The inaugural Carbon County Harvest Festival will still be held this weekend, but in the West End.

At a recent Carbon County Fair Board meeting, the board of directors unanimously agreed to hold the fair’s annual Harvest Festival Friday through Sunday at the West End Fairgrounds in Gilbert.

The fair board announced last month it would hold the event at the fairgrounds off Little Gap Road in Lower Towamensing Township, but board President Robert Silliman explained why the decision was made to change course.

“All I can say is that we were not permitted to hold it there,” Silliman said. “We expect a great crowd; people just want to get out and do it safely.”

The Harvest Festival will be held from 4-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. Parking is free, and the event will be held rain or shine. There is a $3 admission fee for everyone 6 and older.

A fair queen will be crowned at 5 p.m. Friday. Sponsors include Fred Reinhard, Lehigh Valley Health Network, Rapa Law Office, Bruce Reiner Concrete, Don Laine Campground, Rod and Carol McFarland, Northeast Chemical, and The Neffs National Bank.

There will be entertainment by The Majestics, with shows at 6, 7:30 and 9 p.m. Friday; Steel Creek at 6, 7:30 and 9 p.m. Saturday; and The Cramer Brothers at 2, 3:30 and 5 p.m. Sunday.

A demolition derby will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, and will include three classes and a Kids Power Car event. Rides and admission to the demolition derby will be additional.

For more information, contact derby organizer Tim Strohl at 610-462-0577.

Also, a free children’s bicycle drawing for six bikes will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday, and children must be present to win. The bicycles are sponsored by Tom Zimmerman, of Zimmerman’s Dairy and Pamela Gothard, Realtor, ReMax Real Estate.

The festival will also feature a marketplace with several crafters and other vendors; a hit and miss engine display; a basket raffle; a Chinese auction; chain saw woodcarving shows; Stonelake Winery; and a Kids Fest area with free games and activities for children.

Additionally, a food court featuring ethnic foods such as homemade potato filling; fresh local corn on the cob; choice of warm homemade soup; hamburger and chicken barbecue; apple dumplings; homemade halushki; hot dogs; fresh roasted almonds; Elephant ears; and more will be available.

Free hayrides will be offered between 6-8 p.m. Saturday and 2-4 p.m. Sunday. For those chilly nights, a limited supply of fair apparel will be available for purchase.

All attendees will be required to sign a waiver, complete a brief COVID-19 assessment and have their temperature obtained. Anyone with COVID-19 symptoms and/or a temperature of 100.4 or above (per CDC guidelines) will be unable to join the event. A face mask will be required for all attendees, and disposable and cloth masks will be available for purchase. Social distancing will be highly encouraged and frequent sanitizing of high-touch areas, including handrails, dining areas, restrooms will occur.

For more information about becoming a vendor, contact Silliman at 570-657-7129.

Also follow the fair on Facebook at carboncountyfair.pa.

In June, the board announced this year’s Carbon County Fair, which would have been held Aug. 3-8, had been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Silliman said the board plans to hold the 2021 fair on Aug. 9-13 at the fairgrounds off Little Gap Road.