Firebird Festival has been on my radar for years (tickets in the past sold out too quickly), but I…read morefinally made it this year, which luckily was the first year it was open to all / free to all! If you want to do the Firebird Festival, here are some tips from my experience. First, get on their email list. All the info will be emailed, including updates on building the bird, ways you can help, and volunteer opportunities. When they say they light the bird at 8pm, YES IT WILL BE LIT AT 8pm, AND IT WILL HAVE BURNED DOWN TO ITS FEET BY 8:15pm!!!! My last photo was taken at 8:13pm, as I walked away, and the structure had burned, collapsed, and was just a big bonfire + phoenix claws. And SO MANY PEOPLE were still descending on the park, thinking "it's only 8:15, I've got plenty of time" ummm, no. I passed at least 300 people wondering if any of them understood that all that was left was good live music and some drunk hook-up options. But the party continues until 11pm, so for the childless crowd, there you go. If you do care to see the bird, be there at least a half hour before 8pm. The drum procession into the field happens at 7:30, and is very cool to see, plus is a part of the ceremony and theatrics of it all. Then, dancing, chant music, fire dancers, etc. all circle 'round the bird. You can really see all they've developed over the years in the choreography, creativity, and attention to details. There were a lot of kids there, babies to teens, all ages. I was worried about my preschooler being afraid of the fire, or the idea of burning an animal figure. I made sure to show some kid-friendly YouTube videos ahead of time, and educate about this mythological creature, and it's meaning. I stressed that a new young bird rises from the ashes, according to legend, and that this bird was pretend, made of wood by volunteers. They ask for people to bring lunches to the volunteers in the months (yes, building starts in SEPTEMBER) leading up to the festival, and if I'd had time I would have done that and taken my kid to see that process. It's my plan for next year. Anyway, it went over pretty well. No kids were crying. Mine was a little sad at first, but then pretty fascinated by the fire. I don't recommend positioning yourself close to the fire with kids; it's scary and overwhelming for them. My preschooler was a little nervous when we were somewhat close, but did better from afar, where we saw a lot more kids as we walked out. The show really is something worth checking out at least once. They make a different style of bird each year (always a phoenix, but in different poses and styles). The bird is always about 25' high, made of wood. This year the bird had rainbow lights as eyes, and a mechanical beak that opened and closed. It also had a plume of branches sticking out its head. It looked partridge-y, but still I could distinctly see a phoenix. It was beautiful! As you can see in my photos, they projected a colorful light show into the body of the bird, which was equally beautiful. In addition to the phoenix, there are vendors, food options, and live music. A Boy Scout troop was selling hot chocolate ($3/cup) and offering apple bread and brownies but asking for donations on those. Sadly, a lot of people just took the baked goods and gave nothing, which was totally despicable. Those kids were working so hard, and giving up their own leisure time to enjoy the festival so these greedy drunk-high jerks could rob their baked goods. Ew! The live music was really very quiet. I had a hard time hearing it 50' away. There are residences all around Veterans Memorial Park, where it's held, so I guess noise had to be kept down. Stinks. Speaking of, there were a row of port-a-potties available, and the scent of weed every 3 square feet, with a cop every 10 square feet. Multiple fire engines were right nearby and ready. Everything was extremely well organized. There were police officers controlling traffic, guarding blocked off roads, and there to assist in the crowds. Shuttle busses ran from three different municipal lots (all full very early), and walking was possible from the downtown area, if you were up for a 1.5mi journey. We had best luck parking by a church in a nearby residential neighborhood, and walking from there with a stroller. I definitely recommend the Firebird Festival! But make it your focus of the evening. Everyone who thought they'd have a nice dinner downtown and then catch the shuttle or walk over to the festival was sorely disappointed to arrive when there was nothing left to see.

I love fire, it can be very theatrical…read more Generous volunteers make this awesome free event happen each year. It's the family-friendly, East Coast mini-version of Burning Man. OK, maybe not but still a great time. Fire dancers? Check. Live music? Check. Local artisans? Check. Happy friendly hippies? Check Comfort food? Check Large wooden object burned to the ground while revelers clap and cheer with joy? Check.

The annual Sly Fox Mai Bockfest has become really popular. It is so popular that it is hard to…read morereally enjoy as the services have not progressed to meet the crowds. You have to park a mile away (I don't mind that) but then when you get there everything is long lines. You have to wait in line to buy tickets so you can wait in line to use your tickets to get beer and then when you have your beer you can wait in line to use other tickets to grab some food. It's a crazy slow and inefficient system! What is fun however are the goat races. If you can a find spot to actually see them (try hard and you will!) - the spirit of the event and actual races are cool. And it seems everywhere you go at the entire festival there are people with goats. They are so cute and friendly...the goats I mean!.

A yearly beer fest that has maybe gotten too big for its britches?…read moreThis almost needs to be held at a sports venue...

My SO came as a child every year, so he really wanted to bring our daughter this year over Labor…read moreDay weekend. I really liked that you pay admission but that includes unlimited carnival rides. It was sooooo hot! Lots of beverage stations were open. Lots of authentic clothing,crafts,dolls, ceramics,etc. Loved the polish sausages and potato pancakes too!

Nothing says Labor Day Weekend like this festival. They've been holding it for many years and now…read moreit's a great holiday weekend staple. Thinking about it gives me nostalgia for the late summer. You pay an entrance fee (I forget the exact amount, somewhere between $10-$15) but it includes all the rides and some games. This is great if you are taking kids, so you won't have to worry about tickets, tokens or any other methods of payment. The food is phenomenal for being festival food (but then again I love Polish food). For fair prices you can get potato pancakes, pierogies and imported beer. They have musicians and dancing for entertainment, though I suggest if you're interested in that kind of thing going later on, since that's when the bulk of it happens. Overall this is a fun event and worth checking out.

Great food, wonderful vendors, and it takes you back in time! In Kutztown, PA, the folk festival…read moreis an event you don't want to miss!

Been going to the festival since the late 70's & I've bought many things through out the years. But…read moresince they've jacked up the gate prices & the food is outrageously priced (we usually go someplace else when leave to eat) & it seems to be the same old same old... I've stopped going! Shame because it used to be something I looked forward to every year & never missed going to (sometimes 2 or 3 times in the week).

Last minute rain cancellation. Said rain or shine on the website, drove 45 minutes each way to…read morefind out it was cancelled.

The Brandywine Festival of the Arts is a must for art lovers of all kinds. All over the park…read morevendors are stretched out in tented rows offering jewelry, paintings, carvings, you name it. All of the vendors I've encountered we're welcoming and eager to discuss their craft. One vendor I really enjoyed talking with was David Souza. His wood turnings, a medium I passionately adore, were utterly beautiful. There are some bowls there that I would love to have. For now I scooped up the cutest spinning top that was among an array displayed in all sorts of colors and patterns. The $5.00 admission is good for both days and entry to the zoo. So if you go home and decide you simply can't live without that exquisite hand turned wood bowl with lid well you can go back and get it (note to self). There is a food court were all the food trucks are set up and a large tented seating area or you could sit down by the creek and enjoy the view. The festival also has live music and a kids activity corner. The festival is dog friendly and vendors set out bowls of water in case Fido gets thirsty. Also noteworthy is the fact that they have shuttle buses. I just found this out after coming here three years. As a matter of fact people were boarding one as I was leaving. I don't know why I didn't inquire because there is quite a steep and long hill you MUST travel down to get to the grounds. By the time I scaled the hill back to my car I was a hot, exhausted, sweaty mess but overall an excellent experience.

This spot is kids paradise. I planned most of our day here and my kids still didn't want to leave…read more I typically saw this spot whenever I rode the Strasburg Railroad. We typically would do their Christmas Train, and rarely got back to Lancaster in the warmer months. As soon as I planned my latest summer trip, I knew it had to be on the itinerary. This place has it all from gigantic slides to gold mining sluice areas to a mini kids village that mine couldn't get enough of from the mini vet office to the drive in theater. It was really impressive. From here, you can make your way up the hill where there is a restaurant, a coffee kiosk with a delicious coconut water cold brew (wild!), and plenty of shaded sections with swinging chairs. You'll find paintball, basketball, skee ball, a pedal cart for the family, launching devices. I mean, there is a lot! The place is large so it never felt overly crowded. Come with water bottles. Even with the shaded sections it gets hot. They have water fountains by the bathrooms.

Such a fun farm to take your family. I've been coming here…read moresince my daughter was about 4 years old- she's 14 now. Everyone we come, it does not disappoint. It's such a great time. Buy tickets online- tickets are cheaper. If you go during the week- it's cheaper too! They also have 50% off for active military and veterans, which is a great deal! They have all kinds of games, tug of war ropes, a play area/little town for younger kids, pig races. Some nights they have fireworks or bands. If you come- the corn maze is a must! All types of food vendors like burgers, fries, chicken fingers, ice cream and apple cider donuts. You can spend hours here and not get bored. They also have for pit and picnic table areas you can rent out and they provide logs and sticks so you can roast marshmallows or hotdogs. Definitely recommend this farm.

My favorite Easton area festival. I look forward to it every year. It gets bigger every year but if…read moreyou're a local and know how to navigate it all, it's totally worth it! The options seem endless and you can only eat so much but I make it my goal to try something new each year and also pick up one favorite each year too. It's swine heaven!

So decided to go to bacon feast this year in Easton,PA and when I say it didn't disappoint. I read…read morea lot of people last year saying THREE OAK HAS the BEST Bacon burger. So i got the family and we got there at 9am which was perfect timing even though it started at 10am lol. The line was short but if you wait till like 10:30 the line was around the block ! Yes we try to go back for another round of burgers lol but line was too long lol. NOW I DONT eat burgers I like cheese burgers lol but this burger here was just mouth watering amazing and I'm not just saying that my 8rld who is so picky about what's on his burger . He doesn't like mayo or onions or any sauce besides bbq sauce and ketchup lol. This kid pretty much ate my whole burger and half of my husband lol needless to say he enjoyed every moment of it the way we did. $15 the most I've ever spent on a burger lol.

I was soooooooo excited to check out the annual Whoopie Pie Festival! Who doesn't like these moist…read morecakes, with a nice creamy icing in between?! Held on the grounds of the Hershey Farm Restaurant & Inn, this festival offers cute events such as a Whoopie Pie Treasure Hunt (hundreds of them are all hidden on the grounds in brightly-colored foil); a Whoopie Pie Race (you just grab a pie and run AHAHAHA); watch a Whoopie PIe Long Launch (whoever hits the target/gets close enough, wins!); play Whoopie PIe Checkers (if you're a checker master, you can go through the Tournament Rounds); participate in a Whoopie Yell Off (in your loudest voice, giving a shout-out for some Whoopie Pie love); watch/participate in an Amateur Whoopie Pie Eating Contest (watching who can eat dozen the quickest?); watch the participating chefs make the largest Whoopie Pie ever, and even get the opportunity to decorate your own Whoopie Pie :P There are also local artisans and craftsmen in which you can check out their items to purchase, for yourself or as gifts. If you're hungry, you can grab a meal at the Hershey Farm restaurant, or just stuff yourself silly with the variety of Whoopie Pie flavors they have available :D The variety of flavors they had for these pies were quic amazing - when you walk up to the main tent, you are given a plastic bag. There long aisles of compartmentalized wooden crates with labels of the flavors (such as Lemon Poppy Orange Cream Cheese, Oreos, Rocky Road, Death by Chocolate, Confetti with Strawberry, Banana with Orange Cream Cheese, etc.). I was a little disappointed that the pies have been refrigerated, and even though they were saran-wrapped, they were dripping with water, making them a little soggy T____T Once you fill your bag to your heart's content, you pay at the cashiers by the exit area. The place was definitely packed to the brim, and moving around was a little tight. Parking on the Farm was not allowed and needed to be done at nearby establishments (such as the outlet store); from there, a free shuttle (school bus) came every so often for a pick-up (this was another adventure, as so many violations were violated - the driver forced about 4 people per seat, trying to get as many people in the bus as possible :O We actually walked back from the festival, as the traffic was horrendous, in addition to some of the construction that was going on. An interesting festival to check out when you're in the Lancaster County area! :D +annual Whoopie Pie Festival :D +parking at nearby establishments +free shuttle offered

Honestly, I'm surprised I've yet to review this festival. It was one of my favorite festivals many…read moremoons ago when I lived in Collingswood. It takes over Haddon Ave. for two days in August and is filled with lots of lovely vendors from artisans to food. It's fun to be able to pop into the local shops too when it gets to be too hot outside also.

I have to say I was a little disappointed in the craft show this year. Not sure if it was because…read moreof the heat or so late in the summer but there didn't seem to be as many booths or food as usual.