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2026 Adirondack Harvest Festival

Adirondack Harvest Festival poster with bees and hives

September 19th, 2026
From 12-5 PM

This year’s theme is “Bees & Honey”

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Our workshops and demonstrations will feature connections to the world of bees & honey, but we welcome the entire spectrum of harvests from the Adirondacks throughout the festival.

Quick FAQ: Please do not bring your dogs to the festival, or you will be asked to take them home. Leaving them in your car is also not permitted and the authorities will be alerted.

FAQ Page

Location of festival

Essex County Fairgrounds, Westport, NY

We wouldn’t be able to have the festival without our amazing volunteers.

Volunteers who complete a 2.5 hour shift will be provided with a free festival t-shirt and Saturday volunteers will receive both a t-shirt and a $20 lunch stipend to spend at the Festival.

VOLUNTEER AT THE FESTIVAL

River Valley Regeneratives (RiVR) will be providing food waste collection bins at the Harvest Festival.

We have learned that food waste bins at events, even when well marked, end up full of non compostable garbage unless a volunteer is able to be present at the trash station to help users navigate their choices. We are looking for individuals interested in helping divert any food wasted at this event from landfills to our compost facility with minimal contamination. Volunteers helping with this will be stationed at a trash collection zone directing attendees to deposit their wasted food into the compost bin. They will ensure that only food products are disposed of and that as little food as possible ends up in the garbage cans. All volunteers will receive a free Compost for Good t-shirt.

Volunteer for the Festival

PRE-FESTIVAL HIKE

Champlain Area Trails has hosted pre-festival hikes for the past several years. More information coming soon!

    FOOD DRIVE

    We are proud to announce the Adirondack Harvest Festival’s first-ever Food Drive, hosted by Adirondack Community Action Programs, Inc. (ACAP). The food drive is being held in recognition of Hunger Action Month, a nationwide campaign held each September to raise awareness about hunger and inspire action to end food insecurity. As Adirondack Community Action Programs, Inc. (ACAP) is the recipient of this food drive, we are committed to working collaboratively to ensure that the generosity of our community is felt across Essex County.

    Based on the volume of donations received, ACAP will share excess items with food shelves throughout the county, supporting families and individuals where the need is greatest.

    Festival-goers are encouraged to bring non-perishable, shelf-stable food items to the ACAP vehicles, located near the entrances of the Adirondack Harvest Festival. Please click on the images below to see the accepted items.

    More information on drop-off coming soon.

    ON THE BANDSTAND

    Jazz band posing with instruments and colorful attire

    The Big Takeover

    From 12-1:30 PM

    Led by the powerhouse, Jamaican-born singer and songwriter NeeNee Rushie, The Big Takeover’s horn-powered global blend reveals deep fluency in reggae and world music, hints of soul and Motown, and their own infectious brand of pop classicism (AIMF). Find samples of their music on their website at bigtakeoverband.com.

    Kids’ Potato Sack Race

    1:30-1:45 PM

    Everyone under 18 welcome!

    Race will begin promptly at 1:30 PM. Please have your kids signed up for the race prior to start time. Prizes to be announced!

    Live band performing under stage lights

    Annie in the Water

    1:45-3:15 PM

    The band is an experience and a culture of compassion and joy. The band’s Americana Indie Rock found its roots in acoustic guitars without limits. Their songwriting, led by guitars and synthesizers overtop a ground-shaking rhythm section. Find samples of their music at annieinthewater.com. 

    Hula hoop contest

    3:15-3:30 PM

    $50 value prize given to longest hula’ing adult and $25 value prize for longest hula’ing youth.

    Band performing at Dirondack Harvest Festival

    Ploughman’s Lunch

    3:30-5:00 PM

    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! Samples of their music can be found at ploughmanslunchadk.wixsite.com/band.

      HANDS-ON WORKSHOPS

      Payment & Registration Required

      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 served, and registration needs to be completed day-of before attending the workshop.

      These workshops are geared toward adults, but interested kids and teens are welcome to participate with adult supervision.

      12:30-1:15 PM – Beeswax Candles with Nicole Gerding, Thankful Sage Farm School.

      1:30-2:15 PM – DIY Herbal Skincare with Beeswax with Mary Godnick, Creative Kitchen Garden.

      2:30-3:15 PM – Cooking with Honey with Chef Robert Dumas, Paul Smiths College.

      3:30-4:15 PM – Making Wild Fermented Mead with Zach Clemans, Landscape Paintings.

        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 this area. Brought to you by Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Farm to School and 4-H programs! These free activities will be ongoing throughout the day.

        Activities with a take-home product: Rolled beeswax candles, lip balm, making antennas.

        Other activities: Giant mural, photo station with props, beeswax crayons to color with, on theme matching games.

          ALL-DAY ACTIVITIES & ENTERTAINMENT

          • 10 Demonstrations in Floral Hall including:

            Flax to Linen with Mary Heald, Akwesasne traditional basket making with Carrie Hill, seed cleaning and saving with Mike Davis, and more!

          • Pony rides

            with ADK Horsemanship by donation, $10 suggestion

          • Draft horse-drawn wagon rides

            by Lucky Clover Sleigh Rides, free

          • Farm animal petting zoo
          • Hula hoop performance

            and contest by Vestopia Hoops

          • Stilt walking

            by Pete and Amy Nelson

          • Caricatures

            by Joe Ferris, free, but tips welcome

          • Straw Bale Toss Contest (12-3:15 PM)

            free for all ages to enter! The participant with the longest toss in their age group wins a prize. Must be present for the award at 3:30 PM when it will be announced on the bandstand. The first-place winner of each age category will receive a gift certificate for any Adirondack Harvest member business at the Festival or at a later date. Ages 8 years old and under: $25 value, 9-15 years old: $50 value, and 16+ years old: $100 value

          VENDORS, FARMERS & EATS, OH MY!

          The Adirondack Harvest Festival is unique in that it specifically highlights locally grown food and products. It’s not your everyday craft fair or farmers’ market; the goal of this event is to truly support and promote our local farmers and other businesses using locally harvested components!

          Food & Beverage Vendors Farmers’ Market Local Libations Information Tables

          All food vendors are required to use as many local ingredients as possible.

          Crown Point Bread Co.

          Pizza, pastries and more.

          Orta foods

          Indo-Mediterranean inspired salads, bowls, dips, snacks and fresh lemonade. Great vegan options!

          Orta Foods

          North Woods Bread Co. & Great Northern Pantry

          Cornish pasties, sausage rolls, savory British meat pies, rustic bread, sweet and savory pastries.

          North Woods Bread Co.
          Great Northern Pantry

          Rivermede Farm Market

          Burgers, hot dogs, chili, maple cotton candy, popcorn, snow cones.

          Rivermede Farm Market

          Taste of Lahore

          Frontier Town Gateway’s take on South Asian cuisine. Chicken and vegetarian curries, samosas and naan.

          Taste of Lahore

          Lomeli’s Mexican Food

          Fresh Mexican food using local produce and meat.

          Lomeli’s Mexican Food

          Eat-Adk

          Hot dogs, bratwurst, kielbasa, Italian sausage, nachos

          Mousseau Maple

          Maple soft serve ice cream and other maple products.

          Mousseau Maple

          Love, Peace & Grilled Cheese

          Takes a childhood favorite to the next level and beyond. Crowd favorites like the Drop, with bacon, jalapeno and Blackberry Jam, are sure to have your tastebuds dancing!

          Love, Peace & Grilled Cheese

          Wadhams Free Library

          Cider, coffee, donuts & apples

          Wadhams Free Library

          High Peaks Brew

          a full menu of hot and iced coffees, specialty lattes, teas, non-caffeinated beverages, and seasonal specials!

          High Peaks Brew

          Adirondack Winery & Extreme Heights Cidery

          Adirondack Winery & Extreme Heights Cidery

          AHA Mushrooms

          AHA Mushrooms

          Artesania Xochiquetzal

          Artesania Xochiquetzal

          As You Wish Signs & Gifts

          As You Wish Signs & Gifts

          Ben Wever Farm

          Ben Wever Farm

          Bert’s Jams & Jellies

          Bucksberry Farm

          Bucksberry Farm

          Creative Kitchen Garden

          Creative Kitchen Garden

          Cross Island Farms

          Cross Island Farms

          Crown Point Farm & Dairy

          Crown Point Farm & Dairy

          Essex Farm

          Essex Farm

          Grim’s Garlic

          Grim’s Garlic

          Gristmill Distillers, Inc.

          Gristmill Distillers, Inc.

          Hunter French’s Liquid Gold

          Hunter French’s Liquid Gold

          Ilyssa Rae Flowers

          Ilyssa Rae Flowers

          Local Roots

          Local Roots

          Maple Grove Farm

          Maple Grove Farm

          Miss Bee Haven Apiary

          Miss Bee Haven Apiary

          Moon Valley Farm, LLC

          Moon Valley Farm, LLC

          Mossbrook Roots

          Mossbrook Roots

          Olde Tyme Winery at Brandy Brook Maple Farm

          Olde Tyme Winery at Brandy Brook Maple Farm

          Onegoodturn Woodworking

          Onegoodturn Woodworking

          Quarry Garden

          Quarry Garden

          Rick Sherman’s Wood Crafts

          Spring Hill Farm

          Thankful Sage Farm School

          Thankful Sage Farm School

          The Fort Ticonderoga Association

          The Fort Ticonderoga Association

          Underwood Herbs

          Underwood Herbs

          War Cannon Spirits

          War Cannon Spirits

          AuSable Brewing Company

          Craft beer made wth hops and fruit grown on-site.

          AuSable Brewing Company

          Abbey’s on the Road

          Craft cocktails using local liquor and local ingredients in the mixers.

          Abbey’s on the Road

          Adirondack Council

          Adirondack Council

          Adirondack Food Systems Network

          Adirondack Food Systems Network

          Adirondack Garden Club

          Adirondack Garden Club

          Adirondack Land Trust

          Adirondack Land Trust

          Adirondack North Country Association (ANCA)/Compost for Good

          Adirondack North Country Association (ANCA)/Compost for Good

          AdkAction

          AdkAction

          Boquet River Association (BRASS)

          Boquet River Association (BRASS)

          Building Resilience in Essex Families (BRIEF)

          Building Resilience in Essex Families (BRIEF)

          Champlain Area Trails (CATS)

          Champlain Area Trails (CATS)

          Cornell Cooperative Extension, Essex County

          Cornell Cooperative Extension, Essex County

          Craigardan

          Craigardan

          Elizabethtown Social Center

          Elizabethtown Social Center

          Essex County Soil & Water Conservation District

          Essex County Soil & Water Conservation District

          Homeward Bound Adirondacks

          Homeward Bound Adirondacks

          John Brown Lives!

          John Brown Lives!

          Lake Champlain Basin Program

          Lake Champlain Basin Program

          Master Gardener Volunteers

          Master Gardener Volunteers

          Northern NY Audubon

          Northern NY Audubon

          ROOST

          ROOST

          Ticonderoga Natural Foods Co-Op

          Ticonderoga Natural Foods Co-Op

          Together for Youth

          Together for Youth

          Westport Wadhams Community Alliance

          Westport Wadhams Community Alliance

          Whallonsburg Grange

          Whallonsburg Grange

          Thank you to our 2026 Festival Sponsors!

          This event is organized, sponsored and hosted by the Adirondack Harvest Program of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Essex County and by these generous sponsors:

          Regional Food Bank logo
          North Country Rural Development Coalition logo