2008 Marks our 34th Year.

Join us from July 3rd to July 6th this year, as 2008 marks the 34th year of the Westmoreland Arts & Heritage Festival!  As a 4th of July celebration, the Festival is proud to be a tradition in the region and invites everyone to celebrate Independence Day in their own unique way. Bring your family, bring your friends, bring everyone you know and spend the day dancing to live music, eating tons of great ethnic foods, and shopping your time away at the fabulous Artist Market. You can bring the kids too for some fun creative craft-making or a trip around the petting zoo. There's even a whole stage of kid's entertainment with tons of different performances all day long. Whatever it is you want to do, or whoever you want to bring, Westmoreland Arts & Heritage Festival welcomes one and all to take part in this Independence Day celebration at Twin Lakes Park. It's fun for everyone!

Westmoreland Art Nationals

Each year the Festival is host to the Westmoreland Art Nationals Juried Fine Art and Photography Exhibition. This unique exhibition features local, regional, national, and international artists working in all genres. The Westmoreland Art Nationals is comprised of two exhibitions, one taking place at Westmoreland County Community College and the second following at Twin Lakes Park during the Westmoreland Arts & Heritage Festival. The Festival is committed to bringing high quality artists from all around the world to the Southwestern Pennsylvania region. The Westmoreland Art Nationals is an established contemporary exhibition and represents 34 years of excellence in representing the arts.

The Artist Market

The largest portion of the Festival and definitely a favorite, the Artist Market, is host to over 220 professional craftspeople and artisans from all over the country.  Patrons love to browse the selections of fine woodwork, jewelry, metal work, stained glass, leather goods, basketry, pottery, contemporary art, handmade soaps and oils, and much more.

ENTERTAINMENT & Presentations

The Westmoreland Arts & Heritage Festival presents live, non-stop, contemporary, traditional, classical and folk music on four stages. Visitors enjoy poetry and short story readings, performance artists, theater, dance, old-time fiddlers, polka and marching bands, oldies groups, bluegrass, country and rock & roll. There will be over 50 performers in four days in 2008.

Children's Activities

Dynamic programming designed for small children, youth and the young at heart features artists on stage and strolling through the park, interactive hands-on workshops, juried art exhibits for students, poetry and short story competitions and readings, and demonstrations and displays that encourage audiences to discover the magic of learning and the artists within themselves.

Food Vendors

There's something for everyone at the Westmoreland Arts & Heritage Festival.  Our food vendors offer a wide variety of excellent foods ranging from Italian, to Polish, to Greek, to Vietnamese, to Lebanese.  Order delicious foods ranging from eats and sandwiches, to fruits and vegetables, to pies and sweets, to popcorn and fried dough.

Westmoreland Poetry and Short Story Contest

Entrants from around the country enter our juried poetry and short story contest.  We offer the Westmoreland Award for Poetry, the Westmoreland Award for Short Story, as well as three Juried Poetry Awards and three Juried Short Story Awards.

Our Venue

Twin Lakes Park, a beautiful park, is part of the Westmoreland County parks system. Twin Lakes Park has received national recognition for its programs and barrier free facilities.

Paved walkways encircle both the lower and an upper lake over a distance of 2.5 miles, providing one of the most pleasant walking and exercise paths in Westmoreland County, and one that is handicapped accessible. Waterfowl can be seen at almost any time of year.

Fishing enthusiasts visit Twin Lakes Park year round, and there are even handicapped accessible fishing decks. The PA Fish Commission stocks both lakes with game fish, including a winter stocking that attracts ice fishing enthusiasts to the frozen lakes in the dead of winter. Live bait is available year round at the Boathouse.

Twin Lakes Park serves as the host location for the Westmoreland Arts & Heritage Festival.  There is no more appropriate place to enjoy this extraordinary festival than at beautiful Twin Lakes Park.

Directions and Shuttles