Kutztown Folk Festival Returns July 1-9
KUTZTOWN, Pa. – The Kutztown Folk Festival, ranked the No. 2 cultural festival in the nation by USA Today readers, returns in-person this summer July 1-9 at the Kutztown Fairgrounds. Tickets are available online.
“We are so happy to be back again this summer with some new offerings, as well as our traditional festival favorites,” said Heather Zimmerman, festival director. “Honoring our rich Pennsylvania Dutch heritage while simultaneously appealing to new audiences will keep our event around for generations to come.”
“We are excited to have The Kutztown Folk Festival return,” said Chris Manwiller, secretary of the Kutztown Fair Assoc. “Prior to last year’s event, the Kutztown Fair Assoc. and the Kutztown Folk Festival signed another five-year agreement. We are looking forward to four more great years.”
The Festival will continue to offer the food, folklore and fun that guests have enjoyed for decades. There will be daily entertainment on five different stages, traditional food and music and the country’s largest quilt sale. Some new craftsmen and food vendors are joining the Festival this summer, as well as some new entertainment offerings. Each day’s schedule of events can be found here.
A new partnership with GoggleWorks Center for the Arts will bring “GoggleWorks on the Go” to the Festival, offering a variety of demonstrations and interactive workshops in glass blowing, pottery, woodworking, metal smithing and other artistic endeavors.
“We are thrilled to partner with Kutztown Folk Festival and bring our talented artists to this beloved cultural event,” said Levi Landis, GoggleWorks executive director. “GoggleWorks transforms lives through unique interactions with art and this collaboration allows us to do just that on a larger scale. We are excited to offer ages-old artistic processes and disciplines in exciting and engaging new ways that create meaningful connections and experiences for festival-goers.”
Fresh Fest Market, offering healthy food options, local craft beers and specially crafted cocktails made with local ingredients will be back in 2023. There will be more hands-on activities for children, including fun educational sessions, presentations, games and baby goats and pot-bellied pigs. Be sure to save the dates for German-American Music Tribute Day July 1 and the live Quilt Auction noon, Saturday, July 8.
For those who want to learn more about the ways of the Pennsylvania Dutch, the Festival offers seminars on dialect, traditions and other areas of interest. To introduce visitors to Pennsylvania Dutch culture, the festival works closely with the Kutztown University Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center, which moved to a new headquarters this past fall, The DeLight E. Breidegam Building.
About the Kutztown Folk Festival
The Kutztown Folk Festival is the oldest continuously operated folklife festival in America, drawing visitors from all over the world. The Kutztown Folk Festival features authentic folklife demonstrations; a wide variety of Pennsylvania Dutch food; over 200 nationally recognized, juried folk artists and traditional American artisans; over 2,500 locally handmade quilts on display and for sale; antiques and collectibles; six stages of entertainment; music and dancing; and a wide range of children’s activities. For more information, visit www.kutztownfestival.com.