GOSCHENHOPPEN FOLK FESTIVAL!

The Goschenhoppen Folk Festival was simply amazing! Most shindigs of this type we’ve been to have demonstrations on a schedule. You go over to this part of the area and they will be doing something then an hour later in another location something else.

At the Goshenhoppen Festival things are happening all the time everywhere. How often do you see folks making wooden water pipe and a pump made from an enormous beam for a well? Or a horse powered treadmill? There was a wood turner working on a treadle lathe, two or three iron smiths, a tin smith, wonderful period knitted lace, embroidery, spinners and a tape loom weaver with part of her collection of tape looms there, plus tons more things going on.

The tape loom weaver told me that there were PA German tape looms with multiple holes, presumably for pattern weaving, similar to mine. There were at least three different teams of beautiful horses as well as the handsome grey pulling the ice wagon.

The festival is on the grounds next to the wonderfully preserved Henry Antes house built in 1736.

There was a whole section on period Mennonite food preparation that we didn't get to along with traditional dishes at the food stands. We can’t wait for next year to go again!