Nataley Davis | staff writer

Liz Boyd, an organizer for the Pittsburgh County Fair, called the event “the biggest prank on the whole city” because Pittsburgh is not actually a county.

When the idea for an Allegheny County Fair was denied, she and the other organizers took matters into their own hands to start something new.

“We’re in our third year running, and it’s bigger than ever,” Boyd said.

This year’s fair was hosted on Saturday at Allegheny Commons Park West. It featured Pittsburgh-based small business vendors, placing an emphasis on locally sourced products and environmentally friendly activities.

The atmosphere buzzed with the sound of live music and attendees chatting with vendors to learn about their initiatives. Lines of people gathered in front of food trucks and a pony ride station. The fair also offered a petting zoo, plant sales, beer tasting, a grape stomping competition and more.

Attendee Claire Pacek said that she appreciated the natural elements the fair brought to Pittsburgh.

“It’s cool to see this stuff happening in the city,” Pacek said. “Obviously, if you live here, you don’t usually see that.”

Aliyah Richardson, owner of Bonesetter Nursery, was at the fair selling her native, home-grown plants. She sang the praises of the agricultural affair and said that when she wants to sell her product she comes out to events like these that invite local growers.

“The Pittsburgh County Fair is really focused on growers who are in the city or really nearby, smaller businesses,” she said. “Just from being here, I’m gonna meet plenty of people.”

Boyd, who is also a vendor, was selling her homemade jewelry with her business, Wool Gather. She said that the fair is a chance to show people that there are other options than buying fast fashion.

“You can make your own clothes. You can make your own jewelry,” Boyd said. “It’s all easier than what we think, because we live in the society that we do. Target is down the street. You can buy whatever you want.”

Along with the focus on sustainable practices and local commerce, entry to the event and activities were free.

Justin Lubecki, an organizer, said that while it’s difficult to make the fair free from a financial standpoint, it is vital to spreading their initiative to more people in the area.

“I just think about how I want it to be accessible for anyone who’s hungry for this information to be inspired, because it’s really important to foster these interests,” he said.

Lubecki began his own journey with fermentation and sustainable food practices from working in restaurants. He wanted to innovate the industry by using local products and preserving ingredients throughout the seasons.

He said that he created the fair with his younger self in mind – eager to learn about environmentalism but without the means to invest in a formal education.

Gabi Herring, an attendee who came back to the fair for the third year, appreciated the cost-efficient nature of the event and how it fosters connection within her city.

“I think it’s a very community-centered event in just the fact that you don’t have to pay to do most of the activities,” she said. “It’s people that want to show you how to do things yourself and use from your natural environment.”

Nataley Davis can be reached at davisn5@duq.edu