2023 Doylestown Arts Festival & Bucks County Classic: What to do, where to park and more
Doylestown’s biggest weekend of the year is here with two major events that draw thousands of visitors to its downtown cultural district.
The Doylestown Arts Festival, now in its 32nd year, celebrates arts and culture by showcasing the creativity of more than 150 juried artists, alongside interactive art demonstrations and five stages of live music.
It takes place Sept. 9-10 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is free to attend.
In conjunction with the arts festival, Doylestown Borough also hosts the Bucks County Classic, a premier racing event that attracts professional and amateur cyclists from across the country and around the world.
Held on Sunday, the event includes professional races, amateur races, kids races and a citizens bike parade with seven races designed to test the endurance and technical skills of competitive cyclists along a challenging 1.4-mile course with eight turns and 90 feet of climbing per lap.
To help you make in the most of this weekend’s events, we’ve put together this guide, so you can take in the excitement of the races while enjoying all the art, food and entertainment of the festival.
What kind of art can be found at the Doylestown Arts Festival?
The festival features local and regional artists spanning a variety of styles and mediums, including ceramics, digital art, drawing, fiber, glass, painting, jewelry, metal, 2D and 3D mixed media, paper and printmaking, photography, sculpture and wood.
For a complete list of artists, go to: dtownartsfestival.com/artists
What else is there to do at the Doylestown Arts Festival?
The arts festival features plenty of food, live entertainment and activities to make it a fun, family-friendly event for all to enjoy.
Food: A small food court will be set up on Hamilton Street, featuring Chambers 19 Bistro, Bonjour Creperie, Matty G Dogz and Millie’s. Also, there are many local restaurants and bars in downtown Doylestown offering both dine-in and take-out.
Live music: 40 performances take place throughout the weekend with music ranging from rock and jazz to hip hop and folk. Click here for the complete live music schedule.
Activities: Find activities and demos both kids and adults can enjoy, including live glass blowing demonstrations, silk scarf painting, sand art, face painting and Mercer tile rubbings.
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What time are the Bucks County Classic races?
The Bucks County Classic features nine events all taking place on Sunday, Sept. 10.
9:10 a.m. Masters 45+
9:55 a.m. Amateur Women
10:35 a.m. Amateur Men
11:30 a.m. Brompton Burst
11:30 a.m. Bucks County Herald Ride the Course
12:05 p.m. Doylestown Health Pro Women
1:10 p.m. Jarrett Vaughan Builders Kids Races
1:50 p.m. Thompson Pro Men
What are the best spots to view the Bucks County Classic races?
There are several great spots to watch the races from depending on the type of action you hope to catch.
The start and finish area, located on East Court Street between Pine Street and Printer’s Alley, is a great spot to catch the winners crossing the finish line and hear the play-by-play provided by the race announcers.
A view from the corner of Pine Street and East Oakland Avenue, will help you appreciate the difficulty of the course, as you watch the cyclists speed downhill before curving around a 90-degree turn.
East Court Street, between Clinton and Main streets, is another great stretch where cyclists often jostle for position on a subtle uphill climb.
And for those interested in a behind-the-scenes look at racing, park yourself near the Neutral Support tent, at the corner of South Clinton Street and West Oakland Avenue, where racers who encounter mechanical issues mid-race will take their bikes to be repaired.
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What are the best times to avoid the crowds in Doylestown?
Let’s face it, the arts festival and bike race attract between 20,000 to 30,000 each year, making it the most attended event in Doylestown, so crowds are inevitable. However, if you’re looking to make the most of your time without wading through a sea of people, here’s some advice:
Go in the morning. Plan to attend when the festival first opens from 10am-noon. It will get busier with every passing minute though, so it’s a good idea to look over the map, decide which section has the most of what you’re hoping to enjoy and start there.
Weather is another factor. Both events take place rain or shine, but checking the weather forecast could help you predict which day will be busier. A day with intermittent rain might clear out the crowds just enough for you to enjoy shorter food lines, more in-depth conversations with a favorite artist and a better view of the race.
Parking in Doylestown
Don’t let the stress of parking spoil the day. Between blocked off streets and a large turnout of crowds, here’s the lowdown on parking.
Walk or Bike. If you happen to live in town, consider walking or biking. Many of the residential streets in Doylestown are tree-lined and quiet, making for a peaceful walk or bike in and out with your family or friends.
Parking Garages The two Bucks County parking garages — one on Union Street and the other on East Court Street — are your best bet with their ample parking spaces and ease of getting in and out. On Saturday, you will have to pay to park, but it is free on Sunday.
High School Parking Lot There is plenty of free parking available at Central Bucks West High School, located just three blocks away from the festival.
Wells Fargo Bank (Sunday only) Parking here is free on Sundays, but it fills up quickly on a typical weekend — so unless you’re planning to arrive extra early, this may not be your best bet.
Shuttle Service The Doylestown Dart will be providing free shuttle services to and from select parking lots from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. This is a convenient option for those who want to quickly park and avoid having a long walk into town. Shuttle service is available to and from the Union Street Garage, Central Bucks West High School and Fanny Chapman at East State Street and Boro Hill Mill Road.
Accessible Parking Each of the lots listed above have limited accessible parking spaces and the Doylestown Dart shuttle is handicap accessible.
Street Parking There is street parking outside the festival and bike race perimeters, but they tend to fill up quickly. Be sure to note any parking restrictions, meters and time limits to avoid being towed or ticketed.
More information about this weekend’s events in Doylestown:
For more on the Doylestown Arts Festival, visit: dtownartsfestival.com
For more on the Bucks County Classic, visit: buckscountyclassic.com
More festivals around Bucks County: Crafts in Yardley, art in Doylestown, parading pets in Quakertown: Bucks County fall fests
This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: A 2023 guide to the Doylestown Arts Festival & Bucks County Classic
