Kutztown Folk Festival

One of America-s most celebrated festivals, now in its 63rd year, the Kutztown Folk Festival is the oldest continuing folklife event in the nation. The dates this year are June 30 ? July 8. Drawing well over 150,000 visitors, the Festival features folk art and crafts, the largest exhibition and sale of authentic Pennsylvania Dutch quilts in the country, folklore and folklife programs, entertainment, music, a wide array of children-s activities, and the best Pennsylvania Dutch food found anywhere. Traditions and skills that have been passed down in families over many generations are found in the folk art and crafts at the festival, including fine furniture, pottery making, clothing, blacksmithing, weavings, brooms, fraktur, scherenschnitte, beeswax candles and more. The sale of nearly 2,000 beautiful, hand-made Pennsylvania German quilts (all made in America) is one of the most popular events at the festival. The quilt auction on the second Saturday of the festival is a highlight of the Festival. From folk singing and country fiddling and brass bands, to the gentler sounds of Mennonite hymns, the festival grounds are alive with music. Songs in the Pennsylvania Dutch dialect introduce visitors to traditional music of the region. The Festival is a kids- celebration too. There is plenty of real, live, interactive entertainment that provides lots of fun. Good news for parents, too. Children 12 years of age and under are admitted free of charge. And, from one end of the festival grounds to the other, there seems to be no end to meals ? from snacks to full course all-you-can eat dinners.