About this festival
Artifest 2013, a unique multicultural arts and history festival, will come alive on June 8th and 9th, 2013, from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. at the Museum of Indian Culture in Allentown-s Little Lehigh Parkway. This year's theme, "moments in time," encompasses an eclectic and family-friendly mixture of living history presentations ranging from American Revolutionary War to an Underground Railroad exhibit, PA German barrel making and roof thatching, Native American cooking, 18th century trapper encampments, tomahawk throwing, and more. In our cultural heritage area, Native American stone and bone artifacts will be on display and the Museum's curator will be on hand to offer artifact appraisals. Throughout the festival there will be antique cars and bicycles. Experience Old World cultural in our Renaissance village, complete with fire breathers, aerial performers, belly dancers, and sword fights.
In Artifest-s Marketplace, enjoy international mouth-watering foods, shop for unique handcrafts and folk art, see diverse demonstrations such as papercutting and wheat weaving, chainsaw wood carving, basketry, Scottish tartan weaving, Moravian stars and candlemaking, wampum loom working and porcupine quillworking, Ukrainian pysanky, and Appalachian broom making.
The event will also include plenty of hands-on activities at our Kaliedescope Kids arts and crafts area, where children will be able to make cultural crafts from Native American gourd birdhouses to Chinese Lanterns, and paint the Artifest mural.
The Main Stage will offer a wide variety of non-stop live cultural performances from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. each day. This year-s line-up will feature Native American Hoop Dancer - Matthew White Eagle from the MicMac Reserve, Canada, Aztec Fire Dancers - the Salinas Family from Mexico City, The Caribbean Steel Rhythms, African dance performing artists - Indigo L, Lehigh Valley Cloggers, Kazka Ukrainian Dance Ensemble, Bucket Boys (bucket and trash can performers), Prabhat Kumar-s Hindustani Music Academy and many more.
We encourage everyone to join us in their ethnic clothes and be part of Artifest 2013! Check the website for details at www.artifest.org. Warning: This is a family friendly event. Fun and entertainment is a requirement!
To kick-off Artifest 2013, on Saturday, June 8th at 10 a.m., don-t miss the official dedication of the blue bird nest boxes along the Lehigh Parkway-s Lenape Trail by representatives from the City of Allentown, and a brief announcement of the 2nd Anniversary of the Bird Town Coalition.
Gates open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily, rain or shine. Admission: $5 adults, $4 seniors and children 12-17, children under 12 FREE.