Huge turnout for Chestnut Hill’s Fall For The Arts Festival

Chestnut Hill’s Fall for the Arts Festival could not have been blessed with better weather this Sunday. With the temperature reaching 82 degrees, it felt like a mid-summer day rather than early autumn. Hundreds were in attendance, filling the seven blocks of Germantown Avenue between Willow Grove Avenue and Rex Street with a veritable sea of people.

The event attracted plenty of folks from outside the Chestnut Hill neighborhood. “It is amazing how many people are from outside of Philadelphia, ” remarked Brandi Jeter, from nearby Mt. Airy. Side streets were congested with parked cars.

The festival featured an open-air marketplace of regional artworks and handcrafted items such as jewelry, apparel, pottery, fine art photographs, paintings, sculpture and natural beauty products. Many of Chestnut Hill’s retailers also displayed their wares and served up tasty food. Ice cream was definitely a festival favorite. The crowd noshed on local eats at the numerous tables set up near the two entertainment stages. Musical acts included Zydeco-a-Go-Go, Dukes of Destiny, Melissa Martin & Mighty Rhythm Kings and the Rich Posmontier Ensemble. Several festivalgoers danced up a sweat in the heat.

Kids took part in activities such as rock climbing, face painting and a miniature train ride.

Several dance troupes also performed, including Capoeira and hip-hop from Moving Arts of Mt. Airy and traditional Scottish dance by the Delaware Valley Branch of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society. “Our costumes are a bit warm for this type of weather,” exclaimed RSCDS member Cecily Selling who noted that the even the men’s short kilts were made from several yards of wool. However, dancers and festival attendees alike appeared glad for the delay of autumn’s chill.