Fort Armstrong Folk Festival a boost for Kittanning community for 45 years
Tens of thousands of visitors are expected to visit Kittanning's Riverfront Park as the 45th annual Fort Armstrong Folk Festival celebrates local heritage Aug. 4 through 7.
“There's truly something for everyone here, young and old, male and female,” says Jessica Coil, the festival's executive director. “Some people come for the arts and crafts, some come for the entertainment, and everyone comes for the food.”
Festivalgoers will be enticed by live entertainment, 60 arts and crafts vendors dressed in Colonial-period clothing, fireworks and food.
Glory on High Fireworks will launch a display from the Allegheny River at 10 p.m. Aug. 6.
A variety of bands and soloists will perform on two stages throughout the festival. The lineup includes oldies with Johnny Angel & the Halos and The Vogues, jazz, big band, country, bluegrass, drummers, acoustic musicians, and vocal and guitar soloists. A “Festividol” competition will be at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 4.
Living historians will demonstrate yarn spinning, blacksmithing and the dulcimer, a musical instrument. The John T. Crawford Camp 43 will present its historical encampment and demonstrations. There also will be car displays and horse-and-carriage rides through town.
Children's activities will include pony rides, sand art, face painting, a Colonial-themed petting zoo and a coloring book scavenger hunt.
Vendors will serve pizza, roast beef, hot sausage and other hot sandwiches, walking tacos, funnel cakes, gyros, apple dumplings, fudge and gelato.
“The food is just what you expect at a festival — great tasting, tons of variety and reasonable prices,” Coil says. “So many of our visitors return for multiple nights of the festival, and it's important to us that we provide a variety of quality foods that they can choose from and still afford to eat at the festival all four days.
“It's a community effort to put the festival together, and it's a chance for people to reunite with friends and family each year. It takes hundreds of volunteers, and we all really have a great time working together. To see the smiles on so many people's faces as they see old friends on the street makes all the hard work worth it.”
The festival also brings a huge economic boost to the community, Coil says.
“It brings in so many people to our hotels, restaurants and stores in addition to coming to the festival itself,” Coil says. “Our local businesses have come to rely on the festival's economic boost.”
Debbie Black is a Tribune-Review contributing writer.
