Dan Rice was an established circus owner long before making Girard his home. Born in 1823, he grew up on the Mulberry Street of a New York City's Manhattan District in the home of his loving mother, just doors from his paternal grandfather,a prominient lawyer and landowner. His mother and father's marriage was annulled, but Dan remained in contact with both parents even after his mother remarried. At age thirteen Dan was employed by his Stepfather to deliver a horse to Pittsburgh. Traveling through the state of New York to Buffalo, then south to Pittsburgh, Dan found work as a stable boy and sometime jockey. Falling in love with the city, he made Pittsburgh his new home. At 17, he married his first wife, Maggie, and shortly thereafter gained his first exposure as a performer while exhibiting a trained pig with a traveling show.

Schedule of Events:

7:00 a.m. - 5K race registration begins (Mechanic Street), sponsored by Country Fair Dan Rice Days 5K Race
8:30 a.m. - 5K race (Mechanic Street)
9:30 a.m. - Fun Run (Mechanic Street, no awards given)
10:00 a.m. - Parade registration begins (Girard High School)
10:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. - Crafters and vendors open
10:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. - Dan Rice Days Tote Bags
11:00 a.m. - Dan Rice Day Parade (Rice Avenue and Main Streets)
11:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. - Photo contest viewing (Girard Borough building)
1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. - First Unitarian Universalist Church of Girard (107 Myrtle Street)
1:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. - Rock Snake Painting
2:00 p.m. - Bed Races on Mechanic St.
1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. - Children's games (main stage)
1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. - Children's crafts (in courtyard, provided by PennWest Edinboro)
2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. - Free glitter tattoos by Connie (in courtyard, sponsored by Elk Creek Recreation & Leisure Board)
2:30 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. - West County Rangers (main stage), sponsored by Van Air Systems, Lake City, PA
2:30 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. - Swing Syndicate
8:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. - The Breeze Band
9:00 p.m.  - Movie night at Girard Community Pool
1:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. - Yellow/White House open
1:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. - Shuttle bus from Main & Mechanic to Yellow/White House and Sunflower Field
4:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. - Girard United Methodist Church chicken & biscuits dinner, $15.00