The 29th annual Pennsylvania Arts and Crafts Labor Day Festival will be held Sept. 2-5 at the Westmoreland Fairgrounds.
Festival hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Monday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
The festival was voted the arts and crafts industry’s “19th Best Traditional Craft Show” in America by readers of Sunshine Artist Magazine, a respected national trade publication.
The public is invited to spend the day in the Laurel Highlands countryside and shop at over 200 exhibit booths.
Exhibitors from 14 states will display and sell a wide variety of arts and crafts, including jewelry, clothing, home decor items, soft sculpture, scented candles, lotions and soaps, floral arrangements, seasonal decorations, pet treats and accessories, gourmet dips, drink mixes, candies, fudge, kettle corn and more.
The festival attracts many talented artists and craftsmen, including such new exhibitors as Gary Bender of Scottdale, who will offer purses, totes, bottle holders and accessories featuring animals; Patricia Bednarofsky of Manor, with hand-sculpted polymer clay jewelry and small accents; and Cathleen Siefert of Greensburg, displaying her handmade gnomes.
These are just a few of the many exhibitors scheduled to participate, along with returning favorites. There truly is something for everyone and every budget.
In addition to arts and crafts, the festival offers free musical performances. Enjoy the big band sound of the Penn Trafford Community Band on Saturday, western Pennsylvania country band Part Time Cowboys on Sunday, and Pittsburgh oldies band American Pie on Monday.
There also are activities for children. Kids can visit and interact with barnyard animals at the Rolling W Farm petting zoo on Saturday and Sunday; take a ride on Bob’s CHS Express barrel train on Saturday, Sunday and Monday; win prizes at the fishing pond game; and get their faces painted or balloon animals created by clowns Glitter Dot and Dapper.
No festival is complete without a delicious selection of foods and desserts.
Concessions are located in the middle of the festival, offering a variety of sandwiches, including Italian roast beef, pulled pork, hot sausage, brisket, ribs, steak hoagies and gyros.
Also on the menu are French fries, sweet potato fries, nachos and cheese, haluski, pierogis and gourment macaroni and cheese. Desserts include ice cream, sundaes, floats, milkshakes, cookies and funnel cakes. Wash it all down with soft drinks, lemonade, iced tea, fruit drinks, bottled water, coffee, tea or hot chocolate.
Hand stamps at the gate will allow guests to make unlimited trips to their vehicles; hand stamps are not good for consecutive days.
Tickets are available at the admission gates or may be purchased online at familyfestivals.com.
Cost is $6.50 per adult (16 to 64), $6 per senior citizen and $3 per child (12-15). Kids younger than 12 will be admitted free.
Discounts are available for groups of 20 or more. Churches, civic organizations, corporations and other groups should call the festival office for discounts.
There is a reserved parking area for buses and motor coaches.
Motor coach groups of 20 or more should call in advance to reserve their tickets and parking spaces.
The fairgrounds provides plenty of free on-site parking, with reserved wheelchair and disability parking areas near the gates. Restrooms and all exhibit buildings also are handicapped accessible.
Wheelchairs are not available to rent; visitors must bring their own.
Only service animals as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act are permitted into the festival. Pets are not permitted, and therapy and emotional support animals are not recognized by the ADA.
For more information, call 724-863-4577 or visit familyfestivals.com.