Peddler’s Village celebrates its 50^th year in 2012, featuring a year-long party, special birthday festivities, new festivals and family events, contests, promotions and signature 50^th anniversary merchandise.

More than 25 million guests have visited Peddler’s Village with family and friends in the past five decades. Guests, old and new, can look forward to appreciating treasured memories with vintage photo and memory contests, memorabilia displays, community reunions and celebrations throughout 2012. The month of June is the Birthday Celebration Month, filled with events including a Customer Appreciation event, a Family Reunion and the most spectacular Celebration of Freedom ever!

Earl Jamison started Peddler’s Village in June 1962 with 14 shops and the Cock ‘n Bull Restaurant on a 4-acre parcel of land known as “Antique Town” that included only a chicken barn, coops, and one antique shop. The Village now hosts 1.5 million guests annually, covers 42 acres and features 70 specialty shops, 6 restaurants, Giggleberry Fair family entertainment center, the Golden Plough Inn and 12 major festivals and events.

A major highlight of the year’s celebration will be the Peddler’s Village Rube Goldberg Challenge in honor of our 50th anniversary and founder Earl Jamison who loved Rube Goldberg machines. Inspired by cartoonist Rube Goldberg, the Peddler’s Village Rube Goldberg Challenge invites anyone to design and build a machine that uses the most complex process to complete a simple task. The Rube Goldberg Challenge task for 2012 is to blow up and pop a non-inflated balloon in celebration of the Peddler’s Village 50th Anniversary. Rube Goldberg’s grandchildren and Philadelphia television personality Don Polec will make special guest appearances as celebrity judges of the competition!

Countless visitors over the decades have enjoyed the award-winning gardens of Peddler’s Village. In honor of our horticultural heritage, Peddler’s Village will launch the multi-year program 50 Trees for 50 Years.  Please join us in 2012 as we begin the selection of 50 beautiful trees to enhance our Bucks County landscape.

The shops of Peddler’s Village will launch a 50 Weeks of Shopping campaign on January 1, highlighting their unique merchandise, services and locally made products with fun events and promotions that recognize the anniversary and thank our community of loyal shoppers.

For 50 years, families have chosen to spend their special moments at Peddler’s Village. If you were born in 1962, please join us in 2012 on your 50th birthday to celebrate your special day with a complimentary dinner in the Cock ‘n Bull Restaurant.

The full year’s schedule and more details on this landmark year will be posted on our website at http://www.peddlersvillage.com/promotions/50th-anniv/default.aspx.

Welcome the holidays and the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus at the annual Peddler’s Village Christmas Festival on Saturday, December 3, 2011, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (shops open until 9 p.m.), and Sunday, December 4, 2011, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Free admission and parking.

Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday as part of an old-fashioned parade through the Village.  The Central Bucks East Marching Band will lead the parade accompanied by local Girl Scout Troops. Other parade participants and live festival entertainment will include the Season’s Greetings Eagles Pep Band, Spiced Punch Singers (Victorian carolers), and Stiltwalker. Following the parade, Santa will entertain children and their holiday wish lists at his indoor workshop, located in Giggleberry Fair.

A “must see” for visitors is the 31st Annual Gingerbread House Competition and Display, featuring more than 100 incredible creations of gingerbread and confection in the Village Gazebo.  The spectacular display will be open through January 7, 2012. Admission is free and the display is open during shopping hours.

Hot mulled cider, heated in an old fashioned kettle, will be sold on the Main Green, along with complimentary marshmallows for toasting.  The Village will be festively decorated for the holidays with Victorian fruit wreaths and greenery. Strolling musicians entertain visitors with holiday favorites throughout the weekend. By evening, one million twinkling lights will transform the Village into a winter wonderland.

For more information on Peddler’s Village holiday activities, please visit the website at http://www.peddlersvillage.com/ or call the Peddler’s Village Hospitality Center at 215-794-4000.

Light up your holiday season at the Peddler’s Village Grand Illumination Celebration, Friday, November 18, 2011, 6 p.m.-10 p.m. The 31st Annual Gingerbread House Competition and Display in the Village Gazebo also debuts on November 18. 

Don’t miss the magical moment when the Village is transformed into a dazzling wonderland. At 6:15 pm, Santa Claus “switches on” the display of one million jewel-colored lights to kick off the holidays and his weekend visits with children at Giggleberry Fair.

Enjoy festive music and complimentary refreshments throughout the evening. Hot cider, heated in an old fashioned kettle, will be served with marshmallows toasted over an open fire. Strolling musicians will perform holiday favorites throughout the evening.

After the ceremony, children can share their secret wish lists with Santa at Giggleberry Fair. Santa will entertain children at his indoor workshop, located in Giggleberry Fair from November 18 through December 23, Friday through Sunday.

 The 31^st Annual Gingerbread House Competition and Display in the Village Gazebo will feature more than 100 incredible creations of gingerbread and confection. Admission is free and the display will be open through January 7, 2012.

Visitors are also invited to preview the merchants’ distinctive choices for holiday gift giving to kick off the Merchants Open House weekend, November 18-20.  Village shopkeepers will welcome visitors with refreshments and something for everyone on your gift list on Friday, Nov. 18, until 10 p.m. The Village’s extended holiday shopping hours are November 18 through December 30, Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

For more information on Peddler’s Village holiday activities, please visit the website at http://www.peddlersvillage.com/ or call the Peddler’s Village Hospitality Center at 215-794-4000.

Enjoy fall's favorite fruit and friends at the 40th Annual Apple Festival!

Celebrate apple season and the local harvest at the Peddler’s Village 40^th Annual Apple Festival on Saturday, November 5, and Sunday, November 6, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m, rain or shine. Admission and parking are free.

Dig into a scrumptious selection of all things apple from crisp apple fritters and warm apple pie to savory apple dumplings, doughnuts, cakes, turnovers, caramel apples and more from Peddler’s Village merchant and restaurant booths.

Taste an array of green, golden and red apples from local orchards!

Taste an array of green, golden or red delicious apples from local orchard, Fairview Farm of Pineville, and take home a bushel of your favorite! Sip a warm cup of locally produced apple cider and sample some Pennsylvania Dutch apple butter while you watch authentic demonstrations of cider production in an antique cider press and old-fashioned apple butter cooking in a huge cauldron.

Once stomachs are satisfied, enjoy the live musical entertainment, jugglers and stilt walkers on the Main Green. Shop the unique handcrafted items at the 40 artisan booths on the Street Road Green that include decorative ironwork, folk art, jewelry, pottery, stained glass, leather creations, hand painted and reproduction furniture.

Each afternoon, cheer on the brave contestants in the traditional pie eating contests. The Apple Pie Eating Contest, held at 3 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday, provides lots of laughs and prizes for winners.  Competitions are held in these age categories — 10 and under, 11-14 and 15 and up.  Contestants are chosen by lottery and must sign up from 10 a.m.-2: 45 p.m. at the Hospitality Booth on the Main Green.

 The weekend entertainment includes:

Saturday, November 5

Daisy Jug Band: 11:00 am-3:00 pm, Gazebo

The Banjo Man: 12:00- 4:00 pm, Strolling

Tony Alosi: 1:00- 3:00 pm, Courtyard

The “J” Tones Jazz Quintet: 1:00- 3:00 pm, Crafter’s Area

Stiltwalker: 1:00- 4:00 pm, Strolling

Apple Pie Eating Contest: 3:00- 3:30 pm, Main Green Balcony

Blue Roots Bluegrass Band: 3:30- 6:00 pm, Main Green Balcony

Sunday, November 6

The Mango Men: 12:00-3:00pm, Gazebo

The Banjo Man: 12:00- 4:00pm, Strolling

The Overtones: 1:00-3:00pm, Courtyard

Stiltwalker: 1:00- 4:00pm, Strolling

Apple Pie Eating Contest: 3:00- 3:30pm, Main Green Balcony

Give ‘n Take Jugglers: 3:30-5:30pm, Main Green

For more information on Peddler’s Village holiday activities, please visit the website at http://www.peddlersvillage.com/ or call the Peddler’s Village Hospitality Center at 215-794-4000.

Giggleberry Fair Hay Maze for Kids!

Calling all ghosts, goblins and ghouls to Peddler’s Village for a day of Halloween fun at Giggleberry Fair Spooktacular on Saturday, October 29. Wear your costume for trick or treating, pumpkin painting, face painting and more! The spooky schedule of events includes:

Giggleberry Fair Spooktacular from 1-4 p.m. includes Pumpkin Painting, Face Painting and Balloon Sculptor. Activities are FREE WITH PURCHASE of Giggleberry Fair Activity Pass.

10 a.m.-5 p.m. Giggleberry Fair Hay Maze $3 per person or 2 for $5

Trick or Treating in Peddler’s Village Shops 4:00-6:00 p.m.

Peddler’s Village is kicking off two months of fall family fun on September 5 with the 33rd Annual Scarecrow Competition and Display followed by the 33rd Annual Scarecrow Festival on Saturday, September 17 and Sunday, September 18.

The 33rd Annual Scarecrow Competition and Display features more than 100 colorful scarecrow creations on outdoor public exhibit from Monday, September 5 through Sunday, October 30. Participants compete for $5,000 in prizes. Vote for your favorites through September 25! Winners will be announced and posted on the Peddler’s Village website by Sat., October 1. 

 Discover colorful creations entered in the following six categories:

• Quite the Character Scarecrow: Open the world of possibilities as you create a scarecrow interpretation of your favorite television character—human, animal or animated!
• Traditional/Whirligig Scarecrow: Paying homage to the scarecrows that have been “scaring crows’ from the farmers’ fields and gardens for centuries. Parts move or make noise when the wind gusts to make it a true whirligig!
• The Keystone Krow: A person, place or thing—past, present or future that says “Pennsylvania.”
• An Extraordinary Contemporary Scarecrow: Not necessarily a “Scarecrow,” more like a cutting edge creation for the garden.
• Kids Only! Scarecrow: Kids 12 and under create crows and compete with their peers.
• Group Scarecrow: A group scarecrow project for a school, church, office, club, scout troop, neighborhood, etc.

The 33rd Annual Scarecrow Festival on Saturday, September 17, and Sunday, September 18, is a weekend of family fun including scarecrow-making workshops, pumpkin pie eating contests, pumpkin painting, live musical entertainment and children’s activities. 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. both days. Rain or shine.

• The Scarecrow-Making Workshops will take place both days on the Street Road Green at 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.  Peddler’s Village staff will teach you how to create a unique, life-size scarecrow to take home and display. All scarecrow building materials are included in the $25 fee, maximum four people per scarecrow. Space is limited–reserve yours in advance!
• Pumpkin Pie Eating Contests will be held both days at 3 p.m. on the Main Green.  Categories are 10 years old and under, 11 to 14 years old and 15 years old and over.  Sign up at the hospitality booth each day from 10 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.  Six participants per age group, names are drawn before the contest at 3 p.m.
• Pumpkin Painting will take place on the Main Green on Sunday from 11 a.m. until supplies run out.  Brushes, paint and pumpkins will be provided and a nominal fee will be charged based on pumpkin weight.  No reservations are needed for this first-come, first-served activity.

Registration information for the Scarecrow Making Workshops is available on the website at http://www.peddlersvillage.com/festivals/scarecrow_festival/scarecrow_workshop.aspx or at 215-794-4000.

Admission and parking are free for all events.

The Peddler’s Village 33rd Annual Scarecrow Festival on Saturday, September 17, and Sunday, September 18, is a weekend of family fun including scarecrow-making workshops, pumpkin pie eating contests, pumpkin painting, live musical entertainment and children’s activities, 10 a.m.- 6 p.m. Free admission and parking. Rain or shine.

The Scarecrow-Making Workshops will take place both days on the Street Road Green at 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.  Peddler’s Village staff will teach you how to create a unique, life-sized scarecrow to take home and display. All scarecrow building materials are included in the $25 fee, maximum four people per scarecrow.

Space is limited–reserve yours in advance! Click here for registration info on the website or call the Peddler’s Village Hospitality Center at 215-794-4000.

Pumpkin Pie Eating Contests will be held both days at 3 p.m. on the Main Green.  Categories are 10 years old and under, 11 to 14 years old and 15 years old and over.  Sign up at the hospitality booth each day from 10 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.  Six participants per age group, names are drawn before the contest at 3 p.m.

Pumpkin Painting will take place on the Main Green on Sunday from 11 a.m. until supplies run out.  Brushes, paint and pumpkins will be provided and a nominal fee will be charged based on pumpkin weight.  No reservations are needed for this first-come, first-served activity.

Don’t miss the last 2011 stop of the Pennsylvania Civil War 150 Road Show at Peddler’s Village on Friday, September 30, through Sunday, October 2, 11 a.m.-7 p.m on the Street Road Green. Free admission.

The PA Civil War 150 Road Show is a traveling exhibition that uses images, sound, words, and interactive multimedia to convey stories of the many different ways Pennsylvania’s men, women and children experienced the Civil War, both on the battlefield and at home.

Watch the Civil War brought to life in this traveling exhibition housed in an expandable 53-foot tractor-trailer created for Pennsylvania residents and visitors of all ages. 

Peddler’s Village will host a Civil War Living History on Saturday from 11 a.m.-4 p.m., including the following activities:

• Artillery and infantry demonstrations  by The Sixth New York Independent Battery, a family friendly Civil War Artillery Unit based in New Jersey.
• “Daily Life of the Civil War Soldier” presentations
• Abraham Lincoln reenactor  
• Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania will provide information about genealogical research

Pennsylvania Civil War 150 is the state’s official program commemorating the 150^th anniversary of the Civil War, 2011-2015. The Road Show has travelled to more than 20 counties in 2011 in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, attracting 35,200 visitors and 1,311,000 visual impressions during the first year of the four-year journey.  

Visit this authentic 1861 Civil War Parrott Rifle at Peddler's Village during the PA Civil War Road Show!

PA Civil War 150 is governed by a statewide alliance of history, arts and cultural organizations including the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, the Pennsylvania Heritage Society, the Senator John Heinz History Center and the Historical Society of Pennsylvania along with partner organizations across the state. PA Civil War 150 is leveraging the considerable strengths of these institutions to bring high-quality programming to the commemoration. PA Civil War 150 includes key statewide initiatives and facilitates the marketing of activities and events at the regional and local levels. For more information, please visit www.pacivilwar150.com.

Peddler’s Village kicks off two months of fall family fun on Monday, Sept. 5 with the 33rd Annual Scarecrow Competition and Display featuring more than 100 colorful scarecrow creations on outdoor public exhibit from Sept. 5 through Oct. 30.

Go behind the scenes on Sunday, Sept. 4 beginning at noon to watch as the artists build their folk art creations! Participants compete for $5,000 in prizes in the following categories: The Keystone Krow; Quite the Character; Traditional/Whirligig; Extraordinary Contemporary; Group and KidsOnly! Vote for your favorites through September 25!

Like prizes? Like Peddler’s Village? Of course you do! The folks at Visit Bucks County have launched UNFORGETAWAYS, a social media tourism promotion, encouraging visitors to complete simple tasks on social media platforms such as Foursquare and Twitter with the chance to win prizes.

All you need to win an awesome overnight getaway to Peddler’s Village and an iPod Touch is a smartphone with a camera, Foursquare and a burning desire for adventure in the wilds of Bucks County!

Enter by completing these three easy steps: 1) Visit Peddler’s Village 2) Check in on Foursquare and post a photo from your location in the Village 3) Email UNFORGETAWAYS@VisitBucksCounty.com and tell them what photo you posted. Check it all out in this pretty poster courtesy of  Visit Bucks County.