The chilly weather put everyone in the holiday mood on Saturday, Nov. 11 as the Kutztown Area Historical Society hosted its 36th annual Holiday Festival. All seven exhibit rooms were full of local arts and crafts ready for Christmas shoppers.
“We have some very loyal artists who participate every year,” said festival chairperson Meredith Strasser. “And they bring their loyal customers to our festival. We also had some new artists who were very happy with our beautiful building and the shoppers.”
Once again Ethel DeMatteo-Beck had the society kitchen humming along with its usual efficiency. The menu featured homemade soups donated by society members along with chicken pot pie, barbecues, and other items. The annual Christmas cookie sale was also a success. The cookies, baked by society members, are an annual favorite, and usually sell out long before the end of the festival.
The society model trains were also running in the basement. The trains are always popular, and will run throughout the holiday season on Sundays from 1 to 3 p.m.
The festival featured the unveiling of the society’s latest publication, “Vergess Net,” the official history of Kutztown’s bicentennial celebration. The book features more than 400 color photos of all the bicentennial events.
“Vergess Net is designed to be a companion piece to the black covered book we printed for sale during the bicentennial,” says Craig Koller. “And like that book, we only printed 750 copies, so it’s designed to be a collector’s item.”
“Vergess Net” can be purchased for $50 at the society on Sundays 1 to 3 p.m. or at Mr. Food, 342 W. Main, or Firefly Bookstore, 271 W. Main.
