Doylestown Arts Festival Celebrates 20th Anniversary

Aug. 25, 2011 - PRLog -- Doylestown, PA – The 20th Annual Doylestown Arts Festival will take place on Saturday, September 17th and Sunday, September 18th on the streets of downtown Doylestown in Central Bucks County. Hosted by the Doylestown Business and Community Alliance (DBCA) and sponsored by The Thompson Organization, the outdoor event is held both days from 10 am to 5 pm. The Festival attracts thousands of people each September. Arts Festival Chairman Michael Woods states, “We are very excited about the 20th anniversary of the Doylestown Arts Festival. Each year brings new artists, new crafters, and new energy to town. This year will be no exception, with nationally-acclaimed guitarist and singer-songwriter Jeffrey Gaines as our featured musician.”

The Festival takes place on numerous downtown streets – State, Main, Hamilton and West Oakland Streets are closed to accommodate more than 150 artisans. The two day festival is a juried show, assuring genuine hand-crafted products. Selections are varied and include paintings, photography, jewelry, clothing, furniture, pottery and more.  

Live music will be presented at locations throughout the downtown area. Featured performers include Harrisburg-native and Adult Top 40 vocalist Jeffrey Gaines, Almost Fab, Tres Compadres and Christy Jefferson. The Give and Take Jugglers will be back again this year, along with kid-friendly performers Miss Amy and the Bucks County Folk Song Society.

Repeat festival goers will recognize familiar artisans as well as some new faces, including Darlene Yarnetsky of Mudcat Pottery and William Marlin of ABI Woodworking. Marlin, who is based out of Bryn Mawr, says his favorite thing to do in Doylestown is attend the Doylestown Arts Festival every year! He recently added carvings of iconic places from the Philadelphia area. “The reaction I get from individuals who see my work inspires me – especially their expressions when they realize that a cherished memory has been preserved in wood.” Darlene Yarnetsky, a potter, is experiencing Bucks County and the Doylestown Arts Festival with fresh eyes, as she and her husband just moved to Pennsylvania last year. “Being a potter, I thoroughly enjoy visiting the Moravian Potter and Tile Works. The work of Henry Chapman Mercer and pottery’s craftsmen is excellent!”

A wide range of dining options is available at the Festival’s Food Court. Healthier selections of salads and fruits are new to the court this year.  Doylestown’s many unique restaurants also welcome festival goers.

The Thompson Organization and the DBCA work together throughout the year to ensure the success of this wonderful community event. Thompson has been the major sponsor of the Festival since its inception in 1991. “We are thrilled to continue our participation in the Doylestown Arts Festival this year,” says Laura Thompson Barnes, Vice President of The Thompson Organization. “It really is a great way for people to experience everything this community has to offer.” Additional sponsors for this year’s festival include The Intelligencer – phillyburbs.com, Doylestown Hospital, Univest and Fulton Bank.

The DBCA is composed of community residents and business professionals who volunteer their time and energy for the betterment of Doylestown. In addition to organizing the Arts Festival, the DBCA works to preserve the quaint character of Doylestown by planning community events, hanging flower baskets, historic plaques, and holiday decorations.

If you can't make it to the event in person, you can follow the Doylestown Arts Festival on Twitter @dtownartsfest for live coverage from the event on both Saturday and Sunday. Plus, “like” the Doylestown Arts Festival on Facebook and follow the official blog at doylestownartsfestival.blogspot.com for exhibitor spotlights, entertainer profiles and more!

The entire Doylestown Borough is filled with activity throughout the weekend. The Univest Grand Prix bike race begins Sunday at 11 am with an exciting start and finish at Main and Court Streets. Admission to the Doylestown Arts Festival is free. Free parking is available at the new parking garage at 228 N. Broad Street. For more information, visit www.doylestownartsfestival.com or call 215-340-9988.

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In business in Doylestown since 1969, The Thompson Organization includes Thompson Toyota, Scion, Lexus, and BMW, Thompson Detail Center, Thompson Used Car & Truck Center and Thompson Rent A Car, all located at Routes 313 and 611 in Doylestown; Audi Warrington, Porsche of Bucks County and Thompson Volkswagen, located on Route 611 in Warrington; and the Thompson Collision Center located on Route 611 in Plumsteadville.