Organizers with the Westmoreland Arts and Heritage Festival are ready for its 52nd year of celebrating culture.”We started out very small at Seton Hill College,” said Lynn Johnston, the festival’s board chairwoman. “We’ve moved, and we’re so happy and grateful. We’re here to bring different cultures to Westmoreland County.”However, to do that, organizers and visitors at Twin Lakes Park are finding their own ways to handle the heat.”We’re just trying to stay in the shade,” Michelle Barr said. “We have a little fan for .””I’m just having some water,” Doug Yesho said. “I’m used to it. I work outside.”Extreme heat warning: Severe weather alerts in effect for Western PennsylvaniaVisitors and vendors both did what they could to enjoy day one of the decades-long summer tradition.”Cooling towels and a lot of water,” said Michael Ricciuti, of BFR Crafts N’at. “It’s about all you can do today.””It is rough,” said Samantha Schneider, of Big Black Grill. “A lot of water, a lot of fans, taking breaks.”Schneider is one of 40 food vendors and 200 artists. She is spending her hot weekend in a food truck.”We have to actually staff the trucks over what we normally would because we need to take that many breaks,” Schneider said. “But I’m excited. Wait until Friday, Saturday and Sunday. It’s going to be bumping and kicking.”Looking for more news in your area | Subscribe to the WTAE YouTube ChannelAccording to organizers, the heat isn’t the problem.”We can deal with the heat,” Johnston said. “We try to keep everybody hydrated. We make sure we have misting stations throughout the park.”Additional EMS crews and hydration stations are placed throughout the 400-plus-acre park this weekend — one that, by the end, is expecting over 100,000 people.”The people who come out are just wonderful,” Ricciuti said. “We had people from all over the place. There was somebody from Florida here earlier today.”That’s why craft vendors aren’t worried about getting a little sun.”People love to come to craft festivals, and this is one of those ones that brings people out every time, so it’s not a bad thing,” Ricciuti said.”There’s something for everybody here,” Johnston said. “They can take everything home, have a good time, meet people, make friends.”The festival runs with music acts and activities all day through Sunday, July 5.Download the WTAE app to stay connected with breaking news. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news in your inbox.

UNITY TOWNSHIP, Pa. —

Organizers with the Westmoreland Arts and Heritage Festival are ready for its 52nd year of celebrating culture.

“We started out very small at Seton Hill College,” said Lynn Johnston, the festival’s board chairwoman. “We’ve moved, and we’re so happy and grateful. We’re here to bring different cultures to Westmoreland County.”

However, to do that, organizers and visitors at Twin Lakes Park are finding their own ways to handle the heat.

“We’re just trying to stay in the shade,” Michelle Barr said. “We have a little fan for [our son].”

“I’m just having some water,” Doug Yesho said. “I’m used to it. I work outside.”

Extreme heat warning: Severe weather alerts in effect for Western Pennsylvania

Visitors and vendors both did what they could to enjoy day one of the decades-long summer tradition.

“Cooling towels and a lot of water,” said Michael Ricciuti, of BFR Crafts N’at. “It’s about all you can do today.”

“It is rough,” said Samantha Schneider, of Big Black Grill. “A lot of water, a lot of fans, taking breaks.”

Schneider is one of 40 food vendors and 200 artists. She is spending her hot weekend in a food truck.

“We have to actually staff the trucks over what we normally would because we need to take that many breaks,” Schneider said. “But I’m excited. Wait until Friday, Saturday and Sunday. It’s going to be bumping and kicking.”

Looking for more news in your area | Subscribe to the WTAE YouTube Channel

According to organizers, the heat isn’t the problem.

“We can deal with the heat,” Johnston said. “We try to keep everybody hydrated. We make sure we have misting stations throughout the park.”

Additional EMS crews and hydration stations are placed throughout the 400-plus-acre park this weekend — one that, by the end, is expecting over 100,000 people.

“The people who come out are just wonderful,” Ricciuti said. “We had people from all over the place. There was somebody from Florida here earlier today.”

That’s why craft vendors aren’t worried about getting a little sun.

“People love to come to craft festivals, and this is one of those ones that brings people out every time, so it’s not a bad thing,” Ricciuti said.

“There’s something for everybody here,” Johnston said. “They can take everything home, have a good time, meet people, make friends.”

The festival runs with music acts and activities all day through Sunday, July 5.

Download the WTAE app to stay connected with breaking news. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news in your inbox.