Kutztown Festival Celebrates Pennsylvania Dutch Culture and Art
The week-long event is also where the whole family can learn about and enjoy Pennsylvania Dutch folk life.
“The Kutztown Festival is the perfect place to experience the culture, artistry and cuisine of the Pennsylvania Dutch,” said Mickey Rowley, deputy secretary of tourism in the Department of Community and Economic Development. “While being immersed in the Pennsylvania Dutch heritage, visitors can choose a quilt from the largest selection available in the nation.
“And, with the festival just a day's drive for more than half of the U.S. population, this is a must-do for people looking for an affordable and unique getaway.”
The Kutztown Festival is and less than three hours from New York City and Washington, D.C.
Pennsylvania Dutch dialect and folklore will fill the Kutztown fairgrounds as blacksmithing, weaving, woodcarving and metalworking are demonstrated daily by more than 200 unique artisans.
Other highlights of the festival include:
— George Washington, portrayed by Carl Closs, and Benjamin Franklin,
portrayed by Dean Bennett, will entertain audiences as they reminisce
about the nation's history at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 28.
— Wine enthusiast can enjoy a sampling at the Pinnacle Ridge Winery
booth. Each year, a special festival commemorative wine is offered; a
number of other varieties available for tasting. Pinnacle Ridge
received multiple awards at the 2008 Pennsylvania Farm Show and
secured a silver and bronze medal at the 2007 Los Angeles
International Wine & Spirits Competition.
— Each day, craftsmen will demonstrate the timber-framing building
process and show how to raise a small frame. Timber-framing is a
historic building method that uses local timber to construct the
durable buildings commonly found on Pennsylvania German homesteads.