A basketmaking celebration makes its return to Dresden, America’s Basket Festival! The event is set for July 12 from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., centered around the 400, 500, and 600 blocks of Main Street, with a day full of music, food, shopping, and hands-on basket workshops planned.
Dresden has long been known as America’s Basketmaking Capital, with Dave Longaberger putting Dresden on the map with handcrafted maple wood baskets and growing The Longaberger Company into a sensation in the 1980s and 1990s. To this day, baskets are still being crafted in Dresden at the Dresden and Company workshop. It is not hard to notice the appreciation Dresden has for its rich basketmaking history. Large basket planters of various colors are filled with the colors of summer and are positioned in front of storefronts along the business portion of Main Street. Of course, the famous “The World’s Largest Basket”, as listed in the 1990 Guinness Book of World Records, is located on the corner of 5th and Main Streets in Dresden.
In 2023, the Dresden Community Association (DCA) created an event to bring together long-time basket collectors, former and current basket weavers and Longaberger employees, Longaberger family members, and the Dresden community to reflect on the village’s history in the art of basketmaking as well as to celebrate what the future holds as new chapters are written in a story that is far from its end. New innovative baskets are being woven by talented artisans who create handmade baskets that expand the parameters of how baskets can be incorporated into homes and how customizable they can truly be.
Now entering into the event’s third year, America’s Basket Festival has grown to be the biggest event the DCA hosts annually. 66 Vendors have already signed up compared to the 24 that attended last year, and over 1,000 attendees are expected. Admission to the event is free; however, the hands-on activities planned and Lunch in a Basket are offered for a fee.
“[There are] definitely more vendors, more food trucks, better entertainment, more entertainment, and raffles during the afternoon. So I think we’ll see a good afternoon and a good crowd throughout the whole day,” said DCA President and Humble Heart co-owner Darron Delancey.
America’s Basket Festival will take place on the final day of Dresden’s Homecoming. A kiddie parade will be at 10:00 a.m. that morning, and rides and homecoming festivities will be held that afternoon into the evening.
“Also, that morning will be the basket bingo, so the bingo will be from 10 to 12,” explained Delancey. “And last year, they raised over $500 for the fire department. Their goal this year is to do more, so it looks like the fire department will benefit out of this as well. We have baskets that are being donated for the basket bingo. There should be a good turnout for that too.”
A Paint a Basket workshop will be held at 1:30 at Union Square (701 Chestnut). The popular Build a Basket is also planned for the day, but spots are already filled for that workshop.
Members of the Longaberger family will be available to sign baskets from noon until 2:00 p.m.
In addition to the large selection of vendors that will be set up for the day, there will also be special sales held at many of the shops open during the festival. Be sure to check out Smore Baskets, Smore Christmas, Humble Heart, The Patio Shops, Dresden and Company, Stacy’s Baskets, Dresden’s Baskets and More, Beauty by Design Floral Boutique & The Dresden Brew Coffee Cafe, The Daily Drip, and The Shops at Union Square. A red, white, and blue event basket created exclusively for the event will be available for purchase at some of the shops.
There are several restaurants that will be open during the festival including: The Warehouse, Leni’s, Scotties Den, The Dresden Tavern, Main Street Pizzeria, and Crenos.
“Food trucks will be there as well,” added Delancey. “So the food trucks will be out on Main Street from 11 to 6. And then, since we’re talking about food, the lunch-in-a-basket is still available. It can be picked up at the registration area, which will be at Dresden & Company. That lunch-in-a-basket will be from 11 to 1 for pickup. There will be a sandwich, chips, a pasta, and a cookie for that. And that can be purchased on Eventbrite [ABF25.eventbrite.com].”
Also, don’t miss live entertainment in the Beer and Spirits Garden from noon until 6:00 p.m. in the garden space next to Lepi and Associates, 610 Main Street, Dresden. Get ready for musical performances by Scotty Hoff (12:00-2:00), Timothy Paul (2:00-4:00 p.m.), and Hunter Lepi (4:00-6:00). The garden will remain open until 8:00 p.m.
For more information about this year’s America’s Basket Festival, visit destinationdresden.com/americas-basket-festival.