Russell, PA - Preparations are underway on Fox Hill Road in Russell for the 20th Annual Kinzua Heritage Festival, a three-day celebration of music, crafts, and history.

The event highlights the region’s deep historic roots, tied not only to Native American culture but also to the area’s earliest settlers.
 
Festival founder Scott Mead said the involvement of Indigenous people is a key part of the event, helping connect visitors with education and culture.
"This is not your typical festival, in my mind, it's more," Mead said. "We have a mixture of everything, there is history and blacksmiths, native dancers and artisans, people who do pottery and leather work, and reenactors too."

Seneca Nation artist Leon Sam Briggs added that keeping history alive is a large reason why he comes back to the event each year.
"I demonstrate some of the traditional crafts," Briggs explained. "This weekend I will be making corn brooms and showing how we do a lot of our traditional pieces. Some people say that these arts and ways aren't as visible as they used to be, but I feel like they are - you just need to know where to look, but it's important that we continue showing everyone to keep our history alive."
 
Artisans will be on hand throughout the weekend, not only selling their crafts but also demonstrating how they are made. Indigenous performers will also share traditional dances with the public.
 
Donations coordinator Darlene Lascola noted that the festival continues to grow each year, offering more opportunities and events for the community.
"I have been helping out with the festival for around fifteen years now, and it keeps getting larger," Lascola stated. "It is truly so much fun, and I hope that everyone can come out and experience it, at least once. There's good food here and demonstrations, story tellers, dancing, a donation charity auction, and we even have Big Foot! It's a great time to get together and socialize."  
 
The Kinzua Heritage Festival will run Friday, August 22nd through Sunday, August 24th. Gates open daily at 10:00AM, closing at 7:00PM Friday and Saturday, and 5:00PM on Sunday. Admission is $5.00, with children ten and under admitted free. The festival is open to all ages and will be held rain or shine.
 
This year’s charity auction, a staple of the event, will benefit the Lions Club.

For more information on the Kinzua Heritage Festival, visit here.