising for a Third Annual Cardboard Boat Regatta.
Erica Streett is Diana Ross. Or at least she gets to play her on stage.
“I love getting to act extra sexy and see the reaction of the audience singing along to every word,” said Streett, who loves getting to step into the shoes of the iconic Motown diva.
Streett, from Virginia Beach, said she’s gotten to travel across country, and even around the world, playing gigs as far as Ethiopia with Masters of Motown.
Listen to what the lovely ladies of the Masters of Motown have to say minutes before they take the stage at Celebrate Erie.
Ever wonder what goes on behind the scenes at Celebrate Erie? Back behind the Celebrate Erie Main Stage, I got to see what went into a few of the elaborate costumes seen this weekend.
I spoke with Jennifer Dennehy of Dennehy Hoops, Anna Haller of Sartori Hoops, and Carla Fleming of the Lake Erie Belly Dancers, who were all on stage during the Is What It Is performance.
“It takes about an hour and a half,” said Dennehy about the prep of her full body paint done by local artist of AIRHEADS.
Voting ends Sunday for the Taste of Erie’s ERIEsistible entrée at Celebrate Erie. Who are you going to choose? Take a look through our video food tours to help make an informed decision.
La Bella:
Harry Miller provides tour of the tapas buffet offered by La Bella at the Taste of Erie for Celebrate Erie. This display was by far the most impressive, but was only offered Thursday night for the opening. Check out their permanent Taste of Erie menu before voting on Sunday.
La Bella is located at the old Hector’s venue at 802 West 18th Street in Erie.
Sluggers Sports Bar & Grill was unfortunately the only Taste of Erie booth I didn’t get a chance to tour with. My favorite thing about this themed bar is the row of five pool tables at their 10th Street location. Check out their regular menu at their website.
Sluggers Sports Bar & Grill
Check out their Taste of Erie menu here. Did you get to taste Sluggers ERIEsistible entrée?
Sluggers Sports Bar & Grill is located at 14 East 10th Street in Erie.
Voting ends Sunday for the Taste of Erie’s ERIEsistible entrée at Celebrate Erie. Who are you going to choose? Take a look through our video food tours to help make an informed decision.
Senory 3:
Mike Davis at Sensory 3 shows us what’s on the grill for the Taste of Erie at Celebrate Erie. Davis made me smile by offering me a complementary entrée plate, which I was able to share with the GoErie.com crew at the photo booth.
Sensory 3 is located inside the Presque Isle Downs & Casino at 8199 Perry Highway in Erie.
