North Pocono Cultural Society

North Pocono Cultural Society,a not for-profit organization incorporated in 1981. Sponsor of annual Scholarships for North Pocono Seniors majoring in the Arts.	Organizers: of The Moscow Country Fair Since 1978.
Mission: "Promoting Cultural, Social and Education Enrichment of the North Pocono Community." Help us Grow... our Scholarship fund needs your financial support and our programs need your ideas and energy. Help us Celebrate 30 Years... plan with us as we restructure the Moscow Country Fair for its 2008 Anniversary Special.	Membership: is open to all residents and businesses in the North Pocono area. Meetings: Second Monday of the month at the Moscow Borough Building.

The Moscow Country Fair will not be held in 2007 due to circumstances described below.

History of the NORTH POCONO CULTURAL SOCIETY

This organization was incorporated in 1980 as a non-profit group, whose purpose was to contribute to the development of cultural experiences in the North Pocono community through sponsored activities and events and to conduct the Moscow Country Fair. Prior to 1980 core members of the society operated as the Moscow Country Fair Committee in cooperation with the Moscow Borough Council. According to an article in The Villager on March 21, what began as a foot race at the borough’s Golden Park grew into a two- day festival of crafters, food vendors, and community church and youth groups. The rapid growth of the local fair saw its move to the field behind North Pocono Middle School in 1980, and attendance grew from 1,000 to tens of thousands at the Fair’s peak.

Besides management of the Fair, the Cultural Society in its early years conducted many community events such as recitals and concerts by local musicians, lectures, art shows and auctions, community caroling, quilting and acting classes, etc. Over the years it continued to sponsor holiday parties for children at Halloween and Christmas and to maintain a scholarship fund for area seniors planning to major in the arts. By far, however, it was the annual Fair which defined the group. For more than 20 years, leadership by members of the organization turned the Moscow Country Fair into a cultural phenomenon with first rate entertainment, fabulous food, an excellent array of talented crafters, and award-winning art and quilt shows. Community involvement meant participation by local talent in four-days of music and dance performances with exhibits by area artists and quilters in annual competition.

In recent years, with the retirement of most of the original Fair planners and with fewer volunteers and community players, general management of the Fair became an uphill struggle. Costs have escalated, financial sponsors have dwindled, and competition for attendees have all resulted in many unpredictable factors for the future of this annual event. Changes in recent years – such as the addition of children’s rides, lowering of the gate fee, and the appeal to family-friendly events like a soccer tournament – could not sustain the Fair through difficult financial obligations in 2006.

2007 must be a year of economic recovery for the North Pocono Cultural Society as it looks toward reinstituting the Fair in 2008 for its 30^{th Anniversary Year. A number of fund raisers are planned including a Finders Market rummage sale at the Moscow borough building on June 2, an Antique Appraisal Day and Arts & Crafts Mart on June 16 at the Moscow Train Station, and the annual Car Show and Art Show & Sale on July 29, both to be held at the Moffat Estate on Rt.435.}