Things will be a little different this year at the annual Pennsylvania Arts & Crafts Labor Day Retail Marketplace, but it still promises attendees a good time.
About 150 vendors will set up at the 27th annual sale, from Sept. 4-7 at the Westmoreland Fairgrounds in Mt. Pleasant Township. That’s “down a little but not substantially” from the normal count of about 175, said co-founder David Stoner of Family Festivals Association Inc.
“We’re all hoping that next year things will be back to normal, but we’re doing what we can, and we have a nice mix to offer,” Stoner said. “In terms of crafts, we’ll have lots of jewelry, seasonal decor, clothing, metal lawn ornaments, the typical mix.”
Organizers are taking all necessary precautions to insure pandemic safety protocols are met, he added.
“We feel this will be a safe environment for people,” Stoner said. “It’s a 100-acre fairground and the buildings are spread out.”
Indoor vendors will be spaced 7 feet apart in rows, with buildings at reduced capacity. Walkways between rows will be about 12 to 14 feet wide. Arrows will keep shoppers moving in one direction.
Masks will be required. Hand sanitizer will be available and restrooms will be cleaned every hour.
“This will be strictly a walk-through event,” Stoner said. “There will be no entertainment, no bagpipes, no petting zoo, no train rides. For safety reasons, there won’t be any gathering around entertainers.”
There will be four food stands offering a typical variety of festival foods. Other prepackaged foods also will be available.
Among food vendors will be Court Yard Specialties of Scottdale, which has been selling at the festival since the very first year, according to owner Rhonda Hamrock.
“The menu will be a litttle different this year,” she said. “We’ll have a mixed batch of food, and what I mean by that is we’ll have the best-selling items from all the vendors who usually do the show.”
Included on the Court Yard menu are steak hoagies, chicken tenders, fresh-cut fries, hot sausage, Polish food specialties, corn dogs, gyros and fresh-squeezed lemonade.
Socially distanced picnic tables with seating for up to eight people will be available outdoors, under a pavilion and in a building.
Admission is $6.50, $6 for ages 65 and up, $3 for ages 12-15, and free to younger children. Coupons are available by clicking a “Discount Coupon” link on the website.
Details: 724-863-4577 or familyfestivals.com
