My favorite summer festival is the Goschenhoppen Folk festival. (Their website is http://goschenhoppen.org) By tradition, it's held the second weekend in August. The Goschenhoppen Historians purchased a historic Pennsylvania German farmhouse, the Henry Antes House, and are slowly restoring it to its original condition. The Festival is held on the spacious farmhouse lawn. In 2008, the Goschenhoppen was named one of the best historical festivals in the US, and THE best Early German Heritage festival by no less an authority than the Smithsonian Magazine.
 |
I first went to the Goshenhoppen when I was in college at Kutztown. After seeing it the first time, I tried to go as often as possible! I even took Mother and Dad, and they liked it very much. 2003 was the first time we took Katy, and she enjoyed everything. |
 |
This is the "Apprentices' Parade." One of the things I like most is that the historical society that runs it works with local schools to find kids who are interested in learning about their Pennsylvania German heritage. The kids work with society members to man many of the various displays and booths. They can even answer questions!
|
 |
The festival is not commercialized, and has managed to remain so, even though it has grown through the years. They try to be as authentic as is reasonably possible.
|