Blueberry season is upon us! If you’re a lover of those sweet little blue fruits, you’ve probably been dreaming about this all season, and you’re definitely looking for somewhere to get the yummiest, freshest ones. Lucky for you, the Main Line area has a few different options for places to go, not only to pick up some fresh blueberries, but enjoy a day out and celebrate the harvest, too! I’ve done some research on each blueberry festival in the area so you can decide where best to make a day of getting this tasty summer treat.
For more information on these festivals, and other exciting events happening in our area this summer, be sure to check out my events calendar!
Linvilla Orchards Blueberry Festival
You can come in and pick fresh blueberries at Linvilla Orchards for as long as they’re growing, but the Blueberry Festival is taking place on July 13 this year, with a rain date of July 14. The festival takes place in the orchard’s Entertainment Garden, with entertainer Silly Joe, mixing stories and music for kids, backed up by six-piece ensemble band Parlour Noir. Costumed characters will be present throughout the day: Dr. Duck, Traveling Train, and Vet Girl will make appearences at 11:45, 1:45, and 3:00, respectively. Linvilla’s beloved “Roasty Toasty” will also be in attendance, cooking up delicious ears of corn from 11 to 4.
The centerpiece of Linvilla Orchards’ Blueberry Festival, however, is the blueberry pie eating contest, kicking off at 2pm on the dot. If you’d like to register to participate, you can do so here, but even if you’d rather not, it’s still a sight to see!
In addition to all these special festival events, Linvilla’s regular activities will also be available; this includes face painting, hayrides, barnyard animals, train rides, and a playground for kids, and the farm market, garden center, Linvilla Grill, and Ship Bottom Beer Garden for the grown-ups.
Peddler’s Village Blueberries & Bluegrass Festival
If you’re looking for TWO whole days of blueberries, check out the Peddler’s Village Bluegrass and Blueberries Festival. Rain or shine, on July 20th and 21st, you can stroll around and pop in and out of Peddler’s Village’s quaint little shops while enjoying all manner of blueberry treats lining the streets. The Peddler’s Village General Store will have blueberry pies, butters, jellies, and preserves. If you want to make absolutely certain you can get your hands on a delicious double-crust blueberry pie, you can place a pre-order here.
If you love dressing up your pet, then you’re in luck; the festival also features a pet parade on Saturday, July 21st at 3:30 pm. The theme is anything blue and musical, and the best-dressed pet wins a pet goody gift basket! If you’d like to enter your pet in the parade, check out the festival website here.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a Blueberries and Bluegrass Festival without the Bluegrass! Live entertainment will commence at noon both days. Attendants will be treated to the musical talents of groups Lolly & Yoyo, Hillbillies of Cohesion, Borderline, and Ray Owen on both days of the festival, and can expect it to finish the day out with a watermelon eating contest.
The festival is free to attend. However, if you’d like priority seating for up to six people at any restaurant, guaranteed free parking, a free blueberry festival guide, Peddler’s Village T-shirt and bag, and a local rewards card, you may want to consider purchasing a festival package here.
Burnside Plantation Blueberry Festival
If you don’t mind taking a bit of a drive, you can check out the 2019 Blueberry Festival at Burnside Plantation in Bethlehem on July 20th and 21st. This is a great festival for kids: there are so many activities available that they’ll love! For animal lovers, there will be a petting zoo, pony rides, and the opportunity to read their favorite books to therapy dogs. For those who love art, there will be a craft tent, with sand art, totem poles, and more. They can also enjoy traditional colonial games!
There’s also plenty for adults, of course: There will be traditional artisan demonstrations, like blacksmithing and chair caning, in the Crafter Village, and historic house and barn tours of the plantation as well. And everybody will love the Blueberry Brewery tasting tent, where you get a souvenir glass and five sample tastings. Tasting passes can be purchased here.
Of course, this is a family festival, so naturally there are plenty of things families can enjoy together. There will be live music of all kinds, on four different stages. Artistic families can something together and add their own personal stamp to the Festival Community Mural. There will be a pet parade costume contest, with a prize for best costume at the end! If you and your family would like to dress up your furry friend, you can register for that here.
And no blueberry festival would be complete without the food! There are culinary contests, one for adults and one for kids 15 and under (register for those here). For blueberry lovers who aren’t exactly cooks, naturally there will be a blueberry pie eating contest, too. And don’t worry, you don’t have to fill up on pie alone: There are going to be a ton of food vendors present as well!
Passes to this two-day blueberry-themed extravaganza can be purchased here!
