Hobbit Festival draws large crowd at Quality Gardens
A Hobbit house is part of the attractions at the Hobbit Festival in Quality Gardens in Mars, Saturday, Sept, 13, 2025. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
ADAMS TWP — The Lord of the Rings series is still popular enough to draw huge crowds, as evidenced by the turnout to the first Hobbit Festival at Quality Gardens.
Jamie Christy, manager of retail at Quality Gardens, said the event sold 300 tickets beforehand, so she expected it to be a large turnout. She wasn’t sure if it was the decor, the Lord of the Rings inspired food, the 15 vendors who attended, the children’s crafts or just the allure of the books and movies alone that drew so many people to attend.
Christy also said the Gardens created a Hobbit house that is visible from Route 228.
A Hobbit house is part of the attractions at the Hobbit Festival in Quality Gardens in Mars, Saturday, Sept, 13, 2025. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Hobbit Festival attendees dance to the band during the event at Quality Gardens in Mars, Saturday, Sept, 13, 2025. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Kids and parents build wings and flower crowns during the Hobbit Festival at Quality Gardens in Mars, Saturday, Sept, 13, 2025. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Taumi Kalcich helps her daughter Arly, 6, make a flower crown during the Hobbit Festival at Quality Gardens in Mars, Saturday, Sept, 13, 2025. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Hobbit Festival attendee Laura looks at a venders wares at Quality Gardens in Mars, Saturday, Sept, 13, 2025. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Tables are set up for attendees to build flower crowns and fairy wings during the Hobbit Festival at Quality Gardens in Mars, Saturday, Sept, 13, 2025. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Addie Conners works on a macrame art piece during the Hobbit Festival at Quality Gardens in Mars, Saturday, Sept, 13, 2025. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Quality Gardens hosts a Hobbit Festival in Mars, Saturday, Sept, 13, 2025. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Anastacia Nelson gets a tattoo done during the Hobbit Festival at Quality Gardens in Mars, Saturday, Sept, 13, 2025. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
The Tiger Maple String Band performs during the Hobbit Festival at Quality Gardens in Mars, Saturday, Sept, 13, 2025. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Children play in a recreation of a Hobbit house during the Hobbit Festival at Quality Gardens in Mars, Saturday, Sept, 13, 2025. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Tess White and Dominic Valerial explore Quality Gardens during the Hobbit Festival in Mars, Saturday, Sept, 13, 2025. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
The Tiger Maple String Band performs during the Hobbit Festival at Quality Gardens in Mars, Saturday, Sept, 13, 2025. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Dan Dickens dresses as Gandolf for the Hobbit Festival at Quality Gardens in Mars, Saturday, Sept, 13, 2025. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Maddie Gustafsson works the register during the Hobbit Festival at Quality Gardens in Mars, Saturday, Sept, 13, 2025. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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A Hobbit house is part of the attractions at the Hobbit Festival in Quality Gardens in Mars, Saturday, Sept, 13, 2025. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Hobbit Festival attendees dance to the band during the event at Quality Gardens in Mars, Saturday, Sept, 13, 2025. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Kids and parents build wings and flower crowns during the Hobbit Festival at Quality Gardens in Mars, Saturday, Sept, 13, 2025. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Taumi Kalcich helps her daughter Arly, 6, make a flower crown during the Hobbit Festival at Quality Gardens in Mars, Saturday, Sept, 13, 2025. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Hobbit Festival attendee Laura looks at a venders wares at Quality Gardens in Mars, Saturday, Sept, 13, 2025. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Tables are set up for attendees to build flower crowns and fairy wings during the Hobbit Festival at Quality Gardens in Mars, Saturday, Sept, 13, 2025. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Addie Conners works on a macrame art piece during the Hobbit Festival at Quality Gardens in Mars, Saturday, Sept, 13, 2025. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Quality Gardens hosts a Hobbit Festival in Mars, Saturday, Sept, 13, 2025. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Anastacia Nelson gets a tattoo done during the Hobbit Festival at Quality Gardens in Mars, Saturday, Sept, 13, 2025. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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The Tiger Maple String Band performs during the Hobbit Festival at Quality Gardens in Mars, Saturday, Sept, 13, 2025. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Children play in a recreation of a Hobbit house during the Hobbit Festival at Quality Gardens in Mars, Saturday, Sept, 13, 2025. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Tess White and Dominic Valerial explore Quality Gardens during the Hobbit Festival in Mars, Saturday, Sept, 13, 2025. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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The Tiger Maple String Band performs during the Hobbit Festival at Quality Gardens in Mars, Saturday, Sept, 13, 2025. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Dan Dickens dresses as Gandolf for the Hobbit Festival at Quality Gardens in Mars, Saturday, Sept, 13, 2025. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Maddie Gustafsson works the register during the Hobbit Festival at Quality Gardens in Mars, Saturday, Sept, 13, 2025. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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“The Hobbit house is going to be a permanent installation,” she said.
People turned out in their fantasy-themed outfits, like cloaks, robes and Hobbit ears.
In addition to the foods and vendors, the event also featured the Tiger Maple String Band, which entertained people throughout the afternoon event’s duration.
Kids and parents build wings and flower crowns during the Hobbit Festival at Quality Gardens in Mars, Saturday, Sept, 13, 2025. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Dan Dickens dresses as Gandolf for the Hobbit Festival at Quality Gardens in Mars, Saturday, Sept, 13, 2025. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Children play in a recreation of a Hobbit house during the Hobbit Festival at Quality Gardens in Mars, Saturday, Sept, 13, 2025. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
Tables are set up for attendees to build flower crowns and fairy wings during the Hobbit Festival at Quality Gardens in Mars, Saturday, Sept, 13, 2025. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
