After 22 years, the Heart of Lancaster Arts and Crafts Show is about to become a two-day event.

"This is a real turning point for us," says Marilyn Hobday, co-founder of the show along with Jennie Todd. "I think people will be pleased and surprised at what is going on this year."

The show, being held at Root's Market in Manheim, will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday.

As always, there is no admission cost and parking is free.

Having a two-day show, which works better for many vendors, brought in a lot more responses.

"We've got about 50 percent new people," Todd says.

In all, approximately 150 vendors will be participating in the juried show.

While many come from the area, there also are artisans coming from as far away as New Hampshire, Florida and Louisiana.

The show features plenty of categories.

"We try to have a wide variety of things," says Todd. "There will be pottery, some really neat fiber, weavers, fine art, including oil painters and watercolorists, metal sculptors, basket weavers, glass blowers."

They work to make the show balanced.

"Jewelry is especially difficult because we get so many wonderful jewelers applying to the show. But we don't want it to be top-heavy so we limit the number."

And then they work on variety.

"We have one jeweler who is a silversmith, another who works with stones, and one who makes beads," Todd explains. "So all the jewelry will be different."

This year, over the course of the two days, 16 artisans will be demonstrating their work.

"We want the show to be educational," Hobday says. "I called people so we would have something different in each category. I got such great responses from these wonderful arts and crafts people. They love sharing knowledge. It will be wonderful for the public to come to the event and watch them at work."

Demonstrators will include Walter Hand, who makes handmade brooms; hand-crafted children's wear by Lori Curtis; stoneware pottery by Terri Eagles; watercolors by Andy Smith; basket weaving by Wanda Summers; fiber art by Susan Withnell (who uses material from the sheep and angora rabbits she raises); oil painting by Rose Principe; fraktur by Randell Snader; jeweler Debi Winegar; and wood carvers Lil and Bob Evans.

In addition to the demonstrators, visitors can listen to the duo Silver, Wood & Ivory throughout both days.

Cindy Wittenberg, pianist, and Tracy Dietrich, flutist, got their start at the Heart of Lancaster County Arts and Crafts Show and have been playing there for years.

Dietrich will be demonstrating some of her numerous flutes and recorders. And Wittenberg also will be playing the harp.

And Susquehanna Pipes and Drums will be performing both days as well.

"There is a nice, easy flow to the show, with plenty of food vendors and an area in the back where people can sit and eat lunch," says Todd. "It's really lovely."

Hobday agrees.

"We definitely think there will be enough to see and do over the entire weekend."

Heart of Lancaster

Arts and Crafts Show

Sat. and Sun. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free

Grounds of Root's Market

705 Graystone Road, Manheim