Horse Trading Days marches on, not fazed by weather
ZELIENOPLE — Despite a hazardous air quality alert, a high temperature in the 90s and a parade cancellation, vendors and buyers from near and far peppered Zelienople’s Main Street on Thursday, July 16, for the first night of the three-day Horse Trading Days celebration.
The 62nd anniversary of the community event brings attention to local small businesses. The rain-or-shine activities will run through Saturday, with organizers monitoring air quality conditions and making decisions in regards to events accordingly.
The air quality in Western Pennsylvania deteriorated to code purple Thursday afternoon, a designation expect to last through July 17, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. The status signifies the air has a “very unhealthy concentration” of particulate matter.
The 7:30 p.m. Thursday Round-Up Horse Parade was canceled due to concerns over the health of the horses, Smith said. It will not be rescheduled.
Vendors were given the option to make the best decisions for their health, whether that meant closing up early or continuing to stay open, said Horse Trading Days vendor coordinator Alyssa Smith.
“We encourage everyone to make the best choice for themselves, with their business or with their health,” Smith said, “But we encourage people, if they want to stay, to stay. Because as you can see, our town is full of diehards who are here no matter the conditions. So we are enjoying the festival with the folks who are out with us.”
Wexford resident Don Lovre was not as fazed by the air quality. The smoke is “hiding some of the heat,” he said.
The vendors and businesses were the focus of the event, with the chance to see live music also bringing people to town.
“We have vendors who have been with us for 20 plus years, depending on the length of their business, and of course, we have new ones every year,” Smith said. “Our town also just looks forward to coming together every summer to celebrate our shared history and our community that we have now.”
Marla Taylor of Ragtrader Vintage said it was the shop’s first time selling at Horse Trading Days.
“I love Zelienople, it’s beautiful,” Taylor said. “We’ve done some shows in the area and it just looks very inviting, despite the smoke.”
Those interested in the full schedule for Horse Trading Days can check out the website at https://www.horsetradingdays.com/2026-schedule.
