Kutztown Folk Festival Returns July 1–9

The Kutztown Folk Festival makes its highly anticipated return July 1–9 and promises over a week of fabulous folk tunes, creative vendor offerings and fair food galore at the Kutztown Fairgrounds.

The Kutztown Folk Festival made its debut in 1950 and is the oldest folklife festival in America. The nine-day festival will feature fun and entertaining activities along with spectacular food offerings throughout, including the following:

  • Traditional Pennsylvania Dutch foods including schnitz n knepp, corn pies, pork schnitzel, potato cakes, pepper cabbage, cinnamon buns and apple and peach dumplings
  • Live Entertainment on six stages, including fiddlers, folk signers, country dancers and the world-famous strolling Sauerkraut Band
  • Over 200 nationally recognized juried folk artists and traditional American craftsmen
  • America’s Largest Quilt Sale plus 2,500 locally handmade quilts on display and for sale
  • Hex Sign Painting Demonstrations

New events for 2017 include the following:

  • The 15-piece Shippensburg Blaskapelle German Brass Band, the largest band ever performing at the festival, playing rolling beer-drinking songs, traditional melodies and lively polkas and waltzes on July 8
  • Tinsmith’s Shop, a workshop where festival visitors can view craftsman Ken Smith transforming raw sheet tin material into functional pieces such as mugs, coffee pots, lanterns and more
  • Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center and the Mennonite Heritage Center displaying and providing presentations and classes on the PA German art form known as Fraktur
  • 20,000 pound 1910 Case Steam Traction Engine providing power to many Sonan Brothers antique agricultural pieces of equipment

This year’s Kutztown Folk Festival will run from July 1–9 with the following hours:

  • July 1, 2, 7 and 8: 10 a.m.–8 p.m.
  • July 3, 4, 5, 6 and 9: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.

Admission costs are as follows: Adult, $14; Senior (55 & older), $13; Students (13-17), $5; Children (12 & Under), free. A weekly pass is $24. Parking is free every day of the festival.

  • Photos: Kutztown Folk Festival