35th annual Heritage Festival set for Oct. 13 in Tamaqua

SUBMITTED PHOTO - A horse-drawn carriage ride at a previous Tamaqua Heritage Festival.

Sentinel Staff Reports | [email protected]

TAMAQUA – Next Sunday, Tamaqua, through the Tamaqua Historical Society, will celebrate its heritage through the 35th edition of the Heritage Festival.

The event will take place from 10am to 5pm in downtown Tamaqua, celebrating local and regional history and culture, according to a news release.

“The Heritage Festival is a time when the community, friends, relatives and neighbors come together for a homecoming to celebrate our rich history and enjoy all that the Tamaqua area has to offer,” the release said.

The event is held rain or shine, and registrations are still being accepted for craft and vendor spaces.

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“Anyone still wanting a space downtown can email me at [email protected] or call at 610-597-6722 and leave a message.  Email is preferred,” said Dale Freudenberger, historical society president.

The event is the largest event in the borough, including nearly a hundred vendors and crafters, all selling handmade crafts, seasonal and holiday creations, works of art, street wares, and more. 

Local organizations, school groups, churches, scouts, and fire companies also use the event as a fundraiser by hosting food sales.

Homemade, ethnic, and other popular fair foods will be available for sale along West Broad Street, including sups, chili, bleenies, pierogies, chili dogs, fried oreos, funnel cake, french fries, and much more. Restaurants will also be open.

Near the radio station, vendors will be set up and a special display and costumed re-enactor will honor the centennial anniversary of the end of World War 1.

The Tamaqua Heritage Players will also be around the festival, dressed in period clothing and, at 2pm, they will perform a coal region skit.

Also during the festival, the historical society museum at 118 West Broad Street will be open for tours. The museum features a wide variety of local history items, and admission is free.

The Tamaqua Victorian Hi-Wheeler bicyclists will be riding their vintage hi-wheel bicycles in period costumes and showing off their skills during the day. This was once a popular pastime in Tamaqua during the 1880s when we actually had a local bicycling organization known as the ‘Tamaqua Wheelmen”. 


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SUBMITTED- The Tamaqua Historical Society stand at the Tamaqua Heritage Festival.

A variety of music around the festival area includes the WMGH Polka Program live broadcast with Polka Joe Manjack from 10am to 1pm in front of the Museum, DJ Shawn from 1pm to 5pm in front of the Museum Annex.  Folk musician and clogger, Jay Smar, will perform in front of the Hegarty Blacksmith Shop from 11am to 3pm and folk musician Dave Matsinko will stroll and play various historic instruments from 11am to 3pm  throughout the festival area.  If you are into oldies music, a disc jockey will be playing your favorite oldies from 10am to 3pm at the car show area.

Leiby’s Carriage Service will be offering horsedrawn trolley rides around the festival starting on Berwick Street.  

Amusements and games, including a bounce house, a petting zoo, and face painting will be held at the festival as well, for younger children.

For further information or to register as a vendor, contact the Tamaqua Historical Society at 610-597-6722 or by email to [email protected]

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