Polish-style beer, vendors draw crowds to fall markets in Lower Burrell, New Kensington

On a Saturday featuring harvest festivals across the region, Lower Burrell and New Kensington attracted hundreds of patrons shopping for craft beer, soy candles, and coconut and curry butternut squash soup.

For Lower Burrell’s final farmers market, organizers held a harvest festival, adding guest vendors offering autumn-themed products. The traditional vendors reliably brought fresh produce and baked goods, and they have been the backbone of the farmers market, co-organizer Pam Key said.

“Thank you to all the people who came as vendors and patrons,” she said.

A few hundred people came through the market Saturday before noon. The themed events along with a free kids’ craft booth have attracted more visitors, Key said.

Key and market co-organizer Carley Logan offered samples of homemade soup with recipes upon request.

Festival-goers huddled around the Pittsburgh Coffee Co. truck and the Allusion Brewery tables while the free children’s booth was busy with young customers making fabric pumpkins.

Alicia and Josh Marfin of Lower Burrell frequent the city’s farmers market most weeks. The couple purchased a four-pack of Polish Style Grodziskie beer.

Another Allusion fan, Mayor John Andrejcik, also picked up the Polish Style brew for later.

“I can’t wait to try it,” he said.

Andrejcik noted that residents were festival hopping between Lower Burrell and New Kensington on Saturday. “It’s all good,” he said.

Cafe fair

At the Knead Community Cafe’s fall harvest craft and vendor fair in New Kensington, seasonal art, great food and the café’s signature generous spirit.

The event supports the cafe’s mission to offer healthy, fresh food regardless of a visitor’s ability to pay.

Vendors set up indoors in the banquet room and outdoors in the restaurant’s courtyard warmed by heaters. Fall wreaths, Smokin’ Irish Sweet Heat Spice Rub and soy candles were popular.

Mary Jo Bernazzoli of Plum sampled the soy Candles by Ashley. She visited the fair with her husband, Barry.

“I love the concept of the Knead café, and I wanted to come,” Bernazzoli said. “I love seeing the crafts and the talent to make them which I don’t have.”

Candle crafter Ashley Davis of Lower Burrell creates soy coconut wax candles. Popular scents are “cranapple marmalade” and the seasonal “pumpkin pie.” Besides pumpkin, the candle has nutmeg and whipped cream scent and “is very nostalgic.”

The event was followed by New Kensington’s Downtown Market, sponsored by the city’s Recreation Commission, along Fifth Avenue.