By The Keystone Newspaper The board of directors of the Kutztown Folk Festival has announced that the festival will not take place summer of 2025.
By Bethany McDonald
The Kutztown Folk Festival will not return in the summer of 2025 due to economic conditions and declining attendance. The board of directors of the Kutztown Folk Festival announced this decision through a press release on Wednesday, Nov. 20.
Graphic By Logan Wolf
The decision to cancel the nine-day festival has been made due to financial difficulties. The Kutztown Pennsylvania German Festival, Inc. is a 501c4 not-for-profit corporation that has been financially supported by the Kutztown University Foundation. Since 2022, the event has lost $347,000.
The board announced this decision now to allow vendors and craftspeople plenty of time to arrange alternative summer plans. Vendors who have made deposits will be 100% refunded.
The Kutztown Folk Festival, established in 1950, is the oldest ongoing operating folklife festival in America. It was established to offer insight and community involvement in Pennsylvania Dutch culture and traditions.
The Kutztown Folk Festival expressed appreciation to attendees in the past and encouraged vendors and guests to continue to support Pennsylvania Dutch culture in the region.