Thank you for a successful 2024 event! We’d like to extend a huge THANK YOU to our volunteers, vendors, performers, partners, team members, and sponsors who made this year’s event possible.
Please take a moment to complete our brief anonymous survey to help us continue to improve the Festival.
Stay tuned for info on the 2025 Adirondack Harvest Festival!
2024 Schedule of Events
On the Bandstand
Upbeat and energetic world jazz that will get you on your feet. “Heard is a collective of musicians that bring their skills and passion for world music, jazz and improvising together to create irresistible grooves set in a unique sonic tapestry. Together for 15 years, their vibrant sound incorporates influences from West Africa, Brazil, the Caribbean and beyond.”
1:30-1:45- Kids’ Potato Sack Race– Everyone under 18 welcome
1:45-3:15- Music by The Big Takeover
Fine roots reggae from the Hudson Valley. “Fronted by the charismatic Jamaican-born singer and songwriter Nee Nee Rushie, the seven-piece New York band The Big Takeover plays original music that is rooted in and reverent toward the genres and rhythms of Jamaican pop: reggae, rocksteady and ska.”
3:15-3:30- Hula Hoop Contest– $50 value prize given to longest hula’ing adult and $25 value prize for longest hula’ing youth.
3:30- Awards announced for Straw Bale Contest
3:30-5:00- Music by Ploughman’s Lunch
A “Dirty Folk Jam Band” of local farmers and friends. A self-described “Adirondack anything” band. Ploughman’s Lunch is an annual favorite at the Adirondack Harvest Festival and always inspires a little dancing in the crowd.
Hands-On Workshops
Listening in on a workshop is free of charge, but there is a cost to participate in the hands-on activity. Participation in hands-on workshops are first-come first serve, and workshop hosts will collect payment when you arrive. Sorry, pre-registration is not available. These workshops are geared toward adults, but interested kids and teens are welcome to participate with the supervision of an adult.
12:30-1:15- DIY Floral Skincare With Nichole Gerding of the Thankful Sage Farm School. Learn how to make simple skincare products such as floral-infused oils, balms and bath salts using flowers. Make your own flower infused oil to take home with you. $15 per person, limited to 20 people.
1:30-2:15- Small Dried Floral Wreaths With Michelle Kuba of Crown Point Farm and Dairy. Michelle will walk you through making your own dried floral wreaths with a grapevine base and dried flowers grown at Crown Point Farm and Dairy. $30 per person, limited to 15 people.
2:30-3:15- Foam-Free Flower Arranging With Jenn Bezio of Mossbrook Roots Flower Farm & Florist. Learn from a professional florist how to make eco-friendly and elegant arrangements at home. Jenn will walk you through designing your own arrangement using fresh flowers grown on at Mossbrook Roots Flower Farm in Keeseville. $30 per person, limited to 20 people.
3:30-4:15- Cooking With Lavender With Mary Rumble of Hopenhagen Farm. Mary will lead participants in a hands-on cooking demonstration highlighting the culinary uses of lavender. Make a lavender mocktail and Mary’s famous Herb de Hopenhagen meatballs with lavender barbecue sauce using dried lavender grown on her farm in Copenhagen, NY. $30 per person, limited to 10 people.
Young Farmers’ Circle, Kids Activities
All activities in the Young Farmers’ Circle are free of charge. Please remember that all kids need to be supervised by an adult in the Young Farmers’ Circle. Brought to you by Cornell Cooperative Extension farm to school and 4-H programs.
All Day- Make a seed ball, scavenger hunt, face painting, temporary tattoos, games and more!
All Day Activities & Entertainment
Local Floral and Fiber Demonstrations in Floral Hall Including: Traditional Akwesasne Basketweaving with Carrie Hill of Chill Baskets, Flax to Linen with Mary Heald, Fiber Spinning by Christa Gordon, Adirondack-grown floral demonstrations by Black Swan Floral Design, Ilyssa Rae Flowers and Hopenhagen Farm.
Pre-Festival Farmland Hike with Champlain Area Trails
Champlain Area Trails is hosting a guided pre-festival hike at DaCy Meadow Farm in Westport. Parking will be at the Boquet Valley Lakeview Campus School on Sisco st. and hikers will be shuttled to the trailhead starting at 10am. The landowners are asking that you do not park at DaCy Meadow Farm trailhead. From there, the group will enjoy a roughly 5 mile meandering hike through the fields, forests and wetlands of a working farm. Then, the groups will be shuttled back to the fairgrounds where you can enjoy the Festival. Please register for the hike here. You can find detailed info about the hiking trail here.
2024 Farmers’ Market, Food & Beverage Vendors
Farmers’ Market Vendors
Local Libations Tent Vendors
AuSable Brewing Company– Craft beer made with hops and fruit grown on-site.
Four Maples Vineyard & Winery– Award-winning wines made with 100% of their own grapes grown at their vineyard and winery in Champlain, NY.
2024 Food Trucks and other Food Vendors
- Crown Point Bread Co.– Pizza, pastries and more.
- Grilled Cheese Fundraiser for the Wadham’s Library– Grilled cheese made with locally made bread, and local cheese, pesto and tomato.
- Orta Foods– Indo-Mediterranean inspired salads, bowls, dips and snacks using produce from the Quarry Garden, North Point Community Farm, Juniper Hill Farm and dairy products from North Country Creamery.
- North Woods Bread Co– Cornish pasties and sweet and savory baked goods. Made with Mace Chasm Farm meat and Juniper Hill and Wild Work Farm produce.
- Papa Duke’s BBQ– BBQ beef brisket, pulled pork, pulled chicken, kielbasa, cuban sandwiches, caprese sandwiches, coleslaw, mac and cheese, baked beans, cornbread, burritos and veggie options.
- Dubbs BBQ– Barbaqued Reber Rock Farm organic pasture-raised chicken, pastured organic pork from Reber Rock Farm, and sausages from Mace Chasm Farm. Plus their awesome vegetarian sides made with veggies from Juniper Hill Farm and corn on the cob from Rulfs Orchard.
- Essex Food Hub– Hot coffee and cinnamon buns from River and Rails. Other ready to enjoy locally-made drinks and snacks.
- Ye Olde Phat Dragon Bakery– Pastries, Mexican sweet breads, gluten free and vegan options.
- Rivermede Farm Market – Burgers, hotdogs, chili, maple cotton candy and more.
- Taste of Lahore– Frontier Town Gateway‘s take on South Asian Cuisine. Chicken and vegetarian curries, samosas and naan.
- Lomelis Mexican Food Truck– Fresh Mexican food using local produce and meat.
- Mousseau Maple – maple soft serve ice cream and other maple products.
Adirondack Harvest Festival FAQ
Can I sign up to be a vendor? Maybe! Check out the info here to see if you might be a good fit. The vendor sign up window closes September 16, 2024.
Do I need to buy tickets? No, the event is free entry, just show up the day of!
What time does the event start, can I come early? The event begins at noon and we are unable to admit anyone into the Fairgrounds early this year. The gate will be closed until noon to allow vendors to safely drive around the grounds to set up.
Is there parking, and is it free? Yes, there is parking at the Fairgrounds and it is free. Overflow parking is along Sisco Street. Please follow directions from the parking attendants when you arrive and enter through the main gate.
Is the event rain or shine? YES! We have ample event tents and indoor space, the event will be a fun party whether we have scorching sun or pouring rain!
What should I bring with me? A reusable grocery bag or tote bag to carry your purchases in. Check the weather in advance and bring any rain or sun protection you will need to stay comfortable. Bring a reusable water bottle to refill at the water refill stations. Bring cash to spend at the market and to tip our awesome entertainment vendors.
Will vendors accept credit cards? BRING CASH! There is limited cell reception at the event which makes it hard for vendors to accept credit cards. Please bring cash with you. There will be an ATM onsite, and the closest bank with an ATM Champlain National Bank on Main Street in Westport.
What activities will be free? All kid’s activities are free, the straw bale toss, hula hoop contest, live music, Champlain Area Trails hike, demonstrations, and petting zoo are all free. The pony rides, face painting, caricatures and horse-drawn wagon rides are all free but tips to the vendors are welcome and encouraged.
How do I participate in the pre-festival Champlain Area Trails hike? Sign up form TBA. Do not park at the DaCy Meadow trailhead, park at school on Sisco St. for shuttle leaving at 10am.
Am I allowed to bring my own food or drink to the Festival? We encourage you to bring a reusable water bottle and refill it at our water refill stations. If someone in your group has special dietary needs, you’re welcome to bring food in with you.
How do I participate in the workshops? Each workshop has a small fee and a limit on participants. Participation will be first-come-first-served, so make sure to arrive at the workshop you’d like to attend a bit early to secure your space.
Is the event space accessible for wheelchairs, strollers, and rolling walkers? Yes, most of the festival activities can be accessed along paved paths or on flat grass.
Can I bring a lawn chair or picnic blanket for watching the live music? Yes! Please make yourself comfortable to hang out at the Festival all day.
Am I allowed to bring my dog? We love dogs, but since there will be horses and other farm animals at the Festival, dogs are not allowed. There is also no shaded parking area. For their safety, please leave them at home and do not leave them in your car. There is no shade in the parking area.
Will there be space for baby changing and breastfeeding? Yes, our friends at Essex County Public Health will have a quiet, private space for families.
Where can I stay and what is there to do nearby? You can find info on lodging, dining, outdoor recreation, and other events happening nearby at gowestportny.com and lakechamplainregion.com. Find other farmers’ markets, farmstays, farmstands, and local food across the Adirondacks at adirondackharvest.com/browse.
Thank You 2024 Sponsors!
This event is organized, sponsored and hosted by the Adirondack Harvest Program at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Essex County.
Funding for this event also came from a 2024 Special Programs Grant from the Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership. It is also made possible by a grant/cooperative agreement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the USDA.
About the Adirondack Harvest Festival
The Harvest Festival was created in 2016 to celebrate local farms and food, support our local economy, and give community members experiences that help us all learn and grow together. It is a day designed to bring farms, local businesses, and the community together! Giving regional farms an opportunity to showcase their work, and community members to learn, try new foods, and meet the makers.
Like everything, the Harvest Festival had to adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic. For the past two years, the Harvest Festival took a different shape. With an online and self-guided festival in 2020, and an “Open Farm Week” with a whole week of many smaller events across the Adirondacks in 2021. The Festival returned to it’s traditional, in-person, one-day event in 2022, and a separate Open Farm Weekend was hosted in August 2022.
Learn More About Past Festivals
In the News
- SAVOR THE SEASON: Adirondack Harvest Festival Focuses on Agroforestry (2022)
- PHOTO STORY: Adirondack Harvest Festival Brings Community Together (2022)
- A full recap of the 2021 Open Farm Week
- Adirondack Harvest Festival Kicks off Open Farm Week (2021)
- Family Fun at 2021 Adirondack Harvest Festival (2021)
Adirondack Harvest Festival returns next month for whole week (2021)
- Scenes from the North Country: Harvest Festival (2021)
- Upstate NY Fall Guide 2019: The ultimate list of festivals, activities, more (2019)
- Lake Champlain Region, About the Adirondack Harvest Festival
- SAVOR THE SEASON: Celebrating the Adirondack Harvest (2018)
- Support Local Agriculture: Get to Know Adirondack Harvest (2017)
- First-Ever Adirondack Harvest Festival Begins (2016)
