Penn Hills Arts Festival canceled for 3rd year in a row

For the third year in a row, the annual ‌Penn‌ ‌Hills‌ ‌Arts‌ ‌and‌ ‌Music‌ ‌Festival‌ will not be held.

Penn Hills Arts Council president Catherine Meara said due to covid and other issues among its members, holding the festival was not possible. The event normally takes place in mid-July.

“I am just heartbroken. I loved the festival and doing it,” Meara said.

In 2021, the council canceled the festival because of covid.

The last festival was held in 2019 when an estimated 950 people attended the free, two-day festival at the Penn Hills Library. Live music, food, children’s activities and displays of artisans’ projects were available for attendees. Around 12-15 artisans had their work and products displayed, and 141 entries were entered into the exhibition for a contest.

Former exhibition‌ ‌chair‌ ‌Henry‌ ‌Fiore‌ ‌and‌ ‌former president‌ ‌Robert‌ ‌Brust oversaw the festival that got its start in 1979. Then, it was known as the Penn‌ ‌Hills‌ ‌Open‌ ‌Art‌ ‌Festival. ‌The arts council works independently as a subcommittee, with members appointed by the mayor.

Maeara said the council will not know if a festival will be held in 2023 until next January or February. She said the resignation of some members leaves it to the municipality to appoint new members, so depending on who is appointed, the festival may look different.

“I am more than willing to do it again if the mayor would like to appoint me. I got so into it, and I will miss it,” she said.

Penn Hills Mayor Pauline Calabrese said the municipality is accepting applications to fill vacant positions on the arts council.

“That’s unfortunate, but I understand they need to take safety precautions they feel are appropriate,” she said.