From a small 'pic-nic’ to a nine-day event: vintage photos of the Centre County Grange Fair

The first Progress Grange No. 96 “pic-nik” was held in the same year that the grange was founded – 1874.

Around 3,000 people attended that inaugural event that included food and a parade. A newspaper report said it was “a great success.”

The “pic-nik” was the idea of Leonard Rhone, a Centre County farmer, who launched the Progress Grange No. 96. Rhone had seen a need for farmers to have the opportunity to gather for socialization and education.

The Progress Grange No. 96 chapter of the Patrons of Husbandry (the formal name of the grange), was organized on Feb. 3, 1874.

Rhone went on to serve with Pomona Grange No. 13, the Pennsylvania State Grange and became a trustee of Pennsylvania State College.

And that “pic-nik” he started?

It is now in its 145th year as the Centre County Grange Encampment and Fair – the only encampment fair in the United States on the largest fairground in the United States, according to LeDon Young, a member of the grange fair history committee.

The spelling was eventually changed to “pic-nic” then later just called the “picnic.”

That first “pic-nik” was attended by about 3,000 people.

Now, about 200,000 people attend.

Encampment events, Young said, started in Colonial times when there were no churches in rural areas. People would gather for an “all day preaching and eating” event during which pastors of multiple denominations would hold services.

Because “horses don’t have headlights,” Young said, those attending would spend the day, pitch a tent at night then travel during daylight hours.

At the early grange fairs, families would bring tents – or use the canvas from their wagons – for the same purpose.

In 1887, Rhone decided to borrow tents from the National Guard so that more people could be accommodated at the fair.

According to the 125th anniversary book, “Centre County Grange Encampment and Fair – A History of Master Rhone’s Pic-nic,” “this was the beginning of tenting, exhibits and a three-day fair.”

The 2019 Centre County Grange Encampment and Fair will be held Aug. 16-24 and while it has the basics that Rhone established it is much, much more.

The “nucleus” of the fairgrounds, Young said, were purchased in 1890 – 26.5 acres west of Centre Hall. Today, the fairgrounds encompass 264 acres.

In 1877 there were 28 tent sites. In 1910 that had increased to 200.

Today, there are 1,500 sites for RVs, 1,000 tent sites and an overflow area for RVs without electricity and water.

The fair includes more than 300 concessions, 7,000 items on exhibit, premiere equine facilities, motorsports and national entertainers on the grandstand each night, Young said.

The tents are located at the core of the fairground. Trams are available to transport guests from parking areas.

Each year, Young said, invitations are mailed for current site holders – very few become open because sites pass down through generations of families. Tent city residents bring in furniture, cooking facilities, beds and even porches. It is a time-honored tradition that many families who have attended for years and years would not miss.

The fair also includes the traditional food, amusement rides, agricultural exhibits and contests, demonstrations, a parade, RV and tent decorating contests, health and fitness events including a 5K, truck and tractor pulls, cooking demonstrations, horse shows, horseshoe pitching, relay races, car shows and races, crafts, square dancing, a quilt raffle, the fair queen contest, a playground and numerous activities just for children and a lumberjack competition.

Dated Grange Fair memorabilia is available for purchase and includes apparel, a tote bag, flower pot and coffee mugs.

Nightly grandstand entertainment, which is free with the $7 daily admission ($20 for the week), are Home Free on Aug. 16, Ben and Noel Haggard on Aug. 17, Lorrie Morgan on Aug. 19, Riley Green on Aug. 20, Sidewalk Prophets on Aug. 21, Jukebox Heroes Live on Aug. 22, Tusk – Fleetwood Mac Tribute on Aug. 23 and Anthem Lights on Aug. 24. Other musical entertainment takes place throughout each day of the fair.

Children 11 years old and younger will be admitted to the fair free.

In other words, each day of the Centre County Grange Fair is packed full – there is no lack of something to see or do.

Or as Young put it, “It’s the great grange fair.”

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