Here’s Our Story and…

Here’s how it all started…

Bedford’s Fall Foliage Festival honors 61 years of community pride and teamwork.

What started more than half a century ago as a simple autumn car tour has grown to iconic proportions, drawing national and global visitors. During the first two full weekends in October, the picturesque town of Bedford, Pennsylvania, now plays host to hundreds of craftspeople and more than 70,000 guests. This year the Fall Foliage Festival Committee commemorates the individuals and efforts that made 60 years of autumnal community spirit possible. 

In the beginning

Early records indicate that a modest tour of historical locations in western Bedford County, at the peak of beautiful fall colors, received a positive response. With efforts led by the County Motor Club and the Antique Auto Club, the event was formalized in 1964 as the Historical and Fall Tour. Since that time, it has evolved from an antique car parade with a few community vendors into a four-day festival with many moving parts entailing year-round planning.

In 1968, a group of community leaders came together to enhance the existing car parade, launching many of the now traditional characteristics of the event – craft and food vendors and special shopping incentives in downtown shops.

Wendy Cox, formerly of the Bedford Tourist and Resort Bureau recognized the opportunity for merchants to work together to bring tourism into the area. She served as the first Chairperson of the Fall Foliage Committee in 1968. For the nearly 20 years following, Jane Barnhart (long-time owner of the former Coach Room Restaurant) and Irma Garlick fueled Bedford’s Fall Foliage Festival with enthusiasm, elbow grease, and good humor.

“We just wanted to build a little something, and it just kept growing and growing,” said Cox, now 90 years young, while reminiscing about the festival. “We invited every church group, boy scout group, girl scout groups, we invited them to have a table and charged them $5, and that’s how the festival (vendors) got started.”

Another draw of the 1968 event was an appearance by Miss Pennsylvania, Susan Robinson.  The festival committee collected $100 from local merchants to cover her travel costs.  Miss PA participated in the car parade, as well as a lunch hosted by Bedford’s first lady. In 2024, the festival will welcome the current Miss Pennsylvania, Page Weinstein.

Cox recalls that those early events revolved around the antique car parade, with only a handful of vendor booths and, of course, the perennial cider press. To maintain character and integrity, they determined that all crafts must be handmade (a directive that the governing committee, even now, strives to enforce.) As the festival grew, opportunities were opened to craftspeople outside of the area to meet the demands and interests of the growing crowds.  Today,  the festival draws around 70,000 people over the two event weekends, but all agree it wouldn’t be the same without the charming streets of historic Bedford.

“I think what makes the Bedford Fall Foliage Festival special is the town of Bedford itself,” said long-time festival board member and treasurer Sandy Detwiler.  “It is a beautiful downtown area, and the people and businesses are so welcoming. It is very fulfilling to see all of the people enjoying the crafts, entertainment, and food. It makes all the long hours getting ready for the festival worthwhile. As for my hopes for the future for the festival, I would love to pass it on to the next generation and see the festival continue in volunteer hands for the next 60 years. Hopefully, we will have some new people step up and take it over.”

In 1991, Jane and Irma passed Festival responsibilities to the Bedford Area Business Association (BABA), which subsequently became Downtown Bedford, Inc. (DBI) in 2001. The pair stayed on another year to help new organizers understand the demands and scheduling necessary to keep the event successful.

“I think they’ve done a tremendous job,” said Cox about the festival committee and their work over the years. “They’ve kept the original idea and added to it but only to enrich it.”

The Fall Foliage Committee was separated from the business association in 1995, incorporated in 1999, and became a 501(c)(4) in 2000. Their Board of Directors took over full, independent responsibility for oversight, promotion, and a multitude of other tasks related to the festival. The Committee continues to work closely with DBI, the Chamber, the Visitors Bureau, and other local organizations to make the event a reality each year.

“It's Bedford County,” said Cox.  People here all care, they care about our area, and care to make it better.”

Still Evolving Today

Today’s festival includes booths lining blocks of Juliana and Penn Streets as well as a significant number of booths and activities, including pony rides, hit-and-miss engines, and live music “Down by the River” near Fort Bedford Park.  Vendors include a traditional cider press where those waiting in line for the fresh cider can watch it processed by a hard-working church group right before their eyes.  Other artisans, like Brouse Big Bowls, demonstrate the creation of their wares as well.

Two stages of live music showcase local and regional artists, including the Thomas Automotive Local Spotlight near the Gazebo on the Squares.  Other festival features for the whole family include square dance demonstrations, balloon characters, face painting, sand art, and more.

The second weekend features youth craft vendors in addition to the traditional vendor booths, as well as the Antique Car Parade beginning at 2 pm, followed by the crowning of the Fall Foliage Festival Queen, a high school junior selected from a group of scholarship candidates representing all six Bedford County high schools.  

Conveniences have also been added to the festival to provide the best experiences for visitors, including official festival parking ($10/vehicle) and free shuttles from Old Bedford Village and the Bedford County Fairgrounds.  Portable restrooms are available at multiple sites, along with two baby comfort stations in the Bedford County Chamber of Commerce office across Juliana Street from the Courthouse and a private tent near the information booth down by the river.  Additional information is available by calling 814-624-3111.

Awards and Recognitions

The Bedford Fall Foliage Festival has been recognized many times over the years for the work the volunteer committee has done to create one of the largest harvest festivals in Pennsylvania and the U.S.  Recent recognitions include:  Oprah Daily: One of the Top 22 Harvest Festivals in America (reposted again in 2024); sunshine Artist Magazine: Top 200 vendor festivals in the US; Bedford Gazette: Best of the Best Festivals (for many years running); and Bedford County Chamber: 2024 John Anderson Award for significant impact on commerce and community.

INTERESTING IN MAKING A DONATION TO HELP WITH THE COST OF PROVIDING THIS EVENT EVERY YEAR? We are a 501c3 organization making your donation tax deductible. You can donate toward the cost of entertainment HERE, or toward scholarships HERE.