Fair Attractions

Motivated by the need to raise funds for an exchange program with its sister school in Nice, France, Moravian Preparatory School held its first “Country Fair and Horse Show” on Saturday, May 10th, 1969. 

Mrs. Joan Cory, who with her husband Mr. John Cory owned the Pleasant Hollow Farm in Springfield Township, and a teacher gave impetus to the event by deciding that the proceeds from her annual spring horse show would be donated to the exchange program. To bolster funds, the Parents’ Association thought it was a good idea to sponsor a fair at the same time, and from there, the event ballooned. 

The entire student body - as well as parents and faculty members - worked hard for several months to make the fair a reality. Each grade created a project for the event from the kindergarten class who enrolled kittens, puppies, lambs, birds, and other creatures for a baby animal show to the sixth-graders who made hand-dipped wax candles to sell.

The cost of admission to the Country Fair was $1.00 for adults and .25 cents for students. Students ran and promoted games and tests of skills, such as a greased pole and barrel-walk; a bean-bag throw; as well as fortune-telling and face-painting. As it is today, food was also a major draw sold snow cones to hot dogs to barbeque. During the day, live music was provided by students.

In the end, the Country Fair and Horse Show’s gross intake was $13,000, netting between $8,000 - $9,000 for the school’s exchange program. Due to its success, Country Fair evolved into an annual event.