About Us

The Denver Fair

About Us

Recent Pennsylvania state budget proposals to cut nearly half or as much as
100% of all fair funding will impact the 2009 Denver Fair.

The fair, in its 28th year, has been a free admission fair for many years.
The fair committee, with the help of the state funding and many generous
sponsors, has provided free midway entertainment daily, free entry for
exhibitors, free music acts, and many other no-cost activities for the
Cocalico community and beyond during fair week.

However, the proposed fair funding cuts have forced the Denver Fair and many
of Pennsylvania's other 116 fairs, festivals, and farm shows to enter
"survival mode."

This year, premiums for the Denver Fair exhibitors will be based on state
funding, animal exhibitors will be required to provide their own bedding
which was previously provided by the fair.

If you are interested in showing your support for the Denver Fair, donations
made payable to the Denver Fair may be sent to The Denver Fair at P.O. Box
207, Denver, PA 17517.

A Little Bit of History on the Denver Fair:

In May of 1982 a group of eager volunteers rallied behind the leadership of the Denver Lions Club gathered in the back room of the then Union Station Restaurant. They gathered to discuss the possibility of organizing a community fair. From that meeting the Denver Community Fair was born and by September of that year the first annual Denver Fair was held. Randy Eshleman who was one of those original volunteers, can tell you that the Fair has come a long way since it’s inception. He can recall how the fair suffered through a flood in 1989 in which bulldozers had to pull out all the rides and concessions. Then there were the hurricanes, which have come calling including Floyd in 1999, which caused the most damage. The Fair Committee was forced to close the Fair for 1 day just to clean up the fair grounds. But the most devastating has been that of the Sept 11th terrorists attacks on the World Trade Center – which occurred on the opening day of the Fair. The community of Denver rallied behind the Fair in so many ways but during the week of Sept 11th they did more than that. They rallied and held their loved ones near and dear to them and came out in droves to support this wonderful family event. Randy also recalls the good times when the Fair was able to build new restrooms in the park, remodel the stage area by adding a roof. The Fair has also been giving out scholarships to deserving seniors at Cocalico and crowning the Denver Fair Queen yearly. The committee has come up with innovative contests, which helped spur on interest in the Fair, such as the Cow Chip Poker, Smelly Sneaker, Boy George Look Alike, Outhouse Race and many more contests.

The Denver Fair Committee is made up entirely of volunteers. If you are interested in joining the committee please email us at denverfair@dejazzd.com or call 717-336-4072.

The Denver Fair Committee Members are:

Executive Officers:

President - Dennis Worley
Vice-President - John Frantz
Secretary - Pat McQuate
Treasurer - Denise Shirker

Board of Directors:

Donald Boyer
Joyce Christy
Vicki Ensinger
Aubrie Ensinger
Denise Eshleman
Randy Eshleman
Sandy Flory
Regina Hammer
Lorraine Korber
Nevin McQuate
Charles Messner - Denver Lions Club Liason
Earl Nussbaum - Denver Park Liason
Joe Reeder
Jill Showalter
Peggy Showalter
Diana Wenzel
Anne Worley
Sarah Zimmerman

Denver Memorial Park

Main Street

Denver, PA 17517