I was pegged as a “virgin” before my tent city house was even erected—and rightfully so. It was my first trip to the Philadelphia Folk Fest, an annual music festival held in Schwenksville by the Philadelphia Folksong Society.
I’d only heard tales about the Old Pool Farm event that hosts nearly 15,000 attendees and 25 artists per day over four days. I found out most of them were true. Yes, there were people who did not sleep during the 56+ hour period. Yes, the musical performances were the most original and talented I’d ever seen/heard. And, yes, you do suffer from post-depression after it’s over in the blink of an eye.
However, before agreeing to hop aboard this modern day woodstock train with my significant other in celebration of his birthday, I didn’t hear anything about the food. Living a mere 20 minutes away and uncertain of the camping situation, we decided to wing it. A small grocery bag packed with the necessary non-perishables like BBQ chips, granola bars, trail mix and peanut butter would have to suffice until further informed.
When we discovered that it was easily possible to keep meats cold thanks to the ice being sold on-site, there was a decision to be made. Should we return home and stock up on more goods or get by on the food stands? At this point, we were just happy to have a break from lugging our camping equipment around in search of an open space (people arrived at 7 am!).
Before I knew it, we were sucked in, conversing with neighbors and relaxing in our pop-up chairs. Just like that, the decision was made. I was always a big fan of making homemade meals when camping, especially meaty ones, but perhaps this festival would be an exception. There were many fellow campers going all out with their preparations. Some had kebabs, breakfast sandwiches bursting with bacon, corn on the cob and more! It was torture but luckily, I found the food vendor scene to be insanely appetizing.
The music obviously deserves a heavy duty nod as well, especially since I enjoyed every act and Mary Chapin Carpenter was there for gosh sakes! Some of my favorites included Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band (an exclusive show for campers only), Chris Bathgate & Friends, The Wooden Sky and Brother Son.
Thankfully, I didn’t have to enjoy those performances on an empty stomach. I may have crashed the food scene harder than any other PFF attendee but, as a result, I am happy to share my top festival food picks. They are in no particular order and may include a wildcard here or there but I think veterans and virgins, alike, will respect the selections.
1. French Quarter Bistro – Fried Pickles
It was great to see my Phoenixville neighbor, French Quarter Bistro of Royersford, representing at the Philadelphia Folk Fest. I’m no stranger to their Cajun and Creole offerings but before I could place an order the deep fryer boy pegged me as a pickle lover. The fried variation of a cucumber was a step above any I’d had in awhile, carrying both the characteristics of a dill delight and a hint of fried flavor.
2. Moonlight Catering – Portobello Mushroom Burger
If it was vegetarian food you were craving then Moonlight Catering was the place to go. Although I opted for the portobello with artichoke, roasted pepper and onion on a kaiser roll, the Chester County caterer had several other options available. The made from scratch veggie egg rolls gave off a tempting scent and the hummus and summer slaw sandwich sounded delightful as well.
3. Upper Salford Volunteer Fire Company – Bag Taco
I have to admit I frequented their stand quite often, mostly because every dish offered a home cooked taste. While I had to have the pickle on a stick, baked potato with chili, and a meatball sandwich, there was one particularly unusual item that my mother certainly never served at home. It was their take of a taco-on-the-go, which made sense considering the circumstances. Fest-goers could choose between a Dorito or Frito version, grab their bag and be on their way. The usual contents were kept in the snack size bag but mixed with typical taco fixings. It was a Frito first for me but hopefully not the last.
4. Brad’s Raw Foods – Vampire Killer Kale Chips
After journeying through the usual fried and greasy offerings that festivals are so very well known for, it was nice to experience a change of pace in Brad’s Raw Foods. Located closer to the craft area, one could easily miss the all natural stand during the 4 days of festing. However, catching wind of their attendance pre-arrival, I was determined to hunt them down and try a few of their raw veggie chips. The workers were more than generous with their sample portions but I couldn’t get enough of the Vampire Killer, a dehydrated kale chip covered in garlic and vegan cheese. The 2.5 oz package made it back to my campsite to join the other non-perishable goods I was riding on that weekend.
5. Yards Brewing Company – Folk Fest Kolsch
I told you there would be a wild card and this is it. Obviously Yards Brewing Company is not a food but it did replace a meal or two during my festival stay. I don’t think I was alone in doing that. As the official sponsor of the Philadelphia Folk Festival, the Philly based brewery created a special beer just for the festival, the Yards Folk Fest Kolsch. It was refreshingly light with the perfect amount of flavor needed on a hot Summer day. Their festival beer garden was positioned strategically at the top of the concert hill so views of the main stage musicians could be enjoyed without stepping foot outside the tent. Do you think they did that on purpose?
6. Hub Bub Coffee – Mocha
A life saver to say the least, there probably wasn’t a camping soul at Philadelphia Folk Fest who didn’t visit the Hub Bub coffee truck. Exclusive to the weekend warriors who braved the hard grounds and rainy nights, it was an ever-so-special reward. I personally enjoyed an Iced and Hot Mocha on two different weathered mornings during my festival stay and was not disappointed by the Philly based coffee truck on any account.
7. OWOWCOW – Mint Chocolate Chip
I’m not a huge ice cream fan but was able to steal a scoop of the organic, small batch and hand dipped sweet treat from my friend. She ordered Mint Chocolate Chip (which is my least favorite of ice cream flavors) with a scoop of plain Chocolate. The taste was anything but plain. I even got a hint of the mint in my intended all chocolate scoop and was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. Their locally sourced offerings like blueberry lemon and madagascar vanilla were feasted on by festers young and old.
8. Wild Bill’s Old Fashioned Soda Pop – Various Flavors
A lot of festers were walking about with western-esque silver mugs, complete with a big ‘ol chunky handle. I assumed it was an under the radar special from the beer garden but later discovered the giant thirst quenchers were from Wild Bill’s Old Fashioned Soda Pop. They had set up their mobile buffet-like saloon and served several delicious flavors on a “free-refill” basis (unlimited with purchase of mug) or for individual purchase. I swore off soda ages ago but was still intrigued by the variety of flavors. They made this list on a unanimous vote, fueled by the swarm of Wild Bill mugs that engulfed every crowd.
Although the campers pegged me as a virgin, I believe I handled the food scene like a seasoned veteran and, with the help of this list, you may be able to do the same one day. I certainly can’t wait to return, spy delicious food vendor rookies of my own and pick them to smithereens! Happy Fest!
