Autumn Leaf Festival

The event began in 1953 and became the first recognized Autumn Leaf Festival to be held during the Clarion State College homecoming. Businesses were asked to decorate for the occasion, with Ruth Neiger from Brockway serving as Homecoming Queen that year.[3]

In 1954, a larger festival was held to attract more people to the area. There were two parades. The first was held from 9:30 a.m. until noon and it included veterans from foreign wars, Girl Scouts, volunteer firemen, the Lions Club, the Autumn Leaf Queen’s float, and seven Clarion County bands. The second parade was the Clarion State Teachers College homecoming parade held two and a half hours later. It included floats made by local fraternities. In time, local sororities also joined in the parade.

In 1956, the annual “Tournament of Leaves” parade was part of the Clarion State Teachers College Homecoming. Clarion businesses donated monetary prizes for the float competition, for which the theme followed movie titles.[3]

In 1958, the Autumn Leaf Festival became a permanent event, and the Chamber implemented a committee to organize the annual festivities. The Miss Teen Autumn Leaf Festival scholarship pageant, which started out as a homecoming queen riding in the parade, became a permanent event in 1977.

A picture of the crafters day during the Autumn Leaf Festival where patrons come to find items from food to furniture.

The Farmers and Crafters Day usually occurs during the last Friday of the nine-day festival. The event started in 1977 and was originally called Farmers and Merchants Day Craft Show. On this day, 10,000-plus patrons and students come out to observe, buy from or promote the craft stands that line the main street of Clarion on both sides. The local Clarion University of Pennsylvania gives its students a "mid-semester break", so they can attend the crafters' day the following day.[4]

High schools and colleges work together producing floats for the festival parade. With bands, cars, horses, marching units, and drill teams joining the floats, the 2009 parade lasted an hour and 15 minutes and was described by the Clarion Republican that year as the “Best Autumn Leaf Festival Yet”.[3]