Celebrate the heritage of the coal region at the Walk In Art Center and Folk Art Alliance’s annual Folk Fest on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Enjoy an afternoon of complimentary food, music, art and fun.

The Walk In Art Center is the regional home of the Folk Art Alliance of Berks, Schuylkill, and Lancaster counties. This means their on-staff folklorist, Jenna Winton, spends her time interviewing, promoting, and chronicling the ways that ethnic heritage is celebrated and passed along to younger generations via the foods they eat, music they listen or dance to, or art they create.

The Folk Fest will feature live performances by the All-Star Polka Band, fiddler Paul Riffon, Sabo Irish Dance Troupe, Dave Matsinko, and Keith Brintzenhoff.

There will also be live folk art demonstrations inside the WIAC’s new Art Education Center.

People can also partake in a Ukrainian Sunflower Paint and Sip during the festival, with proceeds going to help displaces pets in Ukraine.

Kids will be able to paint their own hex signs and do a scavenger hunt to win a prize. Complimentary pierogies, halushki, and kielbasa will be available for attendees.

“We want people to check out our new ‘inner courtyard’ area at the Walk In,” says Executive Director Jacquie Engel.

“We now have a connecting space between the Folk Art Gallery on the first floor of the WIAC and our new Art Education Center. People can visit the tents and performances outside in the courtyard, then check out the display in the Folk Art Gallery or demonstrations in the AEC,” she says. “It’ll be a fun and busy day.”

The festival is free of charge and if you’d like more information, visit walkinartcenter.org to check out the festival schedule and register for the Paint and Sip.

The website also has information on vendor opportunities, family events, and much more.

The Walk In Art Center’s events and activities are sponsored by the PA Council on the Arts and Ameriprise Financial.

Visit facebook.com/walkinartcenter for a complete line up of upcoming events.