Art in the Orchard Returns to Way Fruit Farm for Three-Day Festival

While the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts fills downtown State College this week, Way Fruit Farm is once again offering its own countryside celebration with the return of Art in the Orchard.

The sixth annual event will take place Thursday through Saturday, July 9-11, at the 150-year-old, family-owned farm located at 2355 Halfmoon Valley Road, Port Matilda.

Art in the Orchard will run from noon to 8 p.m. Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Visitors can browse handmade artwork and crafts displayed among the orchard rows while enjoying live entertainment and local food throughout the three-day event.

Admission and parking are free. Organizers ask visitors not to bring pets due to Pennsylvania agricultural regulations.

This year’s festival will feature several returning attractions, including a butterfly tent on Thursday and Friday, bunny encounters all three days, face painting, live wood carving demonstrations and tethered hot air balloon rides Thursday and Friday evenings, weather permitting.

Musical performances are scheduled throughout the weekend. Matt Day and Biscuit Jam will perform Thursday, followed by EMBR Acoustic, OverheaD and The After Party on Friday. Saturday’s lineup includes Brandon Guiffre and Western Swing.

Food vendors will include Twisted Whisk, Farmstead Fusion, Beech Hollow BBQ, Sweet Dreams Snack Shack, Ice House Café and Pappy’s Popcorn, while dozens of artists and makers from across the region will offer pottery, woodworking, jewelry, paintings, photography, textiles and other handcrafted goods.

Art in the Orchard was launched in 2021 as an alternative arts destination during Centre County’s traditional festival week and has since become an annual event alongside the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts, People’s Choice Festival and Philipsburg Heritage Days.