The Kutztown Folk Festival is the oldest continuously operated folklife festival in America. This nine-day event continues to draw visitors from all over the world, entertaining families while providing valuable insight into the traditions of the Pennsylvania Dutch and their fascinating way of life. The Kutztown 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 Dutch quilts on display and for sale; antiques and collectibles; six stages of entertainment; music and dancing; and a wide range of children’s activities (admission is free for children 12 and under).
Things to Do at Kutztown Folk Festival
At the Kutztown Folk Festival, a visitor experiences more music, more entertainment, more fun, and far less work than they would in a Pennsylvania Dutch household. But the purpose of the festival is still fulfilled, as evidenced by the continued participation of the local Pennsylvania Dutch community as well as many of the foremost experts and scholars of this fascinating microcosm of America. This unusual nine-day festival had been featured twice in National Geographic and has been called “one of the most unique festivals on the East coast” by the Washington Post, with good reason.
Crafts & Quilts of Kutztown Folk Festival
The Festival’s quilt sale is the largest quilt sale in America and has an internationally attended Quilt Auction of top prize-winning quilts.
Food Favorites at Kutztown Folk Festival
Typically at the Kutztown Folk Festival, there is plenty of “Guten essen” (good eatin’)! Here’s what you can look forward to:
Top PA Dutch Foods To Try At The Festival
Full-course, all-you-can-eat Pennsylvania Dutch family-style dinners.
Festival favorites including sausage, pot pie, corn fritters, funnel cake, shoo-fly pie, and apple dumplings
Dietrich’s Meats & Treats at the old-fashioned farmers market, family-owned and operated for generations. They know everything about good food!
Bread Oven, another long-held tradition is the festival’s 19th-century bread oven, one of the oldest in Pennsylvania, where bread is baked daily. The aroma of bread draws visitors to the bake oven where they can observe this tantalizing baking process, then buy bread to bring home to their families.
Bottled birch-beer.
In addition, the Fresh Fest Market at The Grove will be located right at the Kutztown Folk festival grounds. This new healthier eating option will offer fresh flavors, locally produced food, local craft beers. and spirits. You will know you and your family are eating quality, natural foods-and best of all-you don’t have to do the cooking.
Tickets at Kutztown Folk Festival
Tickets for the Kutztown Folk Festival are on sale now.
Adult: $16
Student (13 – 17 years old): $6
Children (12 & under): Free
Weekly Admission Pass: $40
When was the first Kutztown Folk Festival?
1950
In the summer of 1950, three of America’s leading folklorists presented the first Kutztown Folk Festival using a unique hands-on approach that let “outsiders” experience firsthand what it means to be part of a Pennsylvania Dutch family.
How many people attend the Kutztown Folk Festival?
Kutztown Folk Festival: America’s Oldest Folklife Celebration …
130,000 visitors
On a busy day, the festival brings 20,000 people and has exceeded 130,000 visitors in just nine days.
How many people go to music festivals?
32 million people
Over 32 million people attend music festivals in the U.S. each year