Colonial festival to feature crafts, children’s activities
GREENSBURG – The 10th annual Pennsylvania Arts & Crafts Colonial Festival will be held today through Monday at the Westmoreland County Fairgrounds near Greensburg. Gates will open to the public from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday.
Visitors can watch more than 500 pioneer men and women in over 200 exhibit booths as they create and fashion natural materials such as wood into beautiful furniture and accessories, carvings, toys and miniatures; metal into ornamental iron; fiber into stunning clothing and quilts, comforters, tea towel angels, soft sculpture dolls, Santa, bears, pigs, cows, rabbits, ducks, dogs and cats; clay into pottery and crockery; dried floral into wreaths and swags, baskets, and small accent pieces; leather formed into belts, wallets, and hats; ceramics painted in southwest and Native American designs; and stone hand carved.
Painters will ply their skills on canvas, slate, wood, metal and fiber. Blacksmith and chainsaw craftsmen will demonstrate their skill.
Artists and craftsmen provided photographs of their trade along with application to the colonial committee for consideration. Those selected are the finest among 12,000 who received initial applications.
Participants from the 19 states will be featured. A family from Germany that makes cuckoo clocks from Germany will be featured during the festival.
The festival’s indoor booths span five very large buildings, which have been named Independence, Declaration, Constitution, Liberty and Freedom Hall. In addition, there will be outdoor displays and the festival will be held rain or shine.
“Each year the quality of the work gets better and better, and this year was no exception,” said Debbie and Dave Stoner, organizers of the festival.
Demonstrating artists and craftsmen will barter their wares to the common folk at trade offs ranging from $1 to $5,000. The event will also feature a variety of homemade food.
Special provisions have been secured for the 11th Pennsylvania Regiment to set up a military encampment with tents, campfire, ammunitions, drilling and the hearty demonstration of Civil War times. The 11th is a living history military reenactment unit portraying a Union Infantry Regiment, and it is the only authentic Civil War reenactment unit in Westmoreland County.
Entertainment will take place all day long throughout the day. Explore the grounds by foot or by carriage or wagon as grand Belgian horses pull visitors around Independence Hall, Declaration Hall, Constitution Hall, Liberty Hall, Freedom Hall and the entire colonies.
Activities for children will include face painting by Colonial clowns Glitter-dot and Dapper, toys of wood, an animal petting zoo and jars filled with wax.
There is a small admission fee to the festival. Children under 6 will be admitted free of charge.
For more information about the festival, call 724-863-4577.