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Kutztown Folk Festival: Pennsylvania Dutch Culture
The Kutztown Folk Festival is an annual event that celebrates the culture and heritage of the Pennsylvania Dutch. Held in Kutztown, Pennsylvania, the festival has been running for over 70 years and is one of the largest and longest-running folk festivals in the United States. The festival is a celebration of the Pennsylvania Dutch culture, featuring traditional music, food, crafts, and activities.
History of the Kutztown Folk Festival
The Kutztown Folk Festival was first held in 1950 as a way to celebrate the Pennsylvania Dutch culture and heritage. The festival was founded by the Kutztown Folk Music Society, a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the traditional music and culture of the Pennsylvania Dutch. The festival has grown over the years and now attracts over 100,000 visitors each year.
What to Expect at the Kutztown Folk Festival
The Kutztown Folk Festival is a celebration of the Pennsylvania Dutch culture and heritage. The festival features traditional music, food, crafts, and activities. Visitors can enjoy traditional Pennsylvania Dutch music, such as polka, waltz, and schottische, as well as traditional Pennsylvania Dutch foods, such as sauerkraut, chow-chow, and shoofly pie. There are also craft demonstrations, such as quilting, woodworking, and blacksmithing, as well as activities such as hayrides, corn husking, and butter churning.
Highlights of the Kutztown Folk Festival
One of the highlights of the Kutztown Folk Festival is the Pennsylvania Dutch Market. The market features over 200 vendors selling traditional Pennsylvania Dutch crafts, such as quilts, wood carvings, and pottery. Visitors can also purchase traditional Pennsylvania Dutch foods, such as scrapple, pretzels, and shoo-fly pie.
Another highlight of the festival is the Pennsylvania Dutch Folklife Area. The Folklife Area features demonstrations of traditional Pennsylvania Dutch crafts, such as quilting, woodworking, and blacksmithing. Visitors can also learn about traditional Pennsylvania Dutch customs, such as hex signs, fraktur, and Pennsylvania Dutch dialect.
The Impact of the Kutztown Folk Festival
The Kutztown Folk Festival has had a significant impact on the Pennsylvania Dutch culture. The festival has helped to preserve and promote the traditional music, food, and crafts of the Pennsylvania Dutch. It has also helped to educate visitors about the Pennsylvania Dutch culture and heritage.
The festival has also had an economic impact on the region. According to a study conducted by the Kutztown Folk Music Society, the festival has generated over $20 million in economic activity for the region since its inception. The festival has also created over 200 jobs in the region.
Conclusion
The Kutztown Folk Festival is an annual event that celebrates the culture and heritage of the Pennsylvania Dutch. The festival features traditional music, food, crafts, and activities, and has helped to preserve and promote the traditional culture of the Pennsylvania Dutch. The festival has also had a significant economic impact on the region, generating over $20 million in economic activity and creating over 200 jobs. The Kutztown Folk Festival is a celebration of the Pennsylvania Dutch culture and heritage that should not be missed.
