Old Economy Village, home to the 19th-century Harmonist Society in what now is Ambridge, has held various festivals over the years.

There was Kunstfest, a festival to commemorate Harmonist crafts; Erntefest, a harvest festival; and Oktoberfest, a fall celebration of German food and music.

“But we haven't had Kunstfest for years and years,” said Sandy Carroll, Old Economy's volunteer and site rental coordinator.

This year, the staff and volunteers will present elements of all three in an Autumn Festival on Saturday and Sunday at the Harmonist village along Church and 16th streets.

“We're trying to combine the best of all three festivals into one event and make it a larger, more active, more quantitative event given the limited number of volunteers and staff,” said Michael Knecht, site administrator. “We've combined them because we have limited marketing dollars.”

Instead of spreading the marketing budget over two or three smaller events, Knecht said, “we think we'll attract more visitors” by promoting one larger event. The goal is to have one large event each quarter.

“I'm excited about it,” Carroll said. “I think a lot of people like being able to purchase handmade crafts” that reflect the 19th century, such as handmade baskets, which previously they could buy at Kunstfest.

Oktoberfest will be reflected in German food that vendor Paul Mitchell will sell in the garden. Burke's Bavarian Band, folk and bluegrass musicians Daniels & McLain and yodeler and accordion player Koni Ostertag will provide musical entertainment.

Preparing the harvest for winter was a theme of the old Erntefest, so the Autumn Festival will offer jams and jellies for sale, as well as small grape pies for $5, an Old Economy tradition since the 1970s. All the grapes were grown on the site. A beekeeper will sell honey and speak about maintaining a beehive.

“Our gardens are still beautiful. The festival is an opportunity to see our historic gardens,” Carroll said.

In years past, festivals at Old Economy attracted about 1,000 visitors, Knecht said. “If the weather cooperates, our goal is to reach that number,” he said.

The Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission considered closing Old Economy in 2009, but the Friends of Old Economy Village pressured the commission and state officials to keep it open. Now, Knecht said, things are looking up: visits last year were up 19.7 percent from 2012, with more walk-in visits and more site rentals for weddings and other events.

Visits in July and August were up 43 percent over the same two months in 2013, he said. Renovations are continuing on the Rapp House, home of founder Johann Georg — or, George — Rapp. The home is expected to reopen in November.

Old Economy has seven employees paid by the state Historic and Museum Commission, and six paid for by the Friends of Old Economy.

Annually, about 150 volunteers work on activities including Christmas at the Village in December, but 40 of those help out weekly with activities ranging from giving tours to working in the flower, vegetable and herb gardens.

At the Autumn Festival, costumed interpreters will demonstrate 19th-century life such as blacksmithing, weaving and silk reeling. The Harmonists raised silk worms and made fabric to sell.

Teen volunteers with the Young Harmonists will supervise children's activities, including making rope and dipping candles.

Sandra Fischione Donovan is a freelance writer for Trib Total Media.

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