From pies to parades: Lancaster’s beloved Rhubarb Festival

Celebrate spring at Kitchen Kettle Village’s 40+ year tradition! Rhubarb races, royal pageantry, delicious treats, & baking contests await May 16-17, 2025.

Residents of Lancaster County have a beloved tradition—celebrating tart pink stalks of rhubarb. For over four decades, the annual Rhubarb Festival at Kitchen Kettle Village has marked the arrival of spring in Pennsylvania Dutch Country with a two-day food festival filled with treats and entertainment.

The main tent at an outdoor food festival. (Jessie Hodge/Flickr)

Not your average food festival

What sets this festival apart are its whimsical activities that appeal to all ages. Families can witness the spectacle of the “world’s only rhubarb race-car derby,” or dance to live music on Pepper Lane while entertainers create a festive atmosphere. The celebration includes the Rhubarb King and Queen, who are featured prominently in the festival activities.

A close-up of chopped rhubarb. (Heather Quintal/Flickr)

A culinary celebration

Food remains the heart of the festival, with vendors offering an impressive array of rhubarb-infused creations. Visitors can sample everything from traditional rhubarb pies and jams to more unexpected offerings like rhubarb dips, savory sauces, and refreshing drinks.

For those who prefer to purchase fresh ingredients, locally grown Lancaster County rhubarb is available to buy, perfect for inspired home cooks looking to create their own spring delicacies.

Competitive spirit

The festival’s competitive highlight is the Annual Rhubarb Baking Contest, which returns in 2025 with proceeds benefiting the Lancaster Farmland Trust. Home bakers can showcase their skills in three categories: Rhubarb Pie, Rhubarb Cake, and Rhubarb Dessert.

Participants may enter up to two categories with a maximum of two entries per category. While contestants are limited to four entries for judging, they can donate additional baked goods to raise funds for the trust.

The stakes are appetizing—$250 for the Best of Show Dessert, plus gift certificates of $50, $35, and $25 for first, second, and third place winners, respectively, in each category. As organizers say on the website, “Remember…you gotta bake to win!”

More than just food

For those looking to elevate their festival experience, Kitchen Kettle Village offers a special VIP Rhubarb Festival Package. This exclusive option provides a premium way to enjoy all the festivities.

You also won’t want to miss the Rhubarb Parade, a highlight of the weekend featuring live music and the rhubarb royalty. The parade is one of the signature events that make this festival special.

A tradition worth preserving

The Rhubarb Festival represents more than just a culinary event—it’s a celebration of agricultural heritage in Lancaster County. With proceeds from the baking contest supporting the Lancaster Farmland Trust, the festival connects food traditions with land conservation efforts, making it a beloved and important annual celebration.

This article may have been created with the assistance of AI.


Creative Commons License

Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. We ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our web site. Please see our republishing guidelines for use of photos and graphics.

Author