Kutztown Folk Festival

After spending the last two days travelling from Ohio to eastern Pennsylvania, it was time for some fun activity. We decided to take the kids to the annual Kutztown Folk Festival, the oldest continuing folklife festival in America. Begun in 1950, the nine-day event features folk art and crafts, the largest exhibition and sale of authentic Pennsylvania Dutch quilts in the country, entertainment, lots of children's activities and the best Pennsylvania Dutch food anywhere! You can learn more about the festival at: https://www.kutztownfestival.com/.

We arrived at Jay & Peggy's yesterday afternoon and got the kids' stuff moved into their downstairs bedroom. We spent the rest of the day and night catching up on family doings and town gossip (this is, after all, the place Lee grew up). So today we headed for Kutztown, a small community between Allentown and Reading, PA and its world-famous folk festival.

Our first stop was the Quilt Barn. It was filled with authentic Pennsylvania Dutch quilts, some for sale, some for auction and some just for display. Starting bids on a number of those quilts was $1400 and more!. And no, I didn't miss a decimal point - fourteen hundred dollars! The kids had a great time talking with some of the artists and crafters and both purchased a few souvenirs. We also enjoyed some of the great Pennsylvania Dutch cusine and desserts! The Pennsylvania Dutch really know how to cook.

Addie enjoys her Strawberry Shortcake while Lee is partial to his Apple Dumpling.

We had a great time walking around and checking out all the artisans' work and the other exhibits highlighting the typical Pennsylvania Dutch lifestyle.

This Morning at Jay & Peg's Home

 

I went down to check on the kids and Addi was still out like a light!

Later on in the day we were introduced to the newest member in the Benfield Family: Oliver Benfield. Oliver is the first child of Kevin and Doris Benfield (Jay and Peggy's son is Kevin).

A Day At The Columbus Zoo

Today we spent the day at the Columbus Zoo And Aquarium. We got caught in a downpour mid-afternoon but that didn't dampen our enthusiasm. The rain did help thin out the crowds though so it wasn't such a bad thing. 

We saw lions and tigers and bears - oh my! And of course lots of other animals. Tommy and Addi even got to ride a camel and feed a giraffe! The aquarium offered shelter from the rain and a touch pool for the kids (even us older kids). Once the rain stopped, we found the polar bears and the kids participated in a scavenger hunt that kept them busy for about an hour which offered the old folks a chance to relax.

After the zoo, we headed to Arby's for supper and back to the RV to relax. The kids went off to the campground playground for an hour or so before bed. Tomorrow, we continue on our trip east finally entering Pennsylvania! Two more days and we'll be with family in eastern PA.