This weekend, Lancaster County's treasured spring tradition celebrates its 40th anniversary.
Kitchen Kettle Village's annual Rhubarb Festival will return to Leacock Township on Friday, May 17th and Saturday, May 18th.
In honor of the event's history, we present some interesting facts about the festival, an award-winning rhubarb dessert recipe, and a schedule of highlights from this year's festivities.
Read: Kitchen Kettle Village to host annual rhubarb festival in 2023
big numbers
40: The Kitchen Kettle Village Rhubarb Festival has been going on for years.
70: Kitchen Kettle Village has been in business for several years.
300 or more: Several pounds of local Lancaster County rhubarb will be on sale during the festival.
Approximately 800: Number of Best Rhubarb Dessert Baking Contest Contestants in Festival History.
15,000: The festival attracts many tourists every year.
twenty five: Rhubarb queen. The festival began in 1999 with just the Rhubarb Queen and added the Rhubarb King in 2000. Rhubarb Queen and King must be an employee of Kitchen Kettle Village to participate.
35: Year of the Rhubarb Race Car Derby. This tradition started as an employee activity and was later opened to the public.
10～15: Before harvesting, rhubarb stems should be inches long.
45: Percentage of daily intake of vitamin K in 1 cup of rhubarb.
Source: Kitchen Kettle Village, Penn State Extension.
Did you know that?
— Kitchen Kettle Village partners with nonprofit organizations to host events each year. The festival's longest-running non-profit partnership is with the Lancaster Farmland Trust, which began in 2007. “This is a perfect partnership because growing rhubarb and many of the other foods we all enjoy requires fertile farmland,” said Kitchen Kettle Village Director Lisa Horn. Email me something fun.
Schedule your highlights
Several major events are scheduled to take place during the festival. Visit kitchenkettle.com for the full schedule of events.
Friday
From 11am to 1pm: The Red Hill Road duo will perform in the stage area.
11am and 1pm: Cheese stretching demonstration at Aged & Cured.
From 11am to 3pm: Meet Jane Parker, author of The Petite Palate Collection, on the patio at Jam & Relish Kitchen.
11:30am: A fascinator-making demonstration at a pop-up space near The Roasted Rooster in the Village.
From noon to 2pm: Performance by walking comedian Geist.
From 1pm to 4pm: The world's only rhubarb brace car derby. (New this year is a Friday race option.)
1pm: There will be a pretzel twist contest with prizes in the stage area.
From 2pm to 5pm: The Summit Hill Bluegrass Band will perform in the stage area.
Saturday
From 9am to 10:30am: Best Rhubarb Dessert at Harvest Cafe's Lancaster County Baking Contest. Desserts will be sold to the public by the slice (with proceeds going to Lancaster Farmland Trust) immediately after the competition, after entries have been judged and prizes awarded.
From 10am to noon: Meet the rhubarb stilts and take a photo with them.
From 10:30am to 2pm: The world's only rhubarb brace car derby.
11am and 1pm: Cheese stretching demonstration at Aged & Cured.
From 11am to 1:30pm: Musician George Papazekos will perform in the stage area.
11:30am – 1:30pm: The Rampart Street Ramblers will perform Dixieland favorites atop the Village.
11:45am: Coronation of King and Queen Rhubarb.
2 pm: Rhubarb King & Queen Promenade and parade through the village with live music, entertainers and more.
From 2pm to 5pm: The Roof Rockers (a 50's and 60's cover band) perform in the stage area.
Read: What it’s like to be a judge for the 38th Annual Kitchen Kettle Village Rhubarb Baking Contest in 2022
Rhubarb VIP
— If you simply want some rhubarb, Kitchen Kettle Village is offering this year's VIP Rhubarb Festival Package. This includes a meal at the Harvest Café, a complimentary white chocolate cold brew with rhubarb cold foam from our roasted roosters, and a complimentary pound of fresh rhubarb from Lancaster County and an array of other rhubarb. Packages cost $40 each and can be reserved online at kitchenkettle.com.
winning recipe
Want to know what an award-winning rhubarb dessert tastes like? Here's the recipe for the winner and grand champion of the 2023 Lancaster County Baking Contest's Best Rhubarb Dessert.
Raspberry rhubarb layered dessert
Written by Diane Stoltzfus. (Rhubarb raspberry mousse recipe from Taste of Home)
material:
For the crust:
- 1 1/2 cups graham cracker flour
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 4 tablespoons melted butter
For the middle tier:
- 8 ounces cream cheese (softened)
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar (10x)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 cups heavy cream (see recipe below) or Cool Whip
For the top layer:
- 3 cups fresh rhubarb, diced (you can also use frozen rhubarb)
- Add 1-2 tablespoons of cold water to 1 cup of water.
- 12 tablespoons granulated sugar (divided)
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons unflavored gelatin
- 1 cup fresh raspberries — if using frozen, thaw first
- 2 cups heavy cream (see recipe below) or Cool Whip
direction:
1. First, make the crust. Mix all ingredients and press into the bottom of a springform pan or 9×13-inch dish.
2. Middle layer: Mix cream cheese and sugar until smooth.
3. Add vanilla.
4. Stir in 2 cups of heavy cream. Spread over dough and chill.
5. Top layer: Combine rhubarb, 1/2 cup water, 6 tablespoons sugar, and lemon juice. Cook until tender.
6. Use a fine mesh strainer to press out the liquid. Remove any fibrous rhubarb. Reserve liquid in a small saucepan.
7. Place the gelatin in a small bowl, sprinkle with 1/4 cup water, and set aside to soften.
8. Puree the raspberries, 1/4 cup and 1-2 tablespoons of water in a blender. Strain the liquid and discard the seeds.
9. Add the pureed raspberries to the rhubarb mixture in the pot. Add gelatin mixture and stir. Place on the stove and cook over low heat for 3 to 5 minutes or until the gelatin dissolves.
10. Store in the refrigerator and let cool, checking frequently and stirring each time. The mixture will begin to thicken as it cools.
11. Mix in the fresh cream.
12. Once the rhubarb and raspberry mixture has the consistency of soft serve pudding, gently add the whipped cream.
13. Pour over the middle layer and chill until set, 4 hours or overnight. If desired, top with additional whipped cream and berries before serving.
fresh whipped cream
Makes about 2 cups.
Note: This dessert requires a total of 4 cups of heavy cream. Diann Stoltzfus likes to make her whipped cream in two batches. She makes the middle layer of whipped cream first, then the top layer of whipped cream, which takes longer to prepare. Stoltzfus recommends chilling the dessert while preparing the top layer.
material:
- 1 cup fresh cream
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon unflavored gelatin
- 2 tablespoons cold water
direction:
1. Add gelatin to water and soften. Heat in the microwave for about 10 seconds to dissolve the gelatin. Let cool slightly.
2. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the heavy cream and sugar. Using a mixer or handheld electric whisk, whip the heavy cream until thick.
3. While mixing, slowly pour in the gelatin mixture and continue whisking until soft peaks form and hold their shape. Do not over mix.
