To the Attendees and Supporters of the Kutztown Folk Festival,
After careful consideration, we regret to announce that the Kutztown Folk Festival will not take place in 2025, due to dwindling attendance, increased costs, and continued net losses.
We understand this news may be disappointing, as the festival has been a highlight of the community calendar for many, and we share in that sentiment.
We are deeply grateful for the enthusiasm and support that our patrons have shown over the years, and we are truly thankful for the memories we’ve created together. We are hopeful that a successor, or successors, will step up to reimagine the event and take on its operations moving forward.
Thank you again for your support over the years. We hope that you will continue to support Pennsylvania Dutch culture in our region.
Board of Directors,
Kutztown Folk Festival
America’s Oldest Folklife Festival
The Kutztown Folk Festival is the oldest continuously operated folklife festival in America. This nine-day event draws visitors from all over the world, entertaining families while providing valuable insight into the traditions of the Pennsylvania Dutch and their fascinating way of life.
Named One of America’s Top Celebrations by USA Today
Named a “Must See” Festival by the Washington Post
Named No. 2 Best Cultural Festivals by USA Today 10 Best Reader’s Choice
Sunshine Artist magazine, www.sunshineartist.com, has announced the release of its annual 200 Best, ranking the nation’s most profitable art and craft festivals based on artists’ reported sales in 2022.
Artists and craftspeople were able to cast their votes from February through April for the 200 Best shows list. They could list up to 10 shows they attended in 2022 where they grossed the highest sales. - Sunshine Artist
The Kutztown Folk Festival’s new logo combines the classic geometry of the local eight-pointed barn star and the six-petaled flower of life, punctuated by the image of the tulip.
As the most prevalent barn star in the vicinity immediately surrounding Kutztown, the eight-pointed star anchors the logo with a sense of place in the community. Representing the points of the compass and the rays of the sun, this design has become locally synonymous with the agricultural traditions in the region fostering neighborly cooperation and friendship – the backbone of a folklife celebration.
The six-petalled flower of life is a favorite motif of the Pennsylvania Dutch, adorning folk art throughout the region. A pattern that can be repeated infinitely, it represents the festival’s commitment to passing on and sustaining cultural traditions over many generations.
The tulip, depicted as sprouting leaves and mature flowers, shows the potential for growth and significance at every phase of the cycle of life, inviting young and old to join the Kutztown Folk Festival family and explore the region’s folklife traditions.
The Kutztown Folk Festival logo was created by Patrick Donmoyer, Director of Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center - Kutztown University.
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