Taste the flavors of Pennsylvania this Memorial Day weekend, May 23 & 24, at the second annual Great Pennsylvania FlavorFest. Enjoy a delicious array of culinary, beer and wine offerings and the finest artisan crafts in an all-encompassing showcase of the state’s unique cuisines and the region’s cultural diversity.

This two-day festival to be held on the grounds of Mount Hope Estate & Winery is a collaborative effort of the Winery and the PA Dutch Convention & Visitors Bureau, with the help of signature partners Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen, PA Preferred and U.S. Foods. FlavorFest is 30 acres of festive fun and delicious entertainment for the whole family signaling the beginning of summer in Pennsylvania.

A Flavorful Menu

Chefs from local restaurants will present six cooking demonstrations each festival day highlighting gourmet dishes in their restaurants’ signature styles. Audience members may ask questions about the techniques used to create these flavorful dishes and sample the final product. Participating restaurants include The General Sutter Inn, T.J Rockwell’s, Mount Gretna Hide-A-Way and Chocolate Café.

Discover the savory world of Pennsylvania’s vibrant wine country. Twenty-one participating wineries from all over the state will sample and sell their featured vintages that are sure to appeal to wine novices and experienced connoisseurs alike. Festivalgoers will receive a commemorative FlavorFest wine glass to use for sampling.

Pennsylvania has a long and rich history of beer and brewing. It lead brewing in the American Colonies, the microbrew revolution and continues this rich history with numerous local breweries and brew pubs. Straub Brewery and Swashbuckler Brewing Company, whose microbrewery is located on the festival grounds, will sample their handcrafted ales ranging from golden and light to dark and bold.
With Pennsylvania’s reputation for lush, rolling farmlands and quality agricultural goods, it’s no wonder that the Keystone state is brimming with specialty food vendors who hand-make a variety of unique food products. Sauces, dips, pastries, cheeses and PA Dutch signature foods such as shoo fly pie and whoopie pies are just a few of the tasty treats festival goers can sample and purchase throughout the site.

Many of these vendors proudly carry the PA Preferred label, indicating that at least 60% of the raw product was grown and harvested in the Commonwealth or 100% of the final manufacturing process and packaging was done in the state and meets required quality standards.

Learning Tastes Good

Want to learn more about beer and wine from the experts? Keynote speakers will conduct entertaining presentations each day. Professional winemaker Dominic Carisetti will present four wine discussions, each one focusing on a different type of wine, full of information that cannot be read about in wine journals. Grand Master Judge David Houseman will take a close look the various styles of beer focusing specifically on what makes a style a style and what makes each style unique during “Beer Styles: A Tutored Tasting.”  

A Feast for the Eyes

Not only is PA Dutch Country known for its comfort foods, it’s also known for the beauty and artistry of its handmade crafts. Some of the very best and finest local craftsmen and artisans vetted by, and members of, the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen will display their one-of-a-kind creations for purchase. Peruse items from a variety of disciplines including pottery, jewelry smithing, glassworks, candle making, basketry, quilting, painting, photography and more. Many of these artisans will demonstrate their skills throughout the weekend.

Just For Kids

FlavorFest isn’t just for adults. Children are invited to explore Pennsylvania’s culinary and artisan worlds through hands-on activities and demonstrations in the Crafty Kids area, new for 2009. Learn how to take two palm-sized chocolate cakes and icing and turn it into whoopie pies, a Lancaster County favorite, with Hershey Farms. Twist a pretzel with Sturgis Pretzel Company. See who can devour three vanilla long johns in a Long John Eating contest presented by Achenbach’s Pastries, Inc. Design a fashionable t-shirt using produce from Kegel’s Produce. Plant a strawberry plant, make a bird feeder using peanut butter and pine cones or decorate a cookie to create a confectionary masterpiece. Pony rides, face painting and more will enlighten and amuse FlavorFest’s young audience. By completing the activities in the Crafty Kids area, children will receive a chef hat and a Certificate of Culinary Achievement proudly proclaiming them a FlavorFest Chef-In-Training.

The Sounds of Summer

A diverse mix of musical entertainment featuring national and local musicians will create an exciting soundtrack to the weekend’s festivities. Having just completed two international tours, the Lovell Sisters will bring their innovative fusion of Country, Folk and Contemporary acoustic music and tight harmonies. Inspired by layers of emotion, experience and everyday nature, Harrisburg’s own, Indian Summer Jars, will blend soulful harmonies, passionate lyrics and an array of energy in creating their signature, Folk/Acoustic sound. The Jazz Me Band, hailing from the four corners of the Central PA region, will feature the Jazz and Blues sounds of Sinatra, B.B. King, Eric Clapton, Tony Bennett and Louis Armstrong. Rounding out the performance list, the Andrew Bellanca Trio will treat audiences to a mix of Jazz, Brazilian, Latin and Blues music.

Gather with family and friends to kick off the summer season at the Great Pennsylvania FlavorFest, Saturday and Sunday, May 23 & 24, 11 A.M. to 5 P.M. Admission is $16.95 for adults and $6.95 for children ages 5 to 11.  Visit www.padutchcountry.com or call 717-665-7021 for tickets and festival details. Mount Hope Estate & Winery, home of the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire, is located on Route 72, ½ mile south of PA Turnpike Exit 266, 15 miles north of Lancaster and 14 miles east of Hershey.