Celebrate the Tastes of Pennsylvania at FlavorFest

It’s no secret that Pennsylvania’s regional foods create an enticing festival of flavors that attract visitors year round. And so it’s only natural that the first Great Pennsylvania FlavorFest will be held in the fertile farmlands of Lancaster County. This feast for the senses will be held Memorial Day Weekend, May 24 and 25, on the grounds of the Mount Hope Estate and Winery, Route 72, and is a collaborative effort of the Winery and the PA Dutch Convention & Visitors Bureau.

The event will be held from 11:00am - 6:00pm Saturday and 11:00am - 5:00pm Sunday. Admission is $15.95 for adults and $6.95 for children ages 5 to 11. Call 717-665-7021 for information.

A Menu of Enjoyment

The Great Pennsylvania FlavorFest, with the help of signature partners Pennsylvania Preferred and the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen, will present Pennsylvania’s diverse culinary, beer and wine offerings and the finest in Pennsylvania artisan crafts in a country festival setting complete with family-friendly entertainment

Educational workshops by respected industry insiders representing Pennsylvania wineries, breweries and restaurants will shed light on tasty topics including an organic approach to eating, the culinary art of properly pairing foods with wines or brews and foods’ journey from farm to table.

National, regional and local culinary heroes will showcase their style, serving up cooking demonstrations featuring original and fresh interpretations of traditional regional recipes while top PA restaurants sample and sell their delicious featured foods.

The abundance of Pennsylvania’s backyard bounty will overflow from a wide variety of specialty food vendors, providing samples of the unique and taste tempting products available for purchase. Many of these vendors proudly carry the PA Preferred (http://www.agriculture.state.pa.us/papreferred/cwp/view.asp?a=3&q=140080) label, indicating that at least 60 percent of the raw product was grown and harvested in the Commonwealth, or (for items like chocolate) 100 percent of the final manufacturing process and packaging was done in Pennsylvania, and meets any required quality standards.

Colorful Accompaniments

No Memorial Day celebration would be complete without traditional “entertainment in the park.” A diverse mix of quality, Pennsylvania-based musicians will create an exciting soundtrack for the weekend, featuring jazz, folk and big band styles. Strolling performers, including face painters, caricaturists and balloon artists, will help to round out the fun.

Artisan and Craft Creations

Delectable dishes won’t be the only creations on display during FlavorFest. Artisans vetted by, and members of, the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen will sell one-of-a-kind items that will pique the interest of even the most discerning shopper. Fascinating demonstrations by these skilled and highly respected artisans will be ongoing throughout the weekend.