The 45th annual Mount Gretna Outdoor Art Show opened today, with organizers citing record attendance.

“We had record numbers of attendance today, nearly 1000 people per hour at our main gate,” said director Kerry Royer in an email.

“We had an amazing show for our artists and our community.”

A look at the main entrance of the Mount Gretna Outdoor Art Show.

This weekend’s show features 260 exhibitors hailing from far and wide, with almost 30% new to the show.

Read More: Change and tradition will be side-by-side at the 45th Mt. Gretna Outdoor Art Show

Mount Gretna Craft Brewery was setup in the Hall of Philosophy, although beer sales hadn’t started when we arrived this morning.

Clothing, jewelry, original art, sculptures, woodwork, photography, leather goods – these are just a few of the items you’ll find strolling Gretna’s cottage-lined streets.

The biggest change this year is the discontinuation of parking at WellSpan Philhaven, which used to be reached using shuttle buses that ran to and from the show itself.

Waiting to park on Soldiers Field.

Show attendees now park in the area known as Soldiers Field, which came under ownership of the Pennsylvania Chautauqua, organizers of the Art Show, in a transaction earlier this year.

A view of the parking lot looking towards the craft vendors.

Read More: Here’s what you need to know about road closures and traffic for Mount Gretna Outdoor Art Show weekend

Although access to the show was easy enough for LebTown’s correspondent this morning (we walked into the show right at 9am), reports on local Facebook groups indicated that traffic and wait times to reach the parking area had become a concern to some by later in the day.

“We did have traffic issues associated with the volume and the new way to bringing the flow into town,” noted Royer. “We are addressing the issues and continuing the adjust our flow.”

Looking up the Gretna spur of the Lebanon Valley Rail Trail.

Some commenters suggested taking the Lebanon Valley Rail Trail from Colebrook or Lebanon to avoid the traffic bottlenecks – a suggestion availed by more than a few, as evidence by bike parking on-site.

Read More: Before the Pennsylvania Farm Show, there was the Mt. Gretna Farmers’ Encampment

Heading back towards the parking lot on Soldiers Field. The craft show, formerly held on Soldiers Field, is now being held in a wooded area behind the roller rink.

The show runs one more day, Sunday, from 9am to 5pm. Proceeds benefit a number of Chautauqua and community programs, including the Mt. Gretna Fire Company and the borough’s fire hydrants.

If you’re going to the Mount Gretna Outdoor Art Show:

WHEN: Sunday, August 18, 2019, 9 am to 5 pm. Rain or shine.

WHERE: Route 117 and the streets of the Chautauqua section of Mt. Gretna, Pennsylvania. Admission gates can be found at PA-117 & Princeton Ave (main gate), Princeton Avenue South, and the Corner of Lehigh & Pennsylvania Avenues.

PARKING: All parking will be in Soldiers Field off of Timber Road in Mount Gretna.

ADMISSION: $12.00. Children under 12 are free.

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