monarchmedia100
By Jessica Kenley
The Frosty Hollow Festival 2026 took place on Saturday, August 1, 2026, hosted by the Frosty Hollow Bed And Breakfast located at 1077 Cherry Springs Road near Coudersport and the Sweden Valley area.
SWEDEN VALLEY, Pa. — Despite temperatures climbing into the high summer heat, hundreds of visitors packed Frosty Hollow today for one of Potter County’s favorite annual traditions, proving once again that a little humidity can’t keep people away from good food, handcrafted art, friendly faces, and small-town community spirit.
Families wandered from vendor to vendor throughout the day, children proudly carried their newest treasures, and dogs of every size happily greeted visitors along the shaded pathways. Everywhere you looked, there were smiles.
Representing Monarch Media, I spent the afternoon talking with local artisans, business owners, and festival-goers about what brought them to the event. Every person interviewed had the same message: they were simply happy to be there.
My own family—my partner Joe, my father, and my sons Henry and Jaxon—joined me for the afternoon, sampling food, browsing handmade goods, and admiring the incredible creativity on display. Like many families attending, we found ourselves stopping every few feet to admire another unique display.
As we left the festival grounds, we noticed license plates from at least five different states, including Florida, Ohio, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania—a reminder that Potter County’s summer events continue attracting visitors from well beyond the Pennsylvania Wilds.
Handmade Art with a Touch of Science
One of the day’s most eye-catching displays belonged to Michelle and Kevin Kilpatrick, who create stunning resin artwork using a two-part epoxy process.
Her colorful creations featured everything from glitter and flowers to real seashells suspended inside crystal-clear resin. Michelle explained that the chemical reaction causes pigments and natural materials to move as the resin cures, making every piece completely unique.
The finished artwork looked almost like frozen oceans and colorful galaxies, with no two pieces exactly alike.
Contact: 814-558-0148
purplemoon.resinworks@gmail.com
Heirloom Duck Calls Built to Last Generations
Retired engineer Doug Lang showcased handcrafted duck and game calls that were as much works of art as hunting tools.
Using exotic hardwoods including bloodwood and padauk, Doug carefully machines, sands, engraves, and finishes every call himself. Although inexpensive calls can be found at big-box stores, Doug’s philosophy is different.
His calls are built to become family heirlooms—pieces that can be passed from grandparents to grandchildren while carrying stories along with them.
Website: langsgamecalls.com
Two Spicy Girls Brings Homegrown Wellness
Visitors looking for handcrafted self-care products stopped by Two Spicy Girls, where Kelli Petrosky and her niece, Erin Morgan, offer an impressive collection of homemade tallow soaps, lip balms, body creams, and fragrant simmer pots.
Many of their ingredients are homegrown or locally sourced. Kelly grows herbs herself, dehydrates fresh citrus, and works alongside Erin, whose homestead provides the tallow used in many of their products.
Their booth reflected the same philosophy shared by many vendors throughout the festival—making products by hand using simple, natural ingredients.
Contact:
Phone: 717-439-0776
To Two Spicy Girls from Monarch Media: I am so sorry! I don’t know what happened, but your picture is not in my phone! Please send me a pic at monarchmedia100.com and I will put it in right away!
Beautiful Purses Crafted by Hand by SewLar Stitch Star
Another vendor, Trisha Larson, displayed beautifully handcrafted leather handbags made completely from scratch.
Each purse begins as industrial-grade leather before every piece is cut, stitched, assembled, painted, and finished by hand.
The artisan explained that larger bags can take two full days to complete, while smaller designs may be finished in a single day. Every bag reflected hours of craftsmanship and attention to detail.
Contact:
Phone: 814-331-8050
Crocheted Treasures and Flowers
Visitors also stopped to admire the colorful crocheted animals and handcrafted items created by Ethel Geller.
Having crocheted since childhood, after learning from both her mother and grandmother, Ethel now creates everything from adorable octopuses to decorative pieces entirely from memory—often simply by looking at a photograph.
She also operates a flower shop offering both fresh and artificial floral arrangements, in Galeton, bringing another artistic touch to the festival.
Local Beekeepers Share Their Passion
One of the busiest booths belonged to local beekeepers Ms. Tiesi and Ms. Straub (My recording blanked out on their first names!) who have transformed two original beehives into an apiary of approximately eighteen colonies.
Their mission extends beyond producing honey. They enjoy educating the public about pollinators and the essential role bees play in agriculture and the environment.
Their booth featured honey, beeswax lip balm, creams, insect repellents, soaps, and other handcrafted products made from natural ingredients.
One of their most popular items was an arthritis cream containing witch hazel and essential oils, while their natural insect repellent was safe for both children and pets.
The couple also praised the Frosty Hollow Festival itself, noting that proceeds from the event help support charitable causes throughout the community.
Robbie A. Ickes Ancient Skills Kept Alive
Festival visitors also had the opportunity to meet Robbie Ickes of Osterburg, who has spent more than a decade preserving traditional Native American-style craftsmanship.
Rather than purchasing modern archery equipment, Ickes creates nearly every component by hand. He creates handcrafted bows, stone arrowheads, wooden arrows, and traditional adhesives made from pine pitch, charcoal, and natural materials. Wild turkey feathers become fletching, while deer sinew is used to secure arrowheads—techniques that have been practiced for centuries.
“I just like this stuff,” Ickes said with a smile, explaining that what began as a hobby has grown into a passion for preserving historical craftsmanship. Even his wife jokes that he always seems to find “one more hobby,” but for Ickes, creating these authentic pieces is simply something he loves to do.
Flint Knapping & Blacksmith
Address:
1478 Heritage Rd.
Osterburg, PA 16667
Phone:
814-977-3068
Woodworking That Challenges the Mind
One booth drew curious crowds with beautifully handcrafted wooden banks featuring hidden compartments and combination-lock mechanisms.
Woodworker Ray, who introduced himself alongside his wife Linda, explained that each bank begins as a solid block of wood before being carefully cut apart, hollowed, sanded, reinforced with dowels, and reassembled. The finished product functions as both a coin bank and an engaging mechanical puzzle.
Ray estimated that each bank takes about an hour to complete after years of refining his process.
Now 70 years old, he said woodworking has been part of his life since his college days.
“I couldn’t draw very well,” he laughed, “but when I got into photography and woodworking, I excelled at it.”
Children—and adults—spent several minutes trying to solve the clever locking mechanism, making his booth one of the festival’s most interactive attractions.
Handmade Gifts from the Heart
Another popular booth belonged to Shirley Pituch, whose handmade creations began with a simple idea: making Christmas gifts for family and friends.
Today, her display features colorful handcrafted aprons, rope baskets, coasters, and decorative home goods, many inspired by patterns and techniques she discovered through crafting books before adding her own creative touch.
Pituch also offers products from Alderman Mills, a family-operated mill owned by her brother, including pancake mixes, flour, and baking mixes.
What began as homemade holiday presents has evolved into a thriving hobby that now includes farmers markets in Coudersport, Emporium, Turtlepoint, and community festivals like Frosty Hollow.
Her husband contributes as well, creating whimsical weighted gnomes filled with sand that serve as beautiful decorations.
Quiet Acres
Phone:
717-439-1234
Port Allegany, PA
Haldeman Mills products from Lancaster County, PA
Gluten-free products, including Buckwheat flour, and African teff–dark and ivory.
Four-Legged Festival Visitors
Not every interview involved people.
One of the afternoon’s stars was Marley, a beautiful rescue dog who happily accepted attention from festival-goers throughout the afternoon.
Marley’s owners shared that she had once been severely underweight before finding her forever home. Today, healthy, playful, and full of personality, she greeted visitors with an infectious smile that quickly made her a crowd favorite.
Dogs could be seen throughout the grounds, making the festival feel even more welcoming for families.
A Celebration of Community
Perhaps the most remarkable part of the Frosty Hollow Festival wasn’t any single vendor or display—it was the atmosphere.
Neighbors stopped to catch up with one another. Visitors from neighboring states discovered local businesses. Children explored booths with wide eyes while parents searched for homemade treats and handcrafted gifts.
In a world that often feels rushed, Frosty Hollow offered something refreshingly simple: a chance for people to slow down, support local artisans, and enjoy a summer day together.
If today’s attendance was any indication, this beloved Sweden Valley tradition continues to grow, bringing together residents and visitors alike for another memorable celebration of community in Potter County.
