The change in venue for the Darin Freeborough Memorial Outdoor Show was successful.

According to John Papalia, event coordinator and director of chamber operations and tourism for the Warren County Chamber of Business and Industry, while the venue is smaller and presents unique challenges in terms of parking and space, the Warren YMCA was a successful venue for the annual event.

“There’s always a learning curve,” said Papalia, when it comes to changing venues. The show has been held at the Warren Mall for the past 12 years, as the mall provides a large indoor space with multiple storefronts where vendors were able to set up.

Unfortunately, said Papalia, mall personnel were unable to empty the stores of equipment for this year’s show, meaning that the show needed to find a new home.

The Warren County YMCA reached out to Papalia to express an interest in hosting the event, he said, and they were happy to partner with the organization for this year’s show.

The YMCA was able to house around 50 vendors, less than the average of 100 usually gathered at the show when it was at the mall. “I did have to turn away vendors this year,” said Papalia, “but this was all we could fit.”

Jeff Carlstrom, representing the Kinzua Heritage Festival, said that one of the things that came along with a smaller venue was that people were able to stop and have a little more interaction with the vendors they chose to visit. “They’re not thinking about getting from one end of the mall to the other,” said Carlstrom, “so they’re not in such a rush to leave when they stop somewhere.”

All of the vendors seemed to agree that the crowds were steady, although the morning was a bit slow for the first couple of hours. The general consensus was that the heavy snow and ice the night before contributed to that fact.

Papalia said that while parking was a bit tighter with the YMCA remaining open to general use as well as hosting a swim meet, the extra people meant more people passing through the show as well.

On the YMCA’s end, the partnership was mutually beneficial. “It seems to be steady,” said Membership Assistant and Payroll Clerk Jennifer Suppa. Hosting the event presented no problems. “It seems to be going well,” she said.

Dick McCorrison and Gregg Bimber were at the event representing the Disabled American Veterans. The nonprofit provides services to disabled American veterans such as transportation to appointments and other social events. Their goal at the outdoor show this year, said McCorrison, was to generate interest and get a few more volunteer drivers on the roster.

Volunteer drivers use agency vans to transport veterans to appointments in places like Cleveland, Cincinnati, Buffalo, and Pittsburgh. “These guys who served sacrificed a lot,” said McCorrison. “Taking some time and volunteering to drive is a nice way to say thanks.”