Bring your hobbies along with you or pick up a new one while traveling in Pennsylvania this summer during a DIY experience. Read more about classes and experiences available to you at arts centers, studios, farms, wineries, and tours around the Keystone State.
1. Hollabaugh Bros. Fruit Farm and Market
Biglerville
Hollabaugh Bros. Fruit Farm and Market is a family-owned farm with an abundance of opportunities to flex your green thumb. Visitors can pick their own blueberries and other seasonal fruit and cut their own flowers. Attend one of their monthly family cooking classes featuring produce grown on the farm and make sweet treats like lemon blueberry whoopie pies and apple dumplings.
2. Hometown Potters’ Studio
Lewistown
Get your hands dirty at the potter’s wheel at Hometown Potters’ Studio. There is no experience required to join its Intro to Throwing classes and make a small pot on the potter’s wheel. If the wheel isn’t your style, stop by the studio for a 15-minute hand-building pottery project on the first Friday of every month for Lewistown First Friday. Beginners can expect to make handmade pieces like a vase, juice cup, or basket.
3. Community Arts Center
Wallingford
Learn art from the experts at the Community Arts Center. The center sits on a 130-year-old estate, recently converted into an art studio and gallery space for novice and professional artists. It features a weekly schedule of classes in drawing, painting, photography, ceramics, and printmaking. Sign up for specialty workshops for a chance to learn new techniques from visiting artists.
4. The Chalk Shop
Meadville
Learn how to make high-quality personalized décor at The Chalk Shop. Visitors can book a private DIY workshop or join an open class to learn how to apply personalized designs and stencils to a project of your choice, including cornhole boards, wooden trays and signs, dog bowls, and planters. If you want to get a little messy, book the splatter room for a 45-minute splatter paint experience. Choose the black light paint option for glow-in-the-dark fun!
6. Touchstone Center for Crafts
Farmington
Originally founded to preserve the making of traditional crafts, Touchstone Center for Crafts offers modern and experimental crafting disciplines that include workshops taught by skilled artisans. Spend one day, or five, attending one of their intensive workshops where you will learn new skillsets from blacksmithing and ceramics to drawing and painting to jewelry making and glass crafting.
During the summer months, spend your Friday night with friends or a loved one at Touchstone with their two-hour mini workshop where you will be introduced to various craft media while enjoying refreshments from local winery Christian W. Klay Winery.
7. Under the Horizon Pottery and Arts Studio
Gettysburg
Visitors to Under the Horizon Pottery and Arts Studio can join group pottery classes or schedule private lessons for small parties or individuals. If you are looking for a rainy-day activity, book a reservation at the DIY art activity room where you can paint and glaze ceramics, suncatchers, guided paintings, and souvenirs to take home with you.
8. Greenhouse Winery
Irwin
Not only does Greenhouse Winery have a full calendar of events at its main winery, but their DIY nights let you sip and play! Get creative and enjoy local wines at its Paint and Sip events, where you can decorate wine glasses and wooden signs. Craft your own unique decorations like succulent planters and charcuterie boards at one of their regular DIY classes.
9. Contemporary Craft
Pittsburgh
Watch art come to life at Contemporary Craft. Learn fiber arts, jewelry making, carving, and metalwork at its regular workshops led by artists in residence. Or enjoy a beer while you weave with nontraditional materials at Crafts and Drafts. Crafters who want to fly solo can also rent out open studio space or join drop-in studio hours.
10. Treehouse World
West Chester
What is more magical than a treehouse? Treehouse World offers treehouse building workshops that give you a hands-on experience with the basics of treehouse engineering and designing. Whether you are a professional or want to create your own backyard hideaway, you will learn all the tips and tricks of treehouse construction. And you will help build your very own structure that will become a part of Treehouse World!
11. Rivers of Steel
Homestead
Rivers of Steel offers a DIY experience that is not your typical craft and sip night. Sign up for the Doodle Bowl Experience at Rivers of Steel’s Carrie Blast Furnaces to design and carve an aluminum-cast bowl. The metal arts team will help you create a fun and functional new dish. Just bring your own bottle and a friend!
12. Butler County Artisan Trail
Butler, Harmony, Hilliards, and Zelienople
Buckle up for this art-filled road trip! Try your hand at craft and art-making workshops along the Butler County Artisan Trail. Create a one-of-a-kind souvenir on your inspired artist’s trip to Butler County’s art centers and galleries. The Glass Blowing Center, Darn Yarn Needles and Thread, Christy Culp Pottery, and three other locations along the trail all offer expert-led classes like Stitch & Bitch, a group stitching class for all skill levels, and Intro to Glass Blowing.
13. Enrico Biscotti
Pittsburgh
Go to Enrico Biscotti for a “buono” cooking experience. Learn the basics of Italian cooking at a breadmaking, sauce making, or Neapolitan pizza class. If you really enjoy your coal-fire cooking class, you can purchase a make-at-home pizza kit. Bon Appetit!
14. Hideaway Candle Bar
Waynesburg
Mm, something smells good. It’s Hideaway Candle Bar located in the old Waynesburg Hotel and Lounge. Pour your own DIY candles, wax melts, and aroma beads. Make a candle that is totally “you” with Hideaway’s customizable containers, scents, and labels. Go home with a signature scent to make your space extra cozy.
15. Nature’s Platter
Dallastown
Once upon a platter… you created your own charcuterie board at Nature’s Platter. This woodworking shop creates one-of-a-kind natural statement pieces, and they will show you how to get the most out of your board! Learn all about meats and cheeses while arranging your own charcuterie masterpiece. Did we mention there’s wine too?
16. Sunrise Soap Company
York
Want to learn how to make soaps and bath products that are featured at select Whole Foods Markets on the East Coast? Stop by the creation station at Sunrise Soap Company. Have “fun in the sun” making your own bath bombs, lotions, soaps, and scrubs. Choose from their assortment of essential oils and scents to create soaps with all the colors of the rainbow—and if you are feeling fancy, add some glitter!
17. Rockdale Art Center
Aston
Get creative! Rockdale Art Center offers art classes for everyone from beginners to experts. You can learn new skills in painting, crafting, and drawing, or perfect your pre-existing artistic finesse. For adults, they offer special workshops and independent studio sessions. Schedule a private Bottle and Brush BYOB painting party with five or more friends where you bring a bottle and they supply the tools you need to tap into your creative sides.
Check out our website for even more shopping ideas in Pennsylvania. Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to stay up to date on even more great trip ideas and places to visit around our state.