West Overton annual Makers Market to be biggest sale ever

About 95 vendors will be present for the annual Makers Market, set for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at West Overton Village in East Huntingdon.

Serving as a kickoff to the historic site’s visitor season, the market will be the biggest ever, said Pamela Curtin, West Overton director of visitor engagement.

Featuring locally made and grown products from makers, craftspeople, artisans and small businesses from across the region, the market is held rain or shine.

Not only will visitors be able to shop, they’ll also have the opportunity to grab lunch from a food truck and to visit the West Overton museum and distillery.

“Hosting an event with makers and creative people does reflect our mission and our history,” Curtin said. “Handmade reflects how entrepreneurship is a big part of West Overton history.”

Dating back to its purchase in 1803 by Henry Overholt, the site has been host to farming, a distillery, gristmill, numerous shops and coal and coke operations.

Market sellers will offer items such as jewelry and accessories, ceramics, woodworking, textile arts, glass and resin arts, candles and home decor. Homemade kettle corn, cookies, cupcakes and other food items will be for sale, along with homemade pet treats.

Food trucks will include Bad Rabbit BBQ, Bubble Waffles, Hermes Food Truck and Millie’s Homemade Ice Cream.

Rye whiskey will be available in the distillery, along with a spring-themed cocktail. Just Desserts by Joyce Giesler will hand out rye flour shortbread cookies, while supplies last.

“You can learn about our modern facility and its history, and why producing rye whiskey is something that we do,” Curtin said.

In the newly renovated museum, visitors can view “Forging Ahead and Falling Behind,” an exhibition that tells stories of tradespeople who lived and worked at West Overton, including farmers, distillers, weavers, housekeepers and coal miners. Tools, skills and interconnections between trades and industries also are explored.

The museum gift shop will be open.

Market day also features West Overton’s annual plant sale, held in collaboration with students from Southmoreland High School. The Overholt Room on the museum’s lower level will hold a wide variety of heirloom plants including tomatoes, peppers, squash, lettuce, cabbage, cucumber, melons and broccoli, along with hanging baskets.

Curtin noted that, by signing up for the West Overton email newsletter, visitors to the sale can be entered into a drawing for two tickets to the annual Whiskey Smash fundraiser on Nov. 18 or for an original painting of the West Overton site.

West Overton Village is located at 109 West Overton Road. For more information, call 724-887-7910 or visit westovertonvillage.org.