Hershey Artfest
Hershey Artfest – Celebrating Art, Community, and America’s 250th Anniversary!
Date: Saturday, May 9, 2026. 9am to 4pm.
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.
Parking: At the Research Center Lot. Over 2,000 spaces will be available for guests and artists. Disabled parking is also available onsite.
Entry: FREE to the general public.
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.
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.
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 to 1:45pm (Porch)
- Members of Central PA Symphony - 2pm to 3pm (Porch)
- HHS Orchestra’s “Chilin Quartet” - 3:15pm to 3:45pm (Porch)
Children's activities:
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Doodle Booth
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Hands-on art and crafts with Girl Scouts in the Heart of Central PA, and the Hershey Christian School.
DEMONSTRATION TENT
Alex Mosenson - Painter (10:30am to 11:30am)
Owner of Salt Gallery Hershey, Alex Mosenson creates deeply personal, expressive work that blends visual art with emotion, movement, and healing. Her pieces often draw from lived experiences, especially themes of resilience, transformation, and self-discovery, using mediums like charcoal, paint, and mixed media. Rooted in her connection to yoga and the body, her art channels energy through fluid, intuitive forms, inviting viewers to feel rather than simply observe.
John Martin - Photographer (11:30am to 12:30pm)
"You Don't Take a Picture of Something..." John Martin tries to photograph the familiar (smokestacks, streetlights, the geometry of everyday Hershey) as if seeing it for the first time. In this demonstration, he'll show his gear, walk through his process, and explain why the most interesting pictures are often about the least obvious things.
John Lasonio - Painter (12:30pm to 1:30pm)
Demonstration of a beach scene painting using Posca acrylic markers. I’ll be demonstrating a range of techniques, from bold expressive strokes to fine detailing, to show you just how versatile these markers can be.
Kathy Rothenberger - Painter (1:30pm to 2:30pm)
Drawing and painting from the imagination. Kathy is known for mixed media work, including oil and acrylic painting and portrait art.
Rie Bailey - Origami Calligraphy (2:30pm to 3:30pm)
Rie Bailey was raised in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, and has lived in Spain, Italy, Washington State, and now Pennsylvania. Fluent in Japanese, English, Spanish, and Italian, Bailey-Sensei holds the rank of 7th-dan in the Tonan school of shodo, a distinction that reflects her mastery, teaching experience, and lifelong devotion to Japanese calligraphy. She has taught shodo in every place she has called home and has received numerous awards for her art. She is also a Reiki master, teacher, and alternative medicine practitioner.
ART VENDOR GALLERY
Enjoy a sample of this year's Artfest! 2026 art vendors will exhibit many mediums, including fine art, ceramics, photography, textiles, wood, metal work, glass work, books, jewelry, mixed media, and more. (Hover on the image for the vendor's name. Click the image for full-screen.)
Food Vendors:
Festival-goers can also experience a unique mix of food offerings from around the world.
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717 Tacos
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Bricker's Famous French Fries
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Buckey's Festival Food
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Cosmic Kettle Corn
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Gio's Smokin' Grill & Sweet Treats
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Habby Fruit Hot Sauces
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Joy Joy Lumpia
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Just Juice PA
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Kickin' Rooster Chicken Sandwiches
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Kopper Penny Koncessions
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Luna Cycle
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PA Dairymen's Association Milk Shakes
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Seltzer’s Smokehouse Meats
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The Groovey Lemon
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Uncle B's Cheesesteaks
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YiaYia's Kitchen
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Volunteers needed for Hershey Artfest, May 9, 2026. We need your help to make Artfest a success! There are different jobs and shifts throughout the day. No experience necessary. Plus plenty of opportunity to browse the art, listen to music and sample the food. It's a great day out and a fun event for volunteers.
MOUNT GRETNA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Short & Sweet at Englewood Hershey! Join us after Artfest for the Mount Gretna International Film Festival: an evening of short independent films, tasty bites, and a signature drink—all in one unforgettable experience! Tickets on Eventbrite.
HERSHEY ARTFEST SPONSORS
The following businesses have a booth at Artfest: Renewal by Anderson, DePalma Roofing, and Hummelstown Print House.