Hershey Artfest – Celebrating Art, Community, and America’s 250th Anniversary!

 

Date: Saturday, May 9, 2026. 9am to 4pm.

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​Location: Englewood Hershey 1219 W. End Ave, Hummelstown, PA 17036. (Hershey West End.) Hershey Artfest is easy to access from Rt. 422, and 322, and all points coming into Hershey.

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​Parking: At the Research Center Lot. Over 2,000 spaces will be available for guests and artists. Disabled parking is also available onsite.

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Entry: FREE to the general public.

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​​For general questions about Artfest, or for sponsorship opportunities: Please send an email to artfest@hersheyhistory.org  or call (717) 520-0748.​

 

About Artfest: There’s no better way to honor creativity, community, and our shared American story than on Saturday, May 9, 2026, when Hershey Artfest returns to Englewood Hershey in Hershey West End. This year, the tradition carries special meaning as the festival joins in celebrating America's 250th anniversary and the history of our hometown.

Save the date and bring mom to celebrate her special day, bring the kids, and invite friends and neighbors – Hershey Artfest has something for everyone! What could be a sweeter way to spend Mother’s Day Weekend than supporting the arts while taking part in a milestone moment in our nation’s history?

Each year, Artfest showcases the talent and creativity of our region, featuring a wide array of artists, artisans, and authors presenting their work across many mediums – from fine art and ceramics to metalwork, wood, textiles, jewelry, and more. This year’s event embraces an Americana feel, honoring the craftsmanship, ingenuity, and entrepreneurial spirit that has carried our country forward for 250 years.

 

This year, there will be demonstration tent, where artists will be sharing how they make their art, where they get inspiration, techniques, and the history of their work. 

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We welcome Erin Edith, who is an acrylic artist working out of Lititz, Pennsylvania. Erin Edith is the first "Live Artist" featured at this event, producing a picture just for Artfest. Her paintings bring a vibrant, feminine touch to the landscapes she loves most—from the serene geometry of golf courses to the rolling farmland of Central Pennsylvania and the joyful energy of live wedding scenes. Known for her use of bright, expressive color, Erin transforms familiar environments into dreamlike compositions filled with uplifting hues, especially her signature pinks, purples, and bold contrasts. Her work blends observation with emotion, aiming to capture not only how a place looks, but how it feels. Since going full time with her art in 2022 Erin has sent work to two PGA Tour players, worked countless live events and sold prints and paintings across the country. Whether she’s painting the sweeping curves of a fairway, the quiet charm of a local green, or creating a timeless keepsake during a couple’s wedding day, Erin’s goal remains the same: to translate the world’s natural vibrancy into art that sparks joy, connection, and lasting memory. When not in the studio, she is spending time with her husband and two toddlers cherishing the beautiful chaos of motherhood.

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Live entertainment: 

• MHS Quintet - 9:30am to 10am (Porch)
• Hershey Symphony’s Festival of Strings - 10am to 11am (Portico)
• The Frost Duo Band - 10am to 12:30pm (Stage)
• Blessing and Fowler Band - 1pm to 3:30pm (Stage)
• HHS Jazz Band - 11am to 11:45pm (Portico)
• Shelba Purtle, Handpan Musician - 12:15pm – 1:45pm (Porch)
• Members of Central PA Symphony - 2pm to 3pm (Porch)
• HHS Orchestra’s “Chilin Quartet” -  3:15pm to 3:45pm (Porch)

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Children's activities: Children’s area sponsored by U-Gro

• Art Exhibit 10am – Noon

• Kids arts and crafts- noodle necklaces

• Storytime 1pm – 2pm

     

Crafts and hands-on art stations include face painting, Spin art, Girl Scouts in the Heart of Central PA - craft, Hershey Christian School - craft, and the Doodle Booth.

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Food Vendors: 

Festival-goers can also experience a unique mix of food offerings from around the world. 

• 717 Tacos

• Bricker's Famous French Fries

• Buckey's Festival Food

• Cosmic Kettle Corn

• Gio's Smokin' Grill & Sweet Treats

• Habby Fruit Hot Sauces

• Joy Joy Lumpia

• Just Juice PA

• Kickin' Rooster Chicken Sandwiches

• Kopper Penny Koncessions

• Luna Cycle

• PA Dairymen's Association Milk Shakes

• Seltzer’s Smokehouse Meats

• The Groovey Lemon

• YiaYia's Kitchen