Join Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center Curator Candace Perry for a sparkling nostalgic trip to the fun, food, and festivities of the 1950s holiday season.

Program in-person or via Zoom. Register by emailing info@schwenkfelder.org or calling 215-679-3103. FREE

Christmas Market at the Heritage Center

Christmas Market at the Heritage Center

We are thrilled to host Orgelkids PA again. They first joined us for Make Music Upper Perk to introduce us to pipe organ making. Now they return for a more elaborate program. What is Orgelkids? Orgelkids is a real, portable pipe organ that you build and play. In less than an hour, you assemble almost 200 individual pieces into a beautiful instrument, then make beautiful music.

At one time, Montgomery County had 36 covered bridges, ranging from Lower Merion to Upper Hanover Township. Today, none remain. Join writer and historian R. Scott Bomboy for an in-depth look at the birth, demolition, and preservation of these lost “Wooden Treasures,” including rare pictures of the long-lost covered bridges that spanned the Schuylkill River and Perkiomen Creek.

Program in-person or via Zoom. Register by emailing info@schwenkfelder.org or calling 215-679-3103. FREE

Participants will gather around a stack of 25 vintage quilts thoughtfully selected from the Textile Collection of the Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center. Pennsylvania quilt historian Barbara Garrett will discuss the quilt’s design, construction, and history….and then “turn” to the next quilt.

Participants will gather around a stack of 25 vintage quilts thoughtfully selected from the Textile Collection of the Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center. Pennsylvania quilt historian Barbara Garrett will discuss the quilt’s design, construction, and history….and then “turn” to the next quilt.

Historian Bob Wood will discuss two types of mills - oil and clover seed - that are not as well-known as the area grist mills but were still important to the local economy in the 1700 and 1800s.

Program in-person or via Zoom. Register by emailing info@schwenkfelder.org or calling 215-679-3103. FREE

Just in Time for Fall apple picking, Karen Wychock is returning to teach us how to weave a traditional 8” or 10” apple basket. Working over wooden molds, in the methods of the Shakers, the apple basket will be woven of reed.

Registration is required for this workshop. Total cost of $100 per adult, includes Workshop and Material Fees. The registration deadline is September 21. Register here or call 215-679-3103.

This workshop, scheduled for Saturday, September 21, 2024, from 10 am to 3:30 pm at the Schwenkfelder Heritage Center, will focus on the sgraffito technique used by 18th and 19th century Pennsylvania German potters to make expressive designs in their folk art pottery. Sgraffito means to “scratch” and workshop participants will draw and scratch a design on a redware plate. Participants can choose a traditional Pennsylvania German design or create their own! No experience required. The participants have the option to sgraffito 7” or 10” redware plates coated with white clay slip; limit of 3 plates as time permits. All the sgraffito tools and books for ideas are provided or bring your own. After the workshop, the plates will be dried, glazed, and fired - this takes 4-6 weeks. Participants will be notified when the plates are ready. Pick up finished work at the workshop site, at the studio in Macungie by appointment or shipped to participant for an additional cost. Bring a bag lunch.

The Workshop Leader Denise Wilz has been creating Pennsylvania Redware since 2002. She has a degree in Studio Art from Moravian University and was a computer programmer and craft hobbyist prior to embarking on a career as a redware potter. She is a Master Artisan of the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen and is currently on the PGC board. Denise is also included in the Directory of Traditional American Crafts presented by Early American Life. You can see her work on her website - wilzpottery.com

Registration is required for this workshop. The workshop fee is $60 plus $36 for a 7” plate or $48 for a 10” plate. The registration deadline is September 14.

Make & Take crafts for all ages

These programs are free of charge, and there is no registration needed. Just drop into the Stauffer Education Room. Fun for all ages! Younger children may need a parent or guardian to assist them.

Free of charge but please register by calling 215-679-3103 or emailing Meredith Reinhart at meredith@schwenkfelder.org.

Conestoga wagons have played a significant role in shaping our nation. Unlike some misnomers, the wagons were not used to haul people, but were used to transport freight. During the presentation, Katelyn will talk about the history of the Conestoga wagon, the roads they traveled, the Conestoga wagon design, and accessories associated with the wagon. Feel free to check out the wagon in the Rural Life gallery beforehand! 

Make & Take crafts for all ages

These programs are free of charge, and there is no registration needed. Just drop into the Stauffer Education Room. Fun for all ages! Younger children may need a parent or guardian to assist them.

Alice Wolfgang will provide us not only with the rich history of PA German pie-making, but also over 25 traditional and contemporary recipes accompanied by mouth watering visuals for both savory and dessert pies. Learn how both the bake oven and the wood cook stove were used. Potato pie, onion pie, green tomato pie, peach custard…there is bound to be one you will want to try when you get home!
Program in-person or via Zoom. Register by emailing info@schwenkfelder.org or calling 215-679-3103. FREE