Every year, Pennsylvania farmers, producers and foodies gather together for a most epic event. Good Food Fest is a celebration of local food and agriculture, a family-friendly day of fun, and a medley of flavors and fresh delights you don’t want to miss. This year’s event takes place on Sunday, November 3rd at the Kimberton Fairgrounds in Phoenixville.
We spoke with Christy Campli, event organizer of Good Food Fest and owner of Growing Roots Partners, about what will make this the best Good Food Fest yet. She shared some of the ways that the “epic farmers market” has grown since years past as well as five reasons not to miss the fest.
Campli describes Good Food Fest as an “epic, communal gathering of local makers and farmers” that brings together over 100 agricultural producers and food makers offering produce, mushrooms, dairy, meat, honey, apothecary items, baked goods, pantry staples, beverages of all kinds (for all ages), as well as live music, culinary demonstrations, craftspeople and artisans.
Thinking of going? There are three ticket options including General Admission, VIP, and — new in 2024 — the Local Lover ticket.
General Admission gets you access to everything the event offers, including an 11 a.m. entry. Presale GA tickets are $5 until October 3, then $10 in advance and at the door. Kids under age 12 get in free.
The next ticket tier is VIP, which is $25 and gets you an early 10 a.m. entry. Campli says, “It can get crowded during the heat of the event. We created the VIP option to give people an opportunity to shop before the crowds and get more face-to-face time with the vendors. VIP guests also get a swag bag with free local goods. So, you beat the crowds and get premium parking that’s closest to the entry.”
The newest ticket, Local Lover, is $50 and includes the full VIP experience (a $25 value) while helping to grow the Good Food Fest, like a micro-sponsor. $20 of the ticket goes back to Good Fest as a contribution and $5 goes to the Chester County Food Bank, a sponsor of the event and its demo kitchen, and a long-time partner of Growing Roots.
“This ticket helps build capacity for the operating team,” Campli explains. “We’re grassroots and we’re not a nonprofit, so there’s no outside or grant funding. The Local Lover helps make Good Food Fest bigger and better. It helps us reach more people and have more amenities so we can turn it into the best event possible.”
Growing Roots also accepts SNAP EBT at the Good Food Fest event and at all of its farmers markets. Through a partnership with Chester County Food Bank and its Veggie Bucks program, SNAP dollars are doubled, and people can shop with their SNAP and Veggie Bucks at Good Food Fest. SNAP shoppers are also eligible for discounted ticket prices. They can email [email protected].
So, what makes this event a “must” for any foodie or farm-fresh fan this year? Check out these 5 reasons to check out Good Food Fest 2024.
It’s Bigger and Better
Good Food Fest saw a significant increase in size from 2022 to 2023 and continues to expand. With increased tent size and a little over three acres, there’s ample room to spread out.
Campli says the amount of shoppers is growing too, which is intentional. “We’re focused on attracting shoppers from further ends of the earth,” she says. “We’ve seen an increase in shoppers and expect a further increase this year. From 2022 to 2023, we went from about 3,800 to 4,000 shoppers. This year, we’re shooting for closer to 5,000. Vendor-wise, this year we have over 120 in 2024, whereas the number was closer to 116 last year and 106 in 2022. We are steadily increasing.”
There’s Something for Everyone
Good Food Fest appeals to a wide stretch of ages and interests. Of course, first and foremost, there’s the food. “For locavores and foodies, there’s the farmers market and the food trucks. There will be over 10 food trucks with a variety of cuisines,” says Campli.
Music lovers can delight in live tunes, including a performance by the beloved bluegrass band, Frog Holler. “They keep the crowds dancing,” says Campli. “The $5 or $10 ticket is worth it just for the music.”
For the thirsty, Campli says, “The pouring room is really special and it’s not just booze. Generally, we’re celebrating Pennsylvania agriculture within the pouring room. It’s part of the mission. Everyone is brewing or distilling or making cider or wine with local ingredients.”
You’ll find these vendors (among others!) pouring their concoctions:
- East Branch Brewing Company, which is making a special, commemorative beer to celebrate Good Food Fest with Pennsylvania ingredients.
- Succession Fermentory and Deer Creek Malthouse, using hops and malts grown in Pennsylvania.
- Excursion Ciders, offering small batch ciders made from locally pressed PA apples that are fermented with minimal intervention and Dressler Estate, working with orchards across the state..
- Stargazers Vineyard, A Chester County vineyard producing PA grown and made vinifera wines.
- Botanary Barn, offering Revivialist Small Batch Gins and Resurgent Whiskey with ingredients grown in Pennsylvania.
If you’d like to take some knowledge to-go, head to the Demo Kitchen, a live, on-site kitchen serving up food-making demonstrations nearly all day. “The Demo Kitchen is my favorite part of the event,” says Campli. “We partnered with the Chester County Food Bank and we’ll have its mobile food bank on site so we can actually cook there. We learn to cook, bake, or preserve from the producers, themselves. All demo kitchen presenters are also exhibitors at Good Food Fest. If they’re not a farmer, we connect them with local farms and producers to source primary ingredients for the demos. So there’s live cooking happening, taking you from start to finish. There’s free sampling, time for questions, and recipes to take home.”
Campli says this offers a more intimate experience, allowing you to connect in a smaller setting of a 40’x40’ tent to the side of the main barn with seating for about 60 people, first come, first served. Stay tuned for more demo details, coming soon.
There’s plenty of fun to be had for fest-going kids as well, with children’s crafts on site, as well as farm animals to check out, like sheep, alpaca and turkeys.
It’s a Blast
Maybe you’ve figured this out already, but Good Food Fest is tons of fun. It’s one big party celebrating the community around PA agriculture.
You’ll be able to sample new flavors and old favorites to your heart’s content, with over 100 vendors offering their goods, treats and wares. Shop, eat and imbibe your way through the day with everything from savory to sweet, plus kitchen and garden items, like pottery, soaps and tea towels. Plan ahead and knock out some of your holiday shopping — or just spoil yourself a bit.
You’ll also find special services — like knife sharpening — with Seven Stars Mobile Sharpening. Drop off your knives for sharpening and pick them up on your way out, ready to expertly carve that Thanksgiving turkey.
And it’s a great day to mix and mingle, strolling with your crew and meeting some PA Eats superstars, like FarmerJawn, BABA’s Brew, Fungus Aurelius, Mycopolitan Mushroom Company, Sundry Mornings Spice Co., Elders Cut Meadery and Manatawny Still Works.
Meet Farmers & Makers
Good Food Fest is all about community and making connections between consumers and producers, foodies and farmers, neighbors with neighbors. This year, Campli says there are some new and returning vendors she’s especially excited about.
The Painterland Sisters are new to Good Food Fest in 2024. They make organic yogurt made responsibly from real farms throughout PA. Vesta Kitchen from Pottstown is a local producer that sources everything from local farmers and producers, making everything from hot sauce and BBQ sauce to pies and prepared soups. Campli says, “It’s farm to table eating and supporting local without having to do the cooking. You take the food home and it’s ready to go. It takes the guesswork out of cooking. He’s the epitome of what we do at Growing Roots at Good Food Fest.”
The fest also has a new grower, Toad Stop Farm, also based in Pottstown and offering naturally grown, sustainable produce from Chester County.
East Branch Brewing Company and Stargazers Vineyard are both new to Good Food Fest Pouring Room in 2024.
Campli also shouts out returning vendor Deep Roots Valley Farm, a farmer and concession vendor, selling farm fresh creations that will be ready to eat at the events. “Make sure to check out their locally handmade, famous hand pies, biscuit bombs and other goods raised on the farm and sourced organically from local farms,” says Campli.
Good Food!
What would Good Food Fest be without good food?! We’re not just talking about great taste, but healthier, locally produced foods for the good of the whole community.
Campli says, “The priority of the event is to celebrate Pennsylvania agriculture. Even with the non-farming producers, we prioritize vendors who source local food and buy directly from farmers and foodmakers.”
“Our other priority is helping you meet your food makers and understanding the importance of working with them. It’s a producer-only market, so everyone is producing in-house. It brings the community together under one mission. It cuts down on the food chain from maker to consumer and fosters that direct experience.”
If you’d like to be a part of the Good Food Fest movement, volunteers are more than welcome. The biggest needs are for set-up and breakdown, and volunteering has its perks!
“You get a free ticket to the event when you volunteer,” Campli explains. “Even if you’re only volunteering for three hours after the event, you get to go for free and get a free t-shirt. If you work more than five hours, working multiple shifts, you get a free meal. So, if you want free entry to the event and you’re not afraid to get your hands dirty and you’re okay with lifting heavy tables and things, volunteer with us. Our biggest shifts are Friday from 3 – 7 p.m., Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Sunday 4 – 7 p.m.”
Another way to support the mission is by becoming a sponsor, like PA Eats! Good Food Fest’s premiere sponsor is Kimberton Whole Foods, to which Campli sends a huge “thank you!” for making the Good Food Fest possible.
For tickets and info on Good Food Fest, visit its website or Facebook and Instagram pages. The event takes place at the Kimberton Fairgrounds on November 3, 2024 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. 762 Pike Springs Rd., Phoenixville; (484) 753-6363.
- Photos: Good Food Fest
