Dutch Festival beckons artisans to Hanover
Many Hanover-area residents may tell you that on the last Saturday in July, they have plans.
Only once a year can they find artisan grilled cheese sandwiches, cigar box guitars or handmade glass lamps at a single location in town.
As the little circle around the July 30 date on Hanoverians' calendars fast approaches, the list of vendors for the Hanover Dutch Festival is growing longer than the last year's.
Known colloquially as "Dutch Days," the Hanover Area Chamber of Commerce's 33rd annual festival will draw more than 300 vendors to Center Square on Saturday, said Katy King, the chamber's marketing and public relations director.
The event, which lasts from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., will feature primarily non-local vendors, King said. There will also be live music and performances featured on the Center Square stage throughout the day.
"I think it's really a wide variety," King said. "People come from all over for this. An interesting project would be to see who comes the furthest."
Mad Dash artisan grilled cheese, Sensenig’s Meats and Jean’s Funnel Cakes will all be back to provide a colorful combo of options for Hanover's collective palate, King said.
Vendors such as Old Dog's Cigar Box Guitars, A Taste of Turkey's homemade mosaic glass lamps and Rock Reborn's guitar string jewelry will also be situated around the square for perusing purposes. The chamber requires all goods sold at the festival to be handmade.
With the recent addition of local breweries to Hanover's Center Square businesses, some local brews could be available for purchase too, King said.
"We always encourage them to be involved," King said.
Live entertainment will take the stage on the square every hour, including music from the Emil Schanta Band and The Plowmen, and performances by Acts of Kindness Theatre, according to a chamber press release.
The antique car show, a staple of the festival, will be held at the St. Matthews Lutheran Church parking lot on North Franklin Street from 9 a.m. until the festival closes. Children have the option to attend a small carnival, including a dunk tank and games, sponsored by the Hanover YMCA at Wirt Park,
If you go
What: Hanover Dutch Festival
When: Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Hanover Center Square
How much: Entrance to the event is free
More information: Visit www.hanoverchamber.com/dutch-festival
This article has been updated from a previous version to reflect the correct date of the Hanover Dutch Festival. The festival will take place July 30.