It calls itself the longest-running folklife festival in America, and I can believe it. I’ve been going to the Kutztown Folk Festival since I was a small kid. This past weekend I took friends from Belgium to see it, and they were amazed. I explained that this was not a show put on for outsiders—it was all-American for Americans, with a Pennsylvania Dutch twist. It’s worth a visit, even if it is going to be a scorcher this week. (They do have those little cooling buildings you can walk through and get squirted with water; and the quilt barn, which is the highlight of the whole festival, is air-conditioned.) The festival runs through July 11, so head on over!
I took some pictures for you all to get a flavor of the tradition of Pennsylvania Dutch heritage, but if you go, don’t miss the quilt barn, or my friend Tom Ahern and his gorgeous bird carvings. Also Eric Claypool, who is the hex designer who helped create the hex for my Maria’s Farm Country Kitchen logo, is there!
Who needs a pig roast when you can have an ox roast?!
The winning quilts get auctioned off at the end of the festival.
All the other quilts are available for immediate sale.
Fourth of July parade!
Wish I could be there, looks like fun! I ordered some hexsigns from Eric Claypool, he does beautiful work. Have fun and stay cool!
You keep it up now, undesarntd? Really good to know.