(9/19) Heralding in the autumn season, Colorfest is always held the first full weekend in October, and this year is no exception as visitors are expected to once again flock to the streets of Thurmont for more than 225-juried arts and craft vendors.

One of the community's most popular and heavily attended annual events. Colorfest features street vendors, food, yard sales and more, attracting upwards of as many as 100,000 attendees.

Colorfest is the single biggest fundraising opportunity for many local churches, civic organizations, nonprofits, and scholarships in the area. The festival can bring in as much as $20,000 in fundraising, as well as priceless awareness to the town, according to Carol Robertson, Colorfest President.

Colorfest was not held last year due to the pandemic, but Robertson hopes visitors and vendors alike will be eager to meet and celebrate once again. "We expect a large crowd of people who are anxious to get out," she said.

Colorfest has been a tradition in the town since 1963, when Catoctin Mountain Park naturalist Duncan Burchard organized nature walks through the area, attracting 60 people each year. Over the years, the event expanded to include art exhibits, church dinners, and yard sales. By 1971, 30,000 people were attending the event.

Recently recognized as one of the top 35 arts and craft shows in the U.S., Colorfest takes its status as one-of-a-kind festival very seriously. Vendors must authenticate their work and be of a unique style, according to Robertson.

Known for its dedication to the individuality of its vendors, officials continually verify vendor wares are authentic and handcrafted. "Artists like to be a part of Colorfest because of what we do…They are not allowed to just taking anything out of a box and sell it," she said.

As the festival’s popularity increased, so did the cost of holding the event for the town. In 2016, in an effort to stem losses to the town from the annual fall event, the Town Council voted to increase Colorfest permits fees as well as make cuts to town services supporting the event.

At the town’s recent Aug. 31st meeting, the Town Council approved renewing all previous Colorfest support services contracts, including May’s Security Service, Rill’s Bus Service, and Key Sanitation.

"As with everything else, the prices are going up," Mayor John Kinnaird said.

Although organization and supply expenses have risen, visitor admittance is still free, and patrons can still expect the same captivating event. For more information about Colorfest, visit www.colorfest.org.