Reading Terminal Market Holds 21st Annual Pa. Dutch Fest

The Reading Terminal Market is holding a Pennsylvania Dutch Festival, through Saturday.

KYW's Hadas Kuznits reports that the 21st annual Pennsylvania Dutch Festival is underway at the Reading Terminal Market.

"The Amish come in and do quilting and on Saturday it's the funnest time for the kids.  We give free buggy rides, we have animals outside -- a petting zoo."

That's Alvin Beiler of Beiler's Bakery, one of the merchants in charge of the festival:

(Kuznits:)  "What are a couple of things that you think people in Philadelphia don't know about the Pennsylvania Dutch?"

(Beiler:)  "I don't know if they know how they live.  They don't have electricity.  And the Amish use gas lights, they use horse and buggies.  But then they hire a driver to bring them to market."

(Kuznits:)  "Do you use electrical appliances?"

(Beiler:)  "Yes, we're Mennonites, so we can have electricity.  And we have a bakery here where we make the dough by scratch."

He says the highlight of the festival, of course, is the food:

"Homemade doughnuts, funnel cakes, ham sandwiches.  We make homemade ice cream, sausage sandwiches."

(Photo by KYW's Hadas Kuznits)