Arts & Crafts Festival at Linvilla Orchards is more than your typical fall fest

MEDIA, Pa. (CBS) — Linvilla Orchards in Delaware County is bringing the community together to kick off the fall season with its annual Arts & Crafts Festival. 
This two-day event highlights the work of local artisans and craftspeople while offering attendees the opportunity to shop from a vast assortment of handmade wooden crafts, jewelry, photography, candles and plenty more!
CBS News Philadelphia spent the morning in Media and spoke with Gary Rothera, a surreal Halloween artist, former art teacher and current owner of GARcreations.
“I have about 400 followers that come here [the Arts & Crafts Festival] just to buy my art,” Rothera said. “I’m a surrealist as an artist and I just love people.”
Rothera, who repurposes everyday objects and crafts them into Halloween decor, said this is his ninth year coming to the festival at Linvilla Orchards.
“[His art] It’s a little hard to take at first…but I love it,” he said. “It’s friendly-scary. It’s not creepy. It’s creepy, like muppets with a smile. No blood!”
Sarah Mills, administrative assistant at Linvilla Orchards, said there are about 125 vendors this year featuring their diverse creations, like The Fairy Potter from Newark, Delaware. This artist creates hand-made fairy cottages to add a bit of pixie dust and whimsy to your home or garden. 
Beyond the local artisans and their work, Linvilla is also offering several signature fall activities. 
“This kicks off our fall season so we’re running hayrides, our corn maze, straw bale maze. We have the beer garden. If you want to bring the kids down there, there are games and stuff for the kids to keep them entertained while the parents also enjoy themselves,” Mills said.
Linvilla is also offering pony rides and pick-your-own apples so there’s truly no shortage of things to keep your crowd entertained all day.
But all of that shopping and fall fun will surely make you hungry. So Mills recommends stopping by the Linvilla Grill to try their new chicken and waffles.
“It’s a maple-infused waffle fry with fresh-breaded chicken and a maple-infused gravy that’s….you gotta get it!”
The Arts & Crafts Festival runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. this Saturday and Sunday.