New for 2018
The 2018 Kutztown Folk Festival adds a variety of new events and activities to the schedule of long-time festival favorites, including:
Authentic Folklife: For the first time, the Kutztown Folk Festival will host an authentic Harvest Home celebration at the Union Church. Step back in time and witness this fascinating Pennsylvania Dutch tradition of adorning the local church with harvest decorations, fruits, and vegetables in celebration of a successful harvest and safe storage of food before winter. Food will then be dispersed to local families in need.
Exclusive to the 2018 festival, the National Museum of Industrial History will feature a 100 year old, fully operating printing press. Festival attendees will be able learn the history of the printing press and create their own one-of-a-kind printed festival souvenir!
Artisan Crafts and Antiques: Several new artists and craftsman help make up the 200 nationally recognized, juried folk artists and craftsmen coming from all across America to attend the Kutztown Folk Festival. See unique works of art created before your eyes and take home an authentic one of a kind piece. America’s largest quilt sale; shop the collection of 2,000 locally handmade quilts in the world-famous Quilt Barn throughout the 9 day event. “The Top 25 Award Winning Quilts & Wall Hangings” will be auctioned off on the Festival’s main stage Saturday July 7th at noon.
Food and Drink: Enjoy family style dinners the old-fashioned way – cooked over an open fire pit! New for 2018, visitors can enjoy an old-fashioned BBQ chicken “picnic-style meal”. Other authentic Pennsylvania Dutch food includes potpie, fritters, sausage, shoo-fly pie, scrapple, schnitz n knepp, apple dumplings, pig roast, home ice cream, schnitzel, and homemade bread from an original 19th century bread oven. Browse the PA Dutch farmers market. Visitors also enjoy the Festival’s large open-air beer garden and the area’s wineries that participate each year.
Live Entertainment: Follow the authentic sounds of the past to one of six stages at the festival to enjoy good old-fashioned entertainment from fiddlers, folk singers, comedy, square dancing, cultural seminars, school house lessons, country auctions, and the world-famous strolling Sauerkraut Band. New acts joining the numerous returning festival mainstays include; Robby Lawrence & The Steelworkers, The Blaskapelle Shippensburg German Band, Magician E.C. Hanna, Doug Madenfords “Ask A Dutchman, Stella Ruze, Carbon Drifters, Butter Queen Sister, and Tool Shed.
Family Fun: New for 2018, families will be able to explore a 30’x20’ garden sized model train exhibit presented in conjunction with the Allentown and Auburn Railroad, along with train memorabilia and educational displays. Kids can also enjoy the Children’s Farmyard Theater, petting zoo, craft areas, pony rides, hay maze, horse-drawn carousel, and more! Even better, festival admission is free for children 12 and under!