Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center to Host 2022 Heemet Fescht Sept. 24

KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Kutztown University's Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center is set to host Heemet Fescht 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 24, where attendees can treat themselves to live music in the barnyard, traditional crafts, folklife demonstrations, hearth-cooking, live animals, children’s activities, book signings by local authors and much more. The Heritage Center’s Heemet Fescht is a celebration of the harvest and Pennsylvania Dutch farm life.

Located on the historic Sharadin Farmstead, Heemet (pronounced HAY-met, meaning “home” in Pennsylvania Dutch) is a free, fun and educational event fit for the whole family. Among the Berks County folk musicians to play include Mike and Linda Hertzog, Keith Brintzenhoff and a special performance of music and humor by award-winning Pennsylvania Dutch language promoter, Doug Madenford. Madenford is a co-editor of the dialect newspaper “Hiwwe wie Driwwe” which is celebrating its 25th year of publication. The commemorative book, 25 Yaahre Hiwwe wie Driwwe, A Quarter Century of Transatlantic Friendship will be available for purchase at the event.

Puddin Heartland’s extraordinary potbellied pigs will delight visitors of all ages. Children can explore autumn craft activities including pumpkin painting and corn dolls. Families can also assist with the potato harvest onsite with the Potato Project, a non-profit organization providing food to the Greater Berks Food Bank. Event goers can also learn about the fine craft of historic log cabins, along with folklife demonstrators in woodworking, tin smithing and more throughout the farm. Eric Claypoole, a barn-painter who has painted more than 100 barns, will provide information about barn starts and hex signs. Claypoole was recently honored for his lifetime achievement in the Heritage Center folklife publication entitled 100 Barns which will be available for purchase at the celebration.

A reading and book-signing with award-winning author, William Woyd Weaver, will showcase the Heritage Center’s new annual publication Folk Tales of the Pennsylvania Dutch at 12:30 p.m. in the Freyberger Schoolhouse. At 2:30 p.m., celebrated preventionist Jeffery Marshall will lead a discussion on the significance of historic barns and a book-signing for his new work Barnstorming in Eastern Pennsylvania and Beyond.

At the Sharadin farmhouse, attendees can experience the delightful sound of the harp masterfully played by Sarajane Williams of PlanetHarp, as well as open-hearth regional cookery in the kitchen and traditional baking in the summer kitchen.

More information, including a full list of vendors, demonstrators and activities for Heemet Fescht can be found at www.facebook.com/pgchc or by calling 610-683-1589.