kutztown folk festival: a celebration of the pa dutch

As I have discussed it numerous times via this gushy blog, I am a full-blown Dutchie. My parents, who both come from PA-Dutch families, raised me in the heartland of Berks County, Pennsylvania, and I have always appreciated the classics of my native culture.

Praising the time-honored traditions of the PA Dutch seems like an appropriate task at heart, which is why I regularly make an appearance at the annual 19th-century-celebrating Kutztown Folk Festival.

A week-long fair covering traditional music, history and plenty of home cookin', the nearby collaboration also, for the last several years, has hosted my dad's bluegrass band, Blue Mountain Junction, as daily performers on their main stage.  
 

Also important to note, central to the festival is a gruesome history lesson, which is now legend in local Dutch culture. Each year, a group re-enacts the controversial execution of Susanna Cox, who was hanged in 1809 for killing her infant child. Festival director Dave Fooks believes in the importance of addressing the historic event. "It turns out that due to her hanging, the American appeals system began," he says. 

Although always more interested in more positive of perspectives, the festival features some seriously old-school entertainment. Costumed medicine men hawk syrups and creams, and Mennonites present a wedding re-enactment. Angora rabbit shavers are also on hand, transforming fresh fur into shawls in just minutes, as are established glass blowers. 

Of course, the menu is equally country: High-calorie eats include wurst rolls, ox roast sandwiches, apple dumplings, fried veggies and shoofly pie—all which may be washed down with birch beer aplenty.

There's one day left of the fest, so saddle your horse and buggy, and blast into the rural country scene.

the beers and burgers of kutztown tavern

Honestly, I don't expect much out of a college town. Yes, they typically have their suitable bars for the upper classmen, a ton of pizza joints, and occasionally, an organic lunch spot for the health-conscious students, but overall, they aren't that special.

So, when paying a visit to the stomping ground of those enrolled in Kutztown University, I was a bit caught off guard when I realized that the country-esque town housed a microbrewery, the Golden Avalache Brewing Company, part of the eatery Kutztown Tavern.

Kutztown Tavern, a slightly hipper than most sports bars, boosts on their housemade beers, premiering regular freshness to the mix by having a handful of seasonal ales. While their classic German-styled brews range from their nothing-special blonde lager and a Donner Weisse, they also always offer a bold cream ale and a floral and fruity brown ale.

Visiting in early winter, B and I were able to sample their seasonal pumpkin ale (seen above, on left) which kicked together an attractive mix of wintry spices for a delicate and light slurp. Being an extreme fan of all things blueberry, I opted for the seasonal fruity lager (seen above, on right) which was comparable to my personal favorite, Sea Dog's Wild Blueberry Wheat Ale.

The tavern's perky menu offered selections that followed their Germany vibes, while still serving the college-area community. From soft pretzels appetizers to gourmet pizza and pastas, the menu wasn't off-the-wall unique, but was able to satisfy this beer-chugging, Starving Marvin.

Offering a lean turkey burger smeared with housemade cranberry relish (seen above), my bunned pleasure was festive and tasty, and paired with perfectly prepared sweet potatoes fries, my lunch hit the spot on the bitter January Saturday.

For B, he selected a pretzel roll sandwich (seen below) that was pumped with generous and appetizing amounts of soft crab and cheese. The bun, one of the better soft pretzel rolls around, was for me, the best part, and I'm sure B would agree.

Although the beer was mighty-fine and my burger was delicious, this is a spot that, only if in the area, is a must-visit. However, travelling miles to get to the tiny college town of Kutztown, I may be honest and suggest you'd skip that venture and wait until it's hopping in the summer because of the Kutztown Folk Festival.