Westmoreland Arts and Heritage Festival expected to draw 90K over weekend

By KAITLYN HUGHES
TribLive

Stained glass artist Amy Primmer already is a big fan of the Westmoreland Arts and Heritage Festival, and she’s only been there once.

“I don’t think I’ve seen (a vendor show) better run, and we do this full time,” she said.

The festival, featuring 400 artists and vendors, returns Thursday and is expected to draw more than 90,000 people through the July Fourth holiday weekend.

Amy Primmer and her husband, Robert Primmer, traveled for the first time from Richmond, Va., to be a part the event.

“It’s amazing that this many people come do art and are appreciated by an audience,” Amy Primmer said.

Visitors may encounter everything from a steel dragon lion dance to vendors offering handmade jewelry. Each artist embodies the festival’s mission to present visual arts, traditional crafts, educational activities and live performances while illustrating Pennsylvania’s cultural heritage, executive director Diane Shrader said.

The event is designed to be family friendly, offering free crafts and kid-related activities.

Artists will be performing throughout the park, and musical headliners at the Island Stage include Stephanie Grace Band, Sweet Fleet: Tribute to Fleetwood Mac, Beatlemania Now and Aqua Cherry.

“We always have something new and different, but we also have our traditional things that people know and love,” Shrader said. “I hope (attendees) learn things while they’re here. I hope they come out and are energized and enriched by the presentations here.”

Helen Keegan-Geroux will return as a vendor this weekend after she had a success selling ponchos and scarves last year.

“The exposure is amazing,” she said. “I’ve had people call me from other states.”

Shrader said the support of their 200 volunteers is what helps make the event successful.

Renee Hajdukiewicz, a former art teacher at Greensburg Salem, has been volunteering the past two years.

“As an art teacher, it’s really important that people come see the art,” she said.

If you go

The four-day event will be held at Twin Lakes Park, east of Greensburg, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

Admission is free with limited on-site parking. No pets are permitted in the park.

Shuttle buses will be available at Saint Vincent College, University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg and Hempfield Walmart.

For more details about the festival, visit artsandheritage. com.