Lancaster County Hosts Art Festivals and Craft Shows EVERY weekend through mid-September

Late Summer is definitely the time for Art and Craft Festivals in Lancaster County. Lititz, Mt. Gretna, Lancaster and Ephrata are all homes to annual festivals that vendors and visitors alike look forward to each year. Every festival is unique, but one thing is certain... art lovers will find a great variety of works while enjoying charm of Lancaster County.

Here's a run-down of the shows coming up between mid-August and mid-September:


Lititz Rotary Craft Show: Saturday, August 14, 2010. 8:00 am – 4:00 pm. Location: Lititz Springs Park, 18 N Broad St. Lititz PA 17543.

One of the biggest and most popular craft shows on the east coast, the Lititz Rotary Club's Craft Show brings downtown Lititz to a halt. Over 700 crafters line Lititz Springs Park as well as Broad and Main Streets with booths of interesting crafts and artwork. Parking is well orchestrated and trolleys run often.


Mount Gretna Art Show: August 21 – 22, 2010. 9:00 am – 6:00 pm Saturday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm Sunday, Rain or Shine. The show is presented under the oaks of the Chautauqua section of Mount Gretna between Route 117 and Pennsylvania Avenue. www.mtgretnaarts.com

Every year, during the third weekend of August, this community of some 700 homes and cottages suddenly springs to life, welcoming 285 artists chosen through juried competition and 20,000 visitors who—by their presence—acknowledge the role that art plays in their homes, hearts, and lives.


The Weathervane Art Show: August 28, 2010 from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm. The Landis Valley Museum Store is hosting this special day for local artists and craftspeople to demonstrate and sell their work. Food will also be available for purchase. Location: 2451 Kissel Hill Road, Lancaster, PA 17601. www.landisvalleymuseum.org

Artists participating in the event include: Bob Broome (Basket Making), Jen Cavalcante (Photography), Ed Guion (Woodworking, Birdhouse), David Haneman (Pen & Ink drawings), Trudy Kauffman (Scherenschnitte), Mike Keller (Redware Pottery), Margie Maninger (Watercolors), Bob Marquardt (Shaker Boxes).


The Longs Park Arts & Crafts Festival: Labor Day Weekend Friday through Monday, September 3–6, 2010, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm. The festival is in Long’s Park, a lovely, 80-acre park on the northwest edge of Lancaster City. It is conveniently situated at 1441 Harrisburg Pike, off the Route 30 bypass at the Park City Center exit. www.longspark.org/art.html

Experience one of America’s leading fine art and craft shows. The four-day long Long’s Park Art & Craft Festival takes place each Labor Day weekend in a beautiful city park on the edge of Downtown Lancaster. Showcasing 200 top artists and craftspeople from across the United States, Canada and beyond, the show juries applications from more than 1,000 annually. All proceeds benefit the free Long’s Park Summer Music Series.

37th Annual Art & Craft Festival & Restaurant Fair: September 11, 2010 from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm. Downtown Square, Ephrata.

This festival offers more than 200 artisans displaying arts and crafts plus local restaurants offering favorite foods. Exhibits will include all types of handmade art and craft work. All work must be original, not produced commercially or from kits, and must be for sale (unless displayed in the Commercial Vendor area.) Arts and crafts displays will be placed on the East and West Main Streets and South State Streets in Ephrata. Commercial vendor displays will be placed on North State Street. Demonstrations are encouraged.

Submitted by Rebecca Gallagher, Historic Smithton Inn