![]() |
||||||||||||||||
![]() |
July 3rd - July 11th, 2010 9am to 6pm Kutztown, PA Phone: 888-674-6136 It's not only the oldest it's also one of the largest Pennsylvania Festivals drawing over 130,000 visitors, authentic Pennsylvania Dutch food, crafts and exhibits makes it actually one of the most celebrated Folk Festival in the nation. Folk art and traditional crafts have been passed down over many generations from the 19th century from artistic wood carvers, metal crafts, quilters, pottery making and fine handmade furniture. You're going to love watching the Pennsylvania German and other early American folk artisans demonstrate the fine skills as they weave rugs, decorate milk cans, hand paint hex signs, build iron ornaments and cut paper art known as "scherenschnitte," and don't forget the famous Pennsylvania German calligraphic writing called "fraktur". You can see it all demonstrated by the best of the best craftsman and it's all for sale at this famous Pennsylvania festival.
Pennsylvania German Living History
What's a great folk festival without a hoedown? From one end of the festival to the other you'll hear music ranging from folk singing to country fiddling, gospel music and bands marching. You're not going to be able to resist joining in on the square dancing and foot stomping fun. And if you're just ready to sit and relax you'll enjoy entertainment like the centuries old-music Mennonite capella choir. Listen to songs sung in the Pennsylvania Dutch dialect.
|
|||||||||||||||
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
The quilt show and sale have become famous across the eastern United States. Now the largest quilt sales event in the nation, the show draws the attention of thousands of visitors each day at the Festival.
For the serious quilt collector, this is a major event. The colors, designs, and originality are very impressive every year, and also every year fresh ideas are incorporated into the quilts while they retain the basic Pennsylvania German theme. From 100 outstanding quilts in the show, twenty-four are awarded top honors, and from these quilts four are designated as the best of the show. Visitors can view the prize-winning quilts during all nine days of the Festival. The quilt auction on the second Saturday of the festival is the highlight of the show and is attended by large numbers of bidders from the Middle Atlantic region and beyond. Each year over the past five years, records have been set for the highest price paid for an individual prize quilt.
This is one Pennsylvania festival that will inspire you to bring home many arts and crafts. Visitors often stop by the farmers' market and butcher's shop for Pennsylvania Dutch take-home delicacies such as hams, smoked sausages, cheeses, homemade pies, fruit and nut breads.
There is plenty of free parking in the festival parking lots, and free shuttle service is also available.
Kutztown , Pennsylvania is easily accessible from PA Route 22, mid-way between Allentown and Reading.