Chestnut Hill’s annual Fall for the Arts Festival will return to Germantown Avenue this month — and it’s projected to be the biggest one yet.
More than 300 artists and vendors from the Mid-Atlantic region will showcase their products at the outdoor marketplace, selling paintings, jewelry, pottery, photography and other items. The family- and pet-friendly event will include children’s activities, live music, art demonstrations, culinary options and shopping from local businesses.
Now in its 41st year, the festival is set for Sunday, Oct. 12, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., rain or shine.
Kate O’Neill, director of operations for the Chestnut Hill Business District, said the number of vendors is the event’s highest turnout in history.
“This year’s festival has gotten more attention from vendors and local people than ever before. It’s been amazing,” she said.
The annual event promotes the neighborhood’s independent businesses and helps expand their customer base.
“There are businesses that see people come back and say, ‘I was here for the festival and I saw your shop. I didn’t really want to shop that day, but I decided to come back,’” O’Neill said. “It hits both elements. It’s day-of and future shoppers.”
Some vendors use it as an opportunity to showcase new products. Artist Emily Ennulat-Lustine, owner of Ennulat Art & Design at 8433 Germantown Ave., plans to conduct signings for her newly-released illustrated children’s book, “Wander Out, Wander In.”
Her first published book is about youngsters relishing nature, and she hopes it will appeal to local families, many of whom enjoy northwest Philadelphia’s park system.
“There are a lot of families and kids out [at the festival]. So it’s a perfect time,” she said.
Throughout the entire festival, artists at the Makers Village at 8127 Germantown Ave. will demonstrate their craft.
“That is a fun section. Most of the Chestnut Hill institutions take part in it, and they’re able to use the festival to promote their events, which is great,” O’Neill said.
Little Wares, at 8117 Germantown Ave., will offer a free children’s music class at 11 a.m. and Gravers Lane Gallery, at 8405 Germantown Ave., will host jewelry-making demonstrations from noon-4 p.m.
There will be live performances on the 8400 block of Germantown Avenue and at Bethlehem Pike Stage on 8701 Germantown Ave. Rock artists Jonathan Savage & the Classic Rockers will take the Bethlehem Pike Stage from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m., and the multi-genre musical group Miss Mandy & The Somethings will perform from 2-5 p.m. Americana music band Urban Drawl will play at Chestnut Hill Brewing Company, at 8221 Germantown Ave., from 3-5 p.m.
The Stagecrafters Theater will host multiple forms of entertainment at 8139 Germantown Ave. There will be photo booth opportunities, tarot readings and, starting at 12:30 p.m., dance demonstrations by the youth performing arts nonprofit Scene-N-Action Productions Company (SNAPCo.). Philadelphia’s Children’s Theater will present Aesop’s Fables at 1, 2 and 3 p.m.
Lisa Howe, co-owner of Artisans on the Avenue with Georgia Doyle, has participated in the festival for more than 20 years, selling the shop’s clothing and accessories.
Her husband, Art Howe, draws people in with a creation of his own: honey. The beekeeper makes Howe’s Honey on their Wyndmoor property and sells it at the festival, the annual Stag & Doe holiday shopping nights, and the Farmers’ Market. He will be handing out samples of honey on a cracker with cheese.
“People come from out of town just for that. [They say] ‘I came back to get some honey this year,’” Lisa Howe said.
Ennulat-Lustine said she’s excited for her business to make its festival debut. The Wyncote resident, who sells her nature-inspired designs in the form of wall art and various accessories, has sold her prints at the festival and had become a loyal attendee.
“It’s always a really great energy. Everybody is kind of upbeat. A lot of people know each other in Chestnut Hill and Mt. Airy and Germantown, so a lot of people come. It’s very neighborly,” she said.
O’Neill attributes multiple factors to the success of the annual Chestnut Hill event.
“I think it’s a formula that includes the way it looks, the shops themselves, the vendors themselves, the local residents who come out to support it, as well as people coming for the first time to see it,” she said. “We’ve had people who came for weddings or something on a festival weekend, who called our office later and said ‘We decided to move here because of that festival.’ That’s happened more than once. [We’re] very proud of that.”
The streets between the 8000 and 8600 blocks of Germantown Avenue will be closed to vehicular traffic during the festival hours. Attendees can also use SEPTA services to access the festival. The Chestnut Hill East and Chestnut Hill West regional rail lines as well as SEPTA bus routes 23, 77, 94, 134, and L lead to Chestnut Hill.
Attendees can park at the lots on 25 W. Highland, 150 E. Evergreen, 183 E. Evergreen, 18 Hilltop Road and 14 E. Highland Ave.
Abby Weiss is an environmental reporter for the Local and a Report for America corps member. She can be reached at abby@chestnuthilllocal.com.
