After being canceled last year because of stormy weather, the Hershey Artfest, an outdoor fine arts and craft show, will return with even more vendors and food choices this year. Presented by the Hershey History Center, the event will be held on Saturday, May 13, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the grounds of the Cocoa Beanery and The Englewood barn complex, 1215 Research Blvd., Hummelstown.

More than 100 vendors will be on-site, which is an increase from last year's planned event. "The vendors include artists, artisans and authors," said History Center executive director Nikki Soliday. "Our festival was originally (called) the Festival of Artists, Artisans and Authors, and we've been going back to that (concept) for the last few years."

She noted that the event was canceled due to weather conditions for the first time in 2022. "In the 17 years of producing the show, we never had to cancel the show with the exception of the lockdown during the pandemic (in 2020)," Soliday stated. "Last year, starting on Friday afternoon we had monsoon-like rains and wind. The event is usually held rain or shine, but by Saturday morning we had to cancel due to safety concerns that were put out by public officials."

After last year's event cancellation, organizers are looking forward to the return of Artfest, where attendees will be able to view exhibits by artisans who work in a variety of mediums, including photography, jewelry, fine art, ceramics, metal work, woodwork, mixed media and textiles. Food will be available to purchase from food trucks, as well as menu items at The Englewood. Additionally, at least 10 local authors will be on hand.

More than 10 food trucks will be stationed around the Artfest perimeter. "The Beanery will not have food access, so we were able to bump up the number of food vendors," noted Soliday. "We will have a cheesecake vendor and a vendor with Indian food. We tried to secure a number of unique food vendors and offer a broad plethora of opportunities in terms of food tastes and food styles. There is an opportunity to grab a meal, a light bite and desserts."

Musical entertainment during Artfest will feature American folk artist John Rossey from the band Cold Spring Union, as well as the Mockingbird Duo. Brian Kneasel and Katrina Ambron-Heckard, who make up the duo, will sing original acoustic songs as well as cover music by a wide range of singers from Johnny Cash to Adele.

In its beginning, Artfest was first held at the History Center museum. "Our permanent location, on the grounds of the Cocoa Beanery and The Englewood, provides a vast green space with easy access to and from parking and is easily accessible from the surrounding area," Soliday said. "Artfest has something for everyone."

The Cocoa Beanery and The Englewood barn complex are located next to the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center grounds off Route 322. Admission and parking will be free. For more information about the show and to view information about the participating artisans and authors, visit http://www.hersheyhistory.org/artfest.

Additionally, the center, 40 Northeast Drive, Hershey, will present its outdoor concert series, "Jazz at the Barnyard," on the first Friday from May through September. The May 5 concert will feature Dante. Attendees should bring a lawn chair and may bring food and beverages. The concerts are free, but attendees may make donations to offset the cost of the events and the operations of the center. Sponsorship opportunities are available. For details, contact the center at 717-520-0748.