We would like to thank everyone who made this event a huge success…  In the 2021 Season.  After a year of Covid we find ourselves ramping down from the Festival this year.  

Laurel Highlands Historical Village is located in Cambria County. Back when we started our efforts, in 2002 we had one simple goal historical preservation. To walk the mountains that surround Johnstown, is like stepping back in time, where you can see scattered about the forest floor the old foundations that once housed those pioneers who worked to clear the lands and harvest the timber. The fact is that most of the original Pioneers, who worked so hard in Cambria County, and our surrounding counties, are becoming lost in time. Their stories, their work ethics, their music, their way of life are slowing disappearing. We also have to look at Cambria County and ask ourselves, those in our community how did they survive the test of time? We are hosting the Cambria County Arts & Heritage Festival. We want to not only show case the families who can trace their roots back many generations, but the business we have, our cities, our townships, and others. We have always valued the role of preservation in preserving community character and honoring those who came before us. Our civic ancestors built the structures that dot our landscapes today and some remain. However, most of the story is fading. The event includes: Farming, Conservation, Mining, Steel manufacturing, Music, Food, Dance, Home Crafting, Timber, Woodworking, and other crafts of the time. We then look to where we are today, and ask the question where are we headed. We also want this event to be a positive event whereby we say “Be proud of who you are, Be proud to say I live in Cambria County.” It’s time to address that disparity. 

In 2021 Laurel Highlands Historical Village expanded the opportunities available for historic preservation. Preservation programs offerings that will mirror the programs available for arts and heritage organizations, to take part in the festival for Cambria County as we host the 3rd Cambria County Heritage Festival.
For two days this past September  we invited you, your Community; your Church, your school, your business, your ethnic trade, and your reenactors, to join with others as we recreated a moment lost in time. A time to show case our history, and our progress forward to where we are today. We always want to invite anyone and everyone to show case our Cambria County History. The event took place at Duman Lake County Park north of route 422 on route 271. The park was divided into segments including music, dance, sports, reenactments, static displays of history, educational stages, food vendors, arts vendors, crafting vendors, living historical displays, animal displays, children’s games. and much more. We welcomed 4-H groups, FFA, ethnic groups, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, farmers, loggers, musicians, musical group, churches, schools, Non-Profits, historical groups, dance groups, Police and fire departments, show horses, business and others who are proud to say I live in Cambria County.
We also asked our ethnic community to attend this event dressed in their ethnic attire. Also, if you wish to have a booth show casing your heritage, your country please contact us asap.
This is going to provide an opportunity to not only show case your past but also show case your community today and its future.  Our goal was to market the event in Pittsburgh, Sate College, Altoona and Cambria County.. Please feel free to share this information as we are seeking those individuals and groups who would like to be a part of this historical making event. Also note, we are in need of volunteers to help During the event. If you know of anyone or groups who would like to help out please contact us asap. Keep in mind we also need vendors, crafting, food, arts, and artisans. Applications are located on our web site www.lhhv.org and our Facebook page“ Cambria County Arts & Heritage Festival”.
Ronald J Shawley – Executive Director & Founding Member

See you in 2022 …. 

Our ethnic community  attended our event dressed in  ethnic attire. Were back in  2022 with more history, fun, music, crafts, reenactments and so much more.