Celebrating its 25th Anniversary, the Annual New Hope Juried Arts & Crafts Festival will take place on Saturday, September 29 and Sunday, September 30, 2018 and will feature more than 160 local and national artists and craftspeople. Held at New Hope Solebury High School, 182 West Bridge Street, New Hope, PA, the rain or shine Festival is open Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission to the festival is $1. In addition to the artists market, the festival includes events for the whole family — from a children’s art tent to a food court and music. Visitors also may choose to enter a free drawing where 25 winners will receive a pair of tickets to Bucks County Playhouse. The grand prize is A “Weekend in New Hope”.
The New Hope Arts & Crafts Festival attracts artisans from states along the east coast as well as thousands of visitors. Artists and craftspeople include specialists in oil painting, pastels, watercolors, drawing, etching, mixed media, black and white and color photography, soft and hard sculpture, wood turning and rustic furniture, pottery and glassware, wearable art, leather and fabric handbags, handspun and felted clothing and jewelry - including hand-blown glass beadwork as well as precious and semi-precious metals and stones. Prizes are awarded in six different categories: crafts, fine arts, fiber, jewelry, mixed media and photography.
Proceeds of the Festival will go towards maintaining the New Hope Visitor’s Center and is sponsored by Penn Community Bank and Bucks County Playhouse. Co-Chairs Sharon Flanagan and Linda Rowe are very enthusiastic about this year. Flanagan said, "Our 25th New Hope Arts and Crafts Festival continues our tradition of presenting highly respected artists and craftsmen.” Rowe added, “There is something for everyone in every budget. There are ideal gifts for Fall birthdays and for the holidays and, of course, art pieces that will enhance any home.”
The operations of the Visitor’s Center located at 1 West Mechanic Street in New Hope. Operated by Bucks County Playhouse, the Visitor’s Center is a significant town landmark and the only local information center that promotes all area businesses. Public restroom facilities and Playhouse ticket sales are available at the Center during normal business hours.
Constructed in 1839, seven years after New Hope was incorporated, the Visitor’s Center building served as New Hope's first town hall, school and jail. In his book New Hope, Pennsylvania, River Town Passages, New Hope historian Roy Ziegler states that the building “served as the municipal building and jail for nearly a hundred years until the borough moved into its new offices in a converted fire station. The original old jail gates from 1839 have been converted into garden trellises that greet thousands of visitors each year.”
Located in the historic river town of New Hope PA, known for its arts community, this event usually attracts 10,000 visitors. There is ample parking with a complimentary shuttle. New Hope’s business district is just a few minutes' walk or shuttle ride away. There’s much to do in New Hope the same weekend that includes seeing the extended run of the Tony-Award winning musical “Million Dollar Quartet at Bucks County Playhouse on September 29th. www.buckscountytheater.org.
