Show Casing Our Heritage
CAMBRIA COUNTY ARTS & HERITAGE FESTIVAL 2025
Show casing our Heritage
We’re back!!! We find ourselves ramping up for the Festival this year, at Duman lake park. This year the dates are September
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 2025 Laurel Highlands Historical Village is expanding the opportunities available for historic preservation. Preservation programs offerings will mirror the programs available for arts and heritage organizations, to take part in the festival for Cambria County as we host the 6th Cambria County Heritage Festival.
For two days in September we invite you, your Community; your Church, your school, your business, your ethnic trade, and your reenactors, to join with others as we recreate a moment lost in time. A time to show case our history, and our progress forward to where we are today. We want to invite anyone and everyone to show case our Cambria County History. The event will take place at Duman Lake County Park north of route 422 on route 271. The park will be 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 welcome 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 are also asking our ethnic community to attend this event dressed in your 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. We encourage our townships, our cities, or towns, and municipalities to join us as we come together to show case our County. Our goal is 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
President Abraham Lincoln
In Memory of Pastor Walt Marr, a man who portrayed President Abraham Lincoln. Pastor Marr was one of God’s Angel on the earth. He showcased what it meant to be a Christian, and he did help many in need. He once told me this quote by President Abraham Lincoln “I can see how it might be possible for a man to look down upon the earth and be an atheist, but I cannot conceive how a man could look up into the heavens and say there is no God.”
― Abraham Lincoln
He was a reenactor, show casing one of America’s greatest Presidents, “Honest Abe”. I could go on and on about this man, I only want you to know that he was my friend and he will be missed.
“My concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God’s side, for God is always right.”
― Abraham Lincoln
Next September at Duman Lake Park We also will be collecting food, paper goods etc. for our needy veterans who are disabled and home bound.
We thank our Sponsors
We have so many wonderful sponsors and we thank them all.
Conemaugh regional Hospice
