For Immediate Release
More Information: Dave Fooks, 610-683-1537 ;
email: dave@kutztownfestival.com
Photos Available Upon Request
Memories Are Made Of This:
Byers' Choice and the Kutztown Folk Festival
Bob Byers, Jr. has vivid memories of the Kutztown Folk Festival in the mid-70's when he and his brother Jeff, both young boys, spent a week helping their mom at the Festival's Christmas tent. Joyce Byers ran the tent along with her friend Elsie Tagg.
Those were happy summer days for Bob and Jeff who were known as the Apple Dumpling Boys at the Ox Roast. And those were the years when Byers' Choice began to grow and, in time, to become world famous for their Christmas Carolers.
But renown for their distinctive and much-prized Carolers was still a few years away. In the 1970's the Byers family delighted visitors to the Festival with their tasty gingerbread cookies, whoopie pies and rosettes.
“In addition we sold lemon sticks, an old Pennsylvania Dutch Christmas treat,” Bob recalls. “Children used to receive fruit and candy canes on Christmas. By placing the candy into a lemon or orange, you can draw the lemon juice through the candy much like a straw. The fruit is sweetened in the process, providing a perfect Christmas treat.”
A peek inside the Christmas tent back then revealed a wonderful variety of ornaments. There were painted dough ornaments in the shape of hex signs, distelfinks, and Pennsylvania Dutch men and women. Other ornaments were made from fabric, straw, cookie cutters, and other materials. Back then, too, were a few Christmas Carolers - just a hint of what the future held.
In the late 1970's Byers Choice grew to an extent that the family couldn't continue to sell at Kutztown. Elsie Tagg continued the Christmas tent and Byers Choice quickly expanded. “My mother and father grew Byers' Choice from the garage to a multi-million dollar company centered in Chalfont, PA,” Bob explained. “We focused on hiring artisans who could bring my mother's designs to life, and today we have about 150 artisans making Carolers year round.”
Today the Carolers are distributed to 2500 stores around the United States , and there is a visitors where people can see the figures being made.
In 2000 Bob Byers, Sr. retired and now Joyce Byers and sons Bob, Jr. and Jeff run the company.
The story of the Byers family at the Kutztown Folk Festival has now come full circle. About six years ago the family accepted Festival Executive Director Dave Fooks suggestion that Byers' Choice sponsor the Quilt Barn. Joyce Byers, who grew up in Lancaster , PA , felt that it was important to keep the Pennsylvania Dutch heritage alive. She also felt that the Festival has always been a great way in doing this.
“It is also important that handcrafts survive, As more and more is brought in from overseas, it becomes increasingly important to preserve and demonstrate the fine workmanship that still exists. So we decided to sponsor the Quilt Barn,” she said.
This grew into running the Christmas tent again. There visitors will find Christmas Carolers, other ornaments and - of course - the lemon sticks! The booth is run by their artisans but you will find Joyce, Bob, and Jeff as well as Bob and Jeff's children taking shifts throughout the festival.
The Carolers are the most famous Byers' Choice product. Joyce Byers explains that, “No two Carolers are ever the same. Our artisans create a unique character and personality in each feature by using a variety of techniques and materials. Each crafter leaves a little bit of herself in every figure she touches. As many as ten people will work on one Caroler. It is almost impossible to find two Carolers that are exactly alike.”
For more information and interesting details on the complete product line, please visit www.byerschoice.com
The Kutztown Folk Festival will be held from June 28 to July 6 at the Kutztown Fairgrounds, Kutztown, PA. Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. For more information, call 610-683-1537. Visit our website at www.kutztownfestival.com