There are fewer than 100 town criers in the United States and Canada. But that's more than there were 20 years ago. "I was the only town crier I knew of in North America when I started out in 1974," said Peter Cox, official town crier for Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Fortunately for the other contestants at the 1994 North American town crier competition, Mr. Cox is not in the running for this year's title; he is coordinator of the event, which takes place May 21 at the Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Farmington, Pa. The competition is free.
Entry deadline is April 15. For information, call (412) 941-8497 extension 149.