The latter is the work of Bob Moore, a Native American Boalsburg resident, who makes a living from manufacturing and selling Cherokee crafts. He said he plans on doing some beadwork at the festival, utilizing a design specific to the Cherokee tribe from which he descends.
"I think it's helpful for people to see this being done," Moore said of his role in the festival, which includes the making of other articles as well. "I'm willing to talk to people to describe what I'm doing and the culture I represent."
Moore's is one of many cultures being celebrated at the festival, to celebrate the diversity of cultures that makes up the United States.
Christopher Lee, festival co-chair, described why the festival is designed to celebrate diversity.
"When we think of America, we want to think of more than just one man," said Lee, who himself is a descendant of Christopher Columbus via the marriage of his great grandmother's aunt to a direct descendant of Columbus.
Lee is also the CEO of the Boals Mansion Museum, which contains artifacts of the Boals family, descendants of Columbus who have lived in Pennsylvania since the 19th century. The museum will be open to the public Saturday, as will the Columbus Chapel.
One of the Chapel's main features is that it is said to contain pieces of the True Cross that was used to crucify Jesus of Nazareth. Lee said the relics were a gift from the Bishop of Leon to Joe Columbus in 1817 and that they were sent to his American descendants in 1909. Many people who see the True Cross are "in awe," Lee said.
After the festival, which runs from noon until 4 p.m., there is a break for the Penn State football game. Later that night is the Boalsburg Century Ball, an event at which a Christopher Columbus impersonator will be speaking, Lee said.
The ball, which is open to all who are interested, costs $50.
The festival is sponsored by the Boalsburg Village Conservancy, an organization responsible for preserving the Boalsburg cultural heritage. Festival co-chair Maria Capparelli, a conservancy member, said visiting students will enjoy the town of Boalsburg.
"I've never known a person who came here that didn't like Boalsburg," Capparelli said. "People appreciate the ambience. They can sit on benches and enjoy the tranquility of the town."
Capparelli said the festival would offer students an opportunity to experience Boalsburg's community spirit because it is an event people in town look forward to. Lee said students might enjoy the Discovery Days Cultural Heritage Festival as an alternative to a typical Penn State Saturday.
"If you're tired of the same old mono-culture tailgate party, come to the multicultural tailgate party in Boalsburg," he said.
