County and community fairs have long been mainstays across Central PA and the Commonwealth. But as budgets shrink and close-knit communities drift apart, are they still relevant? This month, WITF's Morning Edition host and Senior Reporter Tim Lambert goes on the road to find out.
It's part of a new series of in-depth stories on WITF called Real Life | Real Issues, which will include treatment of a common theme each month on WITF 89.5 and 93.3, Smart Talk on WITF-TV, Central PA magazine and a gathering point on witf.org for related video, photos, links and audio.
Lambert plans to talk to experts, fairgoers, organizers and Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Russell C. Redding. "Are these events still a gathering place for people to catch up with their neighbors?" Lambert asks. "How are fairs handling the reduced funding, and how important are fairs to the community? Do people look at a fair as a community event or just something to do?"
Lambert's report will air on Thursday, August 5, during Morning Edition and All Things Considered. Plans include segments on the regionally well-known Lebanon Area Fair and a smaller community event, the Mason-Dixon Fair in Delta, southern York County.
Listen to the Radio Smart Talk episode broadcast Live from the Lebanon Area Fair
