Labor Day arts and crafts festival offers food and fun, too

Shopping more than 200 exhibitor booths is just the start of the fun at the 26th annual Pennsylvania Arts & Crafts Labor Day Festival, set for Aug. 30-Sept. 2 at the Westmoreland Fairgrounds.

“In addition to the eclectic mix of arts and crafts, we have a variety of musical entertainment and children’s activities,” says Dave Stoner of Family Festivals Association Inc., the event promoter. “The focus of the festival is to provide a unique shopping experience, but guests can make a day of it by taking the opportunity to stroll the grounds at the Westmoreland Fairgrounds, enjoy delicious festival foods and catch a musical performance.

“We also have activities specifically for children,” he says.

This year, exhibitors will be present from 13 states in addition to Pennsylvania, from surrounding states to those as distant as Florida, New Hampshire, Texas and Wisconsin.

Their wares will include festival favorites like jewelry, ceramics, floral arrangements, scented candles and seasonal decor, along with functional and decorative furniture, embellished clothing and edible treats like canine confections, gourmet dips, candies and kettle corn — and much more.

New vendors this year include several from Western Pennsylvania: William Adam of Sarver, garden decor; Mike Marckisotto of Delmont, wine barrel furniture and accessories; Sharon McNemar of North Apollo, clocks made from record albums; Daniel Novokowski of Pittsburgh, photography and gifts; Rita Riley of Canonsburg, handmade mineral gemstone jewelry; and Brita Thompson of Pittsburgh, “Zenspire” prints, stickers and accessories.

Music and more

The Southwestern Pennsylvania Firefighters Pipes & Drums Band will circulate through the festival grounds, playing music from noon-12:30 p.m., 1-1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Aug. 31.

Also that day, the Penn Trafford Community Band will perform from noon- 2:30 p.m. on the stage near the pavilion seating area.

The stage will host Scott Leichliter and the Travelin’ Road Show from noon-2:30 p.m. Sept. 1, and DJ Ed from 11:45 a.m.-3:45 p.m. Sept. 2. In addition to spinning tunes, DJ Ed will play musical trivia games.

Children can enjoy the Happy Prospector Gem Mine, a fish pond game and balloon animals and face-painting with clowns Glitter Dot and Dapper all four days of the festival.

The Rolling W Farm petting zoo will be on hand Saturday and Sunday, while Bob’s CHS Express Barrel Train Rides will chug along from Saturday through Monday.

No festival is complete without a variety of foods good for eating on the go, and Stoner says there will be something to tempt everyone. Pick from various sandwiches, taco salads, gyros, fries, nachos, haluski, pierogies, pizza and more, and top it off with something sweet like funnel cakes and cookies or ice cream sundaes, floats and shakes.

Cold drinks and hot chocolate, coffee and tea also will be available.

Family Festivals notes pets are not permitted on the grounds: ”Only service animals as defined by the Americans With Disabilities Act are permitted into the festival.”