Duran’s Down Home Days is coming to the Waterford Community Fairgrounds June 2-4. The event will be open to the public Friday from 4pm to 8pm, Saturday from 9am to 8pm and Sunday from 9am to 7pm. Admission is free to the public. This annual event features many local crafters, vendors and artists; live music; demonstrations and plenty of activities for the whole family.

Also on the schedule is the Cast Iron Chef Challenge where participants cook over a campfire for a panel of celebrity judges. Trophies, bragging rights and $2,000 in cash are awarded each year. Voting for the Upcycle Contest will also take place all weekend. Participants repurpose items they would normally throw away and turn them into something creative, practical and/or artistic. Trophies and $100 in cash are awarded in each of five age groups. Registration deadline for both competitions is May 20.

Other things to see this year are Hot Dog Pig Racing, Chinese Auction, raffles, music, food and fun for the whole family. Organizers will accept vendor applications through Thursday May 11.

Duran’s Down Home Days was created in 2012 by Duran’s Farm Fresh Products, a small farm and bulk food store on Route 97 just south of I-90 and Presque Isle Downs. Store owner Karen Duran said the event has donated over $20,000 to several non-profit organizations over the years including Kanzius Cancer, Veterans Foundation, Make a Wish, NW PA K-9 Search & Rescue and New Blossoms New Life Foundation.

This year the event will raise money for the Paula S Cousins Ovarian and Endometrial Cancer Foundation, also known as Paula’s Promise. The non-profit organization was started in 2019 following Paula’s diagnosis with a rare form of Ovarian and Endometrial Cancers. She found there was not much information about the disease available to patients like her. Paula’s Promise vows to raise awareness of Ovarian and Endometrial cancer and “promises” that no one fights this disease alone.

For the schedule and more information on Duran’s Down Home Days visit duransdownhomedays.com.
For more information on Paula’s Promise or to donate visit paulaspromise.org.

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